Vines of Vastwood...need help
Asked by Lorendih 5 years ago
Hi, I'm an old player from MTG and I don't remember a lot of basic rules. Here a, maybe, stupid question.
Can Vines of Vastwood protect one of my creatures from: 1) Lightning Bolt or similar. 2) Luminous Bonds so from aura. 3) Impale or similar.
If yes: 1) does these spells finish in the graveyard after I play Vines of Vastwood ? 2) I have to play it before my rival plays his spell or can I do it after his choice?
Thank you, hope someone will help me ;)
Rhadamanthus says... #2
For instants and sorceries the answer is "yes that works", and for auras the answer is "only if the opponent is casting it right now". You can cast Vines of Vastwood in response to your opponent's spell.
Spells and abilities with targets will check to see if their targets are still legal before they start to resolve. If none of the targets are legal then the spell/ability doesn't do anything, and a spell would be put into the graveyard. If only some targets are illegal then the spell/ability will resolve and do as much as it can with the targets that are still legal. An aura only has a target while it's being cast as a spell. Once it's on the battlefield, it isn't considered to be "targeting" the object it's attached to.
Also, whenever a spell/ability is put onto the stack, everyone gets a chance to respond before it starts resolving. Players can respond by either casting an instant spell or activating an activated ability (there are some exceptions; the rules text of the specific spells/abilities involved will tell you if so). Any responses are added to the top of the stack and will end up resolving before the spells and abilities below them.
So in your specific questions:
- Your opponent casts Lightning Bolt targeting your creature. You respond with Vines. Since Vines is on top of the stack it will resolve first, meaning your creature is now an illegal target for Bolt. Bolt is put into the graveyard and doesn't resolve.
- If your opponent casts Luminous Bonds targeting your creature and you respond with Vines then it plays out just like the Lightning Bolt example. However, if Bonds is already attached to your creature then playing Vines won't accomplish anything. It stays attached.
- Your opponent casts Impale targeting your creature and you respond with Vines. It plays out just like the Lightning Bolt example.
January 31, 2019 11:52 a.m. Edited.
Rhadamanthus says... #4
Lorendih: Please use the "Mark as Answer" button next to the post that best answered your question to mark the topic as resolved and to move it out of the unanswered questions list.
Caerwyn says... Accepted answer #1
Vines of Vastwood will protect the creature from any targeted spell your opponents' control.
At the risk of being simplistic, I'll go over the basic rules, since you said you needed a refresher.
Vines of Vastwood is an instant, which means you can cast it whenever you have priority, even when other items are on the stack.
Targeted spells and abilities check target legality twice. The first time is when they are put on the stack and a target is declared. The second time is when the spell or ability resolves. A target must be legal at both times for the spell to fully resolve.
So, for Lightning Bolt , when you cast it, you will declare the target. Let's say it is Grizzly Bears . At the time of casting, Grizzly Bears is a legal target, since it has no ability (like shroud or hexproof) preventing it from being targeted.
In response to the Lightning Bolt , while the Lightning Bolt is still on the stack, you cast Vines of Vastwood . Because it was put on the stack later, it resolves first. Your Grizzly Bears now "can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control this turn."
Lightning Bolt now tries to resolve. It checks targeting legality again. At this point, Grizzly Bears are not a valid target, so Lightning Bolt is removed from the stack and put into its owner's graveyard (Rule 608.2b).
The same is true for Impale or any other spell that says targets.
Auras, like Luminous Bonds are a little bit different. When cast, Auras are targeted spells. As such, they must follow all normal rules for targeting--the target must be legal at both casting and resolution. So, presuming Luminous Bonds was cast, Vines of Vastwood would protect your creature in the exact same manner as it prevents Lightning Bolt from killing your creature. Likewise, the aura would go to the graveyard if the target was no longer legal upon resolution.
Here's where things get a little odd. If your opponent cheats an aura into play, such as with Zur the Enchanter 's ability, then it does not target, and can be attached to any creature, even one that might not be a legal target.
January 31, 2019 11:46 a.m. Edited.