Player A has a Sword of Feast and Famine, and a Spellskite that is equipped with Swiftfoot Boots. Player B casts Shatter, targeting Player A's Sword. With Shatter on the stack, Player A activates Spellskite, attempting to change the target of Shatter to Spellskite.
What happens?
The main two answers I've had are:
1) Spellskite's ability successfully resolves (as it's ability mentions nothing about targets, other than the original target of the spell), Shatter now targets Spellskite. Given that:
1a) Shatter is countered upon attempting to resolve because Spellskite is an illegal target (courtesy of Hexproof boots)
1b) Shatter is targeting Spellskite, despite Hexproof. Spellskite gets Shattered and goes to the graveyard.
2) Spellskite's ability fails to change the target to Spellskite, as Hexproof makes Spellskite not even an option to be targeted. Given that, either:
2a) Spellskite's ability is countered upon attempting to resolve because Spellskite is an illegal target.
2b) Spellskite's ability cannot be used to change Shatter's target at all, and the game reverts to last game state.
When answering, please explain why. Direct quote from the Comp Rules would go a long way to silencing the bickering in my LGS. Thanks!
You need card tags in future posts. Read the Forum Guidelines. -Carsten
What will happen is that the Spellskite ability will resolve, but fail to do anything since it is an illegal target. The Shatter will still be targeting the Sword of Feast and Famine.
From the NPH FAQ (which is supplied directly from Wizards when the set comes out)
Spellskite
{2}
Artifact Creature -- Horror
0/4
{U/P}: Change a target of target spell or ability to Spellskite. ({U/P} can be paid with either {U} or 2 life.)
* You can activate Spellskite's ability even if Spellskite wouldn't be a legal target for the spell or ability. However, the target of that spell or ability will remain unchanged.
* If changing one target of a spell or ability to Spellskite would make other targets of that spell or ability illegal, the targets remain unchanged.
* If the spell or ability has multiple instances of the word "target," you choose which target you're changing to Spellskite when Spellskite's ability resolves.
* By activating Spellskite's ability multiple times, you can change each target of a spell or ability with multiple instances of the word "target" to Spellskite, one at a time.
* The target of the spell or ability won't change unless Spellskite fulfills all the targeting criteria, even if multiple instances of the word "target" are used. For example, you can't change both targets of Arc Trail to Spellskite.
* If a spell or ability has multiple targets but doesn't use the word "target" multiple times, such as Fulgent Distraction, you can only successfully change one of the targets to Spellskite.
* If a spell or ability has a variable number of targets, you can't change the number of targets.
* If Spellskite leaves the battlefield before its ability resolves, the targets remain unchanged.
W may only be paid with white mana. U may only be paid with blue mana. B may only be paid with black mana. R may only be paid with red mana. G may only be paid with green mana. C may only be paid with colorless mana. 1 may be paid with white, blue, black, red, green, or clolorless mana.
114.6d If an effect allows a player to “choose new targets” for a spell or ability, the player may leave any number of the targets unchanged, even if those targets would be illegal. If the player chooses to change some or all of the targets, the new targets must be legal and must not cause any unchanged targets to become illegal.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Abilities exist independently of their source. It's like shooting a guy after he throws a grenade. The grenade is still coming. But if you remove the target, the ability is countered upon resolution. It's like a grenade, if the guy you threw your grenade at disappears, it won't explo.... wait what?
New fave mod quote:
...six and a half YEARS ago! There is absolutely no reason to dig up a thread after that long a period of inactivity. -Carsten
What happens?
The main two answers I've had are:
1) Spellskite's ability successfully resolves (as it's ability mentions nothing about targets, other than the original target of the spell), Shatter now targets Spellskite. Given that:
1a) Shatter is countered upon attempting to resolve because Spellskite is an illegal target (courtesy of Hexproof boots)
1b) Shatter is targeting Spellskite, despite Hexproof. Spellskite gets Shattered and goes to the graveyard.
2) Spellskite's ability fails to change the target to Spellskite, as Hexproof makes Spellskite not even an option to be targeted. Given that, either:
2a) Spellskite's ability is countered upon attempting to resolve because Spellskite is an illegal target.
2b) Spellskite's ability cannot be used to change Shatter's target at all, and the game reverts to last game state.
When answering, please explain why. Direct quote from the Comp Rules would go a long way to silencing the bickering in my LGS. Thanks!
You need card tags in future posts. Read the Forum Guidelines. -Carsten
Legacy: Strawberry Shortcake, Aggro Loam, DnT+b
Modern: Devoted Karn
Vintage: Survival
From the NPH FAQ (which is supplied directly from Wizards when the set comes out)
I bolded the relevant parts for ya
114.6d If an effect allows a player to “choose new targets” for a spell or ability, the player may leave any number of the targets unchanged, even if those targets would be illegal. If the player chooses to change some or all of the targets, the new targets must be legal and must not cause any unchanged targets to become illegal.
New fave mod quote:
Can Spellskite redirect Go for the Throat to itself? I'd guess "no", due to the "legal target" answers I had gotten to the last question.
Legacy: Strawberry Shortcake, Aggro Loam, DnT+b
Modern: Devoted Karn
Vintage: Survival