Does hexproof protect me from enchantments like Ill-Gotten Inheritance and Dogged Pursuit?
Asked by Sinq_ 2 years ago
I have Teyo, the Shieldmage in my deck and I'm wondering what things hexproof actually works against. As far as I know, it should protect me from spells like Soul's Fire , as this requires a target, but does it protect against Ill-Gotten Inheritance and Dogged Pursuit ? The difference being that these say things like "Each opponent" rather than "target opponent"
Does the phrase "Each opponent" just separately target each opponent, or are they target-less?
The above is correct, but I wanted to expand a bit on why that answer is correct, since, while it answers the primary question posed in your heading, it does not fully answer the secondary question of "I'm wondering what things hexproof actually works against" stated in the body of your question.
A spell or ability only targets if it specifically uses the word "target" in the rules text unless it falls into a very limited number of exceptions, none of which are implicated in the cards you cited.
Since you wanted to know what Hexproof generally would protect you from, I will note the other categories as well.
The first exception is keyword abilities where "target" appears in the reminder text. Something like Equip or Mutate might not say the word "target" on the card itself if it does not contain reminder text, but the abilities DO target. If you are ever curious as to whether an ability targets, just look up the reminder text for that ability--if it says "target" in the reminder text, the ability targets; if not, it does not target.
The other exception is aura spells, such as Curse of Opulence . By operation of rule, Aura spells on the stack always target. As such, if you have Hexproof, an opponent cannot cast an aura targeting you.
However, as a weird quirk of the rules, if an opponent cheats an aura into play, with something like Open the Vaults , the aura does not target, as the opponent "chooses" where to attach the aura. As such, if someone uses Open the Vaults to cheat a Curse of Opulence onto the battlefield from the graveyard, they can attach it to you, even if you have hexproof.
TLDR:
If a spell or ability says "target" in its rules text or reminder text, or if it is an aura spell, Hexproof will prevent you from being chosen as the target.
If a spell or ability does not say "target" in the rules or reminder text (often using words like "choose an opponent" or "each opponent") then Hexproof will NOT protect you from being chosen or from the effects of the spell.
June 10, 2021 1:33 p.m.
To make sure I understand, is this right?
When Curse of Opulence is cast normally, it requires a target, and so I cannot be targeted with hexproof. However, if it somehow comes into play from some method other than casting, it's no longer targeting, but still needs to have a player to attach to, so its owner is allowed to choose me because they "control" it?
June 10, 2021 2:52 p.m.
Sinq_ - That is correct. It is a weird quirk of the rules. Only spells and abilities will target--an aura on the battlefield is neither a spell nor an ability, it is just a permanent. It still needs to exist on something, otherwise it would just go back to the graveyard, so the game rules allow its controller (not owner--controller; there is a big difference between those two words under the rules) to choose who the aura attaches to.
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 player’s control by any means other than by resolving as an Aura spell, and the effect putting it onto the battlefield doesn’t 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 Aura’s enchant ability and any other applicable effects.
sergiodelrio says... Accepted answer #1
You got that right, if it doesn't target, hexproof won't help you
June 10, 2021 12:16 p.m.