Can You Target Your Own Creatures with Shroud?
In the world of Magic: The Gathering, shroud is a powerful ability that prevents creatures from being targeted by spells or abilities. But what happens when you have a creature with shroud on your own side of the board? Can you target it with spells or abilities, or is it completely immune to your own effects? In this article, we’ll explore the rules surrounding shroud and answer the question: can you target your own creatures with shroud?
Direct Answer:
No, you cannot target your own creatures with shroud. Shroud only prevents creatures from being targeted by spells or abilities controlled by opponents, not by the player who controls the creature.
How Does Shroud Work?
Shroud is a ability that is granted to a creature, which makes it immune to targeting by spells or abilities controlled by opponents. This means that if an opponent tries to target a creature with shroud with a spell or ability, the spell or ability will simply fail to resolve.
What About Your Own Spells and Abilities?
As mentioned earlier, shroud only prevents creatures from being targeted by spells or abilities controlled by opponents. This means that you can still target your own creatures with shroud with your own spells and abilities.
Examples of Shroud Creatures:
Here are a few examples of creatures with shroud:
- Sphinx of the Steel Wind: This legendary creature has shroud, making it immune to targeting by spells or abilities controlled by opponents.
- Ghost Council of Orzhov: This creature has shroud, making it immune to targeting by spells or abilities controlled by opponents.
Can You Target Your Own Creatures with Shroud?
No, you cannot target your own creatures with shroud. Shroud only prevents creatures from being targeted by spells or abilities controlled by opponents, not by the player who controls the creature.
What About Board Wipes?
Board wipes are spells or abilities that destroy all creatures on the battlefield. Can you use a board wipe to destroy a creature with shroud? Yes, you can. Since a board wipe is not targeting the creature, the shroud ability will not prevent the destruction.
What About Sacrifice Effects?
Sacrifice effects are spells or abilities that cause creatures to be sacrificed. Can you use a sacrifice effect to sacrifice a creature with shroud? Yes, you can. Since a sacrifice effect is not targeting the creature, the shroud ability will not prevent the sacrifice.
What About Deathtouch?
Deathtouch is an ability that causes creatures to die when they deal combat damage to a player. Can you use deathtouch to kill a creature with shroud? Yes, you can. Since deathtouch is not targeting the creature, the shroud ability will not prevent the death.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, you cannot target your own creatures with shroud. Shroud only prevents creatures from being targeted by spells or abilities controlled by opponents, not by the player who controls the creature. However, you can still use your own spells and abilities to destroy or sacrifice creatures with shroud. Remember to always read the text of a card carefully and understand the effects of the abilities it grants.
Table: Shroud Creatures
| Creature | Abilities | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sphinx of the Steel Wind | Shroud | Immune to targeting by spells or abilities controlled by opponents. |
| Ghost Council of Orzhov | Shroud | Immune to targeting by spells or abilities controlled by opponents. |
| Other creatures with shroud | Varies | Check the text of the card for specific abilities and notes. |
References:
- Magic: The Gathering Official Rules
- Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules
- Card text from specific cards (e.g. Sphinx of the Steel Wind, Ghost Council of Orzhov)
Note: This article is intended to provide a general overview of the rules surrounding shroud and targeting creatures. It is not a substitute for the official rules of Magic: The Gathering.