Phasing

[(nameless one)]

Can anyone explain to me how exactly does phasing work? When does the creature phase out and when does the creature phase in?

Thanks.

[Malchar]

Here's this for reference: http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Art...?x=magic/rules

To answer your question simply, phasing occurs during the untap step, before things are untapped. Phasing in and out both occur simultaneously.

702.23. Phasing

702.23a Phasing is a static ability that modifies the rules of the untap step. During each player’s untap step, before the active player untaps his or her permanents, all phased-in permanents with phasing that player controls “phase out.” Simultaneously, all phased-out permanents that had phased out under that player’s control “phase in.”

702.23b If a permanent phases out, its status changes to “phased out.” Except for rules and effects that specifically mention phased-out permanents, a phased-out permanent is treated as though it does not exist. It can’t affect or be affected by anything else in the game.
Example: You control three creatures, one of which is phased out. You cast a spell that says “Draw a card for each creature you control.” You draw two cards.
Example: You control a phased-out creature. You cast Wrath of God, which says “Destroy all creatures. They can’t be regenerated.” The phased-out creature is not destroyed.

702.23c If a permanent phases in, its status changes to “phased in.” The game once again treats it as though it exists.

702.23d The phasing event doesn’t actually cause a permanent to change zones or control, even though it’s treated as though it’s not on the battlefield and not under its controller’s control while it’s phased out. Zone-change triggers don’t trigger when a permanent phases in or out. Counters remain on a permanent while it’s phased out. Effects that check a phased-in permanent’s history won’t treat the phasing event as having caused the permanent to leave or enter the battlefield or its controller’s control.

702.23e Continuous effects that affect a phased-out permanent may expire while that permanent is phased out. If so, they will no longer affect that permanent once it’s phased in. In particular, effects with “for as long as” durations that track that permanent (see rule 611.2b) end when that permanent phases out because they can no longer see it.

702.23f When a permanent phases out, any Auras, Equipment, or Fortifications attached to that permanent phase out at the same time. This alternate way of phasing out is known as phasing out “indirectly.” An Aura, Equipment, or Fortification that phased out indirectly won’t phase in by itself, but instead phases in along with the permanent it’s attached to.

702.23g If an object would simultaneously phase out directly and indirectly, it just phases out indirectly.

702.23h An Aura, Equipment, or Fortification that phased out directly will phase in attached to the object or player it was attached to when it phased out, if that object is still in the same zone or that player is still in the game. If not, that Aura, Equipment, or Fortification phases in unattached. State-based actions apply as appropriate. (See rules 704.5n and 704.5p.)

702.23i Phased-out permanents owned by a player who leaves the game also leave the game. This doesn’t trigger zone-change triggers. See rule 800.4.

702.23j Phased-out tokens cease to exist as a state-based action. See rule 704.5d.

702.23k If an effect causes a player to skip his or her untap step, the phasing event simply doesn’t occur that turn.

702.23m Multiple instances of phasing on the same permanent are redundant.