If I play Whirlwind, do I have to pay deflect cost if I target an opponent's unit with deflect?

Q: If I play Whirlwind, do I have to pay deflect cost if I target an opponent's unit with deflect?

No, you do not have to pay the Deflect cost when playing **Whirlwind**. According to the **RiftJudge FAQ #3908**: > "Whirlwind does not trigger deflect because it does not target. Deflect is a passive ability that levies an additional cost only for spells or abilities that target the permanent with deflect."

Question

Accepted Answer

No, you do not have to pay the Deflect cost when playing Whirlwind.

According to the RiftJudge FAQ #3908:

"Whirlwind does not trigger deflect because it does not target. Deflect is a passive ability that levies an additional cost only for spells or abilities that target the permanent with deflect."

Because Whirlwind does not target any units (it instructs players to make a choice, which is not the same as targeting), it does not interact with the Deflect keyword.