Flicker

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. The mechanic is sometimes also called blinking after Blinking Spirit.

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.

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.

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 diferentiate between "flicker"and "blink", "short blink" and "long blink", or "blink"(after Momentary Blink) and "slide" (after Astral Slide).

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 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.

Examples

• Cloudshift
• Conjurer's Closet
• Deadeye Navigator
• Essence Flux
• Ghostly Flicker
• Momentary Blink
• Nephalia Smuggler
• Restoration Angel