Can Spellskite counter my opponent's spell by making it an illegal target?

Asked by BishopAtavist 1 year ago

If I have a Spellskite and my opponent deals combat damage with Eradicator Valkyrie then activates their "Boast" ability, can I change the targeted creature my opponent plans to sacrifice to Spellskite, thereby countering the ability since Spellskite is not one of their creatures? Or would I not even be able to change the target to an illegal creature? Similar question with its interaction with cards like Bone Shards.

Thanks!

Squee_Spirit_Guide says... Accepted answer #1

Your opponent's sacrifice is part of the cost to activate the ability not the resolution of the ability, and it isn't targeted so Spellskite can't intervene. If you opponent's sacrifice were part of the resolution and were targeted, you could target it with Spellskite, but since your opponent can't sacrifice a creature you control I don't believe it wouldn't change anything.

But you can just sacrifice your Spellskite to the resolved ability and it's pretty much the same result :).

July 23, 2022 2:46 p.m.

BishopAtavist says... #2

Squee_Spirit_Guide That makes sense! Thanks for answering. I wasn't considering that it was part of the cost and not an actual target. I haven't played a Spellskite yet and was just trying to figure out what was possible. My goal was to not have to sacrifice anything, but obviously that's not possible in this scenario.

July 23, 2022 4:51 p.m.

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