Can Arena be used without a creature?
Asked by Poopernoodles 8 years ago
Can i use Arena to tap an opponents creature if i dont have a target on my side of the field? or does it require an initial legal target on both sides to activate its ability?
Poopernoodles says... #2
would you be able to elaborate because i may be mistaken but it sounds like since it still has one target the "ability taps the remaining target" I don't care about the damage clause, I'm purely interested in the Tap effect. Am i correct? or not?
I appreciate your quick response :)
April 8, 2016 11:06 a.m.
shinobigarth says... #3
you don't have to target one of your creatures, you pay the cost and then you try to do as much of the effect as you can. if you have a creature out then you must target it, but if you don't have any then it just ignores that part. but if you don't and their creature becomes illegal upon resolution, then its countered and nothing happens.
there are easier and cheaper ways to tap their creature if that's all you want to use it for.
April 8, 2016 11:26 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #4
That's incorrect.
When you cast a spell or activate an ability, you must be able to declare sufficient legal targets. Arena's ability requires a target creature you control and a target creature you don't control. You can't activate the ability if you don't have a creature.
What shinobigarth said is only true if you at first declared legal targets and one became illegal afterward.
April 8, 2016 1:28 p.m.
shinobigarth says... #6
I'm stupid. I really shouldn't answer questions right after waking up :(
April 8, 2016 4:30 p.m.
shinobigarth says... #8
i'm just ashamed of myself is all. i'm familiar enough with the rules that i actually knew the right answer, so not sure why i had such a brain fart on this.
shinobigarth says... #1
ruling right from the Gatherer: "If either target is illegal at the time the ability resolves (whether because it has left the battlefield, because it has gained Shroud or Protection, or for any other reason), the ability taps the remaining target, but no damage is dealt. If both targets are illegal, the ability is countered."
April 8, 2016 11:01 a.m.