Can a Creature Target Itself? A Comprehensive Guide to Targeting in Magic: The Gathering
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The world of Magic: The Gathering (MTG) is filled with intricate rules and interactions, and one of the most common questions players encounter revolves around targeting. A particularly intriguing aspect is whether a creature can target itself with its own abilities. The short answer is: generally, yes, a creature can target itself, provided that the conditions of the ability allow it and the creature doesn’t have any restrictions that would make it an illegal target. Let’s delve into the specifics and explore the nuances of this fascinating rule.
The Basics of Targeting
In MTG, targeting is a crucial mechanic. Many spells and abilities require you to choose a specific card, player, or zone to affect. This process is explicit and generally includes the word “target” on the card. To properly understand whether a creature can target itself, it’s important to grasp the fundamental principles of targeting.
When Can a Creature Target Itself?
A creature can target itself when its ability explicitly states it can target a creature or “any target” and it doesn’t have any limiting characteristics like shroud or protection from the color of its own ability. For instance, let’s consider Spikeshot Goblin, a creature with the ability to deal damage to “any target”. As a creature on the battlefield, it can be a legal target for its own ability, assuming it doesn’t have any of the aforementioned targeting restrictions.
When Can’t a Creature Target Itself?
There are specific scenarios where a creature cannot target itself:
- Shroud: Creatures with shroud cannot be targeted by any spells or abilities, including their own. This means a creature with shroud is out of the picture as a target for its own abilities.
- Protection: If a creature has protection from a specific color, and its ability is of that same color, it cannot target itself. For example, a creature with protection from red cannot target itself with a red ability.
- Specific Ability Restrictions: Certain abilities may have specific clauses that exclude the creature from being a valid target. For instance, the Mentor ability prevents the mentor creature from targeting itself, requiring a different creature with lower power as the target.
The Stack and Self-Targeting
It’s also critical to understand that spells and abilities use the stack. A spell or ability that is on the stack is not a legal target for itself. This means that you can’t use a spell or ability on the stack to target itself. Only once the ability is on the battlefield and its effects are being calculated can it target other cards, including itself in some cases.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To further clarify the intricacies of self-targeting in MTG, here are 15 frequently asked questions:
1. Can a Creature with Hexproof Target Itself?
No. Hexproof prevents a creature from being the target of spells or abilities your opponents control. This means you can target your own hexproof creatures with your spells and abilities. However, a creature with hexproof can’t target itself unless another card explicitly allows it.
2. Can a Creature With Shroud Target Itself?
No, a creature with shroud can not be the target of any spell or ability, including its own.
3. Can a Creature with Mentor Target Itself?
No, a creature with mentor cannot target itself. The mentor ability requires that another creature with a lesser power be targeted.
4. Can a Creature Target Itself if it Has Protection from the Spell’s Color?
No, if a creature has protection from the color of the ability, it cannot be targeted by that ability.
5. Can a Creature Eat Itself Alive?
The idea of a creature eating itself alive is a common question, often inspired by the card Spikeshot Goblin. While the specific card doesn’t allow a creature to be destroyed by it, a creature can target itself if the card or ability allows it, it just needs to have a clear target.
6. Does Equipping Count as Targeting?
Yes, equipping a creature counts as targeting it. The “Equip” ability explicitly includes the word “target” in its reminder text.
7. Can a Creature Target an Already Tapped Creature?
Yes, you can target a tapped creature. If the ability includes a tap, that portion will do nothing, but the rest of the ability will still apply.
8. What is an Illegal Target in MTG?
An illegal target is a card or player that no longer meets the conditions for being targeted by a spell or ability, usually because it is no longer in the zone it was in when it was targeted or it has a specific attribute like shroud that prevents it from being targeted.
9. Can a Creature Be Targeted by Multiple Instances of the Same Effect?
Yes, if an ability says “target” multiple times, the same creature can be chosen multiple times, as long as it fits the targeting criteria. The creature is “targeted” for each instance of the word “target”.
10. Can You Target a Creature That Is Invisible?
You can not target a creature you cannot see. If you have the means to see or interact with it, then it can be a target of your spells and abilities.
11. What Happens if a Target Becomes Illegal During Resolution?
If a target becomes illegal before a spell or ability resolves, that part of the spell or ability will not resolve. The ability might fizzle if it no longer has legal targets.
12. Can You Target a Creature You Own but Don’t Control?
You cannot sacrifice a creature you do not control, but you can target it with a spell. If you own a creature but an opponent controls it, you can target the creature with a card that does not require you to control it as a target such as with “Act of Treason”.
13. What is Rule 114.5 in Magic The Gathering?
Rule 114.5 in MTG states that spells and abilities that can have zero or more targets are targeted only if one or more targets have been chosen for them.
14. Do Lands Count as Spells?
No, lands are not spells. Playing a land is a special action that does not use the stack. Thus, it is not a spell and cannot be interacted with using cards that require an instance of the word “spell”.
15. Can Dual Shot Target the Same Creature Twice?
No, a card like Dual Shot cannot target the same creature twice. While it has two instances of “target”, each target must be a unique target, and can’t be the same creature twice to receive 2 damage.
Conclusion
The interaction between creatures and their own abilities in MTG is a nuanced but fascinating aspect of the game. While the short answer is generally yes, a creature can target itself, there are many factors that must be taken into consideration. By understanding the principles of targeting, the exceptions such as shroud and protection, and the specific rulings associated with different abilities, players can navigate these complexities with greater confidence. Remember, always read the card text carefully and consider all potential implications before making your next move in the ever-evolving landscape of Magic: The Gathering.