Magus of the Scroll and targets

[Drathro]

Ok, I should be 100% sure of this, but the wording is just that little bit vague, and I'm a little rusty. Magus of the Scroll's (http://gatherer.wizards.com/gathererlookup.asp?name=Magus_of_the_Scroll) ability is a targeted ability, when you play the ability. Regardless of the outcome of the reveal, there is a target that has already been chosen, correct?

Thanks.

[Pinder]

Yeah.

The relevant rule:



409.1. Playing a spell or activated ability follows the steps listed below, in order.
...
409.1c If the spell or ability requires any targets, the player first announces how many targets he or she will choose (if the spell or ability has a variable number of targets), then announces the targets themselves. A player can't play a spell or ability unless he or she chooses the required number of legal targets. The same target can't be chosen multiple times for any one instance of the word "target" on the spell or ability. If the spell or ability uses the word "target" in multiple places, the same object, player, or zone can be chosen once for each instance of the word "target" (as long as it fits the targeting criteria).


The target is declared as you're playing the ability, so it's already chosen long before you reveal the card (as the ability is resolving).

[mujadaddy]

Actually, isn't the damage & targeting an EFFECT of the ability? The ability just has you name a card & reveal it.

[TeenieBopper]

Actually, isn't the damage & targeting an EFFECT of the ability? The ability just has you name a card & reveal it.

You must choose all targets when you announce a spell or ability.

[mujadaddy]

You must choose all targets when you announce a spell or ability.
kk

[Pinder]

Yeah, Magus' wording is a little confusing because it doesn't say the word 'target' until the very end of the ability:



Name a card. Reveal a card at random from your hand. If it's the named card, Magus of the Scroll deals 2 damage to target creature or player


But for any ability (or spell) that has any targets, you always choose the targets as you're announcing the ability (or spell), regardless of where in the ability it uses the word 'target'.

[Drathro]

Thanks for the confirmation, peoples!