Hexproof and targetting

[Khaktuss]

Quick question in regards to Hexproof...

Does hexproof stop a thing from being targetted by a spell or ability if that spell or ability doesn't specially say 'target'

For example, Bob casts a spell that has "Destory a creature" and Dave's creature has hexproof, is Dave's creature get destroyed if Bob 'targets' it or chooses it.

[writer829]

No. It can't be targeted at all. Bob's spells would only work if it said something along the lines of "Target opponent sacrifices a creature." Because the player is the target, the hexproof creature can still be sacrificed. Plus, I don't think any MTG card would just say "Destroy a creature." None of the spot removal I've seen does that, just sweepers that destory all creatures.
Anyway, if you're having trouble with hexproof creatures, you'll have to either use a sweeper that doesn't target a specific creature (i.e. Planar Outburst: Destroy all non-land cards"), a card that forces the opponent to sac it (Blessed Alliance, Fleshbag Maurder) or counter it while on the stack.

[Nether]

As an additional note to what writer has written, if a creature becomes the target of a destruction spell, and then that creatures is given hexproof, the destruction spell on the stack will not resolve as the target has become invalid.

Just thought that info might be of some use.

[June-pie]

As an additional caveat, there's loophole around hexproof and shroud (the janky version of hexproof that never shows up anymore) in cards like Sun Titan (not in this game unfortunately) where it says "return target permanent from your graveyard to the battlefied", well if you choose an aura enchantment from your graveyard, that can come onto the battlefield and then attach to ANY creature, regardless of whether or not it could be targeted, because in this special circumstance the enchantment isn't targeting, it's just being materialized into existence.

[Marci]

An other way around hexproof is spells that say "choose" instead of "target". Like Grenzo's Rebuttal (not in this game). I don't know if there is any such spell in Magic Duels.

[Twitchey]

Yep. But you can target anything that goes on the hexproof guy, enchants or equip, unless they are hexproof themself

Originally posted by Wolfham:

As an additional note to what writer has written, if a creature becomes the target of a destruction spell, and then that creatures is given hexproof, the destruction spell on the stack will not resolve as the target has become invalid.

Just thought that info might be of some use.

Yeah I had wondered, but hadn't had the chance to test. This is backwards to me, its not like hexproof makes one indestructable, and hexproof in that case is only making you untargetable after the fact, not immune to death. IDK, just seems backwards in that specific instance.

[Quicksilver]

If it doesnt use the phrase "target creature" it's usually going to work. if you are playing paper, particularly with a pre-6th edition printing of a card, you may find that card was later errata'd/reprinted with a "target creature" wording.

[MonMon]

Originally posted by Twitchey:

Yep. But you can target anything that goes on the hexproof guy, enchants or equip, unless they are hexproof themself

Originally posted by Wolfham:

As an additional note to what writer has written, if a creature becomes the target of a destruction spell, and then that creatures is given hexproof, the destruction spell on the stack will not resolve as the target has become invalid.

Just thought that info might be of some use.

Yeah I had wondered, but hadn't had the chance to test. This is backwards to me, its not like hexproof makes one indestructable, and hexproof in that case is only making you untargetable after the fact, not immune to death. IDK, just seems backwards in that specific instance.

It's just some weirdness with the rules. For a spell to resolve properly, it has to have a legal target on cast, and when resolving. Giving it hexproof in response to targeting it makes it a non-legal target during the 2nd check. Kinda wonky and unintuitive, but it makes cards like Rattlechains really useful.

[Xerica]

Originally posted by writer829:

No. It can't be targeted at all. Bob's spells would only work if it said something along the lines of "Target opponent sacrifices a creature." Because the player is the target, the hexproof creature can still be sacrificed. Plus, I don't think any MTG card would just say "Destroy a creature." None of the spot removal I've seen does that, just sweepers that destory all creatures.
Anyway, if you're having trouble with hexproof creatures, you'll have to either use a sweeper that doesn't target a specific creature (i.e. Planar Outburst: Destroy all non-land cards"), a card that forces the opponent to sac it (Blessed Alliance, Fleshbag Maurder) or counter it while on the stack.

Murder - Destroy target creature.

Example of a spell that cant target hexproof that IS available in our collections.

[Twitchey]

Originally posted by Asagi Boogers:

It's just some weirdness with the rules. For a spell to resolve properly, it has to have a legal target on cast, and when resolving. Giving it hexproof in response to targeting it makes it a non-legal target during the 2nd check. Kinda wonky and unintuitive, but it makes cards like Rattlechains really useful.

Fair enough, and it gives any other colors with access to instant hexproofing a sort of counter of their own I guess.

[Thejoker_91]

Another way around hexproof is spells that dont have a particular target, like Languish or planar outburst.

[Junipercat]

Will not work on Hexproof: Destroy target creature.

Will work: Target opponent sacrifices a creature. (As long as player is not Hexproof themself :P)

So Hexproof only protects if it is the target of a spell or ability. If there are earlier edition cards like you gave the example of "Destroy a Creature", any reprints would be reworded to include the keyword 'target' so they follow a consistant ruling.

And like stated above, a creature with hexproof does not make attached cards hexproof by association. So any enchantments or equipment attached to the creature may be targeted unless the card has it's own hexproof condition like an enchanment that gives all other enchantments you own hexproof.

[Twitchey]

Tragic Arrogance is another weird one, the opponent sacrifices the creatures you don't select, but could you select a hexproof creature as the target that doesn't die?

[writer829]

Originally posted by Twitchey:

Tragic Arrogance is another weird one, the opponent sacrifices the creatures you don't select, but could you select a hexproof creature as the target that doesn't die?

Nope. It still counts as targeting the opponent's creature. As a plus side, however I think (emphasis on "think") that if your opponent's only creature is hexproof (let's say Plated Crusher) you should be able to resolve Arrogance anyway and get rid of the only creature, leaving you with one creature and them with none. I think this works because you can resolve Tragic Arrogance even if your opponent doesn't have something on the list (like a planeswalker).

[Twitchey]

Originally posted by writer829:

Originally posted by Twitchey:

Tragic Arrogance is another weird one, the opponent sacrifices the creatures you don't select, but could you select a hexproof creature as the target that doesn't die?

Nope. It still counts as targeting the opponent's creature. As a plus side, however I think (emphasis on "think") that if your opponent's only creature is hexproof (let's say Plated Crusher) you should be able to resolve Arrogance anyway and get rid of the only creature, leaving you with one creature and them with none. I think this works because you can resolve Tragic Arrogance even if your opponent doesn't have something on the list (like a planeswalker).

It would be a hell of a cost to kill a hexproof creature alone, but it could be worth it, it's a slightly negative aspect to having only hexproof creatures too, if that were at all possible/viable in this version.

I guess you could also use a hexproofing instant on the creature after you target it but before it resolves, and it would kill the hexprrof guy too (say if you targeted a spirit creature to live and then threw down a Rattlechains and hexproofed it)?

[Marci]

Originally posted by Twitchey:

Tragic Arrogance is another weird one, the opponent sacrifices the creatures you don't select, but could you select a hexproof creature as the target that doesn't die?

Yes, you can select those. I cannot say for sure that in Magic Duels they did no mess it up, and prevent you from selecting those, but in proper paper MTG, you can select (notice how the word is "select" and not "target").