Can you use removal spells on your own creatures?
Asked by musej 3 years ago
Can you target your own creatures with removal spells? For some reason when I first started playing I was either told, or read you could not target creatures you control with removal spells. I understand for cards that have specific text on them you could, but I was more wondering in the terms of run of the mill ordinary creatures.
For some context, if I were playing Commander/EDH, and I had Karador, Ghost Chieftain as my commander. In order to cast him as soon as possible, I play a card like Soul's Attendant , and then Doom Blade Soul's Attendant . Is this a legal mechanic? or can I not target my own creature in this fashion?
I know it may not be the best usage for Doom Blade , but there have been some instances I have ran into where I have a creature out and I want to get rid of it in order to enhance another card.
Omniscience_is_life says... #2
It's funny and a little sad to see what mis- and disinformation new Magic players get fed.
In this case you may indeed target your own creatures with "removal" spells--they are easy to think of as a different kind of card but they are exactly the same as Giant Growth and its ilk, in the sense that they may target whatever you wish
March 15, 2021 4:04 p.m.
Named_Tawyny says... #3
Unless there is a targeting restriction, you can absolutely target your own creatures.
There's plenty of cases where it's useful to do it. (eg your opponent swings in with a lifelinking creature. You chump block. You then Path to Exile your own creature so that they're removed before the damage step, and your opponent doesn't gain life. (and you get an extra land)
March 15, 2021 10:06 p.m.
Named_Tawyny unless you desperately need that land, it would be better to use path on the opposing creature.
Delphen7 says... Accepted answer #1
You can target your own creatures if there is no restriction. In the case of Doom Blade, the only restriction is nonblack creature, so Soul's Attendant is a legal target.
Something similar is Mizzium Mortars . One of it's restrictions is target creature you don't control, so you can't target your own things with it - like you could with say Lightning Bolt .
March 15, 2021 3:38 p.m.