For Hextech Ray, do you target when you play it or when it resolves?

Ruling: You declare the target when you play Hextech Ray from your hand, but the target is rechecked for validity before the card resolves.

Sequence:

• Play Hextech Ray from hand and declare target
• Pass priority
• Before resolution, recheck if target is still valid
• If target is still valid (e.g., still on battlefield), resolve the effect

Nuances:

• If the target is moved from battlefield to base before resolution, they do not take damage
• This is different from Falling Star, which is a reflective trigger where you play the card without targets, pass priority, and then declare targets as reflective triggers on the stack when it resolves