Can a player hold priority after playing an Action card during a showdown to play a Reaction speed spell as a 'buffer' before the opponent responds?

Ruling: Yes, you can hold priority and play a Reaction speed spell like Stupify on top of the chain. However, this doesn't effectively 'buffer' against counters like Wind Wall because counters target 'a spell' on the chain, not specifically the previous spell, so your opponent can choose to counter whichever spell they want.

Nuances:

• Counter spells like Wind Wall can target any spell on the chain, not just the most recent one
• Simply adding more spells to the chain doesn't protect earlier spells from being countered