Brittle Effigy — ruling 1

Brittle Effigy is exiled as a cost to activate its ability, not as part of its effect. If the targeted creature is an illegal target by the time the ability would resolve, the ability doesn’t resolve, but Brittle Effigy remains exiled.

Brittle Effigy : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Brittle Effigy is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

, , Exile this artifact: Exile target creature.

How it works : Brittle Effigy

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1August 15, 2010· Wizards of the Coast
Brittle Effigy is exiled as a cost to activate its ability, not as part of its effect. If the targeted creature is an illegal target by the time the ability would resolve, the ability doesn’t resolve, but Brittle Effigy remains exiled.
No other card is named in this ruling.