Is an aura a target spell?
In Magic: The Gathering, Auras are a unique type of enchantment that attaches to creatures and players. When an aura is cast, it becomes a permanent card on the battlefield, granting its enchanted creature or player additional abilities and effects. But what makes an aura different from other types of spells is the question of whether it’s a target spell or not.
What is an aura?
Auras are a subtype of Enchantment cards that have an enchant keyword ability. According to rule 702.5, "Enchant," an aura is an enchantment that has only one target, which can be a creature or player. When an aura is cast, it immediately begins to enchant its target, granting it additional abilities and effects.
Direct Answer: Is an aura a target spell?
In a straightforward answer, no, an aura is not a target spell. As mentioned earlier, an aura has only one target, which is the creature or player it enchants. When an aura is cast, it immediately attaches to its target, rather than targeting a specific player or object.
Key points to note:
• Aura spells target only once: Auras can only target a single object or player when they’re cast. Once they enchant their target, they can’t target another object or player.
• Targeting is resolved when an aura is cast: The target of an aura is determined when the spell is cast, not when its effect is triggered. For example, if an aura has an activated ability, the target of that ability is determined when the spell is cast, not when the ability is activated.
Aura abilities: what’s the source?
Some auras, like Flowstone Embrace and Firebreathing, have abilities that are triggered by specific conditions. In these cases, the source of the ability is the enchantment itself, rather than the creature or player it’s enchanting. This means that only the controller of the aura can activate these abilities.
Comparison to other types of spells:
• In contrast to instants and sorceries: Instants and sorceries are types of spells that can target players or objects. When cast, they can affect multiple objects or players.
• Unlike creatures and planeswalkers: Creatures and planeswalkers can have abilities that target players or objects, but these are not spells in the same sense as an aura.
In summary:
To answer the question, is an aura a target spell? The answer is no. Auras have a unique targeting mechanism, in which they can only target a single object or player when they’re cast. Once enchanted, they remain attached to their target and can’t target another object or player. The source of an aura’s ability is the enchantment itself, rather than the creature or player it’s enchanting.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Can an aura target multiple objects or players?
A: No, an aura can only target a single object or player when it’s cast.
Q: Who can activate an aura’s ability?
A: Only the controller of the aura can activate its abilities.
Q: Can an aura enchant a different object or player after it’s cast?
A: No, once an aura is cast, it remains attached to its initial target and can’t target another object or player.