When I Cast an Aura, Do I Have to Declare a Target before it Resolves
Asked by Halidir_Orveck 13 years ago
What is the exact ruling for Aura cards. Nowhere on the card does it say target as you cast.
If an enchantment aura would resolve without a target, it has no valid target, and is fizzled. So yes.
January 5, 2012 9:33 a.m.
303.4a An Aura spell requires a target, which is restricted by its enchant ability.
So yes you have to declare the target as you cast the spell
January 5, 2012 10:09 a.m.
In another situation, I think it's possible to have an aura attach to say, an opponent's Thrun, the Last Troll . I've heard that if an enchantment comes into the battlefield, but isn't cast, it will fall on a selected permanent you choose. (IE. You cast Sun Titan , and you choose to bring back a Dead Weight , onto the opponent's Thrun, even though it's Hexproof.) I'm unsure if this is all true, but I have heard this somewhere and I would personally like to get the ruling on this also. If someone could confirm or deny, I would appreciate it.
January 5, 2012 10:31 a.m.
@miasma, yes, it is true.
This is because an Aura spell has targets which denote what the Aura permanent comes into play enchanting. When it enters without being cast, it only exists as a permanent, so it doesn't have targets. Only things on the stack may have targets (spells/abilities), so this lets the Aura's permanent nature by pass the hexproof.
January 5, 2012 10:45 a.m.
KorApprentice says... Accepted answer #7
From the MTG Comprehensive Rulebook:
303.4f If an Aura is entering the battlefield under a players control by any means other than by resolving as an Aura spell, and the effect putting it onto the battlefield doesnt 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 Auras enchant ability and any other applicable effects.
The word "Target" must be used specifically for it to be counted as having a target. Notice that it says "choose a legal object" instead of "Target". For further clarification:
303.4. Some enchantments have the subtype Aura. An Aura enters the battlefield attached to an object or player. What an Aura can be attached to is restricted by its enchant keyword ability (see rule 702.5, Enchant). Other effects can limit what a permanent can be enchanted by.
This time it says "attached to an object", which is also not targeting. The only time that an Aura targets is when it is being cast as a spell:
303.4a An Aura spell requires a target, which is restricted by its enchant ability.
ZServ says... #1
If an enchantment aura would resolve without a target, it has no valid target, and is fizzled. So yes.
January 5, 2012 9:33 a.m.