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A target is a specific character or location that a player action is "aimed at". Targeted effects are those that require a target to play, while others are untargeted. A spell, Hero Power, Battlecry, or a location's ability may be targeted, while one character's attack on another is always targeted. Choose One and Combo effects work exactly like Battlecries for targeting purposes.

Targets are often selected by players as part of taking actions. Other times, cards choose targets randomly, or always affect a predetermined target. Players can only choose one target per action, although that may cause additional effects which apply to characters beyond the target. Those that choose randomly may also affect multiple targets. Some Triggered effects may switch an effect's target to a different character than originally chosen.

Generally, both friendly and enemy characters may be targets. Some abilities place restrictions on which targets are valid. Players cannot choose "no target" if a valid one exists, even if that means targeting a friendly minion with a harmful effect or vice versa. Sometimes this can be surprisingly beneficial, if a normally harmful effect would actually be helpful due to the specific situation or card.

One of the priorities of the Hearthstone game designers was to make the game quick and easy to interact with. For this reason, the only time targets need to be selected by players is when they initiate actions on their turn. Additionally, character-to-character targeting always indicates an attack action, although triggered effects may cause subsequent side effects from the attack.

See Random effect for more details on random target selection.

Targeting restrictions[]

Many player-selected and most randomly selected targets have restrictions beyond "a character", while abilities that always hit the same target of course must specify what that target is. The most common distinctions are between enemy or friendly characters, and between heroes and minions. Most hero-specific effects also specify whether it is the player's hero or the opponent's, although LegacyAlexstrasza may target either one. If a card only specifies "enemies", it refers to the enemy hero as well. Many other restrictions are also possible, based on minion type, statistics, and text/abilities. As of Whispers of the Old Gods, Goblins vs GnomesSteamwheedle Sniper is the only card that changes the targeting of another effect, specifically turning an auto-targeted ability into a player-directed one.

These targeting restrictions can sometimes make random effects not at all random due to the existence of only one valid target (or set of targets).

Elusive minions cannot being targeted by either player's spells and Hero Powers. However, they can still be hit with randomly targeted or untargeted effects, and can be selected by players making attacks or playing Battlecries. Stealth and Immune prevent all player targeting from the opponent only, although they too can be hit by random or untargeted effects. Immune, of course, has the additional benefit of preventing damage even if it is hit. This makes it especially inconvenient to employ random targeting against an opponent using an Immune character, which may absorb hits that could otherwise have damaged more vulnerable targets.

"Permanent" minions cannot be targeted, including by random target or AoE effects. Despite this, they still take up places on the battlefield, and will effectively 'soak' positional effects such as LegacyFlametongue Totem or LegacyCone of Cold without effect.

Locations cannot be targeted by normal means, such as by dealing damage or restoring health. A location can only be targeted by an action if a card (e.g. Murder at Castle NathriaDemolition Renovator) specifically says so.[1]

Spells, Hero Powers, and weapon Battlecries[]

See also: Spell, Hero Power, Weapon

Targets are selected for spells, Hero Powers, and weapon Battlecries in the same way. The text below uses the collective term "action" to refer to all of those plays, and "card" to specify a spell or weapon played from the hand.

Targeting of player-chosen actions is done by selecting a playable card or Power and then selecting the target character. Actions for which there is insufficient mana are unplayable and cannot initiate this process; the same is true for Hero Powers that are exhausted for that turn. A bold red arrow leads from the action source to the intended target, moving as different selections are made. The opponent can see the targeting arrow as well during this process. The opponent's view includes the hand position of the card being played (or shows that it is the Hero Power), but the identity of the card is not revealed until the play is actually "locked in". If the target is valid, the action will complete. If the target is invalid, an error message will be presented, and if the player targets an empty area, the action is cancelled - in either of these cases no card is revealed. Players cannot take an action and choose "no target" if it normally requires one, which in some cases forces players to select non-ideal targets to gain from side effects of the play.

For automatically selected targets, whether random or predetermined, the player simply drags the card onto the board or clicks the Hero Power, and target selection is handled by the game.

When there are no valid targets at all, different consequences occur depending on the card and type of targeting. Specific notes can be found on card pages.

  • A spell or Power requiring a player-chosen target, for instance LegacyFireblast or LegacySwipe, can never be used without one.
  • When the target(s) are random characters, a spell or Hero Power can generally not be played without at least the stated number of valid random targets, for instance 1 enemy minion for LegacyDeadly Shot or 2 for LegacyCleave. However, if a spell has a mix of random and untargeted effects, it may be castable even without targets - for instance Goblins vs GnomesSabotage works to destroy a weapon even with no enemy minions in play.
  • Weapons with random Battlecries can be played regardless of available targets, even if that means their Battlecries have no effect.

Minion Battlecries[]

See also: Summon, Battlecry, Choose One, or Combo

Most minions are played from the hand to an empty slot on the player's board with no targeting. However, those with Battlecries or related abilities may cause targeted effects. Players can never select the Battlecry card as its own target, and there are no Battlecry cards that include themselves in randomly targeted effects.

All minion plays begin the same way: first selecting a playable minion (the player must have enough mana) from the hand and then selecting the desired board position. Most minions would be put into play at this point, but an additional targeting step takes place for a minion with a player-targeted Battlecry. Similarly to spells, a bold red arrow leads from the minion being played to the intended target, moving as different selections are made. The opponent can see the targeting arrow as well during this process, except from their perspective the card will still be in the hand, since it has not actually been played at this point, making it indistinguishable from a spell. The arrow reveals the hand position of the minion being played, but its identity is not shown until a target has been finalized. If the target is valid, the minion summoning will be completed. If the target is invalid, an error message will be presented. If the player targets an empty area, the minion play is cancelled or "undone": the minion is not revealed, its selected board position is "forgotten", and it is visually returned to the hand, which it never truly left.

For automatically targeted Battlecries, whether random or predetermined, the player simply drags the minion into the desired board position as with any other, and target selection is handled by the game. If a minion has a player-targeted Battlecry but there are no valid targets, it is played as if it had no Battlecry at all - once the board position is selected, the minion is summoned and the Battlecry has no effect.

Note that if any valid target is available for a Battlecry, the minion cannot be played without selecting one. As with spells, players wishing to play minions with situationally inconvenient Battlecries may be forced to select friendly targets for detrimental effects, or enemy minions for beneficial ones, in order to get the minions onto the board. Unlike spells however, minions are never prevented from being played due to a lack of Battlecry targets.

Attacks[]

Main article: Attack

When attacking, the target is often called the "defender". All attacks are ordered by selecting an attack-capable character and using the targeting arrow that appears to select the desired defender. As with the other targeting actions, the arrow is visible to both players even before the attack order is completed. A player may commence the attack by selecting a valid target, will get an error message if selecting an invalid target, and can cancel the attack by selecting empty space or by right-clicking. Only enemy characters may be targeted in an attack, but certain triggered effects may change the defender to a new character, including a friendly one, before combat begins. Some effects may even cancel the attack entirely, in which case the player may initiate a new attack without being bound by previous targeting choices.

Attacking characters can generally target any enemy that is not Immune or in Stealth. However, enemy Taunt minions restrict the valid targets for an attack to only those with Taunt.

It is extremely rare for there to be no targets to attack, since either the opposing hero or a Taunt minion should be attackable nearly all the time. Thus, only an Immune opponent with no attackable minions, such as a warlock with a Stealthed Goblins vs GnomesMal'Ganis, could result in such a situation. In this case, no attacks can be targeted, so no attacks can be ordered at all.

Locations[]

Main article: Location

Unlike spells and battlecries, locations do not have immediate targeting effects when played. Instead, they are put on the battlefield and have an ability that can be activated at any point. In a way, targeted location abilities work similarly to hero powers in that regard.

Much like hero powers, a targeted location ability is used by holding and dragging the location to a valid target, or clicking the location and then its target.

Locations themselves cannot be targeted by normal means (see #Targeting restrictions).

Cards with targeted effects[]

For Wild format listings, see Target/Wild format

Target a friendly minion[]


Swipe left or right to see the cards.
CORE EX1 144
CORE ULD 191
TTN 932
REV 920
TTN 920t6
TTN 486
REV 923
RLK 958
TSC 211
TSC 069
CORE EX1 362
REV 362
TTN 742
CORE DED 009
JAM 027
RLK 918
MAW 000
JAM 013
ETC 533
JAM 027b
REV 351
RLK 536
REV 371
RLK 867
CORE EX1 049
JAM 027a
TTN 927
RLK 119
TTN 465
REV 333
ETC 420
TTN 754
JAM 014
NX2 036
JAM 005
RLK 658
TSC 649
REV 517

Target an enemy minion[]


Swipe left or right to see the cards.
TTN 737t
TTN 429t2
TTN 932
CORE CS2 108
RLK 951
REV 506
RLK 056
CORE CS2 076
TID 920
ETC 316
TTN 853
CORE EX1 002
TSC 933
TID 709t2
RLK 950
MAW 033t
MAW 033
TTN 429
ETC 099
REV 370
TTN 737
REV 017
REV 017t

Target either player's minion[]


Swipe left or right to see the cards.
CORE CS2 072
TTN 800t2
DREAM 05
NX2 004
TTN 429t
JAM 017
CORE GIL 600
CORE CS2 188
ETC 109
EX1 014t
NX2 008
ETC 201t
ETC 201t2
ETC 201
NX2 009
JAM 022
ETC 424
DREAM 04
JAM 025
RLK 034
CORE CS1 130
TTN 920t8
TTN 920t9
TTN 920t7
NX2 019
CORE EX1 302
REV 842
NX2 012
REV 990
TSC 215
CORE EX1 410
CORE BOT 453
CORE EX1 391
CORE GIL 801
CORE BOT 222
ETC 394
REV 249
MAW 023
RLK 655
MAW 001
MAW 025
RLK 605
MAW 017
RLK 804
CORE EX1 059
CORE EX1 603
RLK 057
RLK 909
CORE DED 009
TTN 454
CORE ICC 055
RLK 025
REV 983
MAW 025a
CORE BT 292
MAW 025b
CORE DMF 057
CORE CS2 009
MAW 019
EX1 154b
RLK 125
RLK 018
ETC 338
REV 939
CORE EX1 622
EX1 154a
TSC 056
CORE EX1 154
TTN 753
TTN 753t
REV 290
TSC 956
CORE BT 801
TID 717
CORE EX1 246
MAW 026
REV 602
TID 708
JAM 031
ETC 107
RLK 922
TSC 651
ETC 305
JAM 020
TSC 775
CORE EX1 005
CORE CS2 092
NX2 020
ETC 110
RLK 024
MAW 013
CORE DAL 371
RLK 529
ETC 108
CORE SW 066
CORE EX1 309
TSC 775t
RLK 537
ETC 356
REV 248
ETC 362
TTN 800
TTN 429
TSC 061

Target a friendly character[]


Swipe left or right to see the cards.
ETC 320

Target an enemy character[]


Swipe left or right to see the cards.
TSC 023
CORE UNG 205
RLK 038
TID 001
RLK 079
RLK 015
TSC 932

Target either player's character[]


Swipe left or right to see the cards.
TTN 075t
RLK 843
CORE DS1 185
BT 429p2
BT 429p
CORE CS2 189
TSC 963
CORE UNG 018
CORE AT 055
RLK 573
TSC 952
CORE EX1 238
CORE AT 037
TTN 920t10
CORE SW 114
TSC 637
CORE EX1 011
RLK 222
CORE AT 064
RLK 123
ETC 717t
CORE EX1 124
HERO 08bp
CORE TRL 307
CS3 022
REV 601
REV 601t
ETC 717
HERO 09bp
EX1 625t
TSC 058
CORE BRM 013
RLK 915
TID 074
RLK 570t3
ETC 369
ETC 101
TTN 457t
TTN 457
RLK 512
TTN 745
CORE CS2 094
ETC 209
RLK 570t2t1
RLK 570tt2
RLK 570t4t2
RLK 570t1t3
RLK 570t3t
TTN 477t1
TTN 477
CORE EX1 134
TSC 017
RLK 208
CORE CS2 029
RLK 825
REV 013t
ETC 082
CORE CS2 042
TTN 075
CORE NEW1 008
NEW1 008b
CORE KAR 076
TTN 090
TID 716
CS3 031
ETC 210
CORE EX1 279

Target an enemy location[]


Swipe left or right to see the cards.
REV 023

References[]

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