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Magic (The Gathering) => Rules => Topic started by: Curious penguin on November 11, 2012, 02:42:54 AM

Title: Does an instant have to have a target?
Post by: Curious penguin on November 11, 2012, 02:42:54 AM
Please and thank you?
Title: Re: Does an instant have to have a target?
Post by: Imdowd80 on November 11, 2012, 02:45:40 AM
Depends on the instant, things like {fog} don't target. But things that say target have to have a legal target to go in the stack.
Title: Re: Does an instant have to have a target?
Post by: Curious penguin on November 11, 2012, 02:53:37 AM
So if I play a night law shaman. And grab an instant from the opponent, I can't use it if it doesn't have a target? I doesnt just fizzle out??
Title: Re: Does an instant have to have a target?
Post by: Kaleo42 on November 11, 2012, 03:02:31 AM
Every spell or ability that has the word "target" must have a legal target to cast or activate and then maintain that target to resolve.

The term "fizzle" is used when a target is lost after activation, but before resolution.
Title: Re: Does an instant have to have a target?
Post by: Curious penguin on November 11, 2012, 03:29:07 AM
Ok thanks!!:)
Title: Re: Does an instant have to have a target?
Post by: KulrathKnight on November 11, 2012, 06:10:05 AM
Quote from: Kaleo42 on November 11, 2012, 03:02:31 AM
Every spell or ability that has the word "target" must have a legal target to cast or activate and then maintain that target to resolve.

The term "fizzle" is used when a target is lost after activation, but before resolution.

When all targets are lost, the spell is countered, or fizzles.
Title: Re: Does an instant have to have a target?
Post by: Kaleo42 on November 11, 2012, 12:33:26 PM
Quote from: KulrathKnight on November 11, 2012, 06:10:05 AM
Quote from: Kaleo42 on November 11, 2012, 03:02:31 AM
Every spell or ability that has the word "target" must have a legal target to cast or activate and then maintain that target to resolve.

The term "fizzle" is used when a target is lost after activation, but before resolution.

When all targets are lost, the spell is countered, or fizzles.
Thats case by case, {switcharoo} needs both targets.
Title: Re: Does an instant have to have a target?
Post by: KulrathKnight on November 11, 2012, 04:25:10 PM
Quote from: Kaleo42 on November 11, 2012, 12:33:26 PM
Quote from: KulrathKnight on November 11, 2012, 06:10:05 AM
Quote from: Kaleo42 on November 11, 2012, 03:02:31 AM
Every spell or ability that has the word "target" must have a legal target to cast or activate and then maintain that target to resolve.

The term "fizzle" is used when a target is lost after activation, but before resolution.

When all targets are lost, the spell is countered, or fizzles.
Thats case by case, {switcharoo} needs both targets.

True. If the targets interact with each other or exchange control, then it definitely matters to have all targets that interact valid.
Title: Re: Does an instant have to have a target?
Post by: Desolatus on November 11, 2012, 04:47:39 PM
A spell like {Peel from Reality} needs both targets, too. It's really just a matter of what spell you're casting, not really whether it's an instant or sorcery or what-have-you.

If it says target, it has to have a target. :)
Title: Re: Does an instant have to have a target?
Post by: Jroch314 on November 11, 2012, 05:14:15 PM
Quote from: Desolatus on November 11, 2012, 04:47:39 PM
A spell like {Peel from Reality} needs both targets, too. It's really just a matter of what spell you're casting, not really whether it's an instant or sorcery or what-have-you.

If it says target, it has to have a target. :)
In this case, yea it has to have two legal targets when cast. But not when it resolves.