Bodyguard, Beam/Area Attacks, "Successfully" Targeted

[BadgerEnergy]

Here is the setup. A beam/area attack has identified all of the enemy characters in range/LOS and the controlling player has begun their "series of attacks targeting each enemy character" (as stated in the rulebook). One of the enemy characters uses a bodyguard ability to change the target of the attack to another enemy character. This attack is performed on the other enemy character. Can the original enemy character now be targeted as part of the same "series of attacks" from the beam/area attack because they were never "successfully" targeted?

Given this response I understand that bodyguard and similar abilities that alter the target of an attack work against beam/area attacks. However, this response mentions the concept of "successfully" targeting a character. If a character that was identified as part of the "series of attacks" has not been "successfully" targeted have the rules for performing a beam/area attack been met?

Specific example. Loki declares a Frost Blast (B3) attack which has both Rocket and Groot in range/LOS and no other characters. Loki's controlling player decides to target Rocket first. Rocket uses his Personal Bodyguard ability to change the target to Groot. Loki performs the attack against Groot which does enough damage to daze Groot. At this point, does Loki's Frost Blast attack end since Groot can not be attacked again due to being dazed and Rocket was already targeted (albeit "unsuccessfully")?

Is it fair to think of the beam/area attack rules as saying "make a series of attacks [attempting to target] each enemy character..."? This makes more sense to me as an individual attack can only have one "attempted" target no matter how many times the target is changed. 

[Negoldar]

On 5/2/2022 at 1:41 PM, BadgerEnergy said:

Can the original enemy character now be targeted as part of the same "series of attacks" from the beam/area attack because they were never "successfully" targeted?

No. The attack was made against them.

On 5/2/2022 at 1:41 PM, BadgerEnergy said:

Given this response I understand that bodyguard and similar abilities that alter the target of an attack work against beam/area attacks.

Your understanding is correct.

On 5/2/2022 at 1:41 PM, BadgerEnergy said:

However, this response mentions the concept of "successfully" targeting a character. If a character that was identified as part of the "series of attacks" has not been "successfully" targeted have the rules for performing a beam/area attack been met?

“Successful targeting” is not a game term. It is used casually in the linked response. In the linked response the question is in relation to the “original target” phrasing which looks to step 13 of the attack timing chart to determine who the “original target” is. “Original target” is not used in beam or area attack timing.

The answer to your stated question is yes. Once the attack is declared on the character, the requirements of the beam or area attack targeting have been met.

On 5/2/2022 at 1:41 PM, BadgerEnergy said:

Specific example. Loki declares a Frost Blast (B3) attack which has both Rocket and Groot in range/LOS and no other characters. Loki's controlling player decides to target Rocket first. Rocket uses his Personal Bodyguard ability to change the target to Groot. Loki performs the attack against Groot which does enough damage to daze Groot. At this point, does Loki's Frost Blast attack end since Groot can not be attacked again due to being dazed and Rocket was already targeted (albeit "unsuccessfully")?

Yes. The Frost Blast attack ends as Rocket Raccoon has been attacked and Groot is no longer a valid target for the attack.