Does Dromoka's Command require two legal targets to be cast?
Asked by Argy 7 years ago
My Opponent has played Dromoka's Command targetting me for its second mode (I will need to sac Ensoul Artifact as it's the only Enchantment I control).
There are no other Creatures on the field except for the one being Ensouled, no other Instant or Sorcery spells on the stack, and the spell's owner has no Creatures on the field.
Can the spell actually be cast?
Dromoka's Command, like all other spells that target, require all targets to be legal targets.
It also requires you to choose two modes (so you can't just choose the second mode, assuming there are no creatures on the battlefield whatsoever). Last but not least, it can't target itself for the first mode, as that's something spells in general cannot do. This leaves you with mode 2 and 3.
That said, at the time it's cast, there is both a player and a creature to target, which means when casting it, you can choose two legal targets. Spells don't presume what might be caused by their own meddling, and they certainly don't while they're still being cast.
On resolution, since at least one target is still legal (they're actually both legal when the spell starts resolving), the spell will resolve, first having you sacrifice an enchantment, then attempt to put a +1/+1 counter on the targetted creature. Because the sacrifice of the enchantment caused the targetted creature to stop being a creature (assuming it wasn't one from the start), this mode will simply do nothing.
February 28, 2017 6:46 a.m.
Just one clarification - the Ensouled creature will still get a counter. State-based actions are what detach auras from illegal permanents, however, SBAs are not checked during the resoultion of the spell. So you will end up with say a Prophetic Prism with a +1/+1 counter on it.
Edit: I have read up on rules for auras some more and abilities granted to objects by auras are lost immediately upon loss of the aura. Even faster than SBA...
February 28, 2017 6:57 a.m. Edited.
@Boza: Yeah, like you clarified, it will not get a counter. For completeness' sake, SBAs and triggered events will not have an effect until after a spell is resolving, however anything else will.
For example, if you control a Banishing Light and an Oblivion Ring (having exiled an opponents' Hardened Scales each), it matters which you will sacrifice - Oblivion Ring's ability will trigger right when it's sacrificed, however won't be put on the stack or resolve until much later, whereas if you sacrifice Banishing Light, the exiled card will return to the battlefield immediately, in time to give the creature an additional +1/+1 counter if they're under the same player's control.
February 28, 2017 7:14 a.m.
I'm still confused.
Darksteel Citadel was being made a Creature with Ensoul Artifact.
So Ensoul Artifact goes to the Graveyard leaving Darksteel Citadel as a Land with a +1/+1 counter on it?
February 28, 2017 7:19 a.m.
No.
Once Ensoul Artifact is sacrificed, Darksteel Citadel immediately stops being a creature and is no longer a legal target. Dromoka's Command will try to put a +1/+1 counter on it and will do nothing, finishing resolving and going to the graveyard.
February 28, 2017 8:04 a.m.
I am very sorry for the confusion I caused, I tried to edit the response more clearly, but ran out of time.
Argy says... #1
In the Oracle text for Dromoka's Command it says that each mode takes place in order.
If Ensoul Artifact is destroyed before the mode that says a Creature gains a +1/+1 Counter, then there are no Creatures around to get the Counter.
February 28, 2017 6:27 a.m.