Essential Magic > Forums Homepage > Rules Questions > targeting question
You are not logged in, so you will not be able to post to this thread
or reply to any posts. We suggest that you | Posted By | Post Title | Date Posted |
|
relue8
Joined: 11/5/2009 Quote: [none]
|
targeting question | 5/22/2011 4:23:04 PM |
|
When I play a spell that targets something, do I have to say what it is targeting before or after it resolves? For example, if I cast Terror Buy and my opponent has Counterspell Buy in hand, can he counter it after he knows what I'll target? Thanks
|
||
|
||
|
|
||
|
Æther Tech
Joined: 8/28/2009 Quote: Are you sure you wan't to pump up your Thornling after I've declared my Abyssal Persecutor as a blocker?
|
RE: targeting question | 5/22/2011 4:32:13 PM |
|
You have to declare your target as you cast terror. 
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
HunterZero
 
Joined: 1/15/2002 Quote: "For the first time in his life, Grakk felt a little warm and fuzzy inside."
|
RE: targeting question | 5/22/2011 11:28:40 PM |
|
You declare targets first, and then pay for the spell all as part of the process of casting it. If you can't declare a legal target for the spell at the time you would cast it, then you can't cast it. Note that some spells require you to choose targets before the cost can be determined and paid, so this is why you have to choose targets first. And a spell can't target itself. You might want to check out the rules on the stack and priority too. From the comprehensive rules: 601. Casting Spells 601.1. Previously, the action of casting a spell, or casting a card as a spell, was referred to on cards as “playing” that spell or that card. Cards that were printed with that text have received errata in the Oracle card reference so they now refer to “casting” that spell or that card. 601.1a Some effects still refer to “playing” a card. “Playing a card” means playing that card as a land or casting that card as a spell, whichever is appropriate. 601.2. To cast a spell is to take it from where it is (usually the hand), put it on the stack, and pay its costs, so that it will eventually resolve and have its effect. Casting a spell follows the steps listed below, in order. If, at any point during the casting of a spell, a player is unable to comply with any of the steps listed below, the casting of the spell is illegal; the game returns to the moment before that spell started to be cast (see rule 715, “Handling Illegal Actions”). Announcements and payments can’t be altered after they’ve been made. 601.2a The player announces that he or she is casting the spell. That card (or that copy of a card) moves from where it is to the stack. It becomes the topmost object on the stack. It has all the characteristics of the card (or the copy of a card) associated with it, and that player becomes its controller. The spell remains on the stack until it’s countered, it resolves, or an effect moves it elsewhere. 601.2b If the spell is modal the player announces the mode choice (see rule 700.2). If the player wishes to splice any cards onto the spell (see rule 702.44), he or she reveals those cards in his or her hand. If the spell has alternative or additional costs that will be paid as it’s being cast such as buyback, kicker, or convoke costs (see rules 117.8 and 117.9), the player announces his or her intentions to pay any or all of those costs (see rule 601.2e). A player can’t apply two alternative methods of casting or two alternative costs to a single spell. If the spell has a variable cost that will be paid as it’s being cast (such as an {X} in its mana cost; see rule 107.3), the player announces the value of that variable. If a cost that will be paid as the spell is being cast includes hybrid mana symbols, the player announces the nonhybrid equivalent cost he or she intends to pay. Previously made choices (such as choosing to cast a spell with flashback from a graveyard or choosing to cast a creature with morph face down) may restrict the player’s options when making these choices. 601.2c The player announces his or her choice of an appropriate player, object, or zone for each target the spell requires. A spell may require some targets only if an alternative or additional cost (such as a buyback or kicker cost), or a particular mode, was chosen for it; otherwise, the spell is cast as though it did not require those targets. If the spell has a variable number of targets, the player announces how many targets he or she will choose before he or she announces those targets. The same target can’t be chosen multiple times for any one instance of the word “target” on the spell. However, if the spell uses the word “target” in multiple places, the same object, player, or zone can be chosen once for each instance of the word “target” (as long as it fits the targeting criteria). If any effects say that an object or player must be chosen as a target, the player chooses targets so that he or she obeys the maximum possible number of such effects without violating any rules or effects that say that an object or player can’t be chosen as a target. The chosen players, objects, and/or zones each become a target of that spell. (Any abilities that trigger when those players, objects, and/or zones become the target of a spell trigger at this point; they’ll wait to be put on the stack until the spell has finished being cast.) Example: If a spell says “Tap two target creatures,” then the same creature can’t be chosen twice; the spell requires two different legal targets. A spell that says “Destroy target artifact and target land,” however, can target the same artifact land twice because it uses the word “target” in multiple places. 601.2d If the spell requires the player to divide or distribute an effect (such as damage or counters) among one or more targets, the player announces the division. Each of these targets must receive at least one of whatever is being divided. 601.2e The player determines the total cost of the spell. Usually this is just the mana cost. Some spells have additional or alternative costs. Some effects may increase or reduce the cost to pay, or may provide other alternative costs. Costs may include paying mana, tapping permanents, sacrificing permanents, discarding cards, and so on. The total cost is the mana cost or alternative cost (as determined in rule 601.2b), plus all additional costs and cost increases, and minus all cost reductions. If the mana component of the total cost is reduced to nothing by cost reduction effects, it is considered to be {0}. It can’t be reduced to less than {0}. Once the total cost is determined, any effects that directly affect the total cost are applied. Then the resulting total cost becomes “locked in.” If effects would change the total cost after this time, they have no effect. 601.2f If the total cost includes a mana payment, the player then has a chance to activate mana abilities (see rule 605, “Mana Abilities”). Mana abilities must be activated before costs are paid. 601.2g The player pays the total cost in any order. Partial payments are not allowed. Unpayable costs can’t be paid. Example: You cast Death Bomb, which costs {3}{B} and has an additional cost of sacrificing a creature. You sacrifice Thunderscape Familiar, whose effect makes your black spells cost {1} less to cast. Because a spell’s total cost is “locked in” before payments are actually made, you pay {2}{B}, not {3}{B}, even though you’re sacrificing the Familiar. 601.2h Once the steps described in 601.2a–g are completed, the spell becomes cast. Any abilities that trigger when a spell is cast or put onto the stack trigger at this time. If the spell’s controller had priority before casting it, he or she gets priority. - HZ DCI MTG Rules Advisor 
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
falazar
Joined: 6/29/2012 Quote: [none]
|
RE: RE: targeting question | 6/29/2012 5:40:14 PM |
|
Sooo, Looking thru the rules and such, I notice in 601 it does NOT say about passing priority and counterspells.... From what I can piece together now though, priority would be passed After you cast your spell, so in general you CANNOT stop a spell from being cast, correct? It has to be put on the stack and then Fully Cast before another player gets priority and can counter... so how does that work? Also same Q for activating.... it looks like now if I had memory jar or something, I could tap it, effects would go on the Stack, then they could destroy it with instant, and effects would still go off normally. Trying to find more info on priority.... Thanks!!
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
Mallys
Joined: 5/21/2004 Quote: [none]
|
RE: RE: RE: targeting question | 6/30/2012 12:18:18 AM |
|
I believe the confusion may be in semantics. There is a difference between a spell being cast and a spell resolving. To cast a spell is to go through the above listed steps, ending with the spell on the stack, awaiting resolution. A spell has no effect until it actually resolves, and before that happens, all players must all pass priority in turn. When a player gains priority (while the spell is still on the stack), they will have the opportunity at that time to add their own spells/abilities to the stack, which include the ability to counter the spell. With Memory Jar Buy, part of the cost of the ability is to sacrifice it, but assuming you were doing something else, like using Voltaic Key Buy, then your assumption is accurate. The Stack FAQ here is a pretty good start. -------------------- Magic Rules Advisor =D
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
The comments and opinions expressed here are those of Essential Magic users and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Essential Magic itself. Essential Magic cannot be held liable for physical or emotional damage or losses caused by any of the comments expressed in these open forums.
