<p>No, abilities cannot target themselves. This is specified by <a href="http://mtgsalvation.gamepedia.com/Target" rel="nofollow noreferrer">rule 114.4</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>A spell or ability on the stack is an illegal target for itself.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-22T02:13:33.607Z
2016-11-22T02:13:33.607Z
murgatroid99
<p>While murgatroid is correct, to answer a related question that you <em>might</em> be trying to ask, if a permanent (creature, enchantment, land, etc) has some kind of ability, then the permanent <em>may</em> be a legal target for its own ability. For example, Merror Levitator has the ability "Tap: Target creature gains flying until end of turn", and Guardian of Solitude has "Whenever you cast a Spirit or Arcane spell, target creature gains flying until end of turn." It's fine to tap Merror Levitator to give it flying, and similarly if you cast a Spirit or Arcane spell then Guardian of Solitude will happily do the same.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-22T02:49:14.940Z
2016-11-22T02:49:14.940Z
ConMan
<p>I am new to the game sorry for the rookie question. Can abilities (both activated and triggered) target themselves?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-22T02:19:52.820Z
Welcome to the game (and the site)! Can you give an example of the type of ability you are talking about? I ask because this is more of an advanced question than a rookie one, and it's at least possible that due to common rookie terminology mix-ups, you aren't asking the same question you actually intended to.
GendoIkari
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-22T02:20:50.510Z
What prompts you to ask this? I agree with Gendolkari completely. This is almost always not a situation a newbie would face; very few things can actually target an ability and none of the ones I know are, themselves, an ability. It's more likely you have a specific situation in mind but you're using incorrect vocabulary to describe it -- that is, in fact, not all that uncommon for a newbie at all, and also nothing to be ashamed of since the game can be pretty confusing at the beginning. Could I suggest you clarify what exact cards you have in mind, and how you imagine them interacting?
doppelgreener
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-22T02:58:00.260Z
Are you asking: "Can a creature target itself with its ability?" or "Can an ability target itself on the stack?" or some other derivation?
Drunk Cynic
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-22T19:39:13.060Z
I voted to reopen this question. The question is clear to me: Can an ability target itself? If the author wants to ask a different question, then the author can ask a different question.
Rainbolt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-22T20:28:18.890Z
@Rainbolt That is a clear question but it's not clear that's what OP intended to ask. Some clarification from OP would go a long way.
corsiKa
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-22T21:04:14.183Z
I think this needs clarification because it's just so rare that this question would even come up, especially at a beginner level, that there is a high probability that something else was intended. As far as I can tell, there have only ever been two cards with abilities that could target themselves. And the activating player wouldn't even want to do that with those cards.
murgatroid99
<magic-the-gathering>
Can abilities target themselves?
White hill mage
# Can abilities target themselves?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-11-22)

I am new to the game sorry for the rookie question. Can abilities (both activated and triggered) target themselves?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Welcome to the game (and the site)! Can you give an example of the type of ability you are talking about? I ask because this is more of an advanced question than a rookie one, and it's at least possible that due to common rookie terminology mix-ups, you aren't asking the same question you actually intended to.  
> **username_2**: What prompts you to ask this? I agree with Gendolkari completely. This is almost always not a situation a newbie would face; very few things can actually target an ability and none of the ones I know are, themselves, an ability. It's more likely you have a specific situation in mind but you're using incorrect vocabulary to describe it -- that is, in fact, not all that uncommon for a newbie at all, and also nothing to be ashamed of since the game can be pretty confusing at the beginning. Could I suggest you clarify what exact cards you have in mind, and how you imagine them interacting?  
> **username_3**: Are you asking: "Can a creature target itself with its ability?" or "Can an ability target itself on the stack?" or some other derivation?  
> **username_4**: I voted to reopen this question. The question is clear to me: Can an ability target itself? If the author wants to ask a different question, then the author can ask a different question.  
> **username_5**: @username_4 That is a clear question but it's not clear that's what OP intended to ask. Some clarification from OP would go a long way.  
> **username_6**: I think this needs clarification because it's just so rare that this question would even come up, especially at a beginner level, that there is a high probability that something else was intended. As far as I can tell, there have only ever been two cards with abilities that could target themselves. And the activating player wouldn't even want to do that with those cards.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_6 on 2016-11-22. Score: 6

No, abilities cannot target themselves. This is specified by [rule 114.4](http://mtgsalvation.gamepedia.com/Target):

> A spell or ability on the stack is an illegal target for itself.


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### Answer by username_7 on 2016-11-22. Score: 2

While murgatroid is correct, to answer a related question that you *might* be trying to ask, if a permanent (creature, enchantment, land, etc) has some kind of ability, then the permanent *may* be a legal target for its own ability. For example, Merror Levitator has the ability "Tap: Target creature gains flying until end of turn", and Guardian of Solitude has "Whenever you cast a Spirit or Arcane spell, target creature gains flying until end of turn." It's fine to tap Merror Levitator to give it flying, and similarly if you cast a Spirit or Arcane spell then Guardian of Solitude will happily do the same.


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