Hypnotic Specter — ruling 1

The ability triggers even if the Specter’s damage is being redirected to an opponent. It does not trigger if damage that would have been dealt to the opponent is redirected to a nonopponent player or a creature, or if the damage is prevented.

Hypnotic Specter : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Hypnotic Specter is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

Flying Whenever this creature deals damage to an opponent, that player discards a card at random.

How it works : Hypnotic Specter

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1August 1, 2008· Wizards of the Coast
The ability triggers even if the Specter’s damage is being redirected to an opponent. It does not trigger if damage that would have been dealt to the opponent is redirected to a nonopponent player or a creature, or if the damage is prevented.
No other card is named in this ruling.