Does Cryptic Command *list* still resolve if one of the actions are made illegal?
Asked by SwiftDeath 11 years ago
I have in play a Knight of the Reliquary and I Play a spell from my hand. My opponent goes to counter my spell and bounce my Phyrexian Obliterator to my hand as the two actions for Cryptic Command . In response I sac a Swamp to fetch a Sejiri Steppe giving my Obliterator Protection from Blue. Because the target is no longer legal will Cryptic command still target my spell?
SwiftDeath says... #2
Im full of misspellings tonight. Does it counter* my spell?
February 25, 2014 2:19 a.m.
GreatSword says... #3
No, it's not countered. A spell that targets is only countered if all its targets become illegal targets. As long as the spell has at least one legal target it will resolve the best it can.
So no, your opponent's Cryptic Command will not be countered entirely, it will only bounce the Phyrexian Obliterator .
February 25, 2014 2:32 a.m.
SwiftDeath says... #4
I think you read the question wrong. I am asking if my opponents Cryptic Command would fail to resolve, with you explanation it would resolve either way, but the Phyrexian Obliterator wouldn't be bounced because It has protection from blue.
So I think for clarification from your rulings it would resolve in this order. My spell is cast, My opponent response with Cryptic Command countering the spell and bouncing Phyrexian Obliterator to my hand, In response I tap my Knight of the Reliquary saccing a forest and searching for a land, that ability resolves and I search for Sejiri Steppe giving my Obliterator Proc Blue, that resolves now my opponent Cryptic command resolves countering my spell but can't touch my obliterator due to the protection. and now the stack is finally cleared.
February 25, 2014 3:19 a.m.
Note that if you cast Cryptic Command choosing to, say, bounce the Phyrexian Obliterator and draw a card, the Obliterator gaining protection from blue will counter the entire spell... you won't even get to draw. If ALL of a spell's targets are made illegal, the game rules counter that spell as it tries to start resolving. In the example of countering and bouncing, only one target was made illegal, so the spell still resolves and does as much as possible.
Yes, this is somewhat strange.
February 25, 2014 6:08 a.m.
SwiftDeath says... #6
Thank you for the clear and straight forward answer. I never feel right marking my own comment as the answer. I like how you added a second scenario where a different outcome would occur that I didn't think about as well.
SwiftDeath says... #1
sorry forest not swamp.
February 25, 2014 2:17 a.m.