Can you target nothing with cards that say target
Asked by CarryOnMyWaywardSon 12 years ago
plaged rusalka for example. Can you sac a creature and target nothing for the -1/-1 counter. My friend says you can but I think he is wrong.
how about a redirect? so its not possible to say:"im not redirecting it, im just using it to counter it"
October 12, 2012 7:03 a.m.
@[user:Devix]
If choosing new targets for a spell by using a spell or ability such as Redirect ,you can only choose valid targets. As such, you cannot select 'no target' as the target.
Another thing to remember is that other 'modal' choices cannot be changed. I.E.: if a spell originally allows the caster to target "one, two or three target creatures and/or players" (for example Flames of the Firebrand ), and they select 2 targets, you must select 2 targets when redirecting (one or both could be the same targets, if you wish). You are not able to alter the original choice.
October 12, 2012 8:10 a.m.
A Redirect can be used to counter a counter spell though. Change the target of the counter spell to Redirect and once Redirect resolves the original counter spell will have no valid targets and will be countered because of no legal targets.
October 12, 2012 8:53 a.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #6
In order to cast a spell or activate an ability that has targets, you have to be able to choose enough legal targets for it. If you can't, you're not allowed to play it at all. If you're not able to choose enough legal targets for a triggered ability at the time it's first put onto the stack, then it's removed from the stack and ignored.
When you change the targets of a spell or ability, the new set of targets has to be legal.
October 12, 2012 9:25 a.m.
What about spells that require a target but also have another effect such as drawing a card... can you play that spell just to draw a card (or whatever other effect the spell has) even if the spell doesn't target anything
October 12, 2012 11:17 a.m.
Rhadamanthus says... Accepted answer #8
No. If you can't choose enough legal targets, you can't play it. Here are the relevant sentences from the rules for casting spells that handle this (the rules for activating abilities read similarly):
601.2. To cast a spell is to take it from where it is (usually the hand), put it on the stack, and pay its costs, so that it will eventually resolve and have its effect. Casting a spell follows the steps listed below, in order. If, at any point during the casting of a spell, a player is unable to comply with any of the steps listed below, the casting of the spell is illegal; the game returns to the moment before that spell started to be cast...
...
601.2c The player announces his or her choice of an appropriate player, object, or zone for each target the spell requires...
October 12, 2012 11:43 a.m.
no. the spell has to have a legal target in order to fully resolve.
Kirtanei says... #1
As I understand it, a targeted ability/spell requires a target when it's activated/cast and when it resolves.
So no.
October 12, 2012 6:44 a.m.