Can I play Pickpocket with no gear on board?

Ruling: Yes, you can play Pickpocket even if there are no valid gear targets on the board. Playing a unit is separate from resolving its "When you play me" ability.

Sequence:

  • You play Pickpocket and it enters the board
  • Its "When you play me" ability triggers and goes on the chain
  • When the ability resolves, if there are no valid gear targets (or you choose not to target one), the ability fails to resolve
  • The unit remains on the board

Nuances:

  • You do not need valid targets for a unit's "When you play me" ability to play that unit; you just cannot use the ability if no valid targets exist
  • For Pickpocket specifically, the "If you do" phrasing means you only get the Gold gear token reward if you successfully kill a gear
  • Instructions that cannot be followed are ignored, but the unit still enters play