Flickering and Combat: A Phasing Primer for Magic: The Gathering
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Yes, flickering a creature does remove it from combat. When a creature is “flickered,” it’s exiled and then immediately returned to the battlefield. This creates a new game object, completely distinct from the original. This new object is no longer considered the same creature that was attacking or blocking, and therefore is no longer involved in the combat step.
The Nuances of Flickering
The act of flickering, often achieved through spells like “Cloudshift” or abilities like “Eldrazi Displacer’s,” is a powerful tool in Magic: The Gathering. Understanding its impact on combat is crucial for strategic gameplay. The creature essentially vanishes and reappears, breaking any connection to the combat that was in progress. This has profound implications for both attacking and blocking scenarios.
Impact on Attackers
If you flicker an attacking creature, it is removed from combat. The creature is exiled and returns as a new object. It won’t deal any combat damage, and any abilities triggered by attacking (like those on some equipment) will not resolve. It’s like hitting the reset button on that creature’s participation in the combat phase. Keep in mind, though, that if the attacking creature was going to deal combat damage to a player, that player will still be considered as having been attacked.
Impact on Blockers
The situation gets interesting when you flicker a blocking creature. The attacking creature it was blocking will remain blocked, but because the blocker has left and returned as a new object, it will deal no combat damage. This leaves the attacking creature stuck doing nothing in the combat step.
Key Considerations
- Summoning Sickness: A creature that returns to the battlefield through flickering is subject to summoning sickness if it’s your turn and the creature didn’t enter under your control since the beginning of your most recent turn. It can’t attack or use abilities with the tap or untap symbol in their cost (unless it has haste).
- ETB (Enter the Battlefield) Triggers: Flickering triggers “enter the battlefield” abilities. This can be highly advantageous, allowing you to reuse powerful ETB effects.
- Breaking Auras and Equipment: Flickering removes any Auras and Equipment attached to the creature.
- Counters: Flickering also removes all counters from the creature.
- Targeted Removal Dodge: Flickering can be used to dodge targeted removal spells. By flickering a creature in response to a removal spell, you exile it and bring it back as a new object. The removal spell then fizzles because it can no longer find its original target.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Flickering and Combat
1. If a creature is declared as an attacker, can I tap it to prevent the attack?
No. Tapping a creature that has already been declared as an attacker does not remove it from combat. The act of declaring it as an attacker is what matters. You can tap it, but it will still participate in combat. There are some niche cases, like if the effect says it removes the creature from combat specifically.
2. What happens if I flicker a creature with Deathtouch that’s blocking?
The attacking creature remains blocked and will deal no combat damage. The flickered creature will be a new game object with no connection to the combat, so deathtouch will not be a factor.
3. Does flickering remove Auras and Equipment?
Yes, flickering removes all Auras and Equipment attached to the creature. When the creature returns to the battlefield, it does so as a new object, and no longer has those attachments.
4. Does flickering trigger ETB (Enter the Battlefield) effects?
Absolutely! This is one of the primary reasons why flickering is so powerful. When a creature is flickered, it is exiled and then re-enters the battlefield, triggering any “enter the battlefield” abilities it possesses.
5. If I flicker a creature with summoning sickness, does it still have summoning sickness when it returns?
Yes, if it’s your turn and the creature did not enter the battlefield under your control since the beginning of your most recent turn. It is considered a new creature, and summoning sickness applies as normal.
6. Can I flicker a creature in response to a removal spell targeting it?
Yes! This is an excellent defensive tactic. By flickering a creature in response to a removal spell, you effectively dodge the removal. The creature is exiled and returns as a new object, causing the original removal spell to fizzle because it can no longer find its target.
7. Does flickering remove counters from a creature?
Yes, flickering removes all counters from a creature. The creature returns as a new object without any of its previous counters.
8. If I flicker a melded creature (like Brisela), what happens?
Flickering a melded creature like Brisela will break the meld. Both face sides will return to the battlefield separately. This can be advantageous or disadvantageous depending on the situation.
9. Can you block with a creature and then flicker it before damage?
Yes, the attacking creature was still blocked, but because the creature that blocked it is no longer on the battlefield (as the blinked creature will behave as a new instance) the attacker will assign no damage.
10. If I flicker a Saga, what happens?
Flickering a Saga resets it. It enters as a new object and starts from the first chapter again. Any lore counters that were on it are removed.
11. If a creature with indestructible is blocked by a creature with deathtouch, what happens?
Indestructible creatures also ignore deathtouch. Normally, a creature is destroyed if it takes damage from a creature with deathtouch. But since indestructible creatures can’t be destroyed, they’re immune.
12. Does attacking count as tapping a creature?
Tapping a creature when it’s declared as an attacker isn’t a cost; attacking simply causes creatures to become tapped.
13. Can I proliferate counters on tokens?
Yes, you can proliferate counters on tokens. Proliferate means to choose any number of permanents and/or players that have a counter, then give each one additional counter of each kind that permanent or player already has.
14. Does an exiled creature lose counters?
Yes. The exiled permanent becomes a non-permanent card that is a new object, causing all statuses, counters, equipment, enchantments, etc to detach. Enchantments will go to the graveyard.
15. What are the rules for combat damage?
Each attacking creature and each blocking creature assigns combat damage equal to its power. Creatures that would assign 0 or less damage this way don’t assign combat damage at all.
Understanding how flickering interacts with combat is essential for mastering Magic: The Gathering. It allows for complex plays, tactical maneuvering, and a deeper understanding of the game’s rules. Further insights into game mechanics and their educational impact can be explored through the work of the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. This organization studies how games can be used for learning and skill development, offering valuable perspectives on the cognitive benefits of strategic games like Magic: The Gathering.