Fizzle (effect)

An effect is said to have "fizzled" if its resolution is moot. This can happen mainly either due to missed targeting, or if the card that originated the effect was destroyed.

When an effect targets, it is actually targeting a zone, not the specific card. At the time of activation, the target must satisfy all targeting criteria. However, it must also does so at resolution. If the board changed in a way that a new, valid target is now at the targeted zone, the effect resolves without issues. However, if the zone is no longer a valid target as required by the effect, the effect fizzles. For example, if an effect says target creature, when resolving, there must still be a creature on the selected creature zone. If the zone was left empty, the effect fizzles. If a different creature switched places and is now on the zone, the effect targets that new creature.

Alternatively, if the card that originated the effect is destroyed, the effect also fizzles. Cards must be on the field to resolve effects.

Typically, if an effect fizzles, nothing happens at resolution. Resources that were spent are still spent. However, if the effect included a Soulrift cost, the player will susceptible to Soulburn damage.

The effect or action is still considered to have been "activated", so it still satisfies "once per turn" restrictions. If it is an action, the card is considered to have used its action for the turn, even when it fizzles. There is no Attack "replay". If a blocked attack becomes an unblocked direct attack to a zone, players are no longer allowed to proactively block (passive blocking must always happen).

When cards with costs are summoned, if the player fails to pail the cost, the summon is considered to have fizzled, and the card is sent to the graveyard. "When destroyed" effects are not triggered because the card was never summoned to begin with.