Icefall Regent and flicker effects.
Asked by Dalektable 8 years ago
I run a standard deck with Eldrazi Displacer and Icefall Regent, allowing me to effectively tap down their board state, at least I was under that impression. Someone told me it wouldn't work that way, because when Icefall Regent leaves the battlefield the original target is released.
Dalektable says... #2
TheRedMage Thanks man! That clears things up, I wasn't aware of that rules interaction it hadn't come up for me before which is a change. The explanation on it technically being considered a different permanent really helped. I appreciate it!
January 24, 2016 8:07 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #3
It's important to note also that if you blink Icefall Regent in response to its ETB ability (and therefore before the frost effect is applied), then the frost effect won't ever be applied because its duration is over (you lost control of that instance of Icefall Regent) before the effect began. You'll still tap the target creature, but the effect to keep that creature tapped won't apply at all.
TheRedMage says... Accepted answer #1
They are correct. When Icefall Regent leaves the battlefield and comes back, it becomes a new object and loses all memory of what it was before, which is what happens to any object after it changes zones.
As such, let's say your opponent controls an Alpine Grizzly that has been Icefall-locked and Expedition Envoy. If you blink your Icefall Regent and lock Expedition Envoy, the Icefall Regent that was locking down Alpine Grizzly doesn't exist anymore, so the bear is going to untap during your opponent's untap step.
Basically when Icefall Regent re-enters the battlefield, it's a different permanent, albeit one that is represented by the same card, if that makes sense.
January 24, 2016 8:04 p.m. Edited.