Misdirection/counterspell

[Lythand]

Ok. I need some help out there from some experienced players who are good with the rules.
Here is my dilema.
I cast a spell. Lets just say its a simple creature like masticor. My opponant cast a counter spell. Here is where I have had sooooo many different rulings buy other people including DCI. I was told that counter spells can not target anything higher than itself on the stack, and it can not target itself. Then I was told it can. I dont know exactly but here is the rest of the example. Once my opponant cast the counterspell I use misdirection to cause the counterspell to counter itself. So I am told you cant do this. Then I am told that you can use the misdirection to force the counterspell to target the misdirection. Since the spells have not resolved it is supposed to be a legal target, but then we go back to the first part of the rule that counters can not target anything higher on the stack. Anyway if it is legal then the stack resolves like this. misdirection goes off forcing counter spell to target it before it compleatly resolves. Then counter spell resolves to counter the misdirection, but its not there so technically it fizzles and in the current rules its considered countered. Then the Masticore resolves. What I want to know is what is the correct scenario for this.

Lythand

[Multani]

Tag Guard

You can use a interrupt to counter an interrupt.
It's legal.
In your situation, the Mansticore resolves with being in play.
Hope that helps.

[Chaos Turtle]

Here's the lowdown on Misdirection (and Deflection, for that matter).

You can target any spell on the stack with a counter. Misdirection, at the time you choose targets, is a spell on the stack (the spell goes on the stack as the first step in announcement, one of the little-known nuances of 6th-ed rules).

You can not target a spell with itself (D'Angelo has this wrong, BethMo has specifically stated that you can't) but you can make the Counterspell target the Misdirection.

When Misdirection resolves, it makes itself the new target for the Counterspell (this is legal, because the Misdirection is still on the stack until it finishes resolving).

When the Counterspell resolves, it finds that its target is gone, and is countered upon resolution (i.e.- it "fizzles").

I'd like to mention again that WotC Customer Service is just about the last place one should go for rules answers. Instead, join the MTG-L mailing list and ask there. It's filled with would-be rules gurus, and is moderated by Paul Barclay, MTG-L NetRep. His replies are considered official.

[Multani]

Tag Guard

Chaos- You don't know what an interrupt is?!
Tisk Tisk Tisk.
(Don't ask)

[Chaos Turtle]

Infoplease.com online dictionary reveals the truth...

fa•ce•tious

Pronunciation: (fu-sE'shus)
—adj.
1. not meant to be taken seriously or literally: a facetious remark.
2. amusing; humorous.
3. lacking serious intent; concerned with something nonessential, amusing, or frivolous: a facetious person

And it's "tsk,tsk," just so you'll know...

[Multani]

Tag Guard

Speaking of interrupts, I heard from a friend that there will no longer be interrupts. In 6th edition there are only instants.
My God, if that's true, WOTC made the worst mistake since.... well they just will make a big mistake.

[linsivvi]

Well hold on here. O.K.
guy casts masticore
other guy casts counterspell
guy casts misdirection on the counterspell
The counterspell targets the misdiretion making it so that never takes place. If the misdirection never took place then the masticore should be countered. But if the masticore should be countered why is the misdirection......


*Linsivvi's head explodes*

[Chaos Turtle]

Jim plays Masticore; Passes.
Bob plays Counterspell, targetting Masticore; Passes.
Jim plays Misdirection, targetting counterspell; new target-Misdirection; passes.
Bob passes.
Misdirection resolves; Counterspell now targets Misdirection.
Jim passes.
Bob passes.
Counterspell resolves; it's target no longer exists, so it's countered upon resolution.
Jim passes.
Bob passes.
Masticore resolves and is put into play.
Jim cheers.
Bob swears.

Now, put your head back together and cut that out.