Flickering SpiritHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Flickering Spirit is a 2/2 Spirit with Flying and a unique defensive ability. For three generic and one white mana, you can exile the Spirit and return it immediately to the battlefield under its owner's control. While it seems simple, this process effectively resets the creature, making it a brand-new object in the eyes of the game rules.

How It Resolves Step by Step

When you activate the ability, it goes on the stack like any other activated ability. Upon resolution, Flickering Spirit is moved to the exile zone. Immediately after, it returns to the battlefield. Because it left and came back, it is no longer the same object; it loses any counters it had, any Auras or Equipment attached to it fall off, and any spells that were targeting it will fizzle (fail to resolve) because their target is gone.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

One major pitfall involves tokens. If you create a token copy of Flickering Spirit and activate its ability, that token will be exiled and never return, as tokens that leave the battlefield cannot move back to the battlefield. Additionally, remember that Flickering Spirit returns under its owner's control. If you stole this creature from an opponent and use the ability, it will return to their side of the field, not yours.

When to Play It

Use Flickering Spirit's ability in response to your opponent's removal spells like Murder or targeted abilities. It is also excellent for removing negative debuffs or resetting 'as it enters' choices. Since it returns immediately, you can even use it during combat after blockers are declared to save it from lethal damage, though it will be removed from combat in the process.

Interaction examples

Resetting Choices

Roaming Throne

If you have a Flickering Spirit that has become a Golem via another effect, and you also control Roaming Throne, you might want to change the Throne's chosen type. If Roaming Throne is flickered (via a similar effect) or if Flickering Spirit itself is reset to interact with new permanents, remember that 'as enters' choices like those on Roaming Throne are made fresh each time the creature enters the battlefield. If Flickering Spirit were to leave and return, it enters as a new object, allowing you to re-evaluate the board state.

Repeated Value

Solemn Simulacrum

While Flickering Spirit usually only blinks itself, if you have a way to grant its ability to Solemn Simulacrum, you can generate massive value. By exiling and returning the Simulacrum, you trigger its first ability to search for a basic land card again. Note that the Simulacrum's second ability triggers only when it dies, so exiling it with a flicker effect will not let you draw a card.