Can Wasteland target itself?

[Mr. Fantastic]

Specifically, under the latest rules?  Actually, I didn't even know it could target itself under the oldest rules since I thought you had to sacrifice itself as part of the activation cost, so that it couldn't even "see" itself in play when it was time to choose a target. 

But sometime around 2000 or so, Oscar Tan wrote the following in a Stompy primer draft for Bdominia.com


"[Skyshroud Elite is] the green Kird Ape against almost any deck, since Wasteland is used in almost all Type I decks. Even in casual play, competitive Type II decks are often loaded with non-basics. Note, however, that a desperate opponent can use his Wasteland and declare itself as the target before sacrificing to pay the cost, just to shrink the Elite."

[Harlequin]

Declaring Targets happens before paying costs.  So, yes.  You annouce Wasteland, you declare target (in this case wasteland), then you pay costs (in this case tap and sacrifice).  Then the ability goes on the stack.  And when it comes time to resolve, it is countered for having no legal targets.

For a more recent example of the same concept, look into Ghost Quarter

5/1/2006: If you target Ghost Quarter with its own ability, the ability will be countered because its target is no longer in play. You won't get to search for a land card.

[Mr. Fantastic]

Thanks for the quick response!