Dodging Doom: Can You Blink a Creature in Response to Removal?

The short answer is a resounding YES! Blinking a creature in response to a removal spell targeting it is a classic and powerful play in Magic: The Gathering. When you “blink” a creature – that is, exile it and then immediately return it to the battlefield – you effectively make the original creature cease to exist. Since the removal spell was targeting that specific instance of the creature, the spell loses its target and fizzles, meaning it has no effect. This is a fundamental interaction that can swing games in your favor, saving your key creatures from certain doom.

Understanding the Blink Mechanic

The term “blinking” or “flickering” refers to the act of exiling a permanent (typically a creature) and then immediately returning it to the battlefield. This process creates a brand new instance of the permanent. Think of it as a magical copy machine – the original disappears, and a fresh, identical version appears in its place. This subtle shift has profound implications for how the game interacts with that permanent.

Why Does This Work?

Magic: The Gathering is extremely literal. Spells and abilities that target creatures do so based on the game object that represents that creature. When a creature is exiled and returns, it becomes a new game object. The original creature, the one targeted by the removal spell, is gone. Since the removal spell no longer has a valid target, it does nothing. It essentially vanishes into the ether, a wasted card.

Examples of Blink Spells

Many cards facilitate this powerful maneuver. Here are a few common examples:

• Cloudshift: A cheap and versatile instant that can save your creatures or trigger enter-the-battlefield effects.
• Ghostly Flicker: Allows you to blink a creature and a land, providing both protection and mana ramp.
• Ephemerate: An instant speed blink that can be cast from your graveyard with rebound.

Strategic Advantages of Blinking

Blinking is more than just a defensive tactic. It offers a range of strategic advantages, making it a cornerstone of many MTG strategies.

• Dodging Removal: As already discussed, this is the primary reason to blink a creature.
• Resetting Summoning Sickness: While flickering a creature makes it re-enter the battlefield as a new object which means it has summoning sickness. If you plan on flickering a creature that you intend to attack with, you should do so during another player’s turn or after you’ve already attacked.
• Re-Triggering Enter-the-Battlefield (ETB) Effects: Many creatures have powerful abilities that trigger when they enter the battlefield. Blinking these creatures allows you to activate these abilities multiple times. Imagine blinking a “Mulldrifter” multiple times to draw a handful of cards.
• Removing Auras and Counters: Blinking a creature removes all auras and counters attached to it. This can be useful for removing negative auras or resetting a creature that has accumulated too many negative counters.
• Breaking Equipment Attachments: Similar to auras, blinking causes equipment to become unattached from the creature.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Blinking

Here’s a collection of frequently asked questions to further enhance your understanding of blinking in MTG:

1. Does blinking remove summoning sickness?

Yes, blinking a creature causes it to re-enter the battlefield as a new object, and thus it has summoning sickness, unless it has haste.

2. Do Creatures With Flash Still Have Summoning Sickness?

Yes, they do. Even if you flash in a creature during your opponent’s turn, it still suffers from summoning sickness and cannot attack or activate tap abilities until your next turn (unless it has haste).

3. Does blinking remove a target?

Absolutely. If the creature is targeted by a spell or ability, blinking it will cause that spell or ability to lose its target and fizzle.

4. What happens if you blink a creature with an aura attached?

The aura will become unattached and go to the graveyard. If you blink the aura instead of the creature, you will lose control of the creature and it will return to its owner.

5. Does Cloudshift dodge removal?

Yes, Cloudshift is a prime example of a blink spell that effectively dodges removal. The creature returns as a new instance, invalidating the removal spell’s target.

6. What is the point of blinking in MTG beyond dodging removal?

Blinking can also trigger enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effects multiple times, remove auras or counters, and reset summoning sickness, and save your key creatures from certain doom.

7. What is the difference between Cloudshift and removal?

Cloudshift saves your creature by exiling it and returning it to the battlefield. Removal, on the other hand, eliminates a creature by sending it to the graveyard (or exiling it).

8. Does flickering a creature stop removal?

Yes, flickering is another term for blinking. It effectively stops targeted removal spells.

9. What happens if you blink an attacking creature?

If you blink an attacking creature during combat, it is removed from combat. It will not deal or receive damage. However, if it was blocking, the creature it was blocking will remain blocked.

10. Can you blink Planeswalkers?

Yes, you can blink Planeswalkers, which can allow you to use their abilities again in the same turn. It also resets their loyalty counters.

11. Does flicker fizzle spells?

Yes, flickering (or blinking) targeted spells will cause them to ‘fizzle’ and no longer resolve, as the original target is no longer present.

12. Can you tap a permanent with summoning sickness?

No, a creature with summoning sickness cannot attack or use tap abilities, unless it has haste.

13. Does ghostly flicker cause summoning sickness?

Yes, flickering a creature, regardless of the card used, will result in it re-entering the battlefield with summoning sickness.

14. Does tapping a creature remove it from combat?

No, tapping a creature that is already attacking or blocking does not remove it from combat.

15. What happens if you flicker a melded creature?

Flickering a melded creature will cause it to separate into its individual components as they enter exile, and they will return to the battlefield unmelded.

Conclusion: Embrace the Blink

Blinking is a powerful and versatile mechanic in Magic: The Gathering. Mastering the timing and application of blink spells can significantly improve your game and give you a competitive edge. Understanding how blinking interacts with removal spells, ETB effects, auras, counters, and other game mechanics will open up a world of strategic possibilities. Explore different blink spells, experiment with creative combinations, and master the art of the blink to become a formidable opponent.

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