<p><code>"Can't be countered"</code> spells are still legal targets for counter-spells.  They just won't actually get countered</p>

<p>and this was already answered earlier today with the <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=369022">gatherer Rulings from Render Silent</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>4/15/2013     A spell that “can’t be countered” is a legal target
  for Render Silent. The spell won’t be countered when Render Silent
  resolves, but that spell’s controller won’t be able to cast spells for
  the rest of the turn.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>and here's another ruling which will help illustrate the difference between <code>illegal target</code>s of a spell and <code>can't be countered</code></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>4/15/2013     If the spell is an illegal target when Render Silent tries
  to resolve (because it’s been countered by another spell, for
  example), Render Silent will be countered and none of its effects will
  happen. </p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-03T19:28:06.907Z
Is that a ruling for render silent only or for all counter spells?
Pow-Ian
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-03T19:28:31.330Z
@Pow-Ian it applies to all counter spells
Sam I am says Reinstate Monica
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-03T19:26:11.317Z
2013-07-03T19:31:35.360Z
2013-07-03T19:31:35.360Z
Sam I am says Reinstate Monica
<p>Yes, <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Abrupt%20Decay">Abrupt Decay</a> and <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Loxodon%20Smiter">Loxodon Smiter</a> spells can be targeted by spells and abilities that would attempt to counter them.</p>
<p>When the spell or ability that would counter AD or LS resolves, the instructions of its effect are performed as normal except for the instruction that would counter AD or LS. That one is skipped.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>609.3. If an effect attempts to do something impossible, it does only as much as possible.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Protection prevents</p>
<ul>
<li>Damage</li>
<li>Enchantment/Equipment/Fortififcation</li>
<li>Blocking</li>
<li>Targeting</li>
</ul>
<p>&quot;Can't be countered&quot; prevents</p>
<ul>
<li>Countering</li>
</ul>
<p>As you can see, there's no relation whatsoever. Something with protection can still be countered. Something with &quot;can't be countered&quot; can still be targeted.</p>
<hr />
<blockquote>
<p>Simply states those abilities function on the stack</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Abilities of permanent cards normally only work when the object is on the battlefield [CR 112.6]. But you can't counter something on the battlefield. This rules makes it so LS's ability works when it needs to work.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>it makes no mention of giving the spell with the ability protection from spells.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>And nothing else does. It does not have Protection.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-03T22:58:36.020Z
2013-07-03T23:07:10.367Z
2013-07-03T23:07:10.367Z
ikegami
<p><a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=253561" rel="nofollow">Abrupt Decay</a>, <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=290543" rel="nofollow">Loxodon Smiter</a> and other Return to Ravnica cards have an ability that reads '{card name} can't be counterd by spells or abilites'. Does this mean it is not a legal target for a counter spell?</p>

<p>this rule:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>112.6f An object's ability that states it can't be countered or can't be countered by spells and abilities functions on the stack.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Simply states those abilities function on the stack, it makes no mention of giving the spell with the ability protection from spells.</p>

<p>So can they be targeted by counter spells?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-03T20:58:24.640Z
This blog post from a judge says they are legal targets. http://blogs.magicjudges.org/rulestips/2012/06/a-spell-that-cant-be-countered-can-still-be-targeted-by-a-counterspell/
Colin D
<magic-the-gathering>
Is a 'Can't be countered' ability the same as 'protection From' or 'Can't be targeted?'
Pow-Ian
# Is a 'Can't be countered' ability the same as 'protection From' or 'Can't be targeted?'

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-07-03)

[Abrupt Decay](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=253561), [Loxodon Smiter](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=290543) and other Return to Ravnica cards have an ability that reads '{card name} can't be counterd by spells or abilites'. Does this mean it is not a legal target for a counter spell?

this rule:

> 112.6f An object's ability that states it can't be countered or can't be countered by spells and abilities functions on the stack.

Simply states those abilities function on the stack, it makes no mention of giving the spell with the ability protection from spells.

So can they be targeted by counter spells?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This blog post from a judge says they are legal targets. http://blogs.magicjudges.org/rulestips/2012/06/a-spell-that-cant-be-countered-can-still-be-targeted-by-a-counterspell/  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2013-07-03. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

Yes, [Abrupt Decay](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Abrupt%20Decay) and [Loxodon Smiter](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Loxodon%20Smiter) spells can be targeted by spells and abilities that would attempt to counter them.

When the spell or ability that would counter AD or LS resolves, the instructions of its effect are performed as normal except for the instruction that would counter AD or LS. That one is skipped.

> 609.3. If an effect attempts to do something impossible, it does only as much as possible.

Protection prevents

* Damage
* Enchantment/Equipment/Fortififcation
* Blocking
* Targeting

"Can't be countered" prevents

* Countering

As you can see, there's no relation whatsoever. Something with protection can still be countered. Something with "can't be countered" can still be targeted.

---

> Simply states those abilities function on the stack

Abilities of permanent cards normally only work when the object is on the battlefield [CR 112.6]. But you can't counter something on the battlefield. This rules makes it so LS's ability works when it needs to work.

> it makes no mention of giving the spell with the ability protection from spells.

And nothing else does. It does not have Protection.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2013-07-03. Score: 6

`"Can't be countered"` spells are still legal targets for counter-spells. They just won't actually get countered

and this was already answered earlier today with the [gatherer Rulings from Render Silent](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=369022)

> 4/15/2013 A spell that “can’t be countered” is a legal target
> for Render Silent. The spell won’t be countered when Render Silent
> resolves, but that spell’s controller won’t be able to cast spells for
> the rest of the turn.

and here's another ruling which will help illustrate the difference between `illegal target`s of a spell and `can't be countered`

> 4/15/2013 If the spell is an illegal target when Render Silent tries
> to resolve (because it’s been countered by another spell, for
> example), Render Silent will be countered and none of its effects will
> happen.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Is that a ruling for render silent only or for all counter spells?  
> **username_2**: @username_0 it applies to all counter spells  

---

