<p>Cards in Magic: The Gathering (at least when looking at the official Oracle wording, found on Gatherer) usually mean exactly what they say, nothing more and nothing less. If you had to place the counter on the denizen, it would've said "Whenever another green creature enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 counter on Ivy League Denizen.", and if you had to put the counter on the creature that just came out, it would've said "Whenever another green creature enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 counter on that creature."</p>

<p>When an ability or spell you play uses the word "target", you are entirely free to choose a target to your liking, within any explicitly mentioned restrictions (it has to be a creature since it says "target creature", said creature can't have shroud or protection from green, etc.)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-21T14:57:36.987Z
Knowing that the card means exactly what it says isn’t helpful in this case if you don’t know what “target” means. So I don’t think the summary a good one here. I think the second paragraph is the important part; the OP didn’t seem to know that “target” has anything to do with making a choice.
GendoIkari
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-20T21:04:13.127Z
2019-07-21T09:40:16.937Z
2019-07-21T09:40:16.937Z
Arthur
<p>You can put the counter on any creature you desire. So it can be <a href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=442748" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Ivy Lane Denizen</a>, creature that entered the battlefield, one of your other creatures or even one of your opponent's creatures. You need to be able to target that creature, though.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-20T20:20:18.597Z
2019-07-20T20:20:18.597Z
Aulis Ronkainen
<p>Magic is a game where wording matters a lot. You found two very important and common wordings in cards in this one card we are talking about.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Whenever another green creature enters the battlefield under your
  control, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Let's dig in as this will help you understand other rulings in the future.</p>

<p>The first word that matters to you here is <strong>"When"</strong>, this gives you an indication of a triggered ability, something happens <strong>when</strong> something else happens.</p>

<p>Now we know that a trigger happens, what kind of trigger is it? <strong>"enters the battlefield"</strong>. So now we know what will cause it to trigger, when something enters the battlefield. but we need to know what the something is. So the condition for this ETB (enters the battlefield) trigger is <strong>"another green creature"</strong>. The creature has to be green and has to be another, so it means that this won't trigger when Ivy Lane Denizen itself enters the battlefield, at least for its own triggered ability.</p>

<p>Now your question is about the <strong>targetting</strong> part of the ability.</p>

<p>There is quite a bit you can read about <strong>targetting</strong> on the comp rules but in this case use the same logic as we used for the ETB side. So we know what causes it to trigger, now we need to know what effect the trigger brings. The trigger makes you <strong>target</strong> something. The something in this is <strong>creature</strong>. And what modifier condition is there for <strong>creature</strong>? <strong>None</strong>. In this case, in this card, the only condition for the target is that it has to be a creature (and the target be legal). if, just like the ETB it said "another" creature, then this would be the modifier for the condition.</p>

<p>Mostly, rules on MTG cards are as simply as the text in the card, there is no need for interpretation. Always use the gatherer for clarification, but I would suggest trying to find the solution yourself first.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-23T08:34:02.530Z
2019-07-23T08:34:02.530Z
fireshark519
<p>"Target" means that you get to choose what object is going to be affected by your spell or ability. You make this choice when you cast the spell or when the ability is activated or triggered.</p>

<p>"Target creature" means that you must choose a creature.</p>

<p>From the MTG <a href="https://www.wizards.com/magic/rules/en_mtgm11_rulebook_lr_web.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Basic Rulebook</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Casting a spell</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>If the spell is an instant or sorcery and it has a target , you choose what (or who) that target is. </p>
  </blockquote>
</blockquote>

<p>and</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Target</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>When you see the word “target” on a spell or ability, you have to choose one or more things for the spell or ability to affect. You’ll be able to choose only
    certain kinds of things, such as “target red permanent” or “target creature or player.”</p>
    
    <p>You choose the targets for a spell when you cast it, and you choose targets for an activated ability when you activate it.</p>
  </blockquote>
</blockquote>

<p>The rules for selecting targets for a triggered ability, such as Ivy Lane Denizen's ability, work the same as for casting a spell or activating an ability.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-22T21:02:05.910Z
2019-07-22T21:02:05.910Z
GendoIkari
<p>I have an <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bIvy%20Lane%20Denizen%5d">Ivy Lane Denizen</a>, it says that he may put a +1/+1 counter on target creature whenever a creature enters the battlefield under my control. Does the counter go on Ivy Lane Denizen specifically <em>or</em> on the creature that just entered? Or does "target" mean I choose any creature of my choice?</p>

<magic-the-gathering>
I have an Ivy Lane Denizen, how does targeting work?
Chroma
# I have an Ivy Lane Denizen, how does targeting work?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-07-20)

I have an [Ivy Lane Denizen](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bIvy%20Lane%20Denizen%5d), it says that he may put a +1/+1 counter on target creature whenever a creature enters the battlefield under my control. Does the counter go on Ivy Lane Denizen specifically *or* on the creature that just entered? Or does "target" mean I choose any creature of my choice?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-07-20. Score: 7

Cards in Magic: The Gathering (at least when looking at the official Oracle wording, found on Gatherer) usually mean exactly what they say, nothing more and nothing less. If you had to place the counter on the denizen, it would've said "Whenever another green creature enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 counter on Ivy League Denizen.", and if you had to put the counter on the creature that just came out, it would've said "Whenever another green creature enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 counter on that creature."

When an ability or spell you play uses the word "target", you are entirely free to choose a target to your liking, within any explicitly mentioned restrictions (it has to be a creature since it says "target creature", said creature can't have shroud or protection from green, etc.)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Knowing that the card means exactly what it says isn’t helpful in this case if you don’t know what “target” means. So I don’t think the summary a good one here. I think the second paragraph is the important part; the OP didn’t seem to know that “target” has anything to do with making a choice.  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2019-07-20. Score: 2

You can put the counter on any creature you desire. So it can be [Ivy Lane Denizen](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=442748), creature that entered the battlefield, one of your other creatures or even one of your opponent's creatures. You need to be able to target that creature, though.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2019-07-23. Score: 0

Magic is a game where wording matters a lot. You found two very important and common wordings in cards in this one card we are talking about.

> Whenever another green creature enters the battlefield under your
> control, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.

Let's dig in as this will help you understand other rulings in the future.

The first word that matters to you here is **"When"**, this gives you an indication of a triggered ability, something happens **when** something else happens.

Now we know that a trigger happens, what kind of trigger is it? **"enters the battlefield"**. So now we know what will cause it to trigger, when something enters the battlefield. but we need to know what the something is. So the condition for this ETB (enters the battlefield) trigger is **"another green creature"**. The creature has to be green and has to be another, so it means that this won't trigger when Ivy Lane Denizen itself enters the battlefield, at least for its own triggered ability.

Now your question is about the **targetting** part of the ability.

There is quite a bit you can read about **targetting** on the comp rules but in this case use the same logic as we used for the ETB side. So we know what causes it to trigger, now we need to know what effect the trigger brings. The trigger makes you **target** something. The something in this is **creature**. And what modifier condition is there for **creature**? **None**. In this case, in this card, the only condition for the target is that it has to be a creature (and the target be legal). if, just like the ETB it said "another" creature, then this would be the modifier for the condition.

Mostly, rules on MTG cards are as simply as the text in the card, there is no need for interpretation. Always use the gatherer for clarification, but I would suggest trying to find the solution yourself first.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2019-07-22. Score: 0

"Target" means that you get to choose what object is going to be affected by your spell or ability. You make this choice when you cast the spell or when the ability is activated or triggered.

"Target creature" means that you must choose a creature.

From the MTG [Basic Rulebook](https://www.wizards.com/magic/rules/en_mtgm11_rulebook_lr_web.pdf):

> Casting a spell
>
> > If the spell is an instant or sorcery and it has a target , you choose what (or who) that target is.

and

> Target
>
> > When you see the word “target” on a spell or ability, you have to choose one or more things for the spell or ability to affect. You’ll be able to choose only
> > certain kinds of things, such as “target red permanent” or “target creature or player.”
> >
> > You choose the targets for a spell when you cast it, and you choose targets for an activated ability when you activate it.

The rules for selecting targets for a triggered ability, such as Ivy Lane Denizen's ability, work the same as for casting a spell or activating an ability.


---

