What Makes a Target Illegal in MTG?
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
In Magic: The Gathering (MTG), targeting is a crucial mechanic. Spells and abilities often require you to choose specific targets, which will be the recipients of their effects. However, a target that was once legal can become illegal by the time the spell or ability resolves. This invalidation leads to the spell or ability being countered upon resolution if it has all of its target become illegal. So, what exactly makes a target illegal?
A target becomes illegal if it no longer meets the requirements specified by the spell or ability that targeted it. This can happen for a variety of reasons, primarily revolving around changes in zone, characteristics, or protection. Let’s break it down:
- Zone Change: The most common reason a target becomes illegal is that it has moved from the zone it was in when it was targeted. For example, if you target a creature on the battlefield with a removal spell like “Murder,” but your opponent sacrifices that creature in response, it moves to the graveyard. Since “Murder” specifically targets a creature on the battlefield, the target is no longer legal.
- Characteristics Change: A target can also become illegal if its characteristics change in a way that it no longer matches the targeting requirements. Suppose you target a creature with a spell that only targets red creatures. If your opponent then casts a spell that changes the creature’s color to blue, it’s no longer a legal target for your spell.
- Protection: Protection from a specific quality (color, permanent type, etc.) makes a permanent an illegal target for anything with that quality. If you target a creature with “Lightning Bolt”, and the creature gains protection from red before the “Lightning Bolt” resolves, the target becomes illegal.
- Shroud and Hexproof: Both Shroud and Hexproof prevent a permanent from being targeted by spells or abilities controlled by an opponent. If a creature gains shroud or hexproof after being targeted, the target becomes illegal.
- Leaving the Game: If a targeted player leaves the game, all objects owned by that player also leave the game, making them illegal targets.
- Multiple Targets: Spells and abilities can require multiple targets. If one or more of those targets become illegal, the spell or ability will fizzle if all targets are illegal.
Understanding these scenarios is crucial for effectively playing MTG. Knowing what makes a target illegal allows you to predict how your spells will resolve and strategize accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Illegal Targets
What happens if all the targets of a spell become illegal?
If all the targets of a spell or ability become illegal by the time it resolves, the spell or ability will be countered by the game rules. This is often referred to as “fizzling.”
Does a spell fizzle if only one of its multiple targets becomes illegal?
This depends on whether the spell requires all targets to remain legal. Some spells state that if one or more targets are illegal upon resolution, the spell still resolves on the remaining legal targets to the extent possible. However, if all targets are illegal, the spell will be countered.
Can I change a spell’s target after it’s been cast?
No, you cannot change a spell’s target after it has been cast. The target is locked in when you cast the spell, and the spell will attempt to resolve with that target. Misdirection can move a spell to a new target, but the original caster does not change the target.
If a creature is indestructible, can it still be an illegal target?
Yes, a creature with indestructible can still become an illegal target. Indestructible only prevents the creature from being destroyed; it does not prevent it from being targeted by spells or abilities, or prevent it from being exiled or otherwise removed from the battlefield.
How does “split second” affect targeting?
Split second prevents players from casting spells or activating abilities in response. This means that if you cast a spell with split second, your opponent cannot take actions to make the target illegal before your spell resolves, unless they have an ability that does not use the stack.
Can a spell target a player with hexproof?
No, hexproof prevents a player from being the target of spells or abilities your opponents control. If a player has hexproof, you cannot target them with your spells or abilities.
What’s the difference between hexproof and shroud?
Both prevent targeting, but hexproof only prevents targeting by opponents’ spells and abilities, while shroud prevents a permanent from being targeted by any spell or ability, including its controller’s.
Can I cast a spell with no legal targets?
Generally, you cannot cast a spell without a legal target if the spell requires a target. The game will not allow you to cast the spell if you cannot choose a legal target for each specified target. However, some spells and abilities have the option to have zero targets (see rule 114.5).
How do triggered abilities interact with illegal targets?
Triggered abilities that trigger when a spell is cast will still trigger even if the spell is later countered due to illegal targets. The triggered ability goes on the stack and resolves independently of the spell that triggered it.
Does protection prevent damage from spells that don’t target?
Protection prevents damage from sources of the specified quality, even if they don’t target. For example, a creature with protection from red will not take damage from a red source, even if that source is a board wipe that doesn’t target.
If a spell targets a creature that later becomes a copy of another creature, is the target still legal?
If the creature’s name and other relevant characteristics change in a way that it no longer satisfies the targeting requirements of the spell, the target becomes illegal.
What happens if a permanent gains shroud after I target it with an aura?
If a permanent gains shroud after you target it with an Aura, the Aura spell will be countered upon resolution due to the illegal target. You cannot attach the Aura to the shrouded permanent.
Can I target a land with a creature removal spell?
No, you cannot target a land with a creature removal spell. Creature removal spells specifically target creatures. Lands and other permanent types would be illegal targets.
If my opponent controls a creature with “protection from everything”, can I target it?
No, protection from everything is an incredibly powerful form of protection. It makes the permanent an illegal target for virtually everything, including spells, abilities, combat damage, and more.
Can I redirect a spell to make its original target illegal?
Yes, you can use a spell like “Misdirection” to change the target of a spell. If you redirect a spell to a new, legal target, the original target is no longer affected. If you redirect a spell to a target that would cause the original target to be illegal, the original target will not be affected since the spell now targets a new legal target.
The intricacies of targeting in Magic: The Gathering are significant, and mastering these rules is essential for successful gameplay. Be sure to explore other game concepts at the Games Learning Society website to further deepen your understanding. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org for more information.