Rule 306.7 states:
306.7. If noncombat damage would be dealt to a player by a source controlled by an opponent, that opponent may have that source deal that damage to a planeswalker the first player controls instead. This is a redirection effect (see rule 614.9) and is subject to the normal rules for ordering replacement effects (see rule 616). The opponent chooses whether to redirect the damage as the redirection effect is applied.

Heartless Hidetsugu has the ability {t} : Heartless Hidetsugu deals damage to each player equal to half that player's life total, rounded down.

So if an opponent activates this ability, targeting player, can this damage from opponent's hidetsugu be redirected to that player's planeswalker?

It was brought up that the source also had to target the player in order for the opponent to redirect the damage, but I'm not seeing that in the rules. I would also like to know if this ruling was ever different in the past, aka errata.

Edited Matthew Niemi (March 10, 2015 07:07:16 PM)

306.7 is correct. The spell or ability does not need to target to be able to redirect the damage. All the rule cares about is that you're dealing noncombat damage to an opponent. Since the Hidetsugu would deal noncombat damage to the opponent, the damage that would be dealt to them can be redirected to a planeswalker they control. This is how the planeswalker redirection rule has worked since planeswalkers were first introduced into the game in Lorwyn.

Nathan Long
Wizards.Com Boards NetRep