What's the difference between "All creatures..." and "Each creature..."?
Asked by dude1818 14 years ago
Or is it just a grammatical thing?
Overall it is just a grammar thing, but as to which one is used is slightly contextual. 'Each creature' is usually used when selecting a certain group of creatures (see Sarkhan the Mad ability number 3, Consume the Meek , Earthquake ), in each of these cases only certain creatures on the field are affected (your dragons, creatures with CMC less than 3, creatures without flying). All simply means all (Day of Judgment , Shrivel ).
As far as effects go, the bit after "All/Each creature/s" is more important.
November 12, 2010 9:13 a.m.
My friends are of the understanding that, for example, a card that reads "deals x damage to each creature" targets each creature individually, and by this definition it means that if it cannot be the target of spells of abilities, then it wouldn't take the damage, but if it says all creatures then there isn't any targeting, which I think is incorrect. I would LOVE to get an answer to this since I am always the one saying "no, that's stupid and doesn't make sense!"
If it's the case that it does target each one directly then it is what it is and I will rest my case.
November 12, 2010 9:49 a.m.
"Each creature" does not target. Neither does "All creatures," or "any creature." Only if it were to say something like, "Each of two target creatures gets -2/-2" would it target- the word has to be on the card for targeting to happen. Thus, Clone can copy something with shroud- it doesn't have the word "target" in its text box.
November 12, 2010 9:56 a.m.
yeah Dr. McMeen is correct. Basically if it does not say "each target creature" then it does not target. just needs that target word
November 12, 2010 1:43 p.m.
@Razer357,
Only spells which specifically say "target creature" will target a creature.
Remember the useful DEBT acronym for "Protection from [type]".
D - Cannot take DAMAGE from a [type] source.
E - Cannot be EQUIPPED or ENCHANTED by a [type] source.
B - Cannot be BLOCKED by a [type] creature.
T - Cannot be TARGETED by a [type] source.
Anyways, in the case of "deals damage to each creature" lets say your opponent plays an Earthquake and you control a Troll Ascetic and a Disciple of Law .
The earthquake WILL damage the troll since it does not specifically say it targets it.
But it will NOT damage the Disciple because the disciple is immune to damage from red sources.
If you have any further questions about this I would be happy to answer them, but hopefully this is a good start for you =)
November 12, 2010 3:58 p.m.
Perfect example, I always thought the ruling is the way you explained it. Most of my friends though for some reason thought otherwise.
For some reason we always had this question but never cared to look up on it so thanks a bunch!
Zylo says... #1
As far as I know it's just a grammar thing. I think one used to be used more, while the other is more predominant now. Not sure which though.
Again, I don't think there's any real difference.
November 12, 2010 7:45 a.m.