If an opponent plays Piercing Light targeting my unit, can I respond with Wages of Pain to kill that targeted unit before Piercing Light resolves, and if so, does Piercing Light still deal its second 2 damage to another unit?

Ruling: You can react with Wages of Pain after Piercing Light is played and targets are chosen. Piercing Light will still deal 2 damage to the other unit even if the first target is killed by Wages of Pain before Piercing Light resolves.

Sequence:

• Opponent plays Piercing Light and declares both targets
• You can respond by playing Wages of Pain to kill the first targeted unit
• Wages of Pain resolves first, killing the targeted unit
• Piercing Light resolves, dealing 2 damage to the second unit (the first damage instance has no valid target)

Nuances:

• Once Piercing Light is on the chain and choices are made, those choices are locked in
• All damage from Piercing Light is dealt while the spell is resolving; there is no moment between damage instances to respond
• Wages of Pain can only target a unit at the battlefield where it was hidden