I've read that Tamiyo, the Moon Sage can use the ability "+1: Tap target permanent. It doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step." to target a permanent that is already tapped.
Likewise, is an already tapped creature a legal target for Pressure Point if you just want to activate the second clause, "Draw a card."?
Yes. The target restriction is just "target permanent"/"target creature", no spcification that it has to be untapped. Therefore any permanent/creature is a legal choice as target. The ability/spell will simply ignore the impossible instruction of tapping the permanent and do as much as possible when it resolves.
Both Tamiyo and the Point require a target creature, not a target untapped creature. You can activate Tamiyo targeting a tapped permanent. It won't become tapped, but it will be prevented from untapping during their next untap step. Same thing with the Point: you can cast it targeting a tapped creature, just to draw a card if you want to.
Private Mod Note
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DCI Level 2 Judge
Scientists have calculated that the chance of anything so patently absurd actually existing are millions to one. But magicians have calculated that million-to-one chances crop up nine times out of ten.
By definition of the rules, you cannot tap a tapped permanent, and untap and untapped permanent.
That said, spells and abilities will do as much as possible and ignore what they cannot do (notice this is different from targeting restrictions that would say, ask you to target an untapped creature and your creature is already tapped) so long as the target is legal.
In the case of Tamiyo, the Moon Sage (on a tapped creature) the target is a permanent, you try do the first part, it ignores it as the creature is already tapped, then the second part will make sure it doesn't untap on the next untap step.
In the case of Pressure Point (on a tapped creature) the target is a creature (not an untapped creature as say Asphyxiate's text), so it again ignores what it cannot do (tap the already tapped creature) and then you draw a card.
Likewise, is an already tapped creature a legal target for Pressure Point if you just want to activate the second clause, "Draw a card."?
Thanks for the help!
Former Rules Advisor
"Everything's better with pirates." - Lodge
(The Gamers: Dorkness Rising)
"Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from science."
(Girl Genius - Fairy Tale Theater Break - Cinderella, end of volume 8)
Scientists have calculated that the chance of anything so patently absurd actually existing are millions to one. But magicians have calculated that million-to-one chances crop up nine times out of ten.
That said, spells and abilities will do as much as possible and ignore what they cannot do (notice this is different from targeting restrictions that would say, ask you to target an untapped creature and your creature is already tapped) so long as the target is legal.
In the case of Tamiyo, the Moon Sage (on a tapped creature) the target is a permanent, you try do the first part, it ignores it as the creature is already tapped, then the second part will make sure it doesn't untap on the next untap step.
In the case of Pressure Point (on a tapped creature) the target is a creature (not an untapped creature as say Asphyxiate's text), so it again ignores what it cannot do (tap the already tapped creature) and then you draw a card.
http://www.cubetutor.com/visualspoiler/20765