<h1>No. (Mostly)</h1>
<p>Silent Gravestone's abilities read</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Cards in graveyards can't be the targets of spells or abilities.</p>
<p>{4}, {T}: Exile Silent Gravestone and all cards from all graveyards. Draw a card.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The first ability prevents targeting in much the same way Hexproof and Shroud do.  So do embalm and eternalize target?</p>
<p>Embalm is defined as follows:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>702.127a [...] “Embalm [cost]” means “[Cost], Exile this card from your graveyard: Create a token that’s a copy of this card, except it’s white, it has no mana cost, and it’s a Zombie in addition to its other types. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Eternalize is defined as follows:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>702.128a [...] “Eternalize [cost]” means “[Cost], Exile this card from your graveyard: Create a token that’s a copy of this card, except it’s black, it’s 4/4, it has no mana cost, and it’s a Zombie in addition to its other types. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>There is no mention of targeting in embalm and eternalize, therefore Silent Gravestone's ability won't affect them.</p>
<p>Generally speaking, an ability that only affects the card it is on doesn't target, while abilities that affect other cards do (unless it's affecting all cards of a specific type, like Silent Gravestone)</p>
<p>That said, Silent Gravestone's second ability <em>will</em> prevent players from embalming or eternalizing any of the creatures it exiles.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-22T23:33:59.247Z
I take it also doesn't stop something like Ghastly Conscription that's not worded as "targeting" any card?
Acccumulation
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-23T02:08:59.917Z
@Acccumulation: Correct.  Ghastly Conscription targets a player, not the cards in their graveyard.  To protect yourself from Ghastly Conscription you would need [Ivory Mask](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=83413) or something similar, and your opponent would still be free to target themselves.
Arcanist Lupus
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-17T16:41:00.463Z
2018-02-17T23:36:26.367Z
2020-06-17T09:01:24.697Z
Arcanist Lupus
<p>I have <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSilent%20Gravestone%5d">Silent Gravestone</a> in play, does that stop creatures from using embalm or eternalize?</p>

<magic-the-gathering>
Does Silent Gravestone stop eternalize
Tony
# Does Silent Gravestone stop eternalize

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-02-17)

I have [Silent Gravestone](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSilent%20Gravestone%5d) in play, does that stop creatures from using embalm or eternalize?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-02-17. Score: 9

# No. (Mostly)

Silent Gravestone's abilities read

> Cards in graveyards can't be the targets of spells or abilities.
>
> {4}, {T}: Exile Silent Gravestone and all cards from all graveyards. Draw a card.

The first ability prevents targeting in much the same way Hexproof and Shroud do. So do embalm and eternalize target?

Embalm is defined as follows:

> 702.127a [...] “Embalm [cost]” means “[Cost], Exile this card from your graveyard: Create a token that’s a copy of this card, except it’s white, it has no mana cost, and it’s a Zombie in addition to its other types. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.”

Eternalize is defined as follows:

> 702.128a [...] “Eternalize [cost]” means “[Cost], Exile this card from your graveyard: Create a token that’s a copy of this card, except it’s black, it’s 4/4, it has no mana cost, and it’s a Zombie in addition to its other types. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.”

There is no mention of targeting in embalm and eternalize, therefore Silent Gravestone's ability won't affect them.

Generally speaking, an ability that only affects the card it is on doesn't target, while abilities that affect other cards do (unless it's affecting all cards of a specific type, like Silent Gravestone)

That said, Silent Gravestone's second ability *will* prevent players from embalming or eternalizing any of the creatures it exiles.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: I take it also doesn't stop something like Ghastly Conscription that's not worded as "targeting" any card?  
> **username_1**: @username_2: Correct.  Ghastly Conscription targets a player, not the cards in their graveyard.  To protect yourself from Ghastly Conscription you would need [Ivory Mask](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=83413) or something similar, and your opponent would still be free to target themselves.  

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