When i cast {doom blade} do i have to specify which creature it is targeting? Or must i only specify when it has resolved? I ask because after doom blade, if they specify which creature then i can play {vines of vastwood}, which prevents targeting of a creature. However if the target of the spell is chosen upon casting, it is somewhat misleading as the spell has already been cast and the creature targeted. This would suggest targets are chosen upon resolution, thus making {vines of vastwood an impossible to use spell, which i know is false. So is hexproof, per the rules, countering the actual targeting, as targeting has already been done upon the casting of {doom blade}? I understand the results but the wording of hexproof seems to be a little confusing...
Your reasoning is correct, my good sir. To cast a spell that targets, ALL targets must be legal and declared upon casting, and at least one must still be legal upon resolution.
If you give a creature hexproof in response to doom blade, when blade tries to reaolve it won't have any legal targets, so it is countered.
Edit: .:.)hheh...I got Testset'd.
Ahhh ok, i didnt know about the legality ruling as far as casting and resolving.. That was an intensely long post for something so simple
In the same way, if you tried to case {Vines of Vastwood} onto one if your creatures, they can respond with {Doom Blade} before it resolves, removing the target and therefore countering your vines.