Ruling Rare Candy without Target Evolution

[Tecuciztecatl]

For example:

I have 1 Squirtle in play.
1) Can I play Rare Candy without having a Blastoise in my hand?
2) Can I play Rare Candy and fail to evolve into Blastoise even if I have it in my hand?

Other questions:
Extra 1) Can I play Switch while having only 1 Pokemon in play?
Extra 2) Can I play Pokemon Catcher when my opponent has only 1 Pokemon in play?

 

[DNA]

All of those are no because you can't play a card for no effect.

Fail-searching your deck does not count as 'no effect', because it has an effect either way - you are shuffling your deck. (However, you can't play any deck-searching cards if you have no cards in your deck.)

 

[Tecuciztecatl]

But even when my hand is a private zone? Can't I fail to evolve my Squirtle with the Rare Candy?

 

[DNA]

You're not allowed to play a card for no effect.

Say you were allowed to do that. If you played Rare Candy and didn't evolve, then the Rare Candy would have no effect at all.

But since playing a card for no effect isn't allowed, you have to have a target in your hand for Rare Candy.

 

[Tecuciztecatl]

Alright, thank you!

 

[DNA]

Not a problem; always happy to help.