If I play Cryptic Command, and choose to Bounce a Permanent, and Draw a Card, and in response, my opponent bounces his own permanent I was targeting, is Cryptic going to fizzle completely, or will I still draw a card?
I assumed I would still draw, since the draw is not contingent on a creature being bounced. The spell does not read "Return Target Permanent To Its Owner's Hand, Then Draw A Card", its modal, and it'll be "Return Target Permanent to Its Owner's Hand; Draw a Card" and during resolution, I assumed the spell will try to resolve as much as it can, meaning it will fail to bounce but still give a card. Is this correct?
A card is countered if there are no longer any legal targets upon resolution. Hence, if you have one target (bouncing) and the permanent is bounced in response, the spell no longer has any legal targets and you do not draw a card.
That doesn't sound quite right, in regards to Cryptic specifically. I know that a card is countered on resolution if it has no legal target, but that assumes the card's primary function is a spell that targets. A modal spell goes onto the stack, the abilities are chosen, and that determines the card's function. If I had chosen to tap permanents and draw a card it would be irrelevant.
The draw function is not contingent on the bouncing effect, I thought.
That doesn't change the fact that Cryptic only had 1 target in this situation. That target became illegal and thus the spell is countered for lack of a target.
That doesn't sound quite right, in regards to Cryptic specifically. I know that a card is countered on resolution if it has no legal target, but that assumes the card's primary function is a spell that targets. A modal spell goes onto the stack, the abilities are chosen, and that determines the card's function. If I had chosen to tap permanents and draw a card it would be irrelevant.
The draw function is not contingent on the bouncing effect, I thought.
The card's "primary function" is irrelevant, and in fact there is no way for the rules to distinguish what a card's "primary function" is.
Either a spell targets or it doesn't. If it does, and all its targets are illegal when it tries to resolve, the entire spell is countered. Not just the parts that had something to do with the targeting.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I am no longer on MTGS staff, so please don't contact me asking me to do staff things. :|
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Cryptic Command
If I play Cryptic Command, and choose to Bounce a Permanent, and Draw a Card, and in response, my opponent bounces his own permanent I was targeting, is Cryptic going to fizzle completely, or will I still draw a card?
I assumed I would still draw, since the draw is not contingent on a creature being bounced. The spell does not read "Return Target Permanent To Its Owner's Hand, Then Draw A Card", its modal, and it'll be "Return Target Permanent to Its Owner's Hand; Draw a Card" and during resolution, I assumed the spell will try to resolve as much as it can, meaning it will fail to bounce but still give a card. Is this correct?
The draw function is not contingent on the bouncing effect, I thought.
Currently Playing:
I don't even know right now.
The card's "primary function" is irrelevant, and in fact there is no way for the rules to distinguish what a card's "primary function" is.
Either a spell targets or it doesn't. If it does, and all its targets are illegal when it tries to resolve, the entire spell is countered. Not just the parts that had something to do with the targeting.