Can auras avoid shroud by blinking?
Asked by RicketyEng 8 years ago
I thought I read somewhere that auras do not target when they are entering the battlefield without being cast, and that due to this they can be attached to hexproof and shroud creatures by blinking them.
I have recently built a Brago, King Eternal EDH deck which includes some auras which I may want to attach to hexproof creatures.
I have read the following rules which seem relevant, but I'm still not 100% sure: 702.5a, and 303.4f.
Raging_Squiggle says... #2
Note that it still won't work with Protection, because being enchanted is specifically one of the things protection stops.
June 21, 2016 6:44 p.m.
RicketyEng says... #3
Thanks. Today I tried to blink Flickerform onto Uril, the Miststalker in order to flicker it to prevent it from attacking me.
Are those the two rules I should cite if I'm challenged on this again?
June 21, 2016 10:22 p.m.
nobu_the_bard says... #4
I assume your intent was to threaten to activate Flickerform if Uril, the Miststalker attacked you; you blinked the aura previously to get it onto him using Brago, King Eternal.
I would quote 303.4a and 303.4f if you really feel the need to quote anything at all. 702.5a is just what counts as a legal enchantment target (I don't think anyone was trying to argue your aura was trying to enchant the wrong kind of permanent). I have added emphasis below. 303.4f basically spells it out though; note it doesn't mention anything targetting.
303.4a An Aura spell requires a target, which is defined by its enchant ability.
303.4f If an Aura is entering the battlefield under a players control by any means other than by resolving as an Aura spell, and the effect putting it onto the battlefield doesnt 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 Auras enchant ability and any other applicable effects.
Note that Auras are only spells when cast and using the stack. Since they aren't spells in this case, the above applies. If they need more proof, they can look at the reminder text or Comp Rules for hexproof/shroud that it only prevents targetted effects.
Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #1
You're correct. Auras target as spells, but not at any other time. An aura that's already on the battlefield or is entering the battlefield as the result of some other effect does not target. Therefore, if you put an aura onto the battlefield with an ability (or another spell), you can attach it to any object it could legally enchant. Shroud and hexproof don't interfere with this process because they're only concerned with targeting.
June 21, 2016 6:33 p.m.