Can i cast a spell even if it doesn't have a legal target?
Asked by oltskul 14 years ago
one question..Lightning Bolt on Deft Duelist can spell be played on shrouded target?i know, you can target, but, can you play it? even if it goes directly to Graveyard.
It wont effect the shrouded card because Lightning Bolt says "target creature" and Deft Duelist says "cant be the target"
702.16a Shroud is a static ability. Shroud means This permanent or player cant be the target of spells or abilities.
If there are no other creatures out that dont have shroud then the Lightning Bolt will have to deal 3 damage to a player
April 4, 2011 7:53 a.m.
π_is_the_word says... Accepted answer #3
Basically, you can't even declare, the Duelist as a target. Shroud is a statement of fact(aka: a static Ability.), which states that This creature can't be the Target of spells and abilities. You cannot play a Lightning Bolt with its target being the Duelist Period. It can't even be played and then determined to be an illegal target, it just is an illegal target.
April 4, 2011 8:17 a.m.
MagnorCriol says... #4
Pi is correct. It can't ever be declared as a target, therefore it can't be cast to begin with.
April 4, 2011 9:41 a.m.
Pi_is_the_word and magnorcriol are correct. Because of the way Shroud is worded, (This creature can't be the target of spells or abilities), the spell can not even target Deft Duelist . Therefore, if your opponent wants to cast the spell, they would need to choose a different target, either you or another creature without shroud.
April 4, 2011 11:18 a.m.
and WHAT IF, I have shroud, opponent have shroud and Deft Duelist is on battlefield. And I want to play it...
one question is comming up after answer to this:)
Thank You guys
April 4, 2011 11:25 a.m.
π_is_the_word says... #7
You can't target either the Duelist or either yourself or your opponent. In order for you to play the Lightning Bolt at all in that situation you would have to have a creature without shroud as well on the field.
April 4, 2011 11:29 a.m.
A spell can't be cast without a legal target; if the target becomes illegal while the spell is on the stack, then the spell is countered by the game rules (for having an illegal target) just before it would start to resolve. If a spell is countered this way, then no part of the spell even a non-targeting part of the spell's effect takes place.
so the spell cant be cast in the first place. if all the targets gained shroud while it was on the stack then nothing happens the spell fizzles
April 4, 2011 11:31 a.m.
jea... and by fizzle, you mean, that the Mana returns to your MamaPool?
April 4, 2011 11:41 a.m.
π_is_the_word says... #10
No, Fizzle means the spell fails to find a legal target and is put into the graveyard. Basically, the spell is used and the mana along with it, but you don't get any benefit from using the spell. Its similar to a spell getting countered.
April 4, 2011 11:43 a.m.
MagnorCriol says... #12
So yeah, as pi and Lear have said, if you have no legal targets, you simply can't cast the spell to begin with.
If, after the spell is cast and put on the stack, its intended target becomes an illegal target (i.e. gains shroud somehow), it's countered by the game upon resolution, and nothing happens. You've already paid your mana, though, and this game doesn't have a very forgiving mana-refund policy.
where were you heading with this? I'm curious now.
oltskul says... #1
or it wont do any damage/effect to shrouded creature/permanent?
April 4, 2011 7:24 a.m.