<p>No, you cannot counter a Gearhulk with Turn Aside.</p>

<p>The Gearhulk is not a spell that targets anything. When it's cast, it's just a creature spell on the stack, without any targets and doing nothing special. Its ability isn't doing anything yet.</p>

<p><em>After</em> Gearhulk resolves and enters the battlefield as a creature (too late to counter it), its <em>"When Noxious Gearhulk enters the battlefield..."</em> ability triggers and goes on the stack. Now there is a <em>triggered ability</em> on the stack that's targeting something. You'd have to cast a card like <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bStifle%5d">Stifle</a> which counters <em>that</em> ability.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-30T23:25:38.527Z
2016-12-30T23:25:38.527Z
doppelgreener
<p><strong>No, Turn aside cannot counter Noxious Gearhulk.</strong></p>

<p>There seems to be some confusion here. When a player plays a creature spell such as the Gearhulk, it is indeed a spell while it is on the stack and does fulfill one of the conditions of Turn Aside's possible targets. However, a creature spell (generally, all permanent spells except Auras) never targets anything, and is therefore never a valid target for Turn Aside. A creature spell is simply on the stack, and when it resolves, it puts the creature it represents onto the battlefield.</p>

<p>Only the Gearhulk's enters-the-battlefield ability can target something. It goes on the stack when the Gearhulk has resolved and entered the battlefield. However, an ability is not the same as a spell, Turn Aside can counter only spells, so Turn Aside cannot counter that ability either.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2016-12-30T23:29:20.353Z
2018-07-30T07:42:33.253Z
2018-07-30T07:42:33.253Z
Hackworth
<p>When <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bNoxious%20Gearhulk%5d">Noxious Gearhulk</a> is played can it be countered by <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bTurn%20Aside%5d">Turn Aside</a>? </p>

<p>I've noticed that some cards say "counter target spell or creature" but turn aside only says "counter target spell ..."</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-30T23:30:02.213Z
"Counter target spell or creature" is not a valid wording for any Magic card. If you are thinking of a specific example of the wording you're thinking about, please name the card.
Hackworth
<magic-the-gathering>
Turn Aside and Noxious Gearhulk
user3795309
# Turn Aside and Noxious Gearhulk

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-12-30)

When [Noxious Gearhulk](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bNoxious%20Gearhulk%5d) is played can it be countered by [Turn Aside](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bTurn%20Aside%5d)?

I've noticed that some cards say "counter target spell or creature" but turn aside only says "counter target spell ..."

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: "Counter target spell or creature" is not a valid wording for any Magic card. If you are thinking of a specific example of the wording you're thinking about, please name the card.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-12-30. Score: 10 | Accepted answer

**No, Turn aside cannot counter Noxious Gearhulk.**

There seems to be some confusion here. When a player plays a creature spell such as the Gearhulk, it is indeed a spell while it is on the stack and does fulfill one of the conditions of Turn Aside's possible targets. However, a creature spell (generally, all permanent spells except Auras) never targets anything, and is therefore never a valid target for Turn Aside. A creature spell is simply on the stack, and when it resolves, it puts the creature it represents onto the battlefield.

Only the Gearhulk's enters-the-battlefield ability can target something. It goes on the stack when the Gearhulk has resolved and entered the battlefield. However, an ability is not the same as a spell, Turn Aside can counter only spells, so Turn Aside cannot counter that ability either.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2016-12-30. Score: 3

No, you cannot counter a Gearhulk with Turn Aside.

The Gearhulk is not a spell that targets anything. When it's cast, it's just a creature spell on the stack, without any targets and doing nothing special. Its ability isn't doing anything yet.

*After* Gearhulk resolves and enters the battlefield as a creature (too late to counter it), its *"When Noxious Gearhulk enters the battlefield..."* ability triggers and goes on the stack. Now there is a *triggered ability* on the stack that's targeting something. You'd have to cast a card like [Stifle](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bStifle%5d) which counters *that* ability.


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