Scrap Trawler and failing to find
Asked by Named_Tawyny 7 years ago
Hey folks.
With Scrap Trawler's ability, would I need to return an artifact (if there's one available) from my yard to my hand? I suspect so, since it's in a public zone (and targets a card in the yard rather than searching it).
Just wanted to double-check if failing to find was an option here like when you search libraries. Thanks!
As long as the ability has a valid target when it's put on the stack (the next time a player would receive priority after it triggers) the ability targets one of the valid targets and stays on the stack. When the ability resolves, as long as the target is still valid (if it was somehow removed from the graveyard already it wouldn't be) the ability returns the card to your hand, as it is not a may ability.
January 17, 2017 9:30 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #3
Just to clarify Neotrup's answer:
When you put a spell or ability onto the stack, you must declare a sufficient number of legal targets for it. If no legal targets are available for a spell or ability that requires targets, then the spell can't be cast, the activated ability can't be activated, or the triggered ability will be removed.
In this case, Scrap Trawler's ability requires one target. Because it targets something in a public zone, you must choose a legal target from among those available potential targets. (@Neotrup, the distinction wasn't clear between potential targets and the actual target.)
Searching for a card in a hidden zone is different; you don't target objects in hidden zones, and you can fail to find because no public information is available to verify whether a suitable choice could or couldn't be made.
pskinn01 says... #1
no, since its not a hidden zone, you must select a artifact.
January 17, 2017 7:28 p.m.