fire/Ice Rushing River and targeting.

[Maagler]

So I have been playing tempothresh recently and have run into this problem;

if I target two creatures with fire one damage to each and my opponent removes one of the creatures does the spell fizzle?

if I do the same with rushing river does the spell fizzle or does the one that was not removed get returned to the hand?

thanks in advance

[Nonex]

608.2b [...] The spell or ability is countered if all its targets, for every instance of the word “target,” are now illegal. If the spell or ability is not countered, it will resolve normally, affecting only the targets that are still legal. If a target is illegal, the spell or ability can’t perform any actions on it or make the target perform any actions.

So Fire deals 1 damage to the remaining target and Rushing River returns the valid target to hand.

[Anusien]

For a spell to be countered on resolution for lack of legal targets (fizzled, as it used to be known), it has to be targeted and have all its targets be illegal. As long as any of its targets are legal, it will resolves.

[tivadar]

Also note that for multi-targetted spells, removing one target still allows for the spell to go off. However, removing all targets causes it to be countered, even if it has additional effects. So in the case of something like electrolyze:

Electrolyze deals 2 damage divided as you choose among any number of target creatures and/or players. Draw a card.

If you choose a single target and that target gets removed, then the spell is countered and you do *not* draw a card.