Say I have two creatures in play but I only want to give the counters to one of them. Can I still target both of them to play around single-target removal? Or does that force me to split the counters 2:1?
Each target must get at least one of whatever is being distributed. You can't choose a target, but choose not to give it a counter.
608.2d If an effect of a spell or ability offers any choices other than choices already made as part of casting the spell, activating the ability, or otherwise putting the spell or ability on the stack, the player announces these while applying the effect. The player can’t choose an option that’s illegal or impossible, with the exception that having a library with no cards in it doesn’t make drawing a card an impossible action (see rule 120.3). If an effect divides or distributes something, such as damage or counters, as a player chooses among any number of untargeted players and/or objects, the player chooses the amount and division such that at least one player or object is chosen if able, and each chosen player or object receives at least one of whatever is being divided. (Note that if an effect divides or distributes something, such as damage or counters, as a player chooses among some number of target objects and/or players, the amount and division were determined as the spell or ability was put onto the stack rather than at this time; see rule 601.2d.)
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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.
If an effect divides or distributes something, such as damage or counters, as a player chooses among any number of untargeted players and/or objects,
Biogenic Upgrade targets the creatures, so this doesn't apply. Fortunately, there is a comment:
(Note that if an effect divides or distributes something, such as damage or counters, as a player chooses among some number of target objects and/or players, the amount and division were determined as the spell or ability was put onto the stack rather than at this time; see rule 601.2d.)
Rule 601.2d is:
601.2d. If the spell requires the player to divide or distribute an effect (such as damage or counters) among one or more targets, the player announces the division. Each of these targets must receive at least one of whatever is being divided.
In short, you need to distribute at least one on each target, and you distribute as you choose targets. What OP wants to do is impossible on multiple level.
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Say I have two creatures in play but I only want to give the counters to one of them. Can I still target both of them to play around single-target removal? Or does that force me to split the counters 2:1?
608.2d If an effect of a spell or ability offers any choices other than choices already made as part of casting the spell, activating the ability, or otherwise putting the spell or ability on the stack, the player announces these while applying the effect. The player can’t choose an option that’s illegal or impossible, with the exception that having a library with no cards in it doesn’t make drawing a card an impossible action (see rule 120.3). If an effect divides or distributes something, such as damage or counters, as a player chooses among any number of untargeted players and/or objects, the player chooses the amount and division such that at least one player or object is chosen if able, and each chosen player or object receives at least one of whatever is being divided. (Note that if an effect divides or distributes something, such as damage or counters, as a player chooses among some number of target objects and/or players, the amount and division were determined as the spell or ability was put onto the stack rather than at this time; see rule 601.2d.)
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.
Biogenic Upgrade targets the creatures, so this doesn't apply. Fortunately, there is a comment:
Rule 601.2d is:
In short, you need to distribute at least one on each target, and you distribute as you choose targets. What OP wants to do is impossible on multiple level.