Can you target your creature if it has Hexproof?

Can You Target Your Creature If It Has Hexproof?

Main Answer

Hexproof is a game-changing mechanic in Magic: The Gathering that makes it extremely difficult for opponents to target your creature. But what does that really mean? Can you still target your own creature if it has hexproof? The answer is surprisingly nuanced.

What Is Hexproof?

For those who are new to Magic, hexproof is a mechanic that prevents players from targeting a permanent (a creature, artifact, enchantment, or planeswalker) with spells or abilities from their opponents. Hexproof does not prevent spells or abilities from targeting themselves or their controller, which is crucial to understanding our main question.

Hexproof vs. Shroud

Shroud is a similar mechanic to hexproof, but it only prevents abilities from targeting the creature or player with shroud, whereas hexproof prevents targeting from spells as well.

Can You Target a Creature with Hexproof?

The answer to this question is: it depends on who is trying to target the creature. As the controller of the creature with hexproof, you can still target it yourself. You can attack with it, cast abilities on it, or equip it with an aura.

However, if you try to target your own creature with hexproof with a spell or ability from an opponent, it will be impossible. That’s the purpose of hexproof – to protect your creature from opposing spells and abilities.

Aura Spells: A Special Case

Aura spells are a bit of an exception when it comes to hexproof. While you can’t cast an aura spell targeting your opponent’s hexproof creature, you can cast an aura spell on your own hexproof creature. This means you can still attach an aura to your creature and benefit from its effects.

Additional Notes

Keep in mind that hexproof only protects your creature from opposing spells and abilities. It won’t prevent sacrifice effects or destroy effects from triggering. If you have a hexproof creature and you use a sacrifice effect, the creature will still go to the graveyard.

Hexproof also won’t stop deathtouch effects or destructive effects from causing damage or destroying your creature.

Conclusion

To summarize, hexproof does prevent opponents from targeting your creature with spells and abilities, but you can still target your own creature as the controller. Aura spells are a special case where you can still attach auras to your hexproof creature. Just remember that hexproof only affects opposing spells and abilities, and sacrifice or deathtouch effects can still affect your creature.