Phantismal's

[GoJuDragon]

Do card like phantismal dragon and such with the "ability" When this card becomes the target or a spell or ability, get distroyed even when it is a friendly ability like All other blue creatures you controll get +1/+1?

[Zav]

And for that matter, what about if I use my creatures ability to add a positive/beneficial skill to your phantasmal creature? My roomie ran into that one recently too.

[Phat Max]

Any card effect that doesn't read 'target' should not cause the ability to trigger.

An effect, such as '+1/+1 to all creatures you control' does not target, and thus doesn't blow them up.

Using giant growth on one, however, does, as it reads 'target creature'.

Also, countering a spell that targets a phantasmal does not stop it's ability from blowing itself up.

Hope this helps!

[Piotr]

I would argue that if Giant Growth is countered, it won't blow the illusionary creature. You target the creature as {Giant Growth} resolves, and if it's countered it never gets to resolve.

[Zav]

Ok, but say I use a creature of mine with "(x mana): target creature gains deathtouch" on my opponents phantasmal whatever, would that kill it?

[Piotr]

Yes, unless some other effect (such as Trickbind) will counter this ability before it resolves.

[Zav]

Right on! My roomie will be furious

[Phat Max]

I remember reading that counters won't save a creature from dying, due to the stack.

The creatures effect triggers and goes on top the stack, and thus resolves before the actual spell reaches the top... That spell is then countered cause it doesn't have a valid target

[Deyv]

The target of a spell is checked twice; the first time as it goes on the stack and the second time as it resolves.
the dragon dies as chandras outrage, for example, goes onto the stack, so there is no way to counter it. when chandras outrage resolves, the target is checked again and is now illegal. therefore it is automatically countered and the controller of the dragon doesnt get 2 damage

[Piotr]

I stand corrected, thanks.

[Crittles]

Or you could just get Lord of the Unreal out and not have the problem of your illusions being the target of opponent spells or abilities, for they would have hexproof. My friend let's me borrow his illusion deck for tournaments and it's a fairly well structured deck.

[Numbers]

Necro