Targeting Attacks

[cosmic prawn]

I have a question regarding targeting attacks. Let’s use Path Well Traveled from MST as an example. Does an attack have to resolve for it to be targeted with Path Well Traveled? I was looking through the CR for the answer to this, but could not find it. Thank you.

[cosmic prawn]

@median viper in the photo you just posted it mentions layers “…on the stack” that have not resolved still being considered an “attack”

[sour belfry]

Just deleted my posts because I realized the QotD was targeting a defending card, oops!

[median viper]

so the attack isn't "attacking" yet as that happens once you reach the attack step, but it has the identity of "attack" which is what path well traveled, grains, drop, etc are looking for

[sour belfry]

Yup that makes sense

[cosmic prawn]

Thank you for that clarification. To make sure I understand, does the attack need to resolve and be in the attack step for it to be targeted with Path Well Traveled and similar effects?

[median viper]

Nope, as soon as it's on the stack and you're in the layer step you can target it with effects that target "attack"s

[cosmic prawn]

Cool. Thank you for the clarification. Though I will admit, that’s not super intuitive to me.

[median viper]

Which is fair, attack is a very loaded word lol

[molten tapir]

An "attack" is something that has an "attack target", to put an attack on the stack you need to declare a target, this target becomes the attack target.

It's for sure one of weird things about fab that doesn't inherently and intuitively make sense imo

[sour belfry]

I think the interaction with Spectra also becomes confusing because you've got an attack, an attack target, but never reach the "attacking" step. But that's a different can of worms.

[molten tapir]

Weeeeeee spectra 🙃🙃🙃

[cosmic prawn]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. As a follow-up. This means that exude confidence can be targeted by a drop in the ocean before it resolves, right?

[median viper]

yes, the effect isn't active until it's resolved and on the chain

[cosmic prawn]

Wild.

[normal tinsel]

to follow up on this topic can you target an attack on a closed chain link?

[median viper]

do you mean on a prior chain link?

[normal tinsel]

yeh

[median viper]

Yes, they remain attacking, and hence "attacks" until they leave the chain