Does an instant have to have a target?

[Curious penguin]

Please and thank you?

[Imdowd80]

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.

[Curious penguin]

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??

[Kaleo42]

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.

[Curious penguin]

Ok thanks!!:)

[KulrathKnight]

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.

[Kaleo42]

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.

[KulrathKnight]

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.

[Desolatus]

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. :)

[Jroch314]

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.