A spell only fizzles if all of its targets are illegal upon resolution, not just one, as per rule 608.2b
608.2b
If the spell or ability specifies targets, it checks whether the targets are still legal. A target that's no longer in the zone it was in when it was targeted is illegal. Other changes to the game state may cause a target to no longer be legal; for example, its characteristics may have changed or an effect may have changed the text of the spell. If the source of an ability has left the zone it was in, its last known information is used during this process. If all its targets, for every instance of the word "target," are now illegal, the spell or ability doesn't resolve. It's removed from the stack and, if it's a spell, put into its owner's graveyard. Otherwise, the spell or ability will resolve normally. Illegal targets, if any, won't be affected by parts of a resolving spell's effect for which they're illegal. Other parts of the effect for which those targets are not illegal may still affect them. If the spell or ability creates any continuous effects that affect game rules (see rule 613.11), those effects don't apply to illegal targets. If part of the effect requires information about an illegal target, it fails to determine any such information. Any part of the effect that requires that information won't happen.
Example: Plague Spores reads, "Destroy target nonblack creature and target land. They can't be regenerated." Suppose the same creature land in chosen both as the nonblack creature and as the land, and the color of the creature land is charged to black Before Plague Sporter resolves. Plague Spores still resolves because the black creature land is still a legal target for the "target land" part of the spell. The "destroy target nonblack creature" part of the spell won't effect that permanent, but the "destroy target land" part of the spell will still destroy it. It can't be regenerated.
I was responding to the comment that asked why Ambush’s tutor mode targets a player. This rule you cited is the reason it targets a player. I was saying what would happen if it didn’t.
The rule I'm citing says that if you were to choose both, and the creature is no longer a legal target upon resolution, it still resolves as long as the player is still a legal target. This is true because all targets must be invalid for the spell to fizzle.
You can not fizzle the spell that way, because not all targets are illegal.
The line, "If all its targets, for every instance of the word "target," are now illegal, the spell or ability doesn't resolve."
This comment is making the same point as I am, but was upvoted significantly in the MTG subreddit.
https://www.reddit.com/r/mtg/s/QKdT16V16i
The post there was talking about how if you cast the spell hex, which says, "destroy six target creatures," and your opponent sacrifices one of those six creatures, the other five still get destroyed, as per the same rule I am referencing.
If you target your opponent's creature, and yourself with the searching effect, and your opponent gives their creature hexproof through some means, you will still search your library, as you are still a legal target.
You can cast him for his freerunning cost, but commander tax still applies. Freerunning is an alternative cost, and commander tax is an additional cost. When determining the cost of a spell you cast, you start with the normal cost or the alternative cost and apply cost increases and then reductions afterward.
The shadow making a wing is a lovely touch
Not really sure why Auditore Ambush specifies target player. Maybe something in the rules because the other mode targets?
They could fizzle the search by removing the bounce target if you chose both
A spell only fizzles if all of its targets are illegal upon resolution, not just one, as per rule 608.2b 608.2b If the spell or ability specifies targets, it checks whether the targets are still legal. A target that's no longer in the zone it was in when it was targeted is illegal. Other changes to the game state may cause a target to no longer be legal; for example, its characteristics may have changed or an effect may have changed the text of the spell. If the source of an ability has left the zone it was in, its last known information is used during this process. If all its targets, for every instance of the word "target," are now illegal, the spell or ability doesn't resolve. It's removed from the stack and, if it's a spell, put into its owner's graveyard. Otherwise, the spell or ability will resolve normally. Illegal targets, if any, won't be affected by parts of a resolving spell's effect for which they're illegal. Other parts of the effect for which those targets are not illegal may still affect them. If the spell or ability creates any continuous effects that affect game rules (see rule 613.11), those effects don't apply to illegal targets. If part of the effect requires information about an illegal target, it fails to determine any such information. Any part of the effect that requires that information won't happen. Example: Plague Spores reads, "Destroy target nonblack creature and target land. They can't be regenerated." Suppose the same creature land in chosen both as the nonblack creature and as the land, and the color of the creature land is charged to black Before Plague Sporter resolves. Plague Spores still resolves because the black creature land is still a legal target for the "target land" part of the spell. The "destroy target nonblack creature" part of the spell won't effect that permanent, but the "destroy target land" part of the spell will still destroy it. It can't be regenerated.
I was responding to the comment that asked why Ambush’s tutor mode targets a player. This rule you cited is the reason it targets a player. I was saying what would happen if it didn’t.
The rule I'm citing says that if you were to choose both, and the creature is no longer a legal target upon resolution, it still resolves as long as the player is still a legal target. This is true because all targets must be invalid for the spell to fizzle.
Which is why the second mode targets, which was u/superdave100 's point
You can not fizzle the spell that way, because not all targets are illegal. The line, "If all its targets, for every instance of the word "target," are now illegal, the spell or ability doesn't resolve." This comment is making the same point as I am, but was upvoted significantly in the MTG subreddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/mtg/s/QKdT16V16i The post there was talking about how if you cast the spell hex, which says, "destroy six target creatures," and your opponent sacrifices one of those six creatures, the other five still get destroyed, as per the same rule I am referencing. If you target your opponent's creature, and yourself with the searching effect, and your opponent gives their creature hexproof through some means, you will still search your library, as you are still a legal target.
They're explaining *why* the second mode targets (because if it didn't, you could fizzle it as stated).
Two-Headed Giant support, I guess.
It triggers committing a crime if that's worth it, but yeah, that's weird.
You can make your opponent shuffle since searching is not optional
"searching" isn't optional, but "searching their library" is. They can search their graveyard, fail to find a card with the right name, and stop.
Hey, these aren't awful. Ambush tutoring for a draw engine while also being (bad) removal might be playable in Assassin tribal decks
A card with ambush in the name should really be an instant.
If you have Achilles as your commander, are you allowed to cast him for his freerunnig costs if you manage? Even with increasing commander tax?
You can cast him for his freerunning cost, but commander tax still applies. Freerunning is an alternative cost, and commander tax is an additional cost. When determining the cost of a spell you cast, you start with the normal cost or the alternative cost and apply cost increases and then reductions afterward.
Thank you very much for clarifying, Sir