Not exactly. All keyword abilities have their full definitions in the Comprehensive Rules. If the ability targets, then that will be explicitly stated in the rules, though the word "target" may not be on the card.
For example:
702.6. Equip
702.6a Equip is an activated ability of Equipment cards. “Equip [cost]” means “[Cost]: Attach this
permanent to target creature you control. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a
sorcery.”
So the most accurate version of what you wrote is, "a spell or ability only targets when it specifically uses the word 'target' or the rules text for that spell or ability uses the word 'target'".
They go to his hand. All permanents your opponents control are returned at the same time, as Cyclonic Rift resolves. Unattached auras aren't normally put into their owner's graveyard until state based actions are checked, which won't happen until later, just after Cyclonic Rift is done resolving.
I see. In this case, the Glossary of the Comprehensive Rules explains things unambiguously.
Ability Word
An italicized word with no rules meaning that ties together abilities on different cards that have similar
functionality. See rule 207.2c.
[. . .]
Flavor Text
Text in italics (but not in parentheses) in the text box of a card that has no effect on play. See rule 207.2.
[. . .]
Reminder Text
Parenthetical text in italics in the text box of a card that summarizes a rule that applies to that card, but is
not actually rules text and has no effect on play. See rule 207.2.
But the reminder texts does matter. It's in the rules.
207.2a Reminder text is italicized text within parentheses that summarizes a rule that applies to that card. It usually appears on the same line as the ability its relevant to, but it may appear on its own line if it applies to an aspect of the card other than an ability.
It summarizes the official ruling on it, so you don't have to stop and go grab a rule book to have fun. If there is reminder text, it will say the word target in it. If the reminder text doesn't say target, it wont target, because every card that has "target" in the official rules will include it in the reminder text, as that is a fairly big part of summarizing the rules of a card.
After searching Gatherer, your assertion that reminder text will always use the word "target" if a keyword ability targets appears to be correct. However, even though Wizards has followed this guideline, the rules don't require them to. If you look at the context of the rule you quoted above, you'll see why:
207.2. The text box may also contain italicized text that has no game function.
207.2a Reminder text is italicized text [. . .].
207.2b Flavor text is italicized text [. . .].
207.2c An ability word appears in italics at the beginning of some abilities. [. . .]
Immediately, before players get priority, the defending player declares blockers and combat damage is assigned (not dealt).
A slight correction: When blockers are declared, the attacking player determines the order in which he or she will deal damage to them. However, combat damage itself is neither assigned nor dealt until the Combat Damage step.
No, you may not redirect the loss of life to Domri. Only non-combat damage dealt by sources you control may be redirected to planeswalkers the would-be-damaged player controls, not life loss.
The timestamp of Heliod's ability is irrelevant to power and toughness, since it never actually overwrites the 5/6 on the card; it just makes the 5/6 irrelevant by removing the creature type. If you have both on the battlefield, then Opalescence will always overwrite the 5/6 and make Heliod a 4/4.
Edit: The timestamp of Heliod's ability is when Heliod came into play, not when your devotion changes. So if you start with a Heliod with 5 devotion, play Opalescence, then lose the devotion, Heliod will still be a creature due to Opalescence's time stamp being later than Heliod's. If you start with Opalescence, play Heliod with 5 devotion, then lose devotion, Heliod will stop being a creature due to his timestamp being later than Opalescence's.
EDIT: I thought I should also mention that "colorless" is not a color, so a colorless creature can not share a color with something else, even another colorless creature. Which is why the second part of Hackworth's Post is also true.
This makes the first part of Hackworth's post partially untrue. An animated Mutavault will NOT be able to block a colorless artifact creature with intimidate.
1) No. You need to select a creature for the Gift to enchant before you put it onto the battlefield, at which point Athreos isn't eligible.
2) In general, enter-the-battlefield effects trigger based on the appearance of the board state after the event happens. In this case, the devotion type-changing abilities would apply first in layer 4 (although in this case it is irrelevant since devotion is met and the abilities do nothing). Humility will remove then remove the devotion ability in layer 6 and set Athreos and Heliod to 1/1 in layer 7. Angelic Chorus gains 2. If we remove Heliod from the scenario, Athreos will stop being a creature in layer 4, so Humility will do nothing and Angelic Chorus will not trigger.
2b) Gift can't be put on a returning creature, since it isn't on the battlefield yet to choose. Note that devotion is not relevant here.
3) Humility and Opalescence are trying to set power and toughness in the same layer, and they entered at the same time so there is no time-stamp order to apply the effects sequentially. In this case, the active player determines which to apply first, and the second will overwrite it and set the final p/t.
3b) Yes, Angelic Chorus will trigger for the reasons described in 2). The active player will decide how much life is gained for the reasons described in 3). Edit: Incorrect. See the post below mine.
The "Planeswalkers are like another player" shtick is just for flavor. It has no relevance for gameplay.
1. Lys Alana Huntmaster doesn't trigger in this circumstance. The Huntmaster cares when you "cast" (or "play" as it was previously known) an Elf spell, which usually means to pay its costs and cast it from your hand (though there are a few cards that let you cast in other ways; they all clearly tell you to "cast" or "play"). Nissa's third ability doesn't do any casting. It just puts the cards directly from your library onto the battlefield.
2. Trostani's Summoner will trigger if put into play off of Nissa. That is because the Summoner only cares specifically about entering the battlefield, not what made it enter the battlefield.
You don't need to pay the turn you bring the Nether Spirit into play. Tabernacle gives creatures an ability that triggers at the beginning of the upkeep. Nether Shadow doesn't come into play until the beginning of the upkeep has passed, so the ability doesn't trigger that first turn.
Yes. Once Lotleth Troll's activated ability resolves, you will get another chance to cast spells and activate abilities. Since Dreg Mangler is in your graveyard, the Scavange ability is available to you (as long as you're in your main phase).
This does not affect Rampant Growth, since that is "putting it onto the battlefield", not "playing" it. Exact language is important. I can't think of any cards that is affects, but here's a hypothetical one:
Card #1
LandPlayer
Artifact
T: Play a land from your hand.
Card #2
LandPutter
Artifact
T: Put a land from your hand onto the battlefield.
If you've used all your land drops for the turn, this rule will make Card #1's ability do nothing, while Card #2's ability will still work.
For example:
So the most accurate version of what you wrote is, "a spell or ability only targets when it specifically uses the word 'target' or the rules text for that spell or ability uses the word 'target'".
After searching Gatherer, your assertion that reminder text will always use the word "target" if a keyword ability targets appears to be correct. However, even though Wizards has followed this guideline, the rules don't require them to. If you look at the context of the rule you quoted above, you'll see why:
A slight correction: When blockers are declared, the attacking player determines the order in which he or she will deal damage to them. However, combat damage itself is neither assigned nor dealt until the Combat Damage step.
Edit: The timestamp of Heliod's ability is when Heliod came into play, not when your devotion changes. So if you start with a Heliod with 5 devotion, play Opalescence, then lose the devotion, Heliod will still be a creature due to Opalescence's time stamp being later than Heliod's. If you start with Opalescence, play Heliod with 5 devotion, then lose devotion, Heliod will stop being a creature due to his timestamp being later than Opalescence's.
This makes the first part of Hackworth's post partially untrue. An animated Mutavault will NOT be able to block a colorless artifact creature with intimidate.
2) In general, enter-the-battlefield effects trigger based on the appearance of the board state after the event happens. In this case, the devotion type-changing abilities would apply first in layer 4 (although in this case it is irrelevant since devotion is met and the abilities do nothing). Humility will remove then remove the devotion ability in layer 6 and set Athreos and Heliod to 1/1 in layer 7. Angelic Chorus gains 2. If we remove Heliod from the scenario, Athreos will stop being a creature in layer 4, so Humility will do nothing and Angelic Chorus will not trigger.
2b) Gift can't be put on a returning creature, since it isn't on the battlefield yet to choose. Note that devotion is not relevant here.
3) Humility and Opalescence are trying to set power and toughness in the same layer, and they entered at the same time so there is no time-stamp order to apply the effects sequentially. In this case, the active player determines which to apply first, and the second will overwrite it and set the final p/t.
3b)
Yes, Angelic Chorus will trigger for the reasons described in 2). The active player will decide how much life is gained for the reasons described in 3).Edit: Incorrect. See the post below mine.1. Lys Alana Huntmaster doesn't trigger in this circumstance. The Huntmaster cares when you "cast" (or "play" as it was previously known) an Elf spell, which usually means to pay its costs and cast it from your hand (though there are a few cards that let you cast in other ways; they all clearly tell you to "cast" or "play"). Nissa's third ability doesn't do any casting. It just puts the cards directly from your library onto the battlefield.
2. Trostani's Summoner will trigger if put into play off of Nissa. That is because the Summoner only cares specifically about entering the battlefield, not what made it enter the battlefield.
Card #1
LandPlayer
Artifact
T: Play a land from your hand.
Card #2
LandPutter
Artifact
T: Put a land from your hand onto the battlefield.
If you've used all your land drops for the turn, this rule will make Card #1's ability do nothing, while Card #2's ability will still work.
Phantasmal Image
No, you may not do this. Targets must be legal both when you choose them and when the spell or ability resolves.