Do state-based actions use the stack?

State-based actions do not use the stack. Instead, they are actions that are automatically checked and resolved by the game rules without the need for a player to take any action or for the action to wait for player responses. When certain conditions occur in the game—like a creature having damage marked on it equal to or greater than its toughness—a state-based action is triggered to resolve that situation immediately.

This means that if a player has a creature that has been dealt lethal damage, it will be put into its owner's graveyard without requiring the player to use an ability or cast a spell in response. Since these actions occur as part of the game state rather than through player interactions, they bypass the stack entirely. This differentiates state-based actions from spells and abilities, which can be placed on the stack and respond to other events in the game.

Other options suggest that state-based actions might use the stack in some form, but that doesn't align with the fundamental principles of how state-based actions operate within the rules of Magic: The Gathering. State-based actions are immediate and happen as a result of the game state without player intervention, reinforcing the idea that they are not placed on the stack at all.