Haunt

Haunt is a keyword ability associated with the Orzhov guild from the Guildpact set in the Ravnica block. It works by allowing a permanent's "come into play"-ability (CIP) or a spell to go off twice. More precisely, it allows a card to be removed from a graveyard "haunting" another permanent, and when that permanent is put into a graveyard a triggered ability of the haunting card is put on the stack and allows a second usage of the card. Haunt appers only on black and/or white cards.

From the Comprehensive Rules:

• 502.51. Haunt
  • 502.51a Haunt is a triggered ability. “Haunt” on a permanent means “When this permanent is put into a graveyard from play, remove it from the game haunting target creature.” “Haunt” on an instant or sorcery spell means “When this spell is put into a graveyard during its resolution, remove it from the game haunting target creature.”
  • 502.51b Cards that are in the removed-from-the-game zone as the result of a haunt ability “haunt” the creature targeted by that ability. The phrase “creature it haunts” refers to the object targeted by the haunt ability, regardless of whether or not that object is still a creature.
  • 502.51c Triggered abilities of cards with haunt that refer to the haunted creature can trigger in the removed-from-the-game zone.

Rulings

• If an instant or sorcery spell with haunt is countered, its haunt ability doesn't trigger.

• Instants and sorceries with haunt have the same effect when they're played as when the haunted creature is put into a graveyard. Creatures with haunt have the same effect when they come into play as when the haunted creature is put into a graveyard.

• You may haunt any creature in play, regardless of who controls it.

• The same creature may be haunted by multiple cards.

• The cards that are haunting a creature don't return from the removed-from-the-game zone when that creature leaves play.

• If there are no legal targets for the haunt ability, the card with haunt stays in the graveyard rather than being removed from the game.

• If a card with haunt is removed from the graveyard in response to its haunt ability triggering, the haunt ability will resolve. But since the card can't be removed from the game, it won't haunt the target creature.

• The same applies for a token creature with haunt or a copy of an instant or sorcery spell with haunt. The haunt ability will trigger and target a creature in play, but the token or spell copy will have vanished from the graveyard by the time the ability resolves. It can't be removed from the game and won't haunt the targeted creature.

• If a card that's haunting a creature leaves the removed-from-the-game zone due to a Wish (from the Judgment set, that card stops haunting that creature.

• The source of an ability that triggers when a haunted creature is put into a graveyard is the card with haunt in the removed-from-the-game zone. The ability is controlled by the owner of that card.

• If a creature with haunt controlled by Player A but owned by Player B is put into a graveyard, Player A controls the haunt triggered ability. That player chooses the target for the haunt ability and must remove the card from the game. However, when the haunted creature is put into a graveyard, Player B will control the triggered ability of the card in the removed-from-the-game zone and will make any choices it requires.

Examples

• Blind Hunter - 2WB
  Creature — Bat 2/2
  Flying
  Haunt (When this card is put into a graveyard from play, remove it from the game haunting target creature.)
  When Blind Hunter comes into play or the creature it haunts is put into a graveyard, target player loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.

• Seize the Soul - 2BB
  Instant
  Destroy target nonwhite nonblack creature. Put a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying into play.
  Haunt
  When the creature Seize the Soul haunts is put into a graveyard, destroy target nonwhite nonblack creature. Put a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying into play.

• Benediction of Moons - {W}
  Sorcery
  You gain 1 life for each player.
  Haunt (When this spell card is put into a graveyard after resolving, remove it from the game haunting target creature.)
  When the creature Benediction of Moons haunts is put into a graveyard, you gain 1 life for each player.