<p>Dive Down resolves first (since it's the last spell on the stack) and will give your creature Hexproof.</p>

<p>Then, Pacifism (an Aura, which by rule 114.1b is a targeted spell) tries to resolve, but its target has become invalid, so it will not resolve and end up in your opponent's graveyard.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>608.2b <strong>If the spell or ability specifies targets, it checks whether the targets are still legal.</strong> A target that’s no longer in the zone it was in when it was targeted is illegal. <strong>Other changes to the game state may cause a target to no longer be legal; for example, its characteristics may have changed</strong> or an effect may have changed the text of the spell. If the source of an ability has left the zone it was in, its last known information is used during this process. <strong>If all its targets, for every instance of the word “target,” are now illegal, the spell or ability doesn’t resolve. It’s removed from the stack and, if it’s a spell, put into its owner’s graveyard.</strong></p>
</blockquote>

<p>(source: <a href="https://media.wizards.com/2019/downloads/MagicCompRules%2020190503.txt" rel="noreferrer">Comprehensive Rules</a>, emphasis mine)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-12T12:56:29.577Z
It's also necessary to show that auras are targeted spells.
Hackworth
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-12T12:21:45.150Z
2019-06-12T12:58:18.653Z
2019-06-12T12:58:18.653Z
Glorfindel
<p>Specifically, the comprehensive rules clarify that Auras (enchantments like Pacifism) require a target (emphasis mine)</p>
<blockquote>
<p>303.4a An Aura spell requires a target, which is defined by its enchant ability.</p>
<p>608.3a If the object that’s resolving is an Aura spell, its resolution involves two steps. First, <strong>it checks whether the target specified by its enchant ability is still legal</strong>, as described in rule 608.2b.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Relevant portion of 608.2:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>If all its targets, for every instance of the word “target,” are now illegal, the spell or ability doesn’t resolve. It’s removed from the stack and, if it’s a spell, put into its owner’s graveyard.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The rest of rule 608.2 only applies to instants, sorceries, and abilities.  But auras do check their implicit targets on spell resolution.  Then, as Glorfindel describes in their answer, Dive Down would make your creature an invalid target due to hexproof, so your opponent's Pacifism would not have any valid targets and be put into their graveyard instead of resolving.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-12T12:58:19.757Z
2019-06-12T12:58:19.757Z
2020-06-17T09:01:24.697Z
ryanyuyu
<p>Your creature would gain hexproof before the pacificim hit it therefore the pacifism would go to the graveyaard and your creature would be left on the battle field with hexproof and  +0/+3 until end of turn.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-14T08:11:05.687Z
What does this address existing answers? Especially since it doesn't even refer to any rules like they have.
Nij
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-13T22:51:41.743Z
2019-06-17T22:31:26.473Z
2019-06-17T22:31:26.473Z
Jokus
<p>If my opponent casts <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bPacifism%5d">Pacifism</a> on my creature and in response I cast <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bDive%20Down%5d">Dive Down</a>, what happens?</p>

<magic-the-gathering>
Can Dive Down protect a creature against Pacifism?
23thayn
# Can Dive Down protect a creature against Pacifism?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-06-12)

If my opponent casts [Pacifism](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bPacifism%5d) on my creature and in response I cast [Dive Down](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bDive%20Down%5d), what happens?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-06-12. Score: 23

Dive Down resolves first (since it's the last spell on the stack) and will give your creature Hexproof.

Then, Pacifism (an Aura, which by rule 114.1b is a targeted spell) tries to resolve, but its target has become invalid, so it will not resolve and end up in your opponent's graveyard.

> 608.2b **If the spell or ability specifies targets, it checks whether the targets are still legal.** A target that’s no longer in the zone it was in when it was targeted is illegal. **Other changes to the game state may cause a target to no longer be legal; for example, its characteristics may have changed** or an effect may have changed the text of the spell. If the source of an ability has left the zone it was in, its last known information is used during this process. **If all its targets, for every instance of the word “target,” are now illegal, the spell or ability doesn’t resolve. It’s removed from the stack and, if it’s a spell, put into its owner’s graveyard.**

(source: [Comprehensive Rules](https://media.wizards.com/2019/downloads/MagicCompRules%2020190503.txt), emphasis mine)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: It's also necessary to show that auras are targeted spells.  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2019-06-12. Score: 11

Specifically, the comprehensive rules clarify that Auras (enchantments like Pacifism) require a target (emphasis mine)

> 303.4a An Aura spell requires a target, which is defined by its enchant ability.
>
> 608.3a If the object that’s resolving is an Aura spell, its resolution involves two steps. First, **it checks whether the target specified by its enchant ability is still legal**, as described in rule 608.2b.

Relevant portion of 608.2:

> If all its targets, for every instance of the word “target,” are now illegal, the spell or ability doesn’t resolve. It’s removed from the stack and, if it’s a spell, put into its owner’s graveyard.

The rest of rule 608.2 only applies to instants, sorceries, and abilities. But auras do check their implicit targets on spell resolution. Then, as username_1 describes in their answer, Dive Down would make your creature an invalid target due to hexproof, so your opponent's Pacifism would not have any valid targets and be put into their graveyard instead of resolving.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2019-06-13. Score: -3

Your creature would gain hexproof before the pacificim hit it therefore the pacifism would go to the graveyaard and your creature would be left on the battle field with hexproof and +0/+3 until end of turn.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: What does this address existing answers? Especially since it doesn't even refer to any rules like they have.  

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