Flicker MTG Card

Gain double value from creatures and overwhelm opponents by reusing powerful ETB effects with flicker cards. Flicker cards at instant speed to disrupt opponents, save creatures, or tactically maneuver combat phases. Consider mana cost implications and the potential need to discard when incorporating flicker cards into your deck.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Rare
Type	Sorcery
Released	1999-06-07
Set symbol
Set name	Urza's Destiny
Set code	UDS
Number	9
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Douglas Shuler

Text of card

Remove target nontoken permanent from the game, then return it to play under its owner's control.

Who is truer: you who are, or you who are to be?

Cards like Flicker

Flicker effects in MTG offer players strategic advantage by temporarily removing creatures or other permanents from the battlefield, only to return them with renewed purposes. A prominent example within this category is Ghostly Flicker. This spell allows you to target two artifacts, creatures, or lands you control and then return them to the battlefield, effectively resetting any counters or abilities they may have. This can often lead to powerful interactions and combinations within a game.

Another staple in the flicker repertoire is Momentary Blink. While it only targets one creature compared to Ghostly Flicker’s two, it carries the additional advantage of flashback, allowing you to use the effect twice from a single card—great for decks that aim at maximizing the use of their permanents’ enter-the-battlefield triggers.

Compared to these, Flicker cards serve as versatile tools in any MTG player’s arsenal. They can be used defensively to protect key creatures from removal, or offensively to re-trigger beneficial abilities. The clever use of flicker effects can often be the turning point in a tightly contested match.

Cards similar to Flicker by color, type and mana cost

Gather the Townsfolk - MTG Card versions

Declaration in Stone - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The flicker mechanic provides a unique form of card advantage by allowing you to reuse enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effects. This can effectively double the value you get from a single creature, leading to overwhelming gains over your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: By blinking a creature or permanent with land untapping abilities, flicker cards can be used to ramp up your mana resources. This technique helps you cast more spells or deploy larger threats earlier than your opponents might expect.

Instant Speed: Many flicker effects can be activated at instant speed, providing a versatile response to opponents’ actions. This flexibility enables you to avoid removal, save key creatures from destruction, or gain surprise advantages during combat by strategically timing your flickers.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Many flicker effects require you to discard a card alongside the flicker ability which can be a setback if you are already behind on card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Flicker cards often need a precise combination of mana to cast, including colorless mana which could be a deck building constraint, especially in multicolor decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While flicker abilities can be powerful, they typically come at a higher mana cost. This can delay crucial plays or leave you vulnerable while you’re setting up your board for the flicker synergy.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Flicker effects are a powerful tool in any player’s repertoire, adaptable to a wide array of deck strategies. By exiling and returning creatures or other permanents to the battlefield, they can re-trigger enter-the-battlefield abilities or dodge removal spells with ease.

Combo Potential: These cards are known for their ability to combine with permanents that have beneficial enter-the-battlefield effects to create game-ending synergies. Whether you’re looking to gain infinite life, draw endless cards, or produce unlimited mana, flicker mechanics can make it happen.

Meta-Relevance: Flicker effects hold their ground in various metagames by offering flexible responses to opponents’ strategies. They can be particularly effective in disrupting your opponent’s tempo or saving your key pieces from targeted removal, keeping you in a strong competitive position.

How to beat

Flicker effects in Magic: The Gathering offer a compelling dynamic, allowing players to temporarily exile a creature or other permanent and then return it back to the battlefield, often with the benefit of re-triggering enter-the-battlefield (ETB) effects. This makes dealing with flicker-based strategies a unique challenge. Cards with flicker abilities, such as Ephemerate or Felidar Guardian, have been used to create powerful combos and recurring value engines in various decks.

To effectively counter a flicker strategy, consider employing instant-speed removals to disrupt the combo before the exiled card returns. Graveyard hate can also be valuable, as many flicker abilities target creatures or cards returning from the graveyard. Additionally, cards with hexproof or shroud can prevent target-based flicker spells from being used effectively, while continuous effects that negate ETB triggers can completely shut down flicker-based value plays. Cards like Torpor Orb or Hushbringer can be gamechangers in this aspect.

Overall, while flicker cards can offer significant advantages by multiplying the effects of powerful ETBs or saving a creature from removal, understanding the key moments to interrupt these interactions is crucial for maintaining control of the game.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Flicker MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Destiny, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Flicker and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Flicker has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Flicker card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2004-10-04	It will trigger “enters the battlefield” abilities and “leaves the battlefield” abilities. Note that the card does not go to the graveyard, so it will not trigger “goes to the graveyard” abilities.
2004-10-04	This could be used to make the target of another spell or ability illegal if this wasn’t a sorcery (which makes it really hard to do that). This is because the Flickered permanent leaves the battlefield and then returns as a completely different permanent, and the targeted spell will not recognize it.
2005-08-01	This spell effectively “resets” the permanent to being just like it was freshly cast. All counters, Auras, effects, and so on are removed when it is exiled. Then it comes back onto the battlefield like new.