<p><strong>Killian's ability only affects spells targeting creature permanents.</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Object" rel="noreferrer">Rule 109.2</a> says</p>
<blockquote>
<p>If a spell or ability uses a description of an object that includes a card type or subtype, but doesn’t include the word “card,” “spell,” “source,” or “scheme,” it means a permanent of that card type or subtype on the battlefield.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Killian's ability refers to &quot;creatures&quot;, which is a card type, without using any of the specified words, so it means creature permanents.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-17T17:42:18.187Z
2021-04-17T17:42:18.187Z
murgatroid99
<p>Something I wondered about <a href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=513689" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Killian, Ink Duelist</a> was how this card's cost-reduction ability interacted with spells that interact with creature <em>cards or spells</em> and not creature <em>permanents.</em></p>
<p>Spells like <a href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=382923" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Empyrial Armor</a> and <a href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=489685" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Crib Swap</a> can both target a creature permanent on the battlefield which allows these spells to cost less to cast if Killian is on the battlefield under your control while casting and targeting a creature with those spells.</p>
<p>However, something like <a href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=413620" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Animate Dead</a> targets a &quot;creature card in a graveyard,&quot; so is it implied that with Killian on the battlefield under your control, Animate Dead costs less to cast because it targets a &quot;creature&quot; anyway?</p>
<p>How would Killian interact with <a href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=509461" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Venser, Shaper Savant</a> regarding  returning a target spell to its owner's hand if the spell targeted is a creature spell?</p>
<p>Does a spell targeting a creature not have to be a permanent on the battlefield for the spell to cost less with Killian out?</p>

<magic-the-gathering>
Killian, Ink Duelist; Target "Creature"
ProtoplasmicWarrior
# Killian, Ink Duelist; Target "Creature"

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-04-17)

Something I wondered about [Killian, Ink Duelist](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=513689) was how this card's cost-reduction ability interacted with spells that interact with creature *cards or spells* and not creature *permanents.*

Spells like [Empyrial Armor](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=382923) and [Crib Swap](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=489685) can both target a creature permanent on the battlefield which allows these spells to cost less to cast if Killian is on the battlefield under your control while casting and targeting a creature with those spells.

However, something like [Animate Dead](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=413620) targets a "creature card in a graveyard," so is it implied that with Killian on the battlefield under your control, Animate Dead costs less to cast because it targets a "creature" anyway?

How would Killian interact with [Venser, Shaper Savant](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=509461) regarding returning a target spell to its owner's hand if the spell targeted is a creature spell?

Does a spell targeting a creature not have to be a permanent on the battlefield for the spell to cost less with Killian out?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-04-17. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

**Killian's ability only affects spells targeting creature permanents.**

[Rule 109.2](https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Object) says

> If a spell or ability uses a description of an object that includes a card type or subtype, but doesn’t include the word “card,” “spell,” “source,” or “scheme,” it means a permanent of that card type or subtype on the battlefield.

Killian's ability refers to "creatures", which is a card type, without using any of the specified words, so it means creature permanents.


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