When is the last moment you could play a hidden card during a losing showdown if the opponent doesn't trigger anything?
Ruling: During a losing showdown, the last moment to play a hidden card is at action speed timing when the defender has priority, before both players consecutively pass priority without doing anything (which would complete the showdown).
Sequence:
- Showdown is initiated
- Players alternate getting priority at action speed timing
- The defender (player with the hidden card) gets priority
- This is the last moment to play the hidden card
- If both players consecutively pass priority without doing anything, the showdown completes and damage is assigned
Nuances:
- Hidden cards gain the ability to be played at reaction speed
- Hidden cards with location-relevant effects gain the additional text "here" (only affecting the battlefield where they are hidden)
- The hidden card must have legal targets to be played, otherwise it moves to the graveyard when the battlefield changes state
- If there's already a chain/spell being cast, that's never the "last moment" - you can respond to that chain before it resolves