<p>To quote 114.9a, with bold for emphasis:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>114.9a Just because an object or player is being affected by a spell or ability doesn't make that object or player a target of that spell or ability. <strong>Unless that object or player is identified by the word &quot;target&quot;</strong> in the text of that spell or ability, or the rule for that keyword ability, <strong>it's not a target</strong>.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>That really seems as straight-forward as possible. Does the spell or keyword rule use the exact specific word &quot;target&quot;? No? Then &quot;it's not a target&quot;. The only other thing I can think of that may help is to show them gatherer rulings from any number of cards. Look at any card with Overload, for example: <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Cyclonic%20Rift">Cyclonic Rift</a>, <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Blustersquall">Blustersquall</a>, etc. Both of these have Gatherer rulings that specifically state &quot;If you pay the overload cost, the spell won't have any targets.&quot;</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-28T05:31:01.580Z
The overload card rulings will work perfectly!
Vaccano
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-28T06:17:31.213Z
More importantly, they have the follow-up ruling under it which says "Because a spell with overload doesn't target when its overload cost is paid, it may affect permanents with hexproof or with protection from the appropriate color."
corsiKa
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-28T14:24:50.580Z
Re "Does the spell or keyword rule use the exact specific word 'target'?" That leaves out Auras. They target when they're on the stack.
ikegami
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-28T14:25:46.507Z
@corsiKa, I don't rely on rulings; they're sometimes outdated. But it wouldn't have hurt to mention it too.
ikegami
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-28T15:41:15.057Z
@ikegami Isn't that covered by the special exception 114.1b?
corsiKa
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-28T15:45:40.227Z
@corsiKa, Yes, "114.1b Aura spells are always targeted. [...]"
ikegami
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-28T04:59:26.973Z
2014-02-28T04:59:26.973Z
GendoIkari
<p>I played with a group recently who was convinced that an effect like "each creature" will target (while "all creatures" does not).</p>

<p>I consider rule 114.9a good enough to prove that it must say "target" or have a keyword whose rule says target or... it doesn't target.</p>

<p>But they are so sure that I think I will get some push back.  Is there anything besides rule 114.9a that I could use to clearly show that "each" does not target?  (Assuming I am right and it doesn't.)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-28T17:38:12.363Z
Very similar to this question: http://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/14777/do-cards-that-say-creatures-you-control-trigger-heroic
bengoesboom
<magic-the-gathering>
"Each" and Targeting
Vaccano
# "Each" and Targeting

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-02-28)

I played with a group recently who was convinced that an effect like "each creature" will target (while "all creatures" does not).

I consider rule 114.9a good enough to prove that it must say "target" or have a keyword whose rule says target or... it doesn't target.

But they are so sure that I think I will get some push back. Is there anything besides rule 114.9a that I could use to clearly show that "each" does not target? (Assuming I am right and it doesn't.)

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Very similar to this question: http://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/14777/do-cards-that-say-creatures-you-control-trigger-heroic  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-02-28. Score: 10 | Accepted answer

To quote 114.9a, with bold for emphasis:

> 114.9a Just because an object or player is being affected by a spell or ability doesn't make that object or player a target of that spell or ability. **Unless that object or player is identified by the word "target"** in the text of that spell or ability, or the rule for that keyword ability, **it's not a target**.

That really seems as straight-forward as possible. Does the spell or keyword rule use the exact specific word "target"? No? Then "it's not a target". The only other thing I can think of that may help is to show them gatherer rulings from any number of cards. Look at any card with Overload, for example: [Cyclonic Rift](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Cyclonic%20Rift), [Blustersquall](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Blustersquall), etc. Both of these have Gatherer rulings that specifically state "If you pay the overload cost, the spell won't have any targets."

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: The overload card rulings will work perfectly!  
> **username_3**: More importantly, they have the follow-up ruling under it which says "Because a spell with overload doesn't target when its overload cost is paid, it may affect permanents with hexproof or with protection from the appropriate color."  
> **username_4**: Re "Does the spell or keyword rule use the exact specific word 'target'?" That leaves out Auras. They target when they're on the stack.  
> **username_4**: @username_3, I don't rely on rulings; they're sometimes outdated. But it wouldn't have hurt to mention it too.  
> **username_3**: @username_4 Isn't that covered by the special exception 114.1b?  
> **username_4**: @username_3, Yes, "114.1b Aura spells are always targeted. [...]"  

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