creature phases out mtfg

2 min read 24-01-2025

Meta Description: Explore the fascinating world of creature phasing in Magic: The Gathering! Learn how phasing works, its strategic implications, and impactful cards that utilize this unique ability. Discover advanced phasing strategies and optimize your deck building with this in-depth guide.

What is Phasing in MTG?

Phasing is a unique ability in Magic: The Gathering that temporarily removes a creature from the game without destroying it. It's not quite like tapping, which restricts a creature's abilities for a turn. Instead, a phased-out creature is considered neither on the battlefield nor in any other zone – it's essentially "untouchable" until it phases back in. This makes phasing a powerful tool for defensive and offensive strategies alike.

How Phasing Works

A creature with phasing will phase out at the beginning of its controller's upkeep. At the beginning of its controller's next upkeep, it phases back in. While phased out, the creature can't be targeted by spells or abilities, attacked, or blocked. However, it still exists – it just isn't interacting with the game in the normal way.

Key Considerations

Abilities: A phased-out creature's triggered abilities will not trigger, but its static abilities (ones that continuously affect the game state) will usually still apply.
Effects: Effects that depend on a creature being on the battlefield won't work while it's phased out. Conversely, effects that only apply to permanents on the battlefield won't remove a phased-out creature.
Sacrifice Effects: You cannot sacrifice a phased-out creature.

Powerful Phasing Cards

Several cards throughout MTG's history have utilized phasing to great effect. Some notable examples include:

Leyline of Anticipation: This enchantment allows you to play instants and sorceries at any time during your turn. Coupled with phasing creatures, this can create unpredictable and powerful plays.
Ghostly Flicker: This instant temporarily removes a target creature from the battlefield. While it doesn't technically use "phasing," it achieves a similar effect.

Strategic Use of Phasing Cards

Phasing creatures can be incorporated into various decks to gain an advantage. Here are some strategic examples:

Protection: Phase out a vulnerable creature to protect it from targeted removal.
Evasion: Phase out a creature to prevent it from being blocked.
Tempo: Phase out a creature to remove it from the game temporarily, then bring it back when needed.
Combo Potential: Combine phasing creatures with other cards to create powerful synergies. For example, using phasing with cards that trigger on entering or leaving the battlefield.

Advanced Phasing Strategies

Mastering phasing requires understanding its interactions with other mechanics.

Question: How do phasing and other abilities interact?

Here's a breakdown of some interactions:

Hexproof/Shroud: These abilities prevent targeting, so a creature with both hexproof/shroud and phasing benefits doubly from protection.
Indestructible: While phased out, an indestructible creature remains safe from destruction effects.

Building a Phasing Deck

Building a successful phasing deck requires careful consideration of card choices. You need a good balance of creatures with phasing, enablers to get the most out of it, and ways to deal with threats your phased-out creatures won't address. Consider cards that can either protect your creatures or deal damage while they're phased out.

Conclusion

Phasing is a powerful, though sometimes underutilized, mechanic in Magic: The Gathering. By understanding its intricacies, you can build effective strategies to outmaneuver opponents. Remember, the key is to consider its interactions with other cards and mechanics. Understanding phasing will elevate your MTG game to a new level of strategy and complexity. Experiment with different card combinations to find the optimal phasing strategy that suits your playstyle. Good luck on the battlefield!