Activate abilities with no legal targets
Asked by BlueScope 9 years ago
I wonder if I can activate an ability such as the one of Aerie Ouphes even if there's no legal target (in this case a creature with flying) on the battlefield and still have the creature die from paying the cost.
Thanks in advance!
No. While it gets shorthanded a lot, abilities, just like spells, are added or cast in a very specific order, and you are required to make targeting decisions before you are paying the costs. In order to successful add it to the stack and pay its cost you need to declare legal targets. So there's no way to cheat say Morbid by having Aerie Ouphes sac to itself without a target and let the ability fizzle.
November 29, 2014 2:12 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #3
@Slycne: Technically, the spell is announced and placed onto the stack first. Then, casting decisions are made. The spell will already be on the stack by that time. However, if you can't name legal targets, the game will be rewound (by a judge) and you'll be assessed the appropriate penalty for illegal casting.
Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #1
No. You can't activate an ability or cast a spell that requires targets without declaring enough legal targets to satisfy the spell or ability's requirements.
November 29, 2014 2:04 p.m.