The City on the Edge of ForeverHow it works & interactions with other cards

A World Frozen in Time

When the first lore counter is placed on The City on the Edge of Forever, every artifact and creature currently on the battlefield phases out. Phased-out permanents are treated as though they do not exist, meaning they cannot be targeted, destroyed, or interact with the game in any way. Crucially, the Saga creates a 0/1 white Human token with a static ability that prevents permanents from phasing in. As long as this token remains on the battlefield, the creatures and artifacts that phased out are stuck in limbo.

Resolution Step-by-Step

The Saga proceeds through three distinct chapters. In Chapter I, the mass phase-out occurs simultaneously, followed by the creation of the Human token. In Chapter II, you replenish your hand by drawing two cards, while putting pressure on life totals as every player loses 2 life. Finally, in Chapter III, you must sacrifice a creature token to gain 5 life. If you sacrifice the specific Human token created in Chapter I, the restriction on phasing in is lifted, and permanents will phase in during their controllers' next untap steps.

Common Mistakes

One common error is forgetting that phasing out does not trigger 'leaves the battlefield' abilities, nor does phasing in trigger 'enters the battlefield' abilities. Another mistake involves the timing of the Human token's death. If the Human token is destroyed by an opponent before your Chapter III trigger, your opponents' permanents will phase back in during their very next untap step, potentially leaving you vulnerable. Also, remember that the Saga only phases out artifacts and creatures; other permanents like lands or enchantments remain unaffected.

Strategic Timing

This card is best used when your opponent has a dominant board presence of creatures or artifacts that you cannot easily answer. By stalling the game, you give yourself two turns of card advantage and life drain. To maximize the effect, ensure you have a way to protect the Human token until you are ready for the board to return, or use the Chapter III sacrifice to precisely time the return of your own phased-out assets.

Interaction examples

Doubling the Guard

Anointed Procession

If you control Anointed Procession when Chapter I resolves, you will create two 0/1 white Human tokens instead of one. This provides a safety net; if your opponent destroys one token, the other still prevents permanents from phasing in, keeping the board locked down until you choose to sacrifice one during Chapter III or an opponent removes the second token.

Taxing a Frozen Board

Smothering Tithe

When Chapter I resolves, Smothering Tithe remains on the battlefield because it is an enchantment, not a creature or artifact. However, any Treasure tokens you previously created will phase out. When Chapter II resolves and you draw two cards, Smothering Tithe will still trigger if your opponents draw cards on their turns, allowing you to create new Treasure tokens while their previous resources remain phased out and unusable.

Ending the Stasis

Human

During Chapter III, you must sacrifice a creature token. If you sacrifice the Human token created in Chapter I, its ability 'Permanents can't phase in' immediately ceases to exist. On the next untap step of each player, their phased-out creatures and artifacts will return to the game simultaneously. If you have other tokens, such as a Treasure from Smothering Tithe, you could sacrifice that instead to keep the Human alive and the board frozen.