Chain of Plasma

[OneBigSquirrelGod]

My opponent is at 3 life.... and I am also at 3 life. I have chain of plasma in my hand... I cast it... how does this go down... THey ruled that we both die but something tells me that is not the right call.... any insight?

[Jak]

Pretty positive your opponent dies first.

"Chain of Plasma deals 3 damage to target creature or player. Then that player or that creature's controller may discard a card. If the player does, he or she may copy this spell and may choose a new target for that copy."

Key word for me in bold.

[Nonex]

You deal 3 damage to him, he discards a card and makes a copy. The original Chain finishes resolving and goes to the graveyard while the copy is left on the stack. Now you should receive priority, but state-based actions kill him first.

[Julian23]

Pretty positive your opponent dies first.

"Chain of Plasma deals 3 damage to target creature or player. Then that player or that c

The "then" is not relevant because nobody receives priority between the dealing of 3 damage and what happens after "then". What's relevant is the term "copy" as this means that the "new" 3 damage are not part of the resolution of the original Chain of Plasma but of a copy of it which is a new spell on the stack. Before that new spell resolves the active player would receive priority, SBE are checked and the guy at zero loses.