diff --git a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ability/DamageDealAi.java b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ability/DamageDealAi.java
index e3959fbcf1e..9c4f48cfd5b 100644
--- a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ability/DamageDealAi.java
+++ b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ability/DamageDealAi.java
@@ -749,8 +749,22 @@ public class DamageDealAi extends DamageAiBase {
         }
 
         // fell through all the choices, no targets left?
-        if (tcs.size() < tgt.getMinTargets(source, sa) || tcs.size() == 0) {
+        int minTgts = tgt.getMinTargets(source, sa);
+        if (tcs.size() < minTgts || tcs.size() == 0) {
             if (mandatory) {
+                // Sanity check: if there are any legal non-owned targets after the check (which may happen for complex cards like Searing Blaze),
+                // choose a random opponent's target before forcing targeting of own stuff
+                List<GameEntity> allTgtEntities = sa.getTargetRestrictions().getAllCandidates(sa, true);
+                for (GameEntity ent : allTgtEntities) {
+                    if ((ent instanceof Player && ((Player)ent).isOpponentOf(ai))
+                            || (ent instanceof Card && ((Card)ent).getController().isOpponentOf(ai))) {
+                        tcs.add(ent);
+                    }
+                    if (tcs.size() == minTgts) {
+                        return true;
+                    }
+                }
+
                 // If the trigger is mandatory, gotta choose my own stuff now
                 return damageChooseRequiredTargets(ai, sa, tgt, dmg);
             }