Question About Hexproof

[PatriotGamer1776]

Okay, so I was wondering if something with hexproof could be affected by a Planar Cleansing or an instant with overload. I say this because the definition of hexproof is, "This creature can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control." And overload does not target any creatures but instead affects all. So would Cyclonic Rift work on a Benthic Giant?

[•Wren Akula•]

Yes, a Planar Cleansing or overloaded Cyclonic Rift does work on hexproof creatures since it doesn't target.

[First Avenger 16]

"Targeting" something is an effect in and of itself. When the card says it cant "be the target" of a players spells or abilities...it simply means you cant select that card. It doesn't have protection from your oppenets spells, so any mass board whipe like Starstorm or Mutilate will affect them.

[juchess]

There are two different ways to indicate that something targets something else.
1) If a card uses the word "target", it targets something.
2) If a card is an Enchantment - Aura, it targets something.

There are also cases where the word "target" is hidden in the reminder text of a keyword. One common example is "Equip." However, everything that targets either uses the word "target" somewhere or is an Aura.

A card that does not target is Clone:
You may have Clone enter the battlefield as a copy of any creature on the battlefield.

There are no instances of the word "target" even though you end up choosing a creature.

A card that does target is Stolen Identity:
Put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of target artifact or creature.
Cipher

The card uses the word "target." Even though they do pretty much the same thing, it's an important difference. Btw, the cipher ability does not target since there is no mention of the word "target" in its reminder text.

So yeah, hexproof and shroud preventing targeted spells and abilities stops a well-defined set of spells and abilities.

[Puzzlemint]

Auras only target when you cast them. Putting them onto the battlefield by any other means allows you to attach them to things with Hexproof/Shroud.

[•Wren Akula•]

Originally posted by juchess:

Btw, the cipher ability does not target since there is no mention of the word "target" in its reminder text.

It's important to note that reminder text is just that, a simplified reminder of how a keyword works. It is not rules text and has no authoritative value.

While Cipher doesn't target, it's not because the reminder text doesn't use the word "target", but because it does not target according to the comprehensive rules ( found at http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Article.aspx?x=magic/rules ):

Originally posted by Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules (November 1, 2013):

702.98. Cipher

702.98a Cipher appears on some instants and sorceries. It represents two abilities. The first is a spell ability that functions while the spell with cipher is on the stack. The second is a static ability that functions while the card with cipher is in the exile zone. “Cipher” means “If this spell is represented by a card, you may exile this card encoded on a creature you control” and “For as long as this card is encoded on that creature, that creature has ‘Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, you may copy the encoded card and you may cast the copy without paying its mana cost.’”

702.98b The term “encoded” describes the relationship between the card with cipher while in the exile zone and the creature chosen when the spell represented by that card resolves.

702.98c The card with cipher remains encoded on the chosen creature as long as the card with cipher remains exiled and the creature remains on the battlefield. The card remains encoded on that object even if it changes controller or stops being a creature, as long as it remains on the battlefield.