Phasing in MTG: Rules, History, and FAQ

Last updated on September 18, 2025

Teferi's Protection | Illustrated by Chase Stone

This article just appeared for you, so today I talk all about the mechanic known as “phasing”! Phasing is a static ability that’s been around for nearly the whole life of the world of Magic but is rarely used.

You may catch a glimpse of this peculiar keyword on recent and famous cards, and I have to say that it excites me. Why? Because I’m a fan of old-school Magic and underdog cards. And today I hope to convert you into a player that loves this ability, too.

Let’s get started!

How Does Phasing Work?

Haystack (Assassin’s Creed) | Illustrated by Xabi Gaztelua

Phasing is a sort of removal or protection of a permanent since it is temporarily treated as though it doesn't exist. When a card has phasing, it phases out at its controllers untap step, and then phases in at that player's next untap step. Well, there you go! Simple, right?

Not really. The simplest way to describe it is that a permanent is basically invisible when it phases out. It’s there, but you and your opponents can’t “see” or interact with it in any way until it phases back in. Either with a card saying that it phases back in or at the beginning of your untap step.

The untap step? That’s right, along with the actual untapping, cards phasing back in is one of the only things that happens in this step. A card with phasing, like Teferi's Imp, phases in or out at the beginning of your untap step. If it’s currently phased in, it phases out. If it’s currently phased out, it phases in. And then you untap your permanents and move on to the upkeep.

Speaking of upkeep, the phases of a turn in the game of Magic are fully not related to the mechanic. So “combat phase” and “main phase” refer to their part of a turn.

There are ways to give a permanent phasing. This usually happens with an effect, an ability, or an activation. The moment you or an opponent chooses to use one of those methods, your (or their) permanent phases out. In Rainbow Efreet‘s example you activate it's ability with to phase it out. It “unphases” at the start of your next turn before your untap step.

Now that you know the basics of phasing let’s dive into it a little deeper. Let the next phase begin!

The History of Phasing

Old Fogey (Unhinged) | Illustrated by Douglas Shuler

Phasing first appeared in the Mirage block with the release of Mirage on October 8, 1996. The mechanic was seen throughout Visions and Weatherlight. After that, it disappeared. WotC’s R&D department didn’t think that the players understood the ability well enough, so they nixed it.

And, in all fairness, the mechanic is pretty confusing. But it’s still fun in a game that thrives on weird interactions and all kinds of intricate changes to rules and various states of the game through its cards. This is why there was so much surprise that Wizards gave it a second chance on Teferi's Protection in Commander 2017.

They effectively changed phasing from a static ability to a keyword action with new reminder text. This also made the change to tokens not disappearing as a result of phasing, because it doesn’t move the affected permanents through any zones.

Phasing’s unlikely return was so surprising because of Mark Rosewater’s Storm scale. Although the scale is MaRo's personal stance on the likelihood of an ability's return to MTG, it’s widely regarded as a good measure of where WotC stands on the matter. With phasing’s return, it moved from a 9 (I never say never, but this would require a minor miracle) to an 8 (It's unlikely to return, but possible if the stars align).

The stars must’ve aligned because more cards have been introduced with phasing since Commander 2017. Technically, Oubliette, which was originally printed in 1993’s Arabian Nights, already existed. Its ability was changed to “phasing” in its Double Master’s reprint, retroactively making it the first card to feature phasing in MTG. Pretty interesting stuff, right?

Phasing Among the Colors

Ferris Wheel (Unfinity) | Illustrated by Kirsten Zirngibl

Phasing appears mostly in blue, and it has a bit of representation in other colors of the wheel, lands, and artifacts. There's a surprising amount of cards with the phasing ability in MTG.

What Can Be Affected by Phasing?

The answer is: permanents can be affected by phasing. This means:

• Artifacts
• Auras
• Battles
• Creatures
• Enchantments
• Equipment
• Lands
• Planeswalkers

How Does Phasing Work with Auras? Does it Remove Enchantments? Modifications, Fortifications or Counters?

Robe of Stars | Illustrated by Olena Richards

Phasing retains auras, equipment, modifications, and fortifications (like Darksteel Garrison). When an enchanted permanent phases in or out, any attachments stay with it. This is called “indirect phasing.”

The same is true when they phase back in. This means you (or your opponent) won’t lose them as a result of phasing.

“Why is that?” I hear you wondering. Because a phased-out permanent doesn’t change zones, it merely “stops existing” by becoming invisible until it’s phased back in again.

This is probably the most confusing and most amazing thing about phasing. It’s so counter-intuitive compared to the rest of Magic. Everything else always changes zones, which causes a bunch of things to happen to the card or cards affected by it. But not phasing.

Does Phasing Trigger ETB or LTB Effects?

No, it doesn’t. For the same reason that auras and equipment don’t fall off during phasing, ETB (enter the battlefield) and LTB (leave the battlefield) triggers don’t go off. Because the permanent didn’t change zones, nothing left or entered the battlefield.

Does Phasing Remove Counters?

No, phasing doesn’t. For the same reasons as listed above, any type of counters, poison, experience, or finality counters present on the permanent phasing in or out remains on it.

How Long is Something Phased Out in MTG?

A phased out permanent phases back in at the beginning of it's controller's untap step.

Does a Permanent Untap When it Phases Back in?

No, a permanent does not untap when it phases back in.

When Do Tapped Creatures That Phase Out Get Untapped?

An already tapped creature stays tapped until after it phases back in, which so happens to be right before the untap step. Because the effect ends at the beginning of the untap step, the permanent will untap after it's phased back in thanks to the untap step. Unless there is something explicitly preventing it from untapping, of course.

Can You Counter the Phasing Effect Somehow?

Yes, and no.

When phasing is named on the card as part of its static abilities, as with Merfolk Raiders, you can’t interact with the card has phasing just by existing. There’s nothing that happened to go on the stack and be countered.

When it’s part of a spell or an activated ability, as with Sapphire Charm or Teferi, Master of Time, you can counter that spell or activated ability with a counter like Counterspell or Stifle.

How Does Land Phasing Work? Does it Count as a Land Drop?

Lands can phase out just like any other permanent. It phases out in the state it’s in at the moment of phasing (tapped or untapped), and phases back in at the beginning of that player’s untap step.

It still doesn’t enter or leave the battlefield, though, so it doesn't count as a land drop for landfall.

Can a Permanent Have Multiple Phasing Keywords on It?

If a permanent already has phasing and gains phasing again, nothing happens. Phasing doesn’t have any other effect if you try to stack it.

What if a Phased-out Card Loses Phasing?

A phased-out card can’t lose phasing until the moment it phases back in again, with just one exception. It only affects creatures, though: Time and Tide.

What About Cards That Say “for as long as”?

Cards like Hostage TakerArchangel of Tithes or Dragonlord Silumgar that make an effect happen “for as long as” they remain in a certain state stop working when they’re being phased out. This is because they can’t “see” the card or cards they’re affecting anymore. In the case of cards like Archangel of Tithes, it’s also removed from combat when it’s phased out, effectively ending its effect.

Does Phasing Kill Tokens?

Phasing does not remove tokens. Before the release of Commander 2017 they did, but not anymore.

Because a phased-out token doesn’t change zones, it keeps existing and will phase back in with no problem. When your Batterskull gets phased out, your germ token will return and stay attached to Batterskull to boot.

Are Phased Out Permanents Affected by Summoning Sickness?

As long as they’ve experienced an upkeep before being phased out, creatures and permanents aren’t affected by summoning sickness and can use all abilities they’ve got.

How are Cards Like Banishing Light Affected by Phasing?

O-Ring cards like Banishing Light that exile a target permanent from the game underneath it keep that card exiled under them when phased out.

What Happens if You Skip Your Next Turn and a Card is Phased Out?

When you somehow have to skip your turn, you don’t have an untap step, and any phased-out permanents you control won’t phase in until the next time you have an untap step.

What Happens if I Flicker The Phasing of Zhalfir?

If I flicker The Phasing of Zhalfir after phasing out two of my opponent's permanents, those two permanents will phase back in at that opponent's next untap step. Since the flicker returns The Phasing of Zhalfir into play I do get to read ahead again if I'd like.

Phasing Combos

There are some great cards with phasing and while there aren’t many combos that involve phasing, there are a couple of interesting interactions for you to check out:

One of the best white instants ever printed, Teferi's Protection turns these into one-sided spells: Armageddon, Apocalypse, Balance, Farewell, Wrath of God, or really any board wipe that removes all permanents.

Taniwha plus Impending Disaster can destroy everyone's lands and save all of your lands.

Phase Out

Teferi, Master of Time (Core Set 2021) | Illustrated by Yongjae Choi

With that, we’ve come to the end of our phasing adventures. Hopefully, your appreciation for this wonderfully weird ability has increased a hundred-fold now that you’ve finished this journey with me!

I suggest you find a couple of the best phasing cards to see if you can implement them into any of your decks. It’ll not only make your games more interesting but will also give you a chance to introduce your friends to this cool ability as well. Now you can wow them with your deep-rooted knowledge of phasing and its history. You’ll be the toast of the tabletop for sure!

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That’s all for now. Stay safe, stay healthy, and I’ll see you at the next turn!