Do Blinked Creatures Lose Counters? The Definitive Guide
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Yes, blinked creatures lose counters. When a creature is blinked (exiled and then returned to the battlefield), it returns as a completely new object. This means it loses all memory of its previous existence, including any counters, auras, equipment, and other modifications it may have had. Think of it like a magical factory reset – the creature is the same, but it’s starting from scratch.
This is a fundamental rule in Magic: The Gathering (MTG) and understanding it is crucial for making informed decisions during gameplay. Let’s delve deeper into the mechanics of blinking and explore some common questions surrounding this powerful ability.
Understanding Blink and Flicker Effects
While the term “blink” doesn’t appear formally in the MTG rules, it’s widely used to describe the action of exiling a permanent and then immediately returning it to the battlefield. The term “flicker” is often used interchangeably, though some players use it to describe effects that exile and return the permanent at the end of the turn rather than immediately. For our purposes, we’ll treat them as synonyms.
The key is the zone change. When a card moves from the battlefield to exile, it becomes a new game object upon its return. The game doesn’t remember anything about the permanent’s past life. This has significant implications for how blinking interacts with various card types and effects.
Why is Blinking So Powerful?
Blinking is a versatile strategy in MTG because it can accomplish a number of things:
- Dodging Removal: By blinking a creature targeted by a removal spell, you can save it from being destroyed or exiled permanently. The spell loses its target because the original creature no longer exists on the battlefield.
- Resetting Damage: Blinking a damaged creature resets its damage total to zero. This can save a creature from dying in combat or from burn spells.
- Re-triggering “Enter the Battlefield” (ETB) Abilities: Many creatures have powerful abilities that trigger when they enter the battlefield. Blinking them allows you to reuse these abilities, generating extra value.
- Removing Auras and Equipment (Sometimes Strategically): While often a drawback, sometimes you want to remove an aura or equipment from a creature. Blinking can be a way to do this, for example, to get rid of a detrimental aura your opponent has placed on your creature.
- Breaking Mutate Stacks: As discussed later, blinking a mutated creature separates the components.
Now, let’s tackle some frequently asked questions about blinking and its interactions with other game mechanics.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does Blinking a Creature Remove it from Combat?
Yes, blinking a blocking or attacking creature removes it from combat. The creature is exiled and then returns as a new object, no longer participating in the combat phase. It will not deal or receive any combat damage.
2. Does Blink Prevent Mass Removal?
No, blink does not prevent mass removal spells from affecting the creature. If you blink a creature in response to a board wipe (like “Wrath of God”), the creature will be exiled and returned before the board wipe resolves. The creature will be on the battlefield when the board wipe resolves, and it will be destroyed along with all other creatures.
3. Do Blinked Creatures Have Summoning Sickness?
Yes, blinked creatures do have summoning sickness. Even though you are not technically “casting” the creature again, it is entering the battlefield anew and is thus subject to the summoning sickness rule. This means it cannot attack or use activated abilities with the tap or untap symbol on the turn it enters the battlefield, unless it has haste.
4. Can You Blink Planeswalkers?
Yes, you can blink Planeswalkers. Just like with creatures, the Planeswalker returns to the battlefield as a new object, effectively resetting its loyalty counters and allowing you to activate one of its abilities again that turn (assuming you haven’t already activated an ability of a planeswalker you control this turn).
5. Can You Counterspell a Blink Spell?
Yes, you can counterspell a blink spell like “Cloudshift” or “Eerie Interlude”. Counterspells target spells on the stack, and blink spells are perfectly valid targets. The article also notes that Counterspell does not target spells being cast.
6. Can You Blink an Evoked Creature to Avoid the Sacrifice?
Yes, you can blink an evoked creature in response to the evoke trigger. Evoke creates a triggered ability that forces you to sacrifice the creature when the evoke trigger resolves. By blinking the creature in response, you exile it and return it, essentially dodging the sacrifice trigger.
7. What Happens When You Blink a Mutated Creature?
When you blink a mutated creature, the individual creatures that make up the mutation are exiled. When they return to the battlefield, they do so as separate creatures, no longer mutated together. This can be a strategic way to separate powerful but fragile mutations.
8. Can You Blink Tokens?
You can target a token with a blink effect. However, when a token is exiled, it ceases to exist. It doesn’t return to the battlefield. This is because tokens only exist on the battlefield; they are not cards that can exist in other zones.
9. Does Exile Ignore Indestructible?
Yes, exile ignores indestructible. Indestructible only prevents a permanent from being destroyed by damage or effects that say “destroy.” Exile removes the permanent from the battlefield entirely, bypassing the indestructible shield.
10. Does Blinking Remove Stuns?
Yes, blinking removes stuns. A “stun” effect typically prevents a creature from untapping during its controller’s next untap step. When the creature is exiled and returned, it becomes a new object and is no longer affected by the stun.
11. Can Flash Creatures Defend?
Yes, if you cast a flash creature during the declare attackers step before blockers are declared, you can block with it. If you try to cast it while blockers are being declared, it’s too late; the spell will resolve after blockers are locked in.
12. Can You Tap a Summoning Sick Creature?
A creature with summoning sickness can’t attack or use activated abilities that include the tap or untap symbol. It can still block and use other activated abilities that don’t require tapping.
13. Does Ghostly Flicker Need Two Different Targets?
Ghostly Flicker can target two artifacts, two creatures, two lands, or any combination thereof that adds up to two targets that you control. You can’t, however, target the same permanent twice.
14. What is Flickerwisp Good For?
Flickerwisp is a strong creature with a blink effect attached. Its 3/1 flying body provides offensive pressure, and its ability to exile any permanent (not just your own) can disrupt your opponent’s plans. For example, you can exile an opponent’s land temporarily to set them back a turn.
15. What Are Other Learning Resources for MTG?
Exploring resources such as the Games Learning Society can help to improve your Magic: The Gathering knowledge and skills. The GamesLearningSociety.org is a great place to find additional resources on the topic.
Conclusion
Blinking is a powerful and versatile mechanic in Magic: The Gathering. Understanding how it interacts with other cards and effects, especially the loss of counters and other modifications, is crucial for strategic gameplay. By mastering the nuances of blinking, you can unlock new strategies and improve your overall MTG skills. Remember, when in doubt, think of the exile zone as a reset button for your permanents, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a blink master.