Does the spectra trigger itself stop an attack from resolving, or does the attack fail to resolve due to a lack of target, like when prism flashes in a figment of ravages targeting herself to pop a warded angel she controls that is the target of an attack?
#How does spectra stop an attack from resolving?
plush ginkgo
tawny stream
Looking at the definition of Spectra from the CR:
8.3.14. Spectra — Spectra is a static ability and a triggered-static ability that
respectively mean “this can be attacked” and “When this becomes the target
of an attack, destroy this and close the combat chain.”
essentially: permanents with spectra are allowed to be targetted by attacks, even though they are not living. When they are targeted by an attack, the second clause is triggered, destroying the permanent with spectra and immediately closing the combat chain.
Since the combat chain is closed, the attack never resolves past the layer step so normal on-attack triggers (including Go Again (not an attack trigger, but a layer resolution ability. You wouldn't get the action point back regardless)) do not resolve.
plush ginkgo
Ah, so its cause it closes the combat chain?
pliant gyro
*go again isn't an attack trigger
tawny stream
so in the case of a permanent with spectra, yes.
Your example of figment of ravages is a different case
In the case of EG the target of an attack (and the target permanent has ward) the target is destroyed before the attack resolves (leaves the layer step), and the following clause takes effect:
7.2.2. First, if the attack has no targets (attack-target(s)) that exist or are legal, the
Attack Step ends and the Close Step begins (see Section 7.8 - Close Step).