I was wondering this because i play an Izzet Midragnge and wanted to know if you could cast {Cancel} without a target. If you can't, then can you cast it with itself as a target? I ask because it could be really useful for a boosted {Nivix Cyclops} swing for game.
Quote from: GreatDarkness8 on September 26, 2013, 02:10:55 PM
I was wondering this because i play an Izzet Midragnge and wanted to know if you could cast {Cancel} without a target. If you can't, then can you cast it with itself as a target? I ask because it could be really useful for a boosted {Nivix Cyclops} swing for game.
I don't know about the first. But, you cannot target itself, as something on the stack is not a legal target for itself. It's like {Reverberate} canNOT target itself. Let me go find the official ruling.
I'm pretty sure that you can't cast {Cancel} without a target since you must declare the target (if applicable) as part of the steps involved in casting spells.
Here's ruling:
114.4. (http://imtgapp.com/forum/index.php?action=imtg;area=rule;number=114.4.): A spell or ability on the stack is an illegal target for itself.
Due to the steps you have to do before actually casting a spell you can not cast without a target.
Declare spell
Choose mode
Choose target(s)
Apply cost increases
Apply cost decreases
Pay the cost
Put it on the stack (cast)