Targeting

Frequently Asked Questions

Aspects

• Can a land sunk by Deeps be targeted with Powers?
  Yes, but only insofar as it's part of the entire Ocean on that board, and that Ocean as a whole can be targeted (if Ocean's Hungry Grasp is still present on the board).

  It's impossible to only target the part of that Ocean that was formally a particular land in the same way that it's impossible to only target the left side of a printed land, or only target part of a joined land created by Weave Together the Fabric of Place.
  Tags: Targeting, Deeps Aspect (Ocean's Hungry Grasp), Ocean In Play (Ocean's Hungry Grasp)

Definitions

• What does it mean when a Power's effects or Target Land shows (Terrain A)(Terrain B)? A or B? A next to B?
  It means "Terrain A OR Terrain B." (Back page, Targeting section.)

  The division between them is supposed to be a sort of slash, but that's not especially clear.
  (Discussion elsewhere)  Tags: Targeting, Terrain, Iconography, Uncanny Melting, 13 more...

Effect Rules

• When Repeating a Power that has choices, do you have to make the same choice the second time?
  No, when Repeating a Power, you can make different choices unless the Power explicitly says otherwise. This can include:

  • Choosing a different target
  • Choosing a different mode (e.g., gaining Energy with the first use of Gift of Searing Heat and then spending it with the second use)
  • Choosing not to pay for something you paid for the first time (e.g., not paying for a card with the second use of Exaltation of Tangled Growth)
    Tags: Repeat, Targeting, Gift of Searing Heat (Rising Heat of Stone and Sand), Exaltation of Tangled Growth (Fathomless Mud of the Swap), 0 more...
• When instructed to "Repeat this Power", do you have to obey the range/target land restrictions?
  Only if it doesn't tell you where to Repeat it. If a Repeat specifies where to use it, you obey those instructions instead of the usual Range and Target restrictions (p. 19) even if the land would normally be untargetable. In the rare case that the origin land matters when instructed to Repeat a Power in a specific land, it's the same origin land as the original power use.

  For example, The Land Thrashes in Furious Pain could be Repeated on an adjacent land without Blight.
  (Discussion elsewhere)  Tags: Repeat, Targeting, Range, The Land Thrashes in Furious Pain, 19 more...

General Play

• How does "resolve powers in the order they're written" work for things like "If you have (elements), +1 Range"?
  Internal modifiers like this – a Power changing its own Speed, Range, or other targeting – are looked at when they're relevant (like during targeting), not during normal Power resolution. This is an exception to "do things strictly in order once using the Power".

  This is also the case for Powers like The Jungle Hungers, where a threshold modifies the instructions earlier in the Power. Technically, every use of "Instead..." in an innate power works this way; it's pretty simple for human minds to understand the intent, but the formal specification is messier.

  Also related: A Power that is 100% internal modifiers doesn't do anything, so can't be targeted/used for things like Scream Disease Into the Wind..
  Tags: Resolving Powers, Range Boosts, Speed (Fast/Slow), Targeting, 6 more...
• If you manage to create a land with no adjacent lands, how do things like Blight cascades or Push work? Can you target it from lands Range 2+ away?
  

  • There are no adjacent lands to add Blight to, so Blight does not cascade.
  • Push can't Push anything (unless you can Push to a land 2 away - eg, Many Minds Move as One - and there's a land 2 away, see below).
  • Whether you can target the land depends on whether you can measure Range from your Presence to it. If you made a disjoint land via Cast Down into the Briny Deep + Absolute Stasis, yes, because the land is Range 2 from other lands. But if you completely wall off a land via Repeats of Absolute Stasis, then there's no way to measure Range to it, so the only way to target Powers there would be to either have Presence in the land or the ability to ignore range (eg, Finder of Paths Unseen).

  Note that Isolate is NOT usually sufficient to generate any of these situations, since it only affects adjacency for Invader pieces (JE rules, p. 10).
  Tags: Island Boards, Push, Range, Targeting, 2 more...
• Can I pick the target land for a Slow power during the Slow Power phase?
  Yes, and that's the recommended way to do it. All targets for Powers (Fast or Slow) are chosen when the power is activated.

  During the Spirit phase, you play and pay for Power Cards and gain their elements, but you don't actually need to pick the targets at that point. You will find your first games go more smoothly if you trust that there will be a useful place to use your powers.

  If you plan a target at the beginning of the turn and then it is no longer a valid target, you have to pick a different target.
  (Discussion elsewhere)  Tags: Targeting, Speed (Fast/Slow)
• If you skip using the text effects of a Power *(p. 17 core rules)*, are you still considered to have targeted / used that Power? (For, eg, Shroud of Silent Mist.)
  No, if you target a Power you must actually attempt to perform its text effects. (It need not actually have any game effect.)

  The core rules would be better phrased as "you may forego using a Power".
  Tags: Targeting, Shroud of Silent Mist, Scream Disease Into the Wind, Blitz, 1 more...
• What are some more-common mistakes in your first games?
  See "Rules semi-commonly misplayed".
  (Discussion elsewhere)  Tags: Presence track, Targeting, Growth, Build, 2 more...

Power Cards

• If Entwined Power is used on Downpour Drenches the World and another Spirit: can lands with 2 of the other Spirit's Presence be treated as Downpour's Sacred Sites (and thus Wetlands) while the *other* Spirit is targeting?
  No, only while Downpour is targeting. Entwined Power is "each Spirit may use the other's Presence while it is targeting", not "both Spirits' Presence belongs to both of them while either is targeting".

  There is no formal definition of "using another Spirit's Presence"; informally consider it "treat it as yours for anything related to the act of targeting".
  Tags: Targeting, Sacred Sites, Downpour Drenches the World, Entwined Power, 0 more...
• If you target yourself with Gift of Twinned Days in a solo game, can you repeat your lowest-cost power twice? If so, can you choose a different power to be ‘lowest-cost’ the second time?
  Yes, and yes.

  It works differently than Serpent Wakes in Power (Serpent Slumbering Beneath the Island) because that innate says "Other Spirits with (condition) do likewise", rather than working via targeting particular Spirits.
  Tags: Targeting, Repeat, Gift of Twinned Days, Serpent Wakes in Power (Serpent Slumbering Beneath the Island), 0 more...
• Can Strangling Firevine target at Range 0 to add two Wilds to the same land?
  Yes.

  You add 1 Wilds to both the originating land (the land from which you're measuring Range) and the target land. At Range 0, these will be the same, so both Wilds tokens are added to the same land.
  (Discussion elsewhere)  Tags: Targeting, Strangling Firevine
• Is Trees Radiate Celestial Brilliance limited to targeting a Jungle without Blight?
  No, it can target any Jungle OR any land without Blight.

  The slash works just like it does for "Remove 1 Town/City". If it were "Jungle without Blight", there would be an "AND" or "&" between them.
  Tags: Targeting, Trees Radiate Celestial Brilliance
• Does Entwined Power <i>(you and target Spirit may use each others’ Presence to target Powers)</i> also allow you to count the other spirit's presence for effects like Serpent Rouses in Anger or Threatening Flames?
  No. Those are effects of Powers; Entwined Power only helps targeting - i.e., "Where can you use this Power?"
  (Discussion elsewhere)  Tags: Targeting, Entwined Power
• In which land does the threshold of Sleep and Never Waken generate fear?
  The target land. All effects of a land-targeting Power happen in the target land unless otherwise specified somehow.
  Tags: Fear, Targeting, Sleep and Never Waken
• With Entwined Power, can Shroud of Silent Mist Gather another Spirit's Presence?
  Yes. When Shroud of Silent Mist targets a Power (which its Presence-Gather is part of) it treats the other Spirit's Presence as also being its Presence.

  If the effects of the special rule didn't have anything to do with targeting the Power, it might be more ambiguous (since Entwined Power is only supposed to affect targeting), but Mists Shift and Flow is very explicit that it can be used to target Powers.
  Tags: Targeting, Move, Shroud of Silent Mist, Mists Shift and Flow (Shroud of Silent Mist), 2 more...
• For the power Storm-Swath, what happens if the origin land is the same as the target land?
  You do 2 damage to each Invader - the "target land" and "origin land" effects each still apply, just to the same land.
  Tags: Targeting, Storm-Swath

Range and Targeting

• Does Shadows of the Dahan <i>("...you may pay 1 Energy to target a land with Dahan regardless of the Power's Range")</i> let you ignore other targeting requirements?
  No. Only Range - the number of lands distant - is ignored.

  All other targeting requirements still apply. This includes source restrictions, so if, e.g., a Power must be targeted from a Sacred Site and you have none, Shadows of the Dahan won't let you use it, or if it needs to be targeted from a Jungle, you need Presence in a Jungle to use it. The same applies for target restrictions other than Range, like lands with Invaders, unblighted lands, or restrictions on the target terrain; these must also be obeyed.
  (Discussion elsewhere)  Tags: Range, Targeting, Shadows of the Dahan (Shadows Flicker Like Flame), Finder of Paths Unseen, 3 more...
• Can you target a power on a land where you know it won't do anything? For instance, target a land without Explorers with a "Push 1 Explorer" Power?
  Yes. You can target a power on any land, as long as it satisfies the targeting and range restrictions. ("Do as much as you can" only refers to resolving a Power, not how you use it in the first place.)

  Obvious reasons you might want to do this include Gathering Presence (if you're Shroud of Silent Mist) or placing Disease (if Scream Disease Into the Wind has been played on you). There are other less-likely cases too.
  Tags: Targeting, Scream Disease Into the Wind, Mists Shift and Flow (Shroud of Silent Mist), Shroud of Silent Mist, 1 more...
• Do Range buffs apply to Powers that affect "a land with your Presence" or "one of your lands"?
  No. "A land with your Presence" specifies a requirement for the land you're affecting (similar to, eg, "a land with Dahan" or "a land with Blight"), not a numeric Range. While it is usually the same in practice as "a land at Range 0", when using effects that modify Range the distinction matters.

  For powers like Punish Those Who Trespass or Firestorm that have a base effect with normal range and a further effect referring to "lands where you have presence", the range on the base effect can be extended, but the further part cannot.

  For instance, if you reach all the thresholds of Punish Those Who Trespass and have extended range, you can use the base effect to deal damage in a distant land and use the further part to deal damage where you have presence (without extension).
  (Discussion elsewhere)  Tags: Range, Presence, Targeting, Reaching Grasp, 10 more...

Scenarios

• In the Second Wave scenario, where exactly can a power from the first wave be used? What if the power is targeted from a Sacred Site? What about (one of many weird exception cases)?
  The power can target any land or Spirit it normally could - no current Spirit needs to have a Sacred Site (or Presence in a land of the correct terrain, etc.) The power is being "played" by the Spirit from the prior game - if it cares about the originating land, or where the Spirit has Presence / Sacred Sites, it can assume that for purposes of targeting and resolution the Spirit has up to 2 Presence in each land. The Power can't affect the playing Spirit (which is not in the game). Technically, Energy/other costs can't be paid, but it's more fun if you say that costs up to 8 Energy / 4 Time, can be paid. (Or rough equivalent, so Elemental Teachings can grant 3 of any element(s), Draw Towards a Consuming Void could redo its effects once, etc).

  Along similar lines, it would be thematically appropriate to apply most sorts of Special Rules for the Spirit "using" the Power, but creating a precise formal specification for exactly what should/shouldn't be considered would get very finicky. Use your judgment.
  (Discussion elsewhere) (Discussion elsewhere)  Tags: Targeting, Player-convenience choices, Second Wave

Spirits and Innate Powers

• How does Mists Shift and Flow interact with a Power targeting two lands?
  You get to move 1 Presence for each of the two target lands. ("When targeting a land" applies twice.)

  You don't check whether the targets are legal (for Range) until after both Presence have moved, so you could use the Presence movement to make a Sacred Site in a land where you'd had no Presence.
  Tags: Targeting, Mists Shift and Flow (Shroud of Silent Mist), Shroud of Silent Mist, Fire and Flood, 0 more...
• If all you can do with an innate power is change its Speed or Range (eg: either of Thunderspeaker's innates with 4 Air only), is that enough to target and use the Power?
  No, a power needs to have the potential to do something (not just modify its own attributes) in order to be targeted or used.

  This is usually irrelevant, but can occasionally be important (for, e.g., Scream Disease Into the Wind, or other "after using a power on a land..." effects.)

  It does not need to actually do something, as long as it has an instruction that could in theory modify the game state. Setting up a triggered action for the current Power only (eg: Lure's first innate) doesn't count, either; it's effectively an internal modifier as well, despite using a trigger for timing.
  Tags: Targeting, Resolving Powers, Range Boosts, Range, 4 more...
• Can Fathomless Mud of the Swamp target the origin land of Spreading and Dreadful Mire, or does that fail because moving Presence is required?
  Yes, you can target the origin land: “this is required” is a reminder that if it’s possible to Move a Presence, you must, not that you must choose a target where moving Presence is possible.

  (Also, while it's rarely relevant, you can technically Move a piece from a land to that same land, so long as the wording of the Power doesn't exclude doing so. Thematically, it’s moving within that land.)
  Tags: Targeting, Move, Presence, Spreading and Dreadful Mire (Fathomless Mud of the Swamp), 1 more...
• If Shadows Repeats a Power that it range-boosted with Shadows of the Dahan, does it have to pay Energy again?
  No. Modifications to a Power carry over to its Repeat. (p. 19)

  Remember that if there are explicit instructions about where to Repeat a Power, those take priority. So if a Power Card says "Repeat this Power in an adjacent land", you may (and must) target a land adjacent to the original, rather than choosing a new target the usual way.
  (Discussion elsewhere)  Tags: Repeat, Targeting, Shadows of the Dahan (Shadows Flicker Like Flame)
• When do you pay the extra Energy for Shadows of the Dahan? <i>("Whenever you use a Power, you may pay 1 Energy to target a land with Dahan...")</i>
  When you use the Power - i.e., resolve its text effects. You don't have to choose a Power's target until you actually use it.
  (Discussion elsewhere)  Tags: Energy, Targeting, Shadows of the Dahan (Shadows Flicker Like Flame)
• Is The Endless Dark a land for Spirit-targeting Powers?
  No, no matter which Spirit uses the Power or is the target of the Power, the Power isn’t targeting The Endless Dark.
  Tags: Targeting, Breath of Darkness Down Your Spine, The Endless Dark (Breath of Darkness Down Your Spine), Shadow-Touched Realm (Breath of Darkness Down Your Spine), 0 more...
• Does Mists Shift and Flow make Range 0 powers effectively Range 1?
  You can move Presence to satisfy the targeting requirement, so effectively yes, if you move into the target land.

  But note you cannot move your last Presence out of the target land for a Range 0 Power.
  (Discussion elsewhere)  Tags: Targeting, Mists Shift and Flow (Shroud of Silent Mist), Shroud of Silent Mist
• Can Powers target lands where it's impossible to resolve all of the effects (e.g., Spreading and Dreadful Mire targeting a land without Dahan)?
  Yes, Powers just need to be able to meet the conditions in the "Range" and "Target" boxes.

  In this Spreading and Dreadful Mire example, the only targeting restriction is having Invaders. While some thresholds of the Power will push Dahan if possible, Fathomless Mud of the Swamp isn't required to target a land with pushable Dahan.
  Tags: Targeting, Spreading and Dreadful Mire (Fathomless Mud of the Swamp), Fathomless Mud of the Swamp
• Can Mists Shift and Flow let you meet origin land targeting requirements? (E.g., targeting from a Jungle, or from a Sacred Site)
  Yes. (JE, p. 31)
  Tags: Targeting, Sacred Sites, Mists Shift and Flow (Shroud of Silent Mist), Shroud of Silent Mist, 0 more...
• When Breath of Darkness Down Your Spine targets The Endless Dark, which targeting restrictions can The Endless Dark meet?
  Breath's Power can target The Endless Dark if they do any of the following:

  • Have no targeting restrictions;
  • Only target Inland lands (e.g., Here There Be Monsters);
  • Can't target specific terrains (e.g., Dry Wood Explodes in Smoldering Splinters);
  • Check for pieces that are currently in The Endless Dark (e.g., Territorial Strife targeting The Endless Dark if a City is present there); or
  • Specifically target The Endless Dark (e.g., Lost in the Endless Dark).

  Breath can't target The Endless Dark with Powers that target specific terrains or Coastal lands, check for pieces that aren't currently in The Endless Dark, or that have origin requirements that Breath doesn't satisfy (e.g., The Jungle Hungers if Breath has no Presence in Jungles).
  Tags: Targeting, Terrain, Breath of Darkness Down Your Spine, The Endless Dark (Breath of Darkness Down Your Spine), 2 more...
• Can Relentless Gaze of the Sun usefully Repeat a Power Card with Relentless Punishment if the first use makes the land untargetable for the second use? (e.g., if Lure of the Unknown Gathers a Town into a land, preventing that land from being a land without Invaders.)
  Yes. When the source of a Repeat specifies which land it affects, ignore the normal Range and Target requirements. In this case, the second use of Lure of the Unknown can Gather an additional Explorer/Town, since the "no Invaders" targeting condition is ignored.

  This won't let you get around any conditional requirements in the Power's effects though. For example, if Sear Anger Into the Wild Lands destroys the last Invader in a land, a Relentless Punishment Repeat of the Power can no longer meet the "if Wilds and Invaders are present" condition in the Power's effect to add more Fear.
  Tags: Repeat, Targeting, Shadows of the Burning Forest, Lure of the Unknown, 8 more...
• If Devouring Teeth Lurks Underfoot gets a Range bonus to Death Approaches from Beneath the Surface and targets a land at least Range 2 from its Presence, does it have to Gather Presence into that land?
  No, "Gather" can only bring in pieces from adjacent lands.

  If it used "Move" — e.g., "Move 1 Presence to the target land" — then it could happen at any Range, like Fathomless Mud of the Swamp's Spreading and Dreadful Mire.
  Tags: Targeting, Gather, Range Boosts, Death Approaches Beneath the Surface (Devouring Teeth Lurk Underfoot), 3 more...