Cancel with no target?

[GreatDarkness8]

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.

[Mlerner12]

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.

[Lyriczulu]

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.

[Mlerner12]

Here's ruling:
114.4.: A spell or ability on the stack is an illegal target for itself.

[Kaleo42]

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)