Quote from FezHeadDividing zero damage among a nonzero number of targets is impossible, because you can't assign at least one damage to each target. The way Thought Criminal is attempting to interpret the rule 107.1c breaks a number of other rules. For example, you can't cast a spell without being able to choose a legal set of targets, and you can't refuse to distribute the full amount of damage.
Why isn't an empty set of targets a legal set of targets when no creatures are on the battlefield and every player has a relevant protection ability? I'm not violating the restriction in 107.1c, so there's nothing illegal about that. Nothing specifies what happens if choosing one or more targets is impossible.
There may be damage to divide, but the set of targets is empty. Even though nothing states that this is impossible explicitly by the rules, I'll assume that dividing X>0 damage among zero targets is impossible mathematically. But even if it is, the action of choosing a number as noted by 107.1c is restricted by two criteria only: that I must choose a number in {0, 1, 2, ...}, and if the effect mentions division, that the number chosen be in {1, 2, 3, ...}. These criteria have nothing to do with the actual division of damage. That I will eventually announce a division of damage in the future after this step has no relation to the number I choose based on the criteria now.
I guess what I'm asking is, what exact rules would I be breaking with my interpretation of 107.1c? It's not 601.2d (it only covers one or more targets), and it's not 608.2d (that covers spell resolution, not spell casting).
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But I also think your question needs a bit of explanation. For example, if you’re playing in a normal meta Phyreixan Arena will draw you anywhere from 5 to 10 cards over the course of the game. In a more competitive meta where you won’t have that many turns, Read the Bones might be better.
Or maybe you are asking about burst draw spells? Necrepotence is a pretty good one. Necrologia is one of my favorites as well.
And then again, you might’ve playing mono-white or something, so these black spells might be useless.
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I'm not a huge fun of Endless Ranks of the Dead or Open the Graves. They are both 5 mana do-nothing enchantments that put a target on you before you've gotten much of any value.
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**Sees giant machine thing, and stares at it blankly. Pokes it with a tentative finger. A hinge breaks lose, and the entire thing collapses, sending a laser beam into the eyes of an unsuspecting Ayli.**
Ayli: Must destroy SCORPION!!
**Battle ensues, then a giant BOOM! leaving the Scorpion God dead, and Ayli gasping for breath, clinging to life.**
Fblthp: ???
**Fblthp walks over to see what made a loud BOOM! noise. Eye craned upwards to the pulsating tower, he does not notice Ayli gasping for breath as he stands confused upon debris which has fallen on her.
Ayli: (cough) Help... (cough) me... (cough) plea-- (dies)
**Fblthp scratches his head, shrugs his shoulders and wanders off into the city, oblivious to the carnage he has wrought.**
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>:(
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