Targeting

[beautifulsazuka]

"Creature Swap" has on countless ocassions been said to be non-targeting. In the UDE FAQ, under Disappear, it says that "The Shallow Grave" is targeting. Both of these cards have very similar text. Why is it that "Creature Swap" is non-targeting while "The Shallow Grave" is targeting?

 

[beautifulsazuka]

But how can you tell whether a specific card determines the card affected at activation or resolution?

 

[beautifulsazuka]

Also, "The Shallow Grave" allows the opponent to choose a card at activation. How can you tell when such is the case?

 

[herky]

Generally, targetting effects affect one or two single monsters only and non-targetting effects affect the field as a whole.  "The Shallow Grave" has to target two specific monsters at its activation.  "Fissure" and "Creature Swap" do not choose cards to target, rather they affect the whole field when they resolve.  "Fissure" destroys whatever monster on your opponent's side of the field has the lowest ATK, regardless of if the monster with the lowest ATK changes within a change to "Fissure" or not.  For example, if your opponent only has a "Don Zaloog" on the field and you play "Fissure", your opponent may chain a set "Scapegoat" to have "Fissure" destroy a goat instead of his "Don Zaloog".  "Fissure" affects the whole field, and does not target a single monster.  "Creature Swap" is the same case.  "Creature Swap" lets both players choose one of their monsters to be given to the opponent.  "Creature Swap" itself targets no monsters, and affects the field as a whole.  It's the players' choosing at the time "Creature Swap" resolves that chooses the monsters to be swapped, not monsters targetted by "Creature Swap".  In the same example, a "Scapegoat" can be chained to "Creature Swap" to have a goat token change control due to the effect of "Creature Swap".  Sometimes this can get a little confusing, but when you think about it, it makes sense.  Generally, cards that have the effect of returning one or two monsters from the graveyard to play are targetting and must have their targets in the graveyard chosen at activation.  This explains the case of a chain to "Monster Reborn" with "Disappear" or "Call of the Haunted" targetting the same monster to make "Monster Reborn" resolve without effect.  "The Shallow Grave's" targets in the graveyard must be chosen at activation just like "Call of the Haunted", "Premature Burial", and "Monster Reborn".
Hope that makes a little more sense, and if it doesn't, there's not a whole lot more I can do.  Then all I can say is: go by the card-by-card rulings on targets and don't ask why

 

[helpoemer316]

Nice explanation there herky. If you have anymore questions about Creature Swap, or any other cards that do not target, but seem to target, don't hesitate to ask.

But after that long speech by herky, I doubt you will, .

 

[The Advocate]

Herky, that is one of the best explanations for "targeting" that I have come across, I actually printed it out for future reference.