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{{Infobox mechanic
{{Infobox mechanic
| first = Magic 2015
| first = Magic 2015
| last = Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
| last = Evergreen
| text = Exile target [permanent], then return that card to the battlefield...
| text = Exile target [permanent], then return that card to the battlefield...
| stats =  
| stats = {{stats|W=62|U=42|WU=13|UB=1|WB=4|UR=2|GW=2|RW=3|M=4|A=4|L=2|C=1}}
| search =
| searchtype = none
}}
}}
'''Flicker''' or '''Flickering''' is the nickname (alluding to the effect of its namesake, the ''[[Urza's Destiny]]'' card <c>Flicker</c>) for [[exile|exiling]] something, then returning it to the [[battlefield]].<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/few-more-words-rd-2016-11-07|A Few More Words from R&D|[[Mark Rosewater]]|November 7, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/151736262548/there-are-a-lot-of-effects-that-exile-a-permanent|title=Will these abilities ever be keyworded?|October 13, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Color Pie 2017">{{DailyRef|making-magic/mechanical-color-pie-2017-2017-06-05|Mechanical Color Pie 2017|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 5, 2017}}</ref> The mechanic is sometimes also called '''blinking''' after <c>Blinking Spirit</c> (which actually has a [[bounce]] effect and not a flicker).<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/158049651198/i-know-phasing-probably-wont-come-back-but-what|title=What are the odds on another mechanic that phases things in/out?|March 05, 2017}}</ref>
'''Flicker''' or '''Flickering''' is the nickname (alluding to the effect of its namesake, the ''[[Urza's Destiny]]'' card <c>Flicker</c>) for [[exile|exiling]] something, then returning it to the [[battlefield]].<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/few-more-words-rd-2016-11-07|A Few More Words from R&D|[[Mark Rosewater]]|November 7, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/151736262548/there-are-a-lot-of-effects-that-exile-a-permanent|title=Will these abilities ever be keyworded?|October 13, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Color Pie 2017">{{DailyRef|making-magic/mechanical-color-pie-2017-2017-06-05|Mechanical Color Pie 2017|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 5, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/looking-back-part-1|Looking Back, Part 1|[[Mark Rosewater]]|March 11, 2024}}</ref> The mechanic is sometimes also called '''blinking<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/158049651198/i-know-phasing-probably-wont-come-back-but-what|title=What are the odds on another mechanic that phases things in/out?|March 05, 2017}}</ref>''' after <c>Blinking Spirit</c> (which actually has a self-[[bounce]] effect and not a flicker).
 
==Description==
==Description==
The Flicker ability was inspired by [[phasing]]. Flicker originally was designed as a [[vertical cycle]] in white but development moved the common to rare, changed it to a sorcery and dropped the other two.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/164109809298/mark-today-i-turn-27-can-i-get-some-trivia-on|title=Can I get some trivia on Phasing?|August 12, 2017}}</ref>
The Flicker ability was inspired by [[phasing]]. Flicker originally was designed as a [[vertical cycle]] in white but development moved the common to rare, changed it to sorcery, and dropped the other two.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/164109809298/mark-today-i-turn-27-can-i-get-some-trivia-on|title=Can I get some trivia on Phasing?|August 12, 2017}}</ref>   There are some variants, but the general gist it that a permanent is exiled and is returned to the battlefield. The permanent can be restricted to being one's own or any player's; then, it may return to its owner or the effect's controller. These secondary templates do not cross but it is designed to be possible for players to flicker a stolen permanent to either keep it on their side or retrieve them from their opponent's, depending on the effect.


When you "flicker" a permanent, it's treated as a new card that just entered the battlefield. The mechanic appears [[primary]] on [[white]] and [[blue]], [[tertiary]] on [[black]] and also on [[artifacts]]. "Flickering" removes all [[counters]] and [[auras]] from a creature, and makes it dodge [[target]]ed [[removal]] if a spell "flickering" that creature is played in response to the removal spell targeting it.<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/avacyn-restored-mechanics-2012-04-09-0|Avacyn Restored Mechanics|magicthegathering.com Staff|April 09, 2012}}</ref>
When you "flicker" a permanent, it's treated as a new card that just entered the battlefield. The mechanic appears [[primary]] on [[white]] and [[blue]], [[tertiary]] on [[black]] and also on [[artifacts]]. "Flickering" removes all [[counters]] and [[auras]] from a creature, and makes it dodge [[target]]ed [[removal]] if a spell "flickering" that creature is played in response to the removal spell targeting it.<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/avacyn-restored-mechanics-2012-04-09-0|Avacyn Restored Mechanics|magicthegathering.com Staff|April 09, 2012}}</ref>
With [[Core Set 2021]], experiments have been made at returning [[phasing]] - specifically the action to phase out, not the ability - as a design tool in premier sets, as its ability to retain object memory and avoid various triggers make it more suitable in certain scenarios. The usage balance between them is not yet fully realized.
Flicker can appear in both [[white]] and [[blue]], although [[R&D]] recently has been trying to push it a little more in white. Black can sacrifice a creature and then later reanimate it (<c>Rescue from the Underworld</c> as an example), but while this functions similarly to flicker, it's a separate thing.<ref name="Pie Changes">{{DailyRef|making-magic/mechanical-color-pie-2021-changes-2021-10-18|Mechanical Color Pie 2021 Changes|[[Mark Rosewater]]|October 18, 2021}}</ref>
===Name confusion===
===Name confusion===
R&D uses "insta-flicker" and "flicker" as terminology to distinguish between 'exile and return immediately' and 'exile and return at next end step'. Others differentiate between "flicker" and "blink", "short blink" and "long blink", or "blink" (after <c>Momentary Blink</c>) and "slide" (after <c>Astral Slide</c>).<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/171884930933/does-rd-have-terminology-to-distinguish-between|title=Does R&D have terminology to distinguish between 'exile and return immediately' and 'exile and return at next end step'?|March 14, 2018}}</ref>
As noted above, Flicker and Blink have both been used as terms for effects that return immediately and return at the end step. However, the definitions have been muddled due to {{Card|Flickerwisp}} and {{Card|Momentary Blink}}, two popular cards that run opposed to the definition to the originals.
 
R&D used "insta-flicker" and "flicker" as terminology to distinguish between 'exile and return immediately' and 'exile and return at next end step'.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/171884930933/does-rd-have-terminology-to-distinguish-between|title=Does R&D have terminology to distinguish between 'exile and return immediately' and 'exile and return at next end step'?|March 14, 2018}}</ref> Later, they called it “fast flicker” and “slow flicker”.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/669159962641088512/do-you-have-different-terms-for-exile-then-return|title=Do you have different terms for “exile then return immediately” vs. “exile, then return at end of turn”?|November 28, 2021}}</ref> Others differentiate between "flicker" and "blink", "short blink" and "long blink", or "blink" (after <c>Momentary Blink</c>) and "slide" (after <c>Astral Slide</c>).
 
One of the most iconic episodes of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' is ''Blink'', which was made into a Saga ({{card|Blink}}) and a spell ({{card|Don't Blink}}), printed in the [[Universes Beyond]] set ''[[Doctor Who]]''.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/doctor-who-magic-the-gathering-commander-spoilers-reveals-dont-blink-weeping-angels|title=Exclusive: See Doctor Who's Iconic Blink Episode and More as Magic: The Gathering Cards|author=Tom Marks|date=October 2, 2023|publisher=IGN.com}}</ref> While the Saga doesn't have any relevance to blinking as a mechanic, <c>Don't Blink</c> acts as a hate spell a la <c>Hallowed Moonlight</c>, punishing opponents who are trying to "blink".


==Rulings==
==Rulings==
Line 20: Line 30:
*If a [[token]] creature is exiled, it will cease to exist. It won't return to the battlefield.
*If a [[token]] creature is exiled, it will cease to exist. It won't return to the battlefield.
*If a paired creature is exiled, the pair will break. However, the creature entering the battlefield again will cause its [[soulbond]] ability (or the soulbond ability of the creature it was paired with, as appropriate) to trigger again. This may cause the creature to pair with the creature it was previously paired with or another creature.
*If a paired creature is exiled, the pair will break. However, the creature entering the battlefield again will cause its [[soulbond]] ability (or the soulbond ability of the creature it was paired with, as appropriate) to trigger again. This may cause the creature to pair with the creature it was previously paired with or another creature.
*If a creature you've gained control of temporarily (perhaps due to the ability of <c>Zealous Conscripts</c>) is exiled and returns to the battlefield under your control, you will control that creature indefinitely.
*If a creature you've gained control of temporarily (perhaps due to the ability of <c>Zealous Conscripts</c>) is exiled and returns to the battlefield under your control, you will control that creature indefinitely.
** Note that many flickering cards return such creatures under their owner's control, which is also the default if the card does not specify who controls the returned creature. Therefore the flicker effect must explicitly say "under your control", such as with <c>Cloudshift</c>.


==Examples==
==List of Cards==
==={{W}} White===
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
*<c>Acrobatic Maneuver</c>
*<c>Aethergeode Miner</c>
*<c>Against All Odds</c>
*<c>Angel of Condemnation</c>
*<c>Astral Drift</c>
*<c>Astral Slide</c>
*<c>Blink Dog</c>
*<c>Charming Prince</c>
*<c>Cloudshift</c>
*<c>Cloudshift</c>
*<c>Conjurer's Closet</c>
*<c>Cosmic Intervention</c>
*<c>Distinguished Conjurer</c>
*<c>Divine Smite</c>
*<c>Eerie Interlude</c>
*<c>Eldrazi Displacer</c>
*<c>Emiel the Blessed</c>
*<c>Ephemerate</c>
*<c>The Eternal Wanderer</c>
*<c>Far Traveler</c>
*<c>Felidar Guardian</c>
*<c>Flicker</c>
*<c>Flickerform</c>
*<c>Flickering Spirit</c>
*<c>Flicker of Fate</c>
*{{Card|Flickerwisp}}
*<c>Galepowder Mage</c>
*<c>Ghostway</c>
*<c>Glimmerpoint Stag</c>
*<c>Guardian of Faith</c>
*<c>Guardian of Ghirapur</c>
*<c>Hikari, Twilight Guardian</c>
*<c>Icewind Stalwart</c>
*<c>Justiciar's Portal</c>
*<c>Lae'zel's Acrobatics</c>
*<c>Lae’zel, Githyanki Warrior</c>
*<c>Lae'zel, Blessed Warrior</c>
*<c>Liberate</c>
*<c>Long Road Home</c>
*<c>Momentary Blink</c>
*<c>Now You See Me . . .</c>
*<c>Ojutai Exemplars</c>
*<c>Ordinary Pony</c>
*<c>Otherworldly Journey</c>
*<c>Out of Time</c>
*<c>Planar Guide</c>
*<c>Prowl, Stoic Strategist</c>
*<c>Rescue the Foal</c>
*<c>Restoration Angel</c>
*<c>Robe of Stars</c>
*<c>Ruin Ghost</c>
*<c>Saltskitter</c>
*<c>Scrollshift</c>
*<c>Semester's End</c>
*<c>Settle Beyond Reality</c>
*<c>Skybind</c>
*<c>Slip On the Ring</c>
*<c>Sudden Disappearance</c>
*<c>Tawnos Endures</c>
*<c>Teferi's Honor Guard</c>
*<c>Teferi's Protection</c>
*<c>Teleportation Circle</c>
*<c>Vizier of Deferment</c>
*<c>Wispweaver Angel</c>
}}
 
==={{U}} Blue===
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
*<c>Aetherling</c>
*<c>Argent Sphinx</c>
*<c>Blizzard Strix</c>
*<c>Blur</c>
*<c>Change of Plans</c>
*<c>Deadeye Navigator</c>
*<c>Deadeye Navigator</c>
*<c>Eldrazi Displacer</c>
*<c>Displace</c>
*<c>Displacer Kitten</c>
*<c>Djinn of the Fountain</c>
*<c>Dream Fighter</c>
*<c>Escape Protocol</c>
*<c>Essence Flux</c>
*<c>Essence Flux</c>
*<c>Flicker of Fate</c>
*<c>Frenetic Efreet</c>
*<c>Ghostly Flicker</c>
*<c>Ghostly Flicker</c>
*<c>Momentary Blink</c>
*<c>Identity Thief</c>
*<c>Illusionist's Stratagem</c>
*<c>March of Swirling Mist</c>
*<c>Meneldor, Swift Savior</c>
*<c>Mist Dragon</c>
*<c>Nephalia Smuggler</c>
*<c>Nephalia Smuggler</c>
*<c>Restoration Angel</c>
*<c>Nezahal, Primal Tide</c>
*<c>Planar Incision</c>
*<c>Rainbow Efreet</c>
*<c>Reality Ripple</c>
*<c>Sapphire Charm</c>
*<c>Sentinel of the Pearl Trident</c>
*<c>Shimmering Efreet</c>
*<c>Sinister Concierge</c>
*<c>Siren's Ruse</c>
*<c>Slip Out the Back</c>
*<c>Spectral Adversary</c>
*<c>Suspend</c>
*<c>Taniwha</c>
*<c>Teferi, Master of Time</c>
*<c>Teferi's Realm</c>
*<c>Teferi's Time Twist</c>
*<c>Teferi's Veil</c>
*<c>Teferi, Timeless Voyager</c>
*<c>Thassa, Deep-Dwelling</c>
*<c>Vanishing</c>
*<c>Vision Charm</c>
*<c>Vodalian Illusionist</c>
*<c>Voidwalk</c>
}}
 
==={{M}} Multicolored===
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
*<c>Aminatou, the Fateshifter</c>
*<c>Anurid Brushhopper</c>
*<c>Brago, King Eternal</c>
*<c>Brokers Confluence</c>
*<c>Brokers' Safeguard</c>
*<c>Disorder in the Court</c>
*<c>Frenetic Efreet</c>
*<c>Frenetic Sliver</c>
*<c>Ghost Council of Orzhova</c>
*<c>Hallowed Respite</c>
*<c>Kaito Shizuki</c>
*<c>Lae'zel, Callous Warrior</c>
*<c>Lae'zel, Illithid Thrall</c>
*<c>Lae'zel, Primal Warrior</c>
*<c>Lae'zel, Wrathful Warrior</c>
*<c>Legion's Initiative</c>
*<c>Mistmeadow Vanisher</c>
*<c>Mistmeadow Witch</c>
*<c>Nahiri's Resolve</c>
*<c>Oath of Teferi</c>
*<c>Obzedat, Ghost Council</c>
*<c>Oji, the Exquisite Blade</c>
*<c>Roon of the Hidden Realm</c>
*<c>Sol'Kanar the Tainted</c>
*<c>Soulherder</c>
*<c>Stenn, Paranoid Partisan</c>
*<c>Triad of Fates</c>
*<c>Turn to Mist</c>
*<c>Vanish into Memory</c>
*<c>Venser, the Sojourner</c>
*<c>Yorion, Sky Nomad</c>
}}
 
==={{type|artifact}} Artifacts===
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
*<c>Conjurer's Closet</c>
*<c>Golden Argosy</c>
*<c>Tunnel of Love</c>
*<c>Voyager Staff</c>
}}
 
==={{type|land}} Lands===
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
*<c>Creeping Inn</c>
*<c>Safe Haven</c>
}}
 
==={{CHAOS}} Planes===
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
*<c>Bad Wolf Bay</c>
}}


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 11:42, 14 March 2024

Flicker
Mechanic
Introduced Magic 2015
Last used Evergreen
Reminder Text Exile target [permanent], then return that card to the battlefield...
Statistics
140 cards
{C} 0.7% {W} 44.3% {U} 30% {W/U} 9.3% {U/B} 0.7% {G/W} 1.4% {W/B} 2.9% {U/R} 1.4% {R/W} 2.1% {M} 2.9% {artifact symbol} 2.9% {land symbol} 1.4%

Flicker or Flickering is the nickname (alluding to the effect of its namesake, the Urza's Destiny card Flicker) for exiling something, then returning it to the battlefield.[1][2][3][4] The mechanic is sometimes also called blinking[5] after Blinking Spirit (which actually has a self-bounce effect and not a flicker).

Description

The Flicker ability was inspired by phasing. Flicker originally was designed as a vertical cycle in white but development moved the common to rare, changed it to sorcery, and dropped the other two.[6] There are some variants, but the general gist it that a permanent is exiled and is returned to the battlefield. The permanent can be restricted to being one's own or any player's; then, it may return to its owner or the effect's controller. These secondary templates do not cross but it is designed to be possible for players to flicker a stolen permanent to either keep it on their side or retrieve them from their opponent's, depending on the effect.

When you "flicker" a permanent, it's treated as a new card that just entered the battlefield. The mechanic appears primary on white and blue, tertiary on black and also on artifacts. "Flickering" removes all counters and auras from a creature, and makes it dodge targeted removal if a spell "flickering" that creature is played in response to the removal spell targeting it.[7]

With Core Set 2021, experiments have been made at returning phasing - specifically the action to phase out, not the ability - as a design tool in premier sets, as its ability to retain object memory and avoid various triggers make it more suitable in certain scenarios. The usage balance between them is not yet fully realized.

Flicker can appear in both white and blue, although R&D recently has been trying to push it a little more in white. Black can sacrifice a creature and then later reanimate it (Rescue from the Underworld as an example), but while this functions similarly to flicker, it's a separate thing.[8]

Name confusion

As noted above, Flicker and Blink have both been used as terms for effects that return immediately and return at the end step. However, the definitions have been muddled due to Flickerwisp and Momentary Blink, two popular cards that run opposed to the definition to the originals.

R&D used "insta-flicker" and "flicker" as terminology to distinguish between 'exile and return immediately' and 'exile and return at next end step'.[9] Later, they called it “fast flicker” and “slow flicker”.[10] Others differentiate between "flicker" and "blink", "short blink" and "long blink", or "blink" (after Momentary Blink) and "slide" (after Astral Slide).

One of the most iconic episodes of Doctor Who is Blink, which was made into a Saga (Blink) and a spell (Don't Blink), printed in the Universes Beyond set Doctor Who.[11] While the Saga doesn't have any relevance to blinking as a mechanic, Don't Blink acts as a hate spell a la Hallowed Moonlight, punishing opponents who are trying to "blink".

Rulings

  • A permanent that returns to the battlefield after being exiled does so as an entirely new object. It will have no memory of or connection to its previous existence.
  • Unless an effect says otherwise, permanents enter the battlefield untapped, creatures can't attack or {T} until they've been continuously under your control since the start of your most recent turn, and double-faced cards enter the battlefield with their front face up.
  • Any Auras attached to a permanent that leaves the battlefield will be put into their owner's graveyard the next time state-based actions are checked. Any Equipment attached to a permanent that leaves the battlefield become unattached and remain on the battlefield. Any counters on a permanent that leaves the battlefield cease to exist.
  • If a token creature is exiled, it will cease to exist. It won't return to the battlefield.
  • If a paired creature is exiled, the pair will break. However, the creature entering the battlefield again will cause its soulbond ability (or the soulbond ability of the creature it was paired with, as appropriate) to trigger again. This may cause the creature to pair with the creature it was previously paired with or another creature.
  • If a creature you've gained control of temporarily (perhaps due to the ability of Zealous Conscripts) is exiled and returns to the battlefield under your control, you will control that creature indefinitely.
    • Note that many flickering cards return such creatures under their owner's control, which is also the default if the card does not specify who controls the returned creature. Therefore the flicker effect must explicitly say "under your control", such as with Cloudshift.

List of Cards

{W} White

{U} Blue

{M} Multicolored

{artifact symbol} Artifacts

{land symbol} Lands

{CHAOS} Planes

References

  1. ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 7, 2016). "A Few More Words from R&D". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 13, 2016). "Will these abilities ever be keyworded?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  3. ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 5, 2017). "Mechanical Color Pie 2017". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 11, 2024). "Looking Back, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 05, 2017). "What are the odds on another mechanic that phases things in/out?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  6. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 12, 2017). "Can I get some trivia on Phasing?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  7. ↑ magicthegathering.com Staff (April 09, 2012). "Avacyn Restored Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  8. ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 18, 2021). "Mechanical Color Pie 2021 Changes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  9. ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 14, 2018). "Does R&D have terminology to distinguish between 'exile and return immediately' and 'exile and return at next end step'?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  10. ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 28, 2021). "Do you have different terms for “exile then return immediately” vs. “exile, then return at end of turn”?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  11. ↑ Tom Marks (October 2, 2023). "Exclusive: See Doctor Who's Iconic Blink Episode and More as Magic: The Gathering Cards". IGN.com.
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