<p>Yes, you can, the same way you can "try" to destroy indestructible permanents. It is still a legal target, the countering effect just doesn't happen.</p>

<p>See the gatherer rulings for Emrakul:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Emrakul can be targeted by spells that try to counter it (such as <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=193469" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Lay Bare</a>). Those spells will resolve, but the part of their effect that would counter Emrakul won’t do anything. Any other effects those spells have will work as normal.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>As a spell or ability resolves, as long as all targets are valid (so it isn't itself countered), it will try to do as much of its effects as it can. Drawing a card isn't conditioned on the countering being successful, so as long as Remand resolves, you get to draw a card.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-14T19:04:57.160Z
Trying to target something with Hexproof would be a different matter, right?
Acccumulation
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-14T19:24:28.797Z
@Acccumulation correct, sort of. Hexproof, Shroud, and protection prevent the card from being a valid target, but only once it's on the battlefield. It can still be countered.
Arcanist Lupus
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-14T20:00:04.760Z
@ArcanistLupus No, Hexproof doesn't prevent the card from being a target, it prevents the creature the card summons from being a valid target. "Something with Hexproof" necessarily refers to a permanent, not the spell summoning the permanent, and only the latter can be countered.
Acccumulation
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-14T20:39:45.993Z
@ArcanistLupus Abilities mostly only apply for permanents on the battlefield. The exceptions are mostly abilities which specifically mention the card being in a different zone (see flashback and cycling, for instance).
Arthur
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-15T13:52:15.530Z
@Acccumulation My wording was a little imprecise, but that was what I meant.  Since the question was focused on countering I didn't want someone to get the impression that Hexproof could prevent a card from being countered.
Arcanist Lupus
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-14T07:21:28.547Z
2018-05-14T13:53:52.407Z
2018-05-14T13:53:52.407Z
Arthur
<p>If there is a spell in the stack that <strong>can't be countered</strong>, can I still play a <em>counter</em> spell on it? and if so, will it resolve?</p>

<p>For example, let's say that the opponent plays <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=emrakul%2C%20the%20aeons%20torn" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Emrakul, the Aeons Torn</a>, can I play  <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=87919" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Remand</a> on it? and would I draw a card?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-14T08:11:46.007Z
Always, just look at the targeting condition. What happen (or doesn't happen) later is irrelevant. For all you know, the spell will lose the ability that prevents it from being countered before the counterspell resolves.
ikegami
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-14T14:12:39.080Z
@ikegami I'm curious now; is it there a way with existing cards for a spell on the stack to lose the "cannot be countered" ability?
GendoIkari
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-14T19:42:12.357Z
@Gendolkari, Doubtful. The point is one shouldn't have to wonder about that when casting a spell or activating an ability.
ikegami
<magic-the-gathering>
Can I cast a "counter" on a spell that cannot be countered?
Alex
# Can I cast a "counter" on a spell that cannot be countered?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-05-14)

If there is a spell in the stack that **can't be countered**, can I still play a *counter* spell on it? and if so, will it resolve?

For example, let's say that the opponent plays [Emrakul, the Aeons Torn](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=emrakul%2C%20the%20aeons%20torn), can I play [Remand](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=87919) on it? and would I draw a card?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Always, just look at the targeting condition. What happen (or doesn't happen) later is irrelevant. For all you know, the spell will lose the ability that prevents it from being countered before the counterspell resolves.  
> **username_2**: @username_1 I'm curious now; is it there a way with existing cards for a spell on the stack to lose the "cannot be countered" ability?  
> **username_1**: @Gendolkari, Doubtful. The point is one shouldn't have to wonder about that when casting a spell or activating an ability.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-05-14. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

Yes, you can, the same way you can "try" to destroy indestructible permanents. It is still a legal target, the countering effect just doesn't happen.

See the gatherer rulings for Emrakul:

> Emrakul can be targeted by spells that try to counter it (such as [Lay Bare](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=193469)). Those spells will resolve, but the part of their effect that would counter Emrakul won’t do anything. Any other effects those spells have will work as normal.

As a spell or ability resolves, as long as all targets are valid (so it isn't itself countered), it will try to do as much of its effects as it can. Drawing a card isn't conditioned on the countering being successful, so as long as Remand resolves, you get to draw a card.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Trying to target something with Hexproof would be a different matter, right?  
> **username_5**: @username_4 correct, sort of. Hexproof, Shroud, and protection prevent the card from being a valid target, but only once it's on the battlefield. It can still be countered.  
> **username_4**: @username_5 No, Hexproof doesn't prevent the card from being a target, it prevents the creature the card summons from being a valid target. "Something with Hexproof" necessarily refers to a permanent, not the spell summoning the permanent, and only the latter can be countered.  
> **username_3**: @username_5 Abilities mostly only apply for permanents on the battlefield. The exceptions are mostly abilities which specifically mention the card being in a different zone (see flashback and cycling, for instance).  
> **username_5**: @username_4 My wording was a little imprecise, but that was what I meant.  Since the question was focused on countering I didn't want someone to get the impression that Hexproof could prevent a card from being countered.  

---

