At the very least, using the metric of "Something is a target if and only if it is explicitly called a target" does not work
The PHB states (page 204):
A typical spell requires you to pick one or more targets to be affected by the spell’s magic. A spell’s description tells you whether the spell targets creatures, objects, or a point of origin for an area of effect...
If we wanted to only say a spell targets something if something it affects is explicitly called out as a "target" in the spell's description, we would run into a number of issues:
Some touch spells never actually use the word "target" but instead use the word "creature" or "object". These are spells are:
- Cure Wounds, Darkvision, Spare the Dying, Jump, Beast Bond, Dragon's Breath, Beast Sense, Protection from Energy, Revivify, True Seeing, True Resurrection, Remove Curse, and Life Transference.
Having these seemingly random spells not have targets would be a particularly odd decision.
In addition, all three instantaneous cylindrical spells (conjure volley, ice storm and flame strike) never mention targets in their descriptions.
Neither does every single AoE spell that is not instantaneous.
The following spells also never mention having targets or that anything is considered a target:
- Astral Projection, Beast Sense, Burning Hands, Feather Fall, Friends, Hellish Rebuke, Mass Healing Word, Meteor Swarm, Power Word Kill, Prayer of Healing, Shatter, Sunburst, Water Breathing, Word of Recall, Thunderclap, Word of Radiance, Sword Burst, Snilloc's Snowball Swarm, Thunder Step, Tidal Wave, Erupting Earth, and Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting.
Having all the above spells not have targets of any kind seems incredibly arbitrary and would mean that none of the above spells could be Twinned, War Cast, or put into a glyph of warding.
