Targeting in Magic: The Gathering – When Do You Choose Your Victims?
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The burning question on every fledgling planeswalker’s mind: Do you choose targets for a spell as they are cast or when they resolve in Magic: The Gathering (MTG)? The answer, unequivocally, is as they are cast. The entire process of targeting is intertwined with the very act of casting a spell. Let’s delve into the intricacies of this crucial game mechanic.
Targeting: A Foundation of Spellcasting
Targeting isn’t an afterthought; it’s an integral part of the spellcasting process. When you cast a spell or activate an ability that uses the word “target” in its rules text, you must choose those targets at the moment you cast the spell or activate the ability. This choice isn’t just a casual selection; it’s a binding commitment.
Think of it like aiming a magical missile. You don’t launch it into the general vicinity and then decide what to hit. You lock onto your target before you unleash the spell’s power. This pre-selection allows other players to respond to your actions, potentially disrupting your plans.
Why Targeting Happens on Cast
The timing of target selection is crucial for several reasons:
- Information and Interaction: Declaring targets upfront provides vital information to all players. Your opponent knows who or what you’re trying to affect, and this knowledge allows them to react accordingly. They might use a counterspell to negate your spell, protect their creatures with a hexproof aura, or even try to redirect your spell to a different target.
- Legality Checks: Once you’ve declared your targets, the game verifies their legality. Are you targeting a creature with shroud when your spell requires a targetable creature? If so, the spell can’t be cast. This prevents illegal actions and ensures the game remains consistent.
- Order of Operations: Spells and abilities resolve in a very strict order. Announcing targets on cast is part of that order.
The Resolution Phase: Re-Evaluating Legality
While targets are chosen on cast, their legality is checked again when the spell or ability resolves. This second check is essential because the game state can change between the time you cast the spell and the time it resolves. Perhaps your opponent sacrifices the creature you targeted with a removal spell. In that case, your spell will fizzle, meaning it will be countered upon resolution because its target is no longer legal.
It’s important to note that some effects only look for the existence of something that matches the targeting restrictions and don’t target. These effects find objects during the resolution phase.
Understanding “Targets” vs. “Affects”
A critical distinction must be made between what a spell targets and what it affects. A spell targets something specifically named in its text with the word “target”. A spell can affect creatures, players, permanents, etc., without explicitly targeting them. For example, a board wipe like “Wrath of God” doesn’t target any specific creatures, but it affects all creatures on the battlefield. These are chosen at resolution.
Targeting and Card Advantage
Understanding targeting is critical to managing card advantage. If you attempt to target a creature with a removal spell and your opponent sacrifices that creature in response, your removal spell will be countered on resolution for having no legal targets.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Targeting
Here are some common questions about targeting, with detailed explanations:
1. What happens if all my targets become illegal before my spell resolves?
If all targets for a spell or ability become illegal before it resolves, the spell or ability is countered upon resolution. This is often referred to as “fizzling.”
2. Can I cast a spell if I can’t choose a valid target?
No. If a spell or ability requires a target, and you cannot choose a valid target when casting the spell, you cannot cast the spell or activate the ability. Targeting is a mandatory part of the casting process.
3. Can a spell target itself?
No. According to rule 115.5, “A spell or ability on the stack is an illegal target for itself”. Therefore, a spell cannot target itself.
4. Can I change my target after I’ve cast the spell?
Generally no, but there are exceptions. Once you’ve declared the targets for a spell or ability, you cannot change them unless a specific card effect allows you to do so. Cards like [[Misdirection]] let you change the target of a spell.
5. What does “hexproof” do to targeting?
A permanent with hexproof cannot be targeted by spells or abilities your opponents control. You can target your own permanents with hexproof.
6. What does “shroud” do to targeting?
A permanent with shroud cannot be targeted by any spells or abilities, including your own.
7. Do I have to choose a target if a spell says “up to one target creature”?
Yes. Rule 114.5 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. If you want to cast it, you still need to choose at least one target.
8. If a spell doesn’t say “target,” does it target?
No. The presence of the word “target” in the spell’s rules text is the definitive indicator that the spell targets. If the word is absent, the spell does not target, even if it affects specific objects or players.
9. What if I target a creature with an ability, and then the creature becomes an illegal target (gains hexproof)?
If a permanent gains hexproof after it has already been legally targeted, the spell or ability remains legal. The hexproof only matters when choosing targets.
10. Is a dead creature still a legal target?
Whether a dead creature (a creature in the graveyard) is a legal target depends on the specific spell or ability. Some spells can target creatures in graveyards, while others cannot. Check the spell’s text carefully.
11. Can you target a spell with a counterspell that does not exist?
No. You can’t cast a spell without a legal target. Therefore, you can’t cast a Counterspell without a spell on the stack.
12. After I cast a spell, who gets priority?
After you cast a spell, all players have an opportunity to respond. The active player (the player whose turn it is) gets priority first. The stack resolves from the top down.
13. Can you cast an instant after a spell resolves?
Instants can be played when you have priority. There is no pass of priority when a creature resolves, so you wouldn’t have the option to kill it. You can’t because your opponent gets priority on their turn before you do.
14. What is the difference between playing a spell and casting a spell?
You play lands, and you cast spells.
15. Can I copy a spell after it resolves?
No, you can’t copy a spell after it resolves. A spell exists on the stack until it resolves. Once it resolves, it is gone. However, some cards can copy permanent spells, which then become tokens.
Mastering Targeting: Key to Victory
Understanding the intricacies of targeting is fundamental to becoming a proficient Magic: The Gathering player. It informs your decisions, allows you to anticipate your opponent’s moves, and helps you navigate the complex interactions that make MTG such a compelling game. Dive deeper into the strategic depths of gaming at the Games Learning Society website.
Good luck, and may your targets always be legal! You can learn more about gaming and education from the GamesLearningSociety.org.