Is there a priority window to play reaction spells before the showdown if there are no when attacking/defending triggers?
Ruling: No, there is no priority window to play reactions before the showdown begins if there are no triggers. As soon as the move is complete, cleanup happens and combat/showdown begins immediately.
Sequence:
- Move completes
- Cleanup happens
- Combat and showdown begin
- When attacking/defending triggers happen at the beginning of the showdown
- After the initial chain of when attacking/defending triggers resolves and your opponent passes focus, you can play actions (like Rune Prison)
Nuances:
- Move triggers are an exception - they activate and resolve before the showdown begins, creating a window to use reactions and potentially prevent the showdown
- Actions (like Rune Prison) can only be played after you have focus, which is after when attacking/defending triggers resolve
- Stunning a unit after when attacking triggers have resolved will prevent combat damage but not ability damage from when attacking triggers