Can You Hold An Action On A Banished Creature

Can You Hold an Action on a Banished Creature? A Comprehensive Guide to Magic: The Gathering's Exile Zone

Banishing a creature in Magic: The Gathering is a powerful effect, often removing a problematic permanent from the battlefield permanently. But what happens to effects or actions that target a creature before it's banished? Can you still hold an action on a creature that's already been sent to exile? The answer, as with many things in MTG, is nuanced and depends on the specific card and timing. This article will delve into the complexities of interacting with banished creatures and resolve this common question.

This guide will explore the rules governing exile, the timing of actions and abilities, and provide examples to illustrate how different scenarios play out. We will cover key concepts like triggered abilities, replacement effects, and the crucial difference between targeting and affecting a permanent.

Understanding Exile in Magic: The Gathering

Exile, often referred to as the "exile zone," is a separate game zone distinct from the battlefield, graveyard, library, and hand. Once a card is exiled, it's removed from the game entirely unless a specific effect returns it. This makes exile a particularly powerful removal method, often circumventing graveyard recursion strategies. Key characteristics of exile include:

• Permanent Removal: Exiled cards are generally removed permanently from play unless an effect explicitly returns them.
• No Interactions: Generally, exiled cards cannot be targeted or affected by spells or abilities unless specifically stated otherwise by a card's text.
• Separate Zone: Exile is a distinct game zone, separate from other zones like the graveyard or battlefield.

Timing and the Importance of Targeting

The crucial factor determining whether you can "hold" an action on a banished creature is the timing of the action relative to the banishing effect. Many effects that target a creature will fizzle if that creature leaves the battlefield before the action resolves. This is because these effects require a legal target when they resolve. If the target is no longer on the battlefield, the effect is countered.

Example: If you cast a targeted removal spell (e.g., Doom Blade) targeting a creature, and that creature is then exiled before your spell resolves, your spell will be countered, because it no longer has a legal target.

Exceptions and Subtleties

While the general rule is that you cannot affect a banished creature, there are exceptions:

• Effects that don't target: Some effects don't require a target. These effects might still affect a creature even after it's exiled, if the effect's wording specifies it applies to exiled cards. This is often seen with global effects affecting all permanents of a certain type or with certain characteristics.
• Replacement Effects: These effects modify how an action is performed. They can potentially alter the outcome even if the original target is no longer on the battlefield. These effects are often more complex and require careful reading of their card text.
• Cards with specific wording: Some cards explicitly state that they affect cards in exile. These are exceptions to the general rule and should be examined carefully for their specific interactions.

Conclusion

In the vast majority of cases, you cannot hold an action on a creature once it's been banished. The timing of the action relative to the banishing effect is paramount. Effects that target a creature require a legal target when they resolve, and a banished creature is not a legal target. However, exceptions exist with effects that don't target, replacement effects, or cards with specific wording that interact with the exile zone. A thorough understanding of MTG's rules, particularly regarding targeting, timing, and specific card text, is crucial for navigating these complex interactions effectively. Remember to always carefully read the text of the cards involved to ensure accurate gameplay!