Does hexproof prevent a player from being targeted by spells or only creatures?

Hexproof is a keyword ability defined in CR 702.11. It states that the permanent or player with hexproof can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control. So hexproof is not limited to creatures — it can apply to any permanent (enchantments, artifacts, planeswalkers, etc.) or even directly to a player.

When a player has hexproof (granted by cards like Ivory Mask or Leyline of Sanctity), opponents cannot target that player with spells or abilities. This blocks things like direct-damage burn spells (e.g., Lightning Bolt aimed at the player), discard spells that target a player, or any other effect that says 'target player' — as long as it's controlled by an opponent (CR 702.11a).

Importantly, hexproof only stops targeting. Effects that don't use the word 'target' — such as 'each player loses 3 life' or 'each opponent discards a card' — are not stopped by hexproof, because those are not targeted effects (CR 115.1).

Concrete example: Your opponent has Leyline of Sanctity on the battlefield, giving them hexproof. You cast Lightning Bolt trying to aim it at your opponent — this is illegal because the spell targets your opponent, who now has hexproof. However, if a card said 'each player loses 3 life,' that would still affect your opponent because it doesn't target.

Also note that hexproof only protects against opponents' spells and abilities. A player could still target themselves with their own spells even if they have hexproof (CR 702.11a).