What is Blinking MTG?
Blinking, in Magic: The Gathering, refers to a type of ability that exiles a permanent from the battlefield, allowing it to be removed from play, and then returning it to the battlefield at a later time. This can be a powerful way to manipulate the board state and gain an advantage in the game. In this article, we’ll dive deeper into what blinking means, how it works, and some strategies for incorporating blinking into your deckbuilding.
What is the Difference between Blinking and Flickering?
Many players use the terms "blinking" and "flickering" interchangeably, but technically, there is a difference between the two. Flickering refers to a specific card, Flicker, which allows a player to exile a creature and then return it to the battlefield. Blinking, on the other hand, is a broader term that encompasses all abilities that exile and return permanents. Blinking can be done through a variety of cards, such as Spectral Shift or Pacification.
Types of Blinking
There are several types of blinking in Magic: The Gathering, including:
• Simple Blinking: This is the most common type of blinking, where a player exiles a permanent and then returns it to the battlefield. Examples of simple blinking include Spectral Shift and Pacification.
• Phasing: Phasing is a type of blinking that allows a player to exile a permanent and then return it to the battlefield at a specific time, such as at the beginning of their next turn. Examples of phasing include Phase Blinds and Spiral Rift.
• Blinking to the Graveyard: Some cards allow a player to exile a permanent and then return it to their graveyard, rather than the battlefield. Examples of this type of blinking include Venser’s Sliver and Mindclaw Shaman.
Benefits of Blinking
Blinking can be a powerful tool in a Magic: The Gathering deck, offering several benefits, including:
• Removing Opponents’ Creatures: Blinking can be used to remove an opponent’s creatures from the battlefield, allowing you to gain an advantage in the game.
• Protecting Your Creatures: Blinking can also be used to protect your own creatures from an opponent’s removal spells, by exiling them and then returning them to the battlefield.
• Disrupting Opponents’ Plans: Blinking can disrupt an opponent’s plans by exiling their creatures or spells, making it difficult for them to achieve their goals.
• Gaining Tempo: Blinking can give you an advantage in terms of tempo, allowing you to make more decisions and take more actions on your turn.
Decks that Benefit from Blinking
Blinking is particularly effective in decks that rely on planeswalkers, artifacts, or enchantments, as these permanents are more susceptible to removal. Some example decks that benefit from blinking include:
• Token Deck: A token deck can use blinking to create more tokens and swarm the opponent’s board.
• Planewalker Deck: A planeswalker deck can use blinking to protect its planeswalkers and make them more difficult to remove.
• Artifact Deck: An artifact deck can use blinking to protect its artifacts and make them more difficult to remove.
• Enchantment Deck: An enchantment deck can use blinking to protect its enchantments and make them more difficult to remove.
Tips for Building a Blinking Deck
When building a blinking deck, consider the following tips:
• Choose Cards Wisely: Choose cards that provide a clear benefit when blinked, such as creating tokens or gaining life.
• Include Removal Spells: Include removal spells that can help remove opponents’ permanents, making it easier to blink your own permanents.
• Protect Your Blinking Targets: Include cards that can protect your blinking targets from removal, such as Path to Exile or Unsummon.
• Blink to the Graveyard: Consider blinking to the graveyard rather than the battlefield, to remove opponents’ permanents permanently.
• Disrupt Opponents’ Plans: Use blinking to disrupt opponents’ plans by exiling their creatures or spells, making it difficult for them to achieve their goals.
In conclusion, blinking is a powerful ability in Magic: The Gathering that can be used to gain an advantage in the game. By understanding the different types of blinking, benefits, and decks that benefit from blinking, you can incorporate this ability into your own deckbuilding and become a more formidable opponent.