Do Flicker Effects Untap?
When it comes to flicker effects in the world of Magic: The Gathering, untapping is an important consideration. But does flickering a permanent untap it, or does it remain tapped?
Answer: Yes, flicker effects untap.
A flicker effect is a type of Magic card ability that removes all abilities from a permanent, then returns it to its owner’s hand. When a permanent is flickered, it effectively ceases to exist on the battlefield, only to be returned to its original state a moment later. Permanents always enter the battlefield untapped, unless an effect specifically says they don’t.
This means that even when a permanent is flickered, it retains its original untapped state upon being returned to the battlefield. Whether a creature, artifact, or enchantment, a flickered permanent is brought back to its untapped state.
Example Cards:
- Flickering Witch: This creature ability states "Creatures you control lose all abilities and are untapped."
- Ghostly Flicker: This spell removes all abilities from a permanent and exiles it, only to return it to the battlefield untapped upon resolving.
Why Untaping Matters:
Untapping matters because it can greatly impact game play. In many cases, players want to avoid untapping certain permanents, especially those with complex abilities or multiple triggers. For instance, if a player has an ability that triggers when a creature taps, flickering that creature could bypass the trigger, potentially saving the player a life or resource.
Additionally, untapping can affect tempo and timing in the game. For example, if a player uses a flicker effect to untap a crucial artifact, they may gain the advantage in the game.
But Wait, What About Flicker Vertigo?
Before we proceed, it’s important to distinguish between flicker effects in Magic and flicker vertigo, a phenomenon known to cause dizziness and nausea. While flicker effects are all about magic, flicker vertigo is a real-world issue resulting from excessive flashing or flickering light. In short, do not confuse the two!
In-Depth Examples:
To illustrate the importance of untapping, let’s dive into a few examples:
Flickering Creatures
- If you have a creature with an ability that triggers when it taps (e.g., Llanowar Elves), flickering the creature with an ability like Ghostly Flicker would prevent the ability from triggering. Upon resolving the flicker, the creature would be returned to the battlefield untapped, allowing you to reactivate the ability.
- On the other hand, if you have a creature with no abilities, flickering it with a similar effect would simply return it to its original untapped state.
Flickering Artifacts
- Everflowing Chalice: If you have this artifact on the battlefield, you can use an effect like Ghostly Flicker to remove its abilities and untap it. This can lead to unexpected advantages, especially if the opponent has a dependent card in play.
- Atronal Quiet: If your opponent has this artifact on the battlefield and you flicker it with a card like Ghostly Flicker, you’ll remove the opponent’s ability to activate it and effectively untap the artifact upon resolution.
Flickering Enchantments
- Swords to Plowshares: When an opponent has an enchantment that triggers when it’s removed from the game (e.g., Festival of the White Crow), flickering it with Ghostly Flicker would effectively undo the enchantment’s removal trigger and untap the enchantment.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, when flickering a permanent, the result is typically the permanent retaining its original untapped state upon being returned to the battlefield. Untapping matters, especially in the world of Magic: The Gathering, where complex abilities and triggers play a significant role in game play.
So the next time you’re deciding on a flicker effect, remember the importance of untapping and the implications it can have on your game play strategy!