Something targeting something else is a completely non-existent concept anywhere else than on the stack; only things on the stack can target. (Spells and abilities that contain the word "target" will target something when they are entering the stack, and when they resolve. However, they do not target anything anywhere else, nor in any other situation.)
While this isn't an actual explicit rule of the game, it's a de-facto rule (ie. it's just true because no game rule recognizes targeting as happening anywhere else than on the stack.)
This principle very seldom affects the game in practice, but when it does, it is often surprising for those who do not know this, usually causing confusion and protest.
One quintessential example would be aura enchantments: Auras are spells that target, but do so only when they go to the stack and resolve from there. If an aura enters the battlefield by means other than by being cast, it doesn't actually target. This can have surprising consequences.
Example: You attack with Sun Titan, and use its ability to return a Pacifism to the battlefield. You can then attach said aura to, for example, a Primal Huntbeast that your opponent controls, even though it has hexproof.
Most players who are unaware of this situation will protest and say that you can't enchant Primal Huntbeast, it has hexproof. However, when an aura enters the battlefield from anywhere else than the stack, it does not target and thus hexproof doesn't affect it. This can be, admittedly, rather unintuitive.
Moreover, since choosing to enchant Primal Huntbeast does not use the stack, it's something that cannot be responded to. As soon as Pacifism enters the battlefield, its controller chooses what it enchants and there's no time to respond to it. (Your opponent could respond to Sun Titan's triggered ability, but at that point he or she does not know what you will be attaching Pacifism to. You make the choice as Titan's ability resolves and Pacifism enters.)
(Technically speaking, there's a difference between an "Aura" and an "Aura spell." The former is a card, which becomes a permanent when on the battlefield. It does not target anything. The latter is technically speaking a different thing; it's more like a conceptual effect that goes to the stack and then resolves, and causes the Aura card to enter the battlefield attached to whatever the spell targeted. If the target becomes illegal, the spell fails to bring the Aura card to the battlefield, and it instead goes to the graveyard. Technically speaking the Aura card doesn't care what brings it to the battlefield: When it does, it enters attached to something. If the effect that brings it to the battlefield specifies what it enters attached to, it enchants that. If the effect did not specify, then the player chooses what it enchants.)
Clarifying for anyone who comes across this in the future:
ReplyDeleteThis entire article is wrong. Auras must target creatures, they do not simply "attach themselves" out of thin air. The targeting, in and of itself, is what hexproof prevents. You cannot get around this rule with obscure "workarounds" like this. When Pacifism returns from the graveyard, because it is an aura, it immediately provokes the ability "attach to target creature" and goes on the stack. Because attaching it to a hexproof creature is an illegal target, it simply can't happen. If there are no other targets other than sun titan, it will attach itself to sun titan.
Sincerely,
DeleteA level 3 judge.
Level 3 judge, eh? Maybe you should retake your judge exam, then.
DeleteAn aura spell targets, the aura itself does not. When you cast an aura spell, you have to choose a legal target for it. Like with any targeted spell, the legality of the target is checked when the spell is cast, and again when it tries to resolve.
However, the ability of Sun Titan does not cast anything. It returns a permanent card from your graveyard directly onto the battlefield. It doesn't somehow put that card in the stack as if it had been cast. And when an aura enters the battlefield by any other means than being cast, it's just attached to a permanent that it can enchant. You don't have to take my word for it, because the comprehensive rules say it:
"303.4f If an Aura is entering the battlefield under a player’s control by any means other than by
resolving as an Aura spell, and the effect putting it onto the battlefield doesn’t specify the object
or player the Aura will enchant, that player chooses what it will enchant as the Aura enters the
battlefield. The player must choose a legal object or player according to the Aura’s enchant ability and any other applicable effects."
(And no, don't try to insert targeting restrictions into that rule, because it doesn't have any. It says: "The player must choose a legal object or player according to the Aura’s enchant ability and any other applicable effects." That's what eg. the "enchant creature" part of the aura's text means.)
Perhaps you should actually read the game's rules from time to time.
And if you don't believe me, feel free to make a fool of yourself by going to eg. the mtgsalvation forums to ask, Mr. Level 3 Judge.