If you create a copy of a spell that has an illegal target, must you pick a new target?
Asked by Yesterday 4 years ago
If I cast Reiterate targeting an instant or sorcery spell, I have the opportunity to choose new targets for the copy.
Gatherer mentions on several pages with spells that copy instants/sorceries that, if there are no legal targets that I'm able to choose for the copied spell that I am putting onto the stack, then the target remains the same for the copied spell as it was for the original. (And then it'll fizzle on trying to resolve.)
But if I cast a copy spell targeting an opponent's Increasing Vengeance (which is targeting one of their own spells), and do have available new targets to choose from for the copy that I'm putting onto the stack, must I pick one of those targets for the copy? Or can I put the copy of Increasing Vengeance onto the stack without changing its targets, so that it'll fizzle when it goes to resolve?
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For practical application, I'm actually asking this with regards to Replication Technique from the C21 Quandrix deck.
Sorcery
Demonstrate (When you cast this spell, you may copy it. If you do, choose an opponent to also copy it. Players may choose new targets for their copies.)
Create a token that's a copy of target permanent you control.
If my opponent controls a creature they want to copy and I control, IDK, a Leveler for some reason and no other creatures. They choose me to copy the spell. Must I make a copy of the Leveler or can I let the spell fizzle?
Grubbernaut says... #2
You can't choose an illegal target, and you can't choose no target, even if the only legal target(s) is something you don't actually want to target.
However, Increasing Vengeance has its own complication; it can only target YOUR (the controller's) spells. So, if you have no other spells on the stack, it has no legal targets and fizzles... if I'm following you correctly.
In short: if the spell/ability is on the stack and CAN target something, it MUST target that, rather than nothing.
April 7, 2021 2:13 p.m.
You can keep the target the same, even though it's illegal.
706.10c Some effects copy a spell or ability and state that its controller may choose new targets for the copy. The player may leave any number of the targets unchanged, even if those targets would be illegal. If the player chooses to change some or all of the targets, the new targets must be legal. Once the player has decided what the copy's targets will be, the copy is put onto the stack with those targets.
April 7, 2021 4:42 p.m.
That's exactly the clarification I was looking for, thanks.
Yesterday says... #1
Uh... and for the purposes of my second example, assume that all my noncreature permanents also have shroud.
April 7, 2021 1:53 p.m.