If a reaction card resolves before a damage card, resulting in returning a unit to hand or base, does the damage card get to choose a new target because it resolves after the reaction card, or does the target of the damage card not change?

When a reaction card (such as a bounce effect) resolves and moves a targeted unit to a different zone, the damage card cannot choose a new target.

Targets are locked in when a card is played and added to the chain. According to Rule 359.3.e.5, if a target becomes illegal by the time the spell resolves (for example, by moving out of range or to a different zone), the spell simply fails to affect that specific target. The spell does not "re-target" or allow you to choose a new target for the damage.

The sequence for this interaction:

1. Damage Card Played: You play a spell targeting a unit. The target is locked.
2. Reaction Played: Your opponent plays a reaction (e.g., a bounce effect) to move that unit. The reaction is now on top of the damage card on the chain.
3. Reaction Resolves: The reaction resolves first (LIFO - Last In, First Out). The unit is moved to a hand or base.
4. Damage Card Resolves: The damage card attempts to resolve. It checks its target. Because the unit is no longer at the required location (or has moved zones), it is now an illegal target.
5. Result: The damage card resolves, but the illegal target is simply unaffected. The card does not look for a new target and does not fizzle entirely unless all targets become illegal (and even then, it just results in no damage being dealt).

Important Note: If the spell has multiple instructions (like "Deal 4 damage to a unit. Draw 1 card."), the part of the effect targeting the unit will fail, but the rest of the card's text (like drawing a card) will still execute as normal.