<p>So if I understand correctly:</p>

<ol>
<li>You're casting a creature spell.</li>
<li>Your opponent has cast <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bEssence%20Scatter%5d">Essence Scatter</a> targeting that spell to counter it.</li>
<li>You want to use <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> to prevent that creature spell from being countered.</li>
</ol>

<p><strong>No, you can't do this.</strong> For a few reasons:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Hexproof only functions on the battlefield. A creature card on the stack that has hexproof can still be a target of your opponent's spells. (Same for when it's in your graveyard, in exile, etc.)</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>702.11b “Hexproof” on a permanent means “This permanent can’t be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.”</p>
</blockquote>

<p>(Anytime it's not on the battlefield, it's not a permanent.)</p></li>
<li><p>Dive Down targets a "creature", which refers to only creature permanents on the battlefield. It can't target a spell &mdash; things that target creature spells say "creature spell", such as <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bEssence%20Scatter%5d">Essence Scatter</a>.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>114.2.</strong> Only permanents <em>[ed: cards and tokens on the battlefield]</em> are legal targets for spells and abilities, unless a spell or ability (a) specifies that it can target an object in another zone or a player, (b) targets an object that can’t exist on the battlefield, such as a spell or ability, or (c) targets a zone.</p>
</blockquote></li>
</ol>

<p>If you want to prevent your creatures from getting countered, you'll need effects that say your spell "can't be countered." For example, <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bAltered%20Ego%5d">Altered Ego</a> and <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bCarnage%20Tyrant%5d">Carnage Tyrant</a> both can't be countered. Meanwhile <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSurrak%20Dragonclaw%5d">Surrak Dragonclaw</a> and <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bProwling%20Serpopard%5d">Prowling Serpopard</a> both grant this ability to other creature spells you cast, whilst also having the ability themselves.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-05T12:43:58.707Z
Thnak you very much for both the answer and suggesting Prowling Serpopard. This was a card I was looking for! The other one unfortunately is not Standard.
Apostol Apostolov
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-05T12:54:06.153Z
You're welcome. Personally Surrak and Prowling Serpopard are both among my absolute favorite cards, even beside the "your creature spells can't be countered" ability. :)
doppelgreener
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-05T19:16:10.900Z
I wonder if it'd be worth mentioning the technicality that even if a creature spell can't be countered, it can still be the target of a counterspell like Essence Scatter, it's just that the "counter [the] spell" clause won't do anything. So "can't be countered" is not _quite_ the same as hexproof for spells. It's admittedly obscure but I could imagine that tripping someone up someday.
David Z
CC BY-SA 4.0
2017-10-05T12:16:29.320Z
2018-07-24T04:48:04.937Z
2018-07-24T04:48:04.937Z
doppelgreener
<p>The card <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=435205" rel="noreferrer">Dive Down</a> states:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Target creature you control gets +0/+3 and gains hexproof until end of turn. (It can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.)</p>
</blockquote>

<p>If I cast creature and opponent casts counter, can I Dive Down on the stack to give creature hexproof?</p>

<magic-the-gathering>
Can I give a creature spell hexproof to prevent it from being countered?
Apostol Apostolov
# Can I give a creature spell hexproof to prevent it from being countered?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-10-05)

The card [Dive Down](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=435205) states:

> Target creature you control gets +0/+3 and gains hexproof until end of turn. (It can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.)

If I cast creature and opponent casts counter, can I Dive Down on the stack to give creature hexproof?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-10-05. Score: 11 | Accepted answer

So if I understand correctly:

1. You're casting a creature spell.
2. Your opponent has cast [Essence Scatter](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bEssence%20Scatter%5d) targeting that spell to counter it.
3. You want to use [Dive Down](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bDive%20Down%5d) to prevent that creature spell from being countered.

**No, you can't do this.** For a few reasons:

1. Hexproof only functions on the battlefield. A creature card on the stack that has hexproof can still be a target of your opponent's spells. (Same for when it's in your graveyard, in exile, etc.)

   > 702.11b “Hexproof” on a permanent means “This permanent can’t be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.”

   (Anytime it's not on the battlefield, it's not a permanent.)
2. Dive Down targets a "creature", which refers to only creature permanents on the battlefield. It can't target a spell — things that target creature spells say "creature spell", such as [Essence Scatter](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bEssence%20Scatter%5d).

   > **114.2.** Only permanents *[ed: cards and tokens on the battlefield]* are legal targets for spells and abilities, unless a spell or ability (a) specifies that it can target an object in another zone or a player, (b) targets an object that can’t exist on the battlefield, such as a spell or ability, or (c) targets a zone.

If you want to prevent your creatures from getting countered, you'll need effects that say your spell "can't be countered." For example, [Altered Ego](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bAltered%20Ego%5d) and [Carnage Tyrant](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bCarnage%20Tyrant%5d) both can't be countered. Meanwhile [Surrak Dragonclaw](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSurrak%20Dragonclaw%5d) and [Prowling Serpopard](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bProwling%20Serpopard%5d) both grant this ability to other creature spells you cast, whilst also having the ability themselves.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thnak you very much for both the answer and suggesting Prowling Serpopard. This was a card I was looking for! The other one unfortunately is not Standard.  
> **username_1**: You're welcome. Personally Surrak and Prowling Serpopard are both among my absolute favorite cards, even beside the "your creature spells can't be countered" ability. :)  
> **username_2**: I wonder if it'd be worth mentioning the technicality that even if a creature spell can't be countered, it can still be the target of a counterspell like Essence Scatter, it's just that the "counter [the] spell" clause won't do anything. So "can't be countered" is not _quite_ the same as hexproof for spells. It's admittedly obscure but I could imagine that tripping someone up someday.  

---

