<blockquote>
  <p>Can Spikeshot Goblin have itself as a target with its ability: "Tap: Spikeshot Goblin deals damage equal to its power to target creature or player"?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Yes. Spikeshot Goblin is a creature, and unless it somehow gains protection from red, shroud, etc. it's a valid target for its own ability.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>114.5. A spell or ability on the stack is an illegal target for itself.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>This only means the ability can't target itself, i.e. <em>the ability itself</em>. This is only relevant in rare cases; one example (for spells) would be that you can't change the target of a <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bCounterspell%5d">Counterspell</a> on the stack to itself. (If you want to counter a Counterspell with e.g. <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bMisdirection%5d">Misdirection</a>, you have to retarget Counterspell to Misdirection; when Counterspell tries to resolve, it will then fizzle because the Misdirection is no longer a valid target, and the original target of Counterspell will not be countered.)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-19T19:30:12.507Z
It might be worth noting that some creatures explicitly exclude themselves as targets for their own abilities, though this is usually only the case with triggered or state-based abilities.
Austin Hemmelgarn
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-19T14:52:28.077Z
2019-03-19T15:25:53.130Z
2019-03-19T15:25:53.130Z
Glorfindel
<p>Can <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSpikeshot%20Goblin%5d">Spikeshot Goblin</a> have itself as a target with its ability: "Tap: Spikeshot Goblin deals damage equal to its power to target creature or player"?</p>

<p>Yes or No?</p>

<p>I'm unsure as I read some things like "Rule 114.5. A spell or ability on the stack is an illegal target for itself." But I don't know if that Goblin's ability is on the stack or if it is an ability meant by that rule. Also for me an ability is another thing as a creature - so "itself" would mean the ability is targeting the ability, not "the ability is targeting the Goblin which has that ability".</p>

<p>That's why I ask for a simple answer as Yes or No to the Spikeshot Goblin example above.</p>

<magic-the-gathering>
Can creatures abilities target that creature itself?
MarvHock
# Can creatures abilities target that creature itself?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-03-19)

Can [Spikeshot Goblin](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSpikeshot%20Goblin%5d) have itself as a target with its ability: "Tap: Spikeshot Goblin deals damage equal to its power to target creature or player"?

Yes or No?

I'm unsure as I read some things like "Rule 114.5. A spell or ability on the stack is an illegal target for itself." But I don't know if that Goblin's ability is on the stack or if it is an ability meant by that rule. Also for me an ability is another thing as a creature - so "itself" would mean the ability is targeting the ability, not "the ability is targeting the Goblin which has that ability".

That's why I ask for a simple answer as Yes or No to the Spikeshot Goblin example above.

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-03-19. Score: 13 | Accepted answer

> Can Spikeshot Goblin have itself as a target with its ability: "Tap: Spikeshot Goblin deals damage equal to its power to target creature or player"?

Yes. Spikeshot Goblin is a creature, and unless it somehow gains protection from red, shroud, etc. it's a valid target for its own ability.

> 114.5. A spell or ability on the stack is an illegal target for itself.

This only means the ability can't target itself, i.e. *the ability itself*. This is only relevant in rare cases; one example (for spells) would be that you can't change the target of a [Counterspell](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bCounterspell%5d) on the stack to itself. (If you want to counter a Counterspell with e.g. [Misdirection](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bMisdirection%5d), you have to retarget Counterspell to Misdirection; when Counterspell tries to resolve, it will then fizzle because the Misdirection is no longer a valid target, and the original target of Counterspell will not be countered.)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: It might be worth noting that some creatures explicitly exclude themselves as targets for their own abilities, though this is usually only the case with triggered or state-based abilities.  

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