Vanishing

For the event on Mirrodin, see The Vanished Ones.

Vanishing
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Duels Vanishing.png}}|70x70px]]
Keyword Ability
Type	Static (1st ability) Triggered (2nd ability) Triggered (3rd ability)
Introduced	Planar Chaos
Last used	Modern Horizons 3
Reminder Text	Vanishing N (This permanent enters the battlefield with N time counters on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a time counter from it. When the last is removed, sacrifice it.)
Storm Scale	7
Statistics	22 cards 31.8% 22.7% 9.1% 9.1% 13.6% 4.5% 4.5% 4.5%
Scryfall Search
keyword:"Vanishing"

Vanishing is a keyword ability that limits the number of turns a permanent can remain on the battlefield, using time as a resource. It was introduced in the Time Spiral block, serving as an update to the earlier fading ability with more intuitive mechanics. It can be considered an inversion of the suspend ability.

Description

A vanishing permanent enters the battlefield with a given number of time counters on it. At the beginning of its controller's upkeep step, it loses a time counter. When the last time counter is removed, the permanent must be sacrificed. This acts as a countdown, destroying the permanent as soon as the countdown reaches zero.

Vanishing was Planar Chaos’ twist on Nemesis’s fading mechanic, but more intuitive to play due to the lack of delay after the last counter is removed. It's also more compatible with other Time Spiral block mechanics, in particular suspend, as the two abilities are inversions of each other (suspend times when a spell becomes active while vanishing times when a permanent becomes inactive by leaving play). Vanishing also has its own visual cue - the form of the creature sizzling away into the aether.

History

The keyword debuted in Planar Chaos, appearing on nine creature cards and one aura. It also appeared on four creatures in Future Sight and in Modern Horizons. Later, it was featured in the Timey-Wimey deck of Doctor Who and in Modern Horizons 3.

Rules

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

Vanishing

A keyword ability that limits how long a permanent remains on the battlefield. See rule 702.63, “Vanishing.”

From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

• 702.63. Vanishing
  • 702.63a Vanishing is a keyword that represents three abilities. “Vanishing N” means “This permanent enters the battlefield with N time counters on it,” “At the beginning of your upkeep, if this permanent has a time counter on it, remove a time counter from it,” and “When the last time counter is removed from this permanent, sacrifice it.”
  • 702.63b Vanishing without a number means “At the beginning of your upkeep, if this permanent has a time counter on it, remove a time counter from it” and “When the last time counter is removed from this permanent, sacrifice it.”
  • 702.63c If a permanent has multiple instances of vanishing, each works separately.

Rulings

• Both vanishing and the suspend mechanic introduced in the Time Spiral set use time counters. Most effects in the Time Spiral block that deal with time counters, such as the ability of Jhoira's Timebug, can also affect permanents with vanishing that have time counters on them.
• Vanishing is similar to the fading ability from Nemesis. However, it plays much more like suspend does. The card starts out with a number of time counters on it, an ability triggers at the beginning of your upkeep that has you remove a time counter, and an ability triggers when you remove the last time counter that has you do something with that card.
• Note that the vanishing rules include an "intervening 'if' clause" that stops the counter-removing ability from triggering if there are no time counters on the permanent. This extra clause has minimal impact outside the Magic Online interface, so it doesn't appear in the vanishing reminder text.
• If the last time counter is removed from a permanent with vanishing and the sacrifice ability is countered, that permanent will remain on the battlefield indefinitely with no time counters on it. Neither of vanishing's two triggered abilities can possibly trigger again. Similarly, if a permanent without time counters on it that's already on the battlefield becomes a copy of a permanent with vanishing, it will stay on the battlefield indefinitely. If a permanent with one or more time counters on it that's already on the battlefield becomes a copy of a permanent with vanishing, it will vanish as normal.

Examples

Example

Keldon Marauders
Creature — Human Warrior
3/3
Vanishing 2 (This permanent enters the battlefield with two time counters on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a time counter from it. When the last is removed, sacrifice it.)
When Keldon Marauders enters the battlefield or leaves the battlefield, it deals 1 damage to target player or planeswalker.