Fading vs. Vanishing: Understanding Temporary Permanents in Magic: The Gathering

The mechanics of fading and vanishing in Magic: The Gathering (MTG) both involve permanents leaving the battlefield after a set duration, but they function quite differently. Fading uses fade counters that are removed at the beginning of your upkeep, and if the last fade counter is removed, the permanent is sacrificed. Vanishing uses time counters that are removed during the permanent’s controller’s upkeep, and when the last time counter is removed, the permanent is sacrificed. The key difference lies in what type of counters are used, when they are removed, and therefore how they can be manipulated.

The Nuances of Fading

Fading, introduced in the Nemesis set, grants a permanent a certain number of fade counters upon entering the battlefield. The creature then has “Fading N,” where “N” represents the number of fade counters it enters the battlefield with. During your upkeep, you remove one fade counter. If you can’t remove a fade counter (for example, because there are none left), or if the number of fade counters it has is zero and the game asks you to remove another one, the permanent is sacrificed.

Core Mechanics of Fading:

• Fade Counters: These are the heart of the fading mechanic. The number of fade counters the permanent starts with determines how long it will stay in play.
• Upkeep Trigger: The removal of fade counters is triggered at the beginning of your upkeep. This is a triggered ability, meaning it goes on the stack and can be responded to.
• Sacrifice: The ultimate consequence. If a permanent has no fade counters and you are asked to remove one, you sacrifice it.

Examples of Fading cards:

• Blastoderm: A powerful creature with Fading 3, giving you three turns of aggressive attacks.
• Parallax Wave: An enchantment allowing you to phase out creatures for protection, but with Fading 5, requiring strategic use.

Dissecting Vanishing

Vanishing, appearing first in Future Sight, is similar to fading in its temporary nature but uses time counters instead. A permanent with vanishing enters the battlefield with a specified number of time counters, represented as “Vanishing N”. During your upkeep, you remove one time counter. The creature is then sacrificed when it has no time counters remaining.

Core Mechanics of Vanishing:

• Time Counters: These track the permanent’s remaining lifespan on the battlefield.
• Upkeep Trigger: Like fading, time counter removal is a triggered ability occurring during your upkeep.
• Sacrifice: The permanent is sacrificed when the last time counter is removed.

Examples of Vanishing Cards:

• Reality Strobe: A suspend card that creates token copies of the permanent until the last time counter is removed.
• Dust Elemental: A powerful creature that allows you to flicker creatures and has Vanishing 3.

Fading vs. Vanishing: A Head-to-Head Comparison

While both mechanics result in a permanent’s eventual demise, the crucial distinctions are:

• Counter Type: Fading uses fade counters, while Vanishing uses time counters. This seemingly small detail has significant implications. Cards that interact with counters often specify which type of counters they affect. Thus, a card that adds or removes time counters will not affect fade counters, and vice versa.
• Interaction with Counter Manipulation: Both fade and time counters are susceptible to counter manipulation. For example, cards like [[Power Conduit]] or [[Atraxa, Praetors’ Voice]] can add counters, prolonging their existence. Conversely, cards like [[Clockspinning]] can speed up their departure.
• Strategic Implications: Knowing whether a permanent has fading or vanishing impacts your deck-building and gameplay strategies. Understanding the counter type allows you to leverage specific cards to either extend the permanent’s lifespan or hasten its demise.
• Rarity: Fading appeared primarily in the Nemesis block, making it a relatively rarer mechanic. Vanishing, while not ubiquitous, has appeared in more sets, including Future Sight, and Modern Horizons 3.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions related to fading and vanishing, further clarifying the mechanics and their interactions.

1. If a permanent has both fading and vanishing, what happens? The permanent will have both types of counters. Each upkeep, you remove one fade counter and one time counter. The permanent is sacrificed when either type of counter reaches zero and you are asked to remove another counter.

2. Can I prevent the sacrifice of a permanent with fading or vanishing? Yes, by adding more fade counters or time counters, respectively. This will reset the clock, delaying the inevitable sacrifice.

3. Does phasing out a permanent with fading or vanishing affect its counters? No. When a permanent phases out, it is treated as though it doesn’t exist, but the counters remain. When it phases in, it resumes with the same number of fade or time counters it had previously.

4. If I flicker (exile and return) a permanent with fading or vanishing, does it keep its counters? No. Flickering a permanent causes it to be treated as a new object upon returning to the battlefield. Consequently, it loses all its existing counters. This can be useful for permanents with vanishing as you can use it to reset the time counters. With fading, flickering can remove the fading ability, thus removing the counters.

5. How does “Doubling Season” affect fading and vanishing? Doubling Season doubles the number of fade or time counters the permanent enters the battlefield with. So, a Blastoderm would enter with six fade counters instead of three.

6. Can I respond to the triggered ability that removes fade or time counters? Yes. The removal of fade or time counters is a triggered ability that goes on the stack. You can respond with instants or activated abilities.

7. What happens if a permanent with fading or vanishing changes controllers? The counters remain on the permanent. The new controller will remove counters during their upkeep.

8. Does shroud or hexproof prevent me from adding or removing counters on my own permanent with fading or vanishing? No. Shroud and hexproof only prevent your opponents from targeting the permanent. You can still add or remove counters on your own permanents.

9. If a card refers to “counters,” does that include fade and time counters? Yes. Unless the card specifically mentions a type of counter, it will affect both fade counters and time counters.

10. If I have multiple permanents with fading or vanishing, which order do I remove the counters in my upkeep? You choose the order in which their triggered abilities (removing counters) go on the stack.

11. Can I use proliferate on fade or time counters? Yes, proliferate allows you to add a counter of each kind already on a permanent. So, if you have a permanent with fade counters, you can add another fade counter using proliferate. If you have a permanent with time counters, you can add another time counter using proliferate.

12. Are there any cards that specifically interact with fade counters? Yes, cards like [[Calming Verse]] can remove all fade counters from all permanents on the battlefield.

13. Are there any cards that specifically interact with time counters? Yes, cards like [[Clockspinning]] can add or remove time counters from permanents, aiding in controlling their lifespan.

14. What happens if I use a card like “Dark Depths” that creates a token when it has no counters but it has fade or time counters? The fade or time counters are irrelevant for “Dark Depths.” “Dark Depths” creates the Marit Lage token when it has no ice counters, regardless of the presence of other types of counters.

15. Can I move a fade counter or time counter from one permanent to another? Cards like [[Vampire Hexmage]] can remove all counters from a permanent. Then, other cards that move counters can move the counters, but this is more complex and requires specific cards.

Understanding the difference between fading and vanishing is crucial for navigating the complexities of MTG. While both mechanics share similarities, their distinctions offer strategic depth and decision-making opportunities for players of all skill levels. Knowing these differences will allow for more informed deckbuilding and game play decisions, allowing you to better pilot your deck towards victory.