<p>You can target anything that matches the description given for what's a legal target (unless Shroud, Hexproof or similar prevents you). <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Rapid%20Hybridization">Rapid Hybridization</a> has you pick a <em>target creature</em>. Since <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Gideon%2C%20Champion%20of%20Justice">Gideon, Champion of Justice</a> is a creature (at this time), you can pick it as the target.</p>
<hr />
<p>But Gideon is indestructible (at this time). It can't be destroyed [CR 700.4], but Rapid Hybridization instructs you to destroy it. <em>Can't</em> trumps <em>do</em> [CR 101.2], so you're asked to do something impossible.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>609.3. If an effect attempts to do something impossible, it does only as much as possible.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>So in this case, the following happens:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><s>Destroy target creature. It can't be regenerated.</s> That creature's controller puts a 3/3 green Frog Lizard creature token onto the battlefield.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Gideon's controller will get to keep Gideon, and he will gain a Frog Lizard.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-10T17:10:21.883Z
2013-03-10T22:34:12.433Z
2013-03-10T22:34:12.433Z
ikegami
<p>Unless it says <code>"destroy target creature that's not indestructible"</code> than yes, you can target it.  </p>

<p>And yes, the spell will resolve.  Gideon won't be destroyed, but his controller will still get his <code>Frog Lizard</code></p>

<p>The same goes for spells that <code>cannot be countered</code> and tapping and untapping creatures.`</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-10T14:49:31.843Z
2013-03-10T15:35:03.787Z
2013-03-10T15:35:03.787Z
Sam I am says Reinstate Monica
<p>this is from the ruling section from the gatherer link for 'Rapid Hybridization'</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>If Rapid Hybridization resolves and the creature isn’t destroyed
  (perhaps because it’s indestructible), its controller will still get
  the Frog Lizard token.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-10T19:29:55.423Z
That only answers half the question since the creature could have become indestructible after it was targeted.
ikegami
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-10T15:24:51.590Z
2013-03-10T15:24:51.590Z
Colin D
<p>Yes, <strong>Indestructible</strong> creatures are legal targets for spells/abilities that say &quot;destroy target creature.&quot;</p>
<p>The spell actually does resolve, but when it attempts to destroy the creature rule 700.4 prevents it from happening. The requirements for a &quot;legal target&quot; for a spell must be a permanent, unless the spell/ability specifies otherwise. <strong>Indestructibility</strong> does not modify the rules for targeting, unlike the rules for protection (702.15b A permanent or player with protection can’t be targeted by spells with the stated quality and can’t be targeted by abilities from a source with the stated quality).</p>
<p>You can target Gideon with <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Rapid%20Hybridization">Rapid Hybridization</a>, and when it resolves it will fail to destroy Gideon and will create 3/3 frog owned by Gideon's controller.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>114.2. Only permanents are legal targets for spells and abilities, unless a spell or ability (a) specifies that it can target an object in another zone or a player, (b) targets an object that can’t exist on the battlefield, such as a spell or ability, or (c) targets a zone.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>700.4. If a permanent is indestructible, rules and effects can’t destroy it. (See rule 701.6, “Destroy.”) Such permanents are not destroyed by lethal damage, and they ignore the lethal-damage state-based action (see rule 704.5g). Rules or effects may cause an indestructible permanent to be sacrificed, put into a graveyard, or exiled.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-10T20:46:11.333Z
Thank you! As far as I can see, it's a nice trick to have a 3/3 creature for 1 at instance speed :)
installero
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-25T18:30:00.757Z
And note that if, while it's on the stack, another effect is added that removes indestructibility, then the creature *will* be destroyed.
Acccumulation
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-10T15:29:45.523Z
2013-03-10T15:29:45.523Z
user1873
<p>Of course the spell won't resolve, but is the indestructible creature a legal target for a spell with the effect &quot;destroy target creature&quot;?</p>
<p>For example, can I target <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Gideon%2C%20Champion%20of%20Justice">Gideon, Champion of Justice</a>, animated by its second ability, with <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Rapid%20Hybridization">Rapid Hybridization</a>?</p>

<magic-the-gathering><mtg-indestructible>
Can I target an indestructible creature with a 'destroy target creature' spell?
installero
# Can I target an indestructible creature with a 'destroy target creature' spell?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-03-10)

Of course the spell won't resolve, but is the indestructible creature a legal target for a spell with the effect "destroy target creature"?

For example, can I target [Gideon, Champion of Justice](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Gideon%2C%20Champion%20of%20Justice), animated by its second ability, with [Rapid Hybridization](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Rapid%20Hybridization)?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering, mtg-indestructible


---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2013-03-10. Score: 18 | Accepted answer

Yes, **Indestructible** creatures are legal targets for spells/abilities that say "destroy target creature."

The spell actually does resolve, but when it attempts to destroy the creature rule 700.4 prevents it from happening. The requirements for a "legal target" for a spell must be a permanent, unless the spell/ability specifies otherwise. **Indestructibility** does not modify the rules for targeting, unlike the rules for protection (702.15b A permanent or player with protection can’t be targeted by spells with the stated quality and can’t be targeted by abilities from a source with the stated quality).

You can target Gideon with [Rapid Hybridization](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Rapid%20Hybridization), and when it resolves it will fail to destroy Gideon and will create 3/3 frog owned by Gideon's controller.

> 114.2. Only permanents are legal targets for spells and abilities, unless a spell or ability (a) specifies that it can target an object in another zone or a player, (b) targets an object that can’t exist on the battlefield, such as a spell or ability, or (c) targets a zone.

> 700.4. If a permanent is indestructible, rules and effects can’t destroy it. (See rule 701.6, “Destroy.”) Such permanents are not destroyed by lethal damage, and they ignore the lethal-damage state-based action (see rule 704.5g). Rules or effects may cause an indestructible permanent to be sacrificed, put into a graveyard, or exiled.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you! As far as I can see, it's a nice trick to have a 3/3 creature for 1 at instance speed :)  
> **username_5**: And note that if, while it's on the stack, another effect is added that removes indestructibility, then the creature *will* be destroyed.  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-03-10. Score: 2

You can target anything that matches the description given for what's a legal target (unless Shroud, Hexproof or similar prevents you). [Rapid Hybridization](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Rapid%20Hybridization) has you pick a *target creature*. Since [Gideon, Champion of Justice](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Gideon%2C%20Champion%20of%20Justice) is a creature (at this time), you can pick it as the target.

---

But Gideon is indestructible (at this time). It can't be destroyed [CR 700.4], but Rapid Hybridization instructs you to destroy it. *Can't* trumps *do* [CR 101.2], so you're asked to do something impossible.

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

So in this case, the following happens:

> ~~Destroy target creature. It can't be regenerated.~~ That creature's controller puts a 3/3 green Frog Lizard creature token onto the battlefield.

Gideon's controller will get to keep Gideon, and he will gain a Frog Lizard.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2013-03-10. Score: 2

Unless it says `"destroy target creature that's not indestructible"` than yes, you can target it.

And yes, the spell will resolve. Gideon won't be destroyed, but his controller will still get his `Frog Lizard`

The same goes for spells that `cannot be countered` and tapping and untapping creatures.`


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2013-03-10. Score: 1

this is from the ruling section from the gatherer link for 'Rapid Hybridization'

> If Rapid Hybridization resolves and the creature isn’t destroyed
> (perhaps because it’s indestructible), its controller will still get
> the Frog Lizard token.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: That only answers half the question since the creature could have become indestructible after it was targeted.  

---

