Hexproof

Asked by Dcappitize 1 year ago

I was playing magic arena and i went to play lay claim. A i played it my opponents lotus field lit up blue meaning i can target it. does this mean that lay claim works around hexproof since it doesnt specifically say target? i have a screenshot to prove it.

Rhadamanthus says... #1

You can use double square brackets around a card's name to create a reference link: Lay Claim, Lotus Field. It's the best way to make sure everyone understands what's going on in your question.

By themselves, this shouldn't have worked. In the case of auras, the word "target" is in the full rules explaining the "Enchant [N]" ability. An aura cast as a spell does have a target.

However, there are some other effects that may have been involved that would have allowed this:

• Was your opponent also playing Blood Sun? This would have removed the hexproof ability from Lotus Field (as well as the ETB-tapped and ETB trigger to sacrifice) but still allow it to make 3 mana
• Were you putting Lay Claim onto the battlefield with some other effect besides casting it as a spell? An aura put onto the battlefield in an alternative way like that doesn't target, and can get around hexproof (it can't get around protection, since that specifically restricts attaching auras and equipment)

November 14, 2022 8:51 a.m.

Dcappitize says... #2

yes i cast i card that puts all artifacts and enchantments onto the field. and no there were no effects causing it to lose hexproof on the field.

November 14, 2022 1:47 p.m.

Dcappitize says... #3

There were no effects causing the Lotus Field to lose hexproof. I got Lay Claim on the field by casting Brilliant Restoration and this allowed it to come onto the field and when it did Lotus Field was targetable.

November 14, 2022 2:19 p.m.

Caerwyn says... Accepted answer #4

As already noted above, auras only target if you cast them. If you cheat them onto the battlefield, you “choose” the object something enchants - you do not target an object. Hexproof (and Shroud) only prevent you from targeting - if the mechanic does not target, if is not stopped by Hexproof.

As such, when you cheated your Aura into play, you could choose any legal object it could enchant, even if those objects had Hexproof. It is not so much that the Lotus became “targetable” as it was “a valid choice”. You still were not targeting, even if it functions similarly when on the Arena user interface.

Here is the rule. Note the lack of the word “target” in the rule - something only “targets” if the mechanic or rule says it does.

303.4f If an Aura is entering the battlefield under a player’s control by any means other than by resolving as an Aura spell, and the effect putting it onto the battlefield doesn’t specify the object or player the Aura will enchant, that player chooses what it will enchant as the Aura enters the battlefield. The player must choose a legal object or player according to the Aura’s enchant ability and any other applicable effects.

November 14, 2022 3:02 p.m. Edited.

Rhadamanthus says... #5

Dcappitize: Answers to your question have been up for a while. Since there don't seem to be any more corrections or follow-ups to be made, I marked one of the responses as the "Accepted answer" so this topic can move out of the list of unanswered questions. In the future you can take care of this yourself using the "Mark as Answer" button on the response that you feel best answers your question.

November 21, 2022 8:53 a.m.