Does Spellskite Have to Be a Legal Target?
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The short answer is no, Spellskite does not have to be a legal target for its ability to be activated. This nuanced rule makes Spellskite a tricky and powerful card in Magic: The Gathering. While many abilities require the chosen target to be legal, Spellskite operates differently. Let’s delve into the specifics of why and how this works, along with some common scenarios and edge cases.
Spellskite’s Unique Targeting
Spellskite’s ability reads: “{2}{U/P}: You may change the target of target spell or ability to Spellskite. ({U/P} can be paid with either {U} or 2 life.)” The crucial part is that it says “you may change the target”. This isn’t a forced effect. It is not mandatory, you choose if you want to activate it or not.
Here’s the key takeaway: you can activate Spellskite’s ability even if Spellskite isn’t a legal target for the chosen spell or ability you’re redirecting. This is a very specific rule that often surprises players.
Understanding Legal Targets
Before we go further, let’s briefly clarify what a “legal target” is. In Magic, a spell or ability will have specific targeting restrictions. For instance:
- Restrictions based on card type: A spell might say “target creature,” meaning you can only choose a creature on the battlefield.
- Restrictions based on who controls it: A spell might read “target creature you control,” thus excluding opponent’s creatures.
- Restrictions based on specific characteristics: Some effects may target, for example, “target enchantment you control”, etc.
If a potential target doesn’t meet all requirements listed in the targeting restrictions of the spell or ability, it is not considered a legal target.
Why it Matters
The ability to activate Spellskite’s ability even when it is not a legal target allows for a multitude of strategic plays. For example, consider an opponent casting a spell that targets an opponent’s creature. If Spellskite is a non-creature permanent, such as if it is affected by a card like Liquimetal Coating for instance, Spellskite is not a legal target of that spell. However, because of its specific wording, you can still activate Spellskite’s ability in this case. While the redirection does not result in a new target, it can still prove useful for stalling purposes or simply activating Spellskite’s ability to gain life.
Common Misconceptions
The specific targeting rule for Spellskite often leads to confusion. It’s essential to understand the difference between:
- Activating the ability: You can always activate the ability, even if the target change won’t happen.
- Changing the target: The target only changes if Spellskite is a legal target for the spell or ability you’re trying to redirect.
If Spellskite is an illegal target, you can still activate its ability. However, once the ability resolves, the target of the spell or ability remains unchanged. So, your opponent’s targeted creature will still be the target and the effect will resolve on that target as intended.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some FAQs to further clarify the nuances of Spellskite and its interaction with the rules:
1. Can Spellskite target an aura that’s being cast?
Yes. Aura spells on the stack require a target to be cast. Therefore, you can use Spellskite’s ability to redirect an aura being cast onto itself, as long as it meets the aura’s targeting requirements.
2. Can Spellskite steal equipment?
No. The Equip ability, while it does have “target creature,” specifies it can only target a creature that you control. Therefore, an opposing Spellskite cannot steal equipment. However, if the equip is being done through a spell or effect rather than its equipment ability, Spellskite can re-target it.
3. Can Spellskite steal counterspells?
No. Counterspells target spells on the stack, not creatures. Spellskite can try to redirect, but it won’t be a legal target so the target will not be changed.
4. What happens if Spellskite has hexproof?
If Spellskite has hexproof, and your opponent tries to target a spell or ability you control, Spellskite’s ability won’t change anything. Hexproof prevents your opponent from targeting it, making it an illegal target for their spell/ability redirection attempt. However, the ability is still activated if you choose to, and resolves. It just has no effect on the target.
5. Can you cast a spell without a valid target?
No. Targeting is part of the casting process. If a spell has a “target” clause, it requires a valid target to be cast.
6. Can you change the target of a counterspell with Spellskite?
No. Counterspells do not target permanents on the board, or creatures, or players. Therefore, they do not have valid targets for Spellskite to re-target to itself. Spellskite’s ability can be activated, but the target of the counterspell will remain the original target.
7. What makes a target illegal?
A target becomes illegal when it no longer meets the targeting requirements of the spell or ability it was chosen for. This could be because of:
- The target leaving the zone (e.g., being destroyed and moving to the graveyard).
- Changes to the target’s characteristics.
- Changes to the effect of the spell or ability itself.
8. Does “Equip” count as a target ability?
Yes, the “Equip” ability on Equipment cards uses the word “target” in its reminder text. Therefore, it is considered a target ability.
9. What’s the best use of Spellskite?
Spellskite is versatile. It is often used to protect your own combos and high-value permanents from enemy removal spells by re-targeting the spell onto it. It can also stall or interrupt your opponent’s strategies. However, it is less useful against direct damage spells.
10. Can Spellskite target itself with an activated ability?
Yes. If there is a spell or ability that is targeting Spellskite, you may then activate Spellskite’s own ability to re-target the spell onto itself.
11. Can Spellskite steal auras?
Yes. If an aura is being cast as a spell, Spellskite can redirect it to itself provided it meets the aura’s targeting requirements. However, if the aura is placed onto the board by an effect, it does not need to target as a spell so Spellskite’s ability will not affect it.
12. Does sacrificing get around Totem Armor?
Yes. Totem armor only works when a permanent is being destroyed by a spell or ability. If it’s being sacrificed, Totem Armor does nothing to prevent the sacrifice.
13. Can Spellskite make Deflecting Swat target itself?
Yes. Deflecting Swat targets spells on the stack so you can activate Spellskite to change the target of Deflecting Swat. If the spell being redirected to Spellskite is targeting a creature on the battlefield, Spellskite may change the target to itself, if it is a legal target for the spell.
14. What happens to Auras when their enchanted permanent is removed?
If the permanent an Aura is enchanting leaves the battlefield, or becomes an illegal target for the aura, the Aura is put into its owner’s graveyard.
15. Can I activate Spellskite’s ability with no target?
Yes. You can activate Spellskite’s ability even if there is no target on the stack. The key phrase is “you may“. You choose if you want to activate it. If it resolves with no valid target, then the target of the spell or ability on the stack remains unchanged.
Conclusion
Spellskite’s unique targeting interaction makes it a potent card in Magic: The Gathering. While its ability to change targets is conditional, its ability to activate despite being an illegal target makes it a powerful and complex tool. Understanding these nuances is critical to properly use Spellskite and can be a key to success. This detailed analysis and the frequently asked questions should provide clarity on the card’s specific rules and help you master it in your future games.