Lingering Phantom 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
Whenever you cast a historic spell, you may pay. If you do, return this card from your graveyard to your hand. (Artifacts, legendaries, and Sagas are historic.)
Complete guide
Lingering Phantom is a resilient Spirit that demonstrates just how difficult it is to keep a ghost down. By leaning into the historic theme, you can repeatedly pull this creature back from your graveyard to maintain card advantage and pressure. This guide will walk you through the nuances of historic triggers and how to maximize this card's recursion.
Defining Historic Spells
Lingering Phantom triggers whenever you cast a historic spell. A spell is considered historic if it has the Legendary supertype, the Artifact type, or the Saga subtype. It is important to remember that even if a spell fulfills multiple criteria—such as a Legendary Artifact—it still counts as only one historic event. Crucially, playing a legendary land like a Saga land does not trigger this ability because lands are played, not cast.
Resolution Step-by-Step
The ability triggers the moment you finish casting a historic spell, meaning it is placed on the stack above that spell. First, the trigger goes on the stack while Lingering Phantom is in your graveyard. Next, players have a chance to respond. Finally, as the trigger resolves, you choose whether to pay {B}. If you do, the card moves from your graveyard to your hand. Note that this happens before the historic spell itself resolves and even if the original spell is countered.
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake is trying to trigger the Phantom by putting a historic card directly onto the battlefield. Effects that 'put' a card into play do not count as casting. Additionally, Lingering Phantom must already be in the graveyard at the time you cast the historic spell; you cannot discard it to pay for the spell and then immediately return it with the same spell's trigger.
Strategic Implementation
This card shines in decks that can repeatedly cast low-cost artifacts or legendary creatures. Because the return cost is only a single black mana, it allows for efficient loops. It is best used as fuel for discard costs or as a recurring threat that forces your opponent to waste removal spells.
Interaction examples
Syr Konrad, the GrimWith Syr Konrad, the Grim on the battlefield and Lingering Phantom in your graveyard, you cast a legendary spell. Because Syr Konrad is legendary, he is historic. Casting your next historic spell triggers Lingering Phantom. When you pay {B} to return the Phantom to your hand, Syr Konrad's ability triggers because a creature card left your graveyard, dealing 1 damage to each opponent.
Gray Merchant of AsphodelIf Lingering Phantom is on the battlefield, it contributes two black pips to your devotion. If it is killed, you can cast a historic spell and pay {B} to return it to your hand. You can then re-cast Lingering Phantom before playing Gray Merchant of Asphodel to ensure your devotion count remains high, maximizing the life drain effect.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Lingering Phantom
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
A card, spell, or permanent is historic if it has the legendary supertype, the artifact card type, or the Saga subtype. Having two of those qualities doesn't make an object more historic than another or provide an additional bonus—an object either is historic or it isn't.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Some abilities trigger "whenever you cast a historic spell." Such an ability resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
An ability that triggers "whenever you cast a historic spell" doesn't trigger if a historic card is put onto the battlefield without being cast.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
Lands are never cast, so abilities that trigger "whenever you cast a historic spell" won't trigger if you play a legendary land. They also won't trigger if a card on the battlefield transforms into a legendary land, as the Ixalan and Rivals of Ixalan double-faced cards do.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Lingering Phantom
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.