Magic 101: Targets

[Yare]

This thread is for the discussion of my latest article, Magic 101: Targets. We would be grateful if you would let us know what you think, but please keep your comments on topic.

[azngenius]

Good article.

I wonder if you thought of pointing out the situation of Intimidator Initiate vs. Skulking Knight (i.e. You play a red spell, target the Knight with the Initiate's trigger, even if you don't intend on paying the cost.)

It's really a subgroup of the "Triggers ability target right after the ability goes on the stack", but it's more important with the prevalence of Makeshift Mannequin.

[metamorphaze]

Very useful. Thank you. Getting back into magic and thinking about all of these things is always an interesting trip--but when it's well written and put together it makes everything happier.

[Gorgias]

Another Magic 101 that covers the things that every player should absolutely know. Well done, Yare!

I would also have included some less straightforward situations. For some players, it is unclear whether cards that say "target opponents' graveyard" target the opponent or the graveyard (they target the opponent). We had this thread about it recently, which probably prompted you to write the article in the first place.

I also think you should have included Goblin Flectomancer and the bizarre situations it can create. Although it might be a better fit for a Magic 201...

[CaptShetz]

Always happy to see these articles. I like having something I can show to new players to explain some of the more difficult concepts of magic.

[Hermit_Man]

Originally Posted by CaptShetz

Always happy to see these articles. I like having something I can show to new players to explain some of the more difficult concepts of magic.

I agree completely with you, sir. Always a good thing to see articles to make new players understand important concepts easier.

EDIT: Not surprising since we play together. Hint: I opened two fat dragons last Sunday, and one was foily.
)

[DarkWolff]

Good article. One thing you neglected to mention in regards to targets is older enchant creature cards. Some old enchant creatures use "target creature" instead of "enchanted creature," which could confuse players not familiar with the older template.

[arcane7828]

Targetting was one of the things that stumped me for the longest time in the past

I used to think WOG targets, as in my mind, for the wrath to "destroy" a critter, it must have "touched" it somehow (imagine a blast and people only get hurt when the blast actually hits em)... until someone pointed out the very simple fact that for something to target it must have the word target =)



Well thought out article. Always a quality read David, awaiting your next one already =P

[Panimu]

disappointed you didn't cover something like primal command for plow plus search targetting a manland that then becomes activated. quite common even at Competitive events

[Yare]

Originally Posted by Gorgias

Another Magic 101 that covers the things that every player should absolutely know. Well done, Yare!

I would also have included some less straightforward situations. For some players, it is unclear whether cards that say "target opponents' graveyard" target the opponent or the graveyard (they target the opponent). We had this thread about it recently, which probably prompted you to write the article in the first place.

I also think you should have included Goblin Flectomancer and the bizarre situations it can create. Although it might be a better fit for a Magic 201...

Yeah, I should have included something like "target opponent's graveyard," though I kind of incidentally did it with the Diabolic Edict question. It seems like every time I write one of these articles there's something like that I forget.

Goblin Flectomancer might have been good because it's complex...but might have not been good because it's complex. I think I agree with your Magic 201 assessment. That being said, part of what I go for with these articles is that if people have the basics they can evaluate even the difficult situations by thinking it through.

Originally Posted by DarkWolff

Good article. One thing you neglected to mention in regards to targets is older enchant creature cards. Some old enchant creatures use "target creature" instead of "enchanted creature," which could confuse players not familiar with the older template.

The thought didn't really occur to me. I guess since all auras initially target, I didn't think much of whether an old aura has the word target on it.

Originally Posted by Panimu

disappointed you didn't cover something like primal command for plow plus search targetting a manland that then becomes activated. quite common even at Competitive events

I don't play anything other than Vintage so I haven't seen Primal Command be utilized much. I'm also not sure I understand what you're saying because you didn't use cardtags.

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I mentioned this at the end of the article, but if any of you have ideas for the next Magic 101 article, please post them here.

[azngenius]

Originally Posted by Yare

I don't play anything other than Vintage so I haven't seen Primal Command be utilized much. I'm also not sure I understand what you're saying because you didn't use cardtags.

The two relevant modes to Primal Command are "Put target noncreature permanent on top of its owner's library" and "Search your library for a creature card, reveal it, and put it into your hand." So if you choose "Plow Under" a Mutavault and search for a creature, and your opponent responds by animating Mutavault, then the only target of Primal Command, which is "nonland permanent", becomes illegal, so Primal Comand is countered.

[Yare]

Originally Posted by azngenius

The two relevant modes to Primal Command are "Put target noncreature permanent on top of its owner's library" and "Search your library for a creature card, reveal it, and put it into your hand." So if you choose "Plow Under" a Mutavault and search for a creature, and your opponent responds by animating Mutavault, then the only target of Primal Command, which is "nonland permanent", becomes illegal, so Primal Comand is countered.

Oh, so there is no actual Plow Under involved, just the act of trying to put the land on top of the library, similar to what Plow Under does. I understand now. Thanks.

[Panimu]

my pc is broken. im not doing tags on a ps3 osk

[MadMageQc]

Great article overall. I especially liked the fact that you listed the keywords that imply the word "target"; most of the time, when people answer to the question "what does target", they just say "cards that have the word target printed on them and aura spells on the stack" while omitting those abilities. One could say that having one of those keywords printed on the card is the same as having the actual word "target" printed on the card, and so that the answer is technically correct, but when your goal is to teach as much as possible, mentionning those keywords is very relevant.

On the other hand, I think you should have included more details on auras, even dedicating a whole section to their targeting issues. I don't see anywhere in the text that aura spells on the stack target, and that auras put directly into play don't. These are important info indeed; one can deduce those facts from the rest of the article, especially the sentences where you include enchant among other keywords, but enchant is enough of a special case for me to think it would have been important to spell its particular targeting implications clearly and separately from keywords.