<p><strong>You do keep the creature, but not because of Mystic Reflection.</strong></p>
<p>Whenever an object changes zones, it becomes a completely new object, with no memory of its previous existence (other than some exceptions that don't apply here). In this case, Ghostly Flicker moves the creature to exile then back to the battlefield. Once that happens, it is no longer &quot;the creature that was taken by Zealous Conscripts&quot; and it is instead &quot;a new creature that entered the battlefield under your control&quot;. So, there is no previous controller for it to return to. You just control it.</p>
<p>Mystic Reflection doesn't matter here because changing an object's characteristics doesn't change which object it is, and that is the thing that matters for an effect like on Zealous Conscripts. In fact, if you used an effect like <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=True%20Polymorph">True Polymorph</a> to turn the creature into a Blightsteel Colossus without it leaving the battlefield, it would still return to the opponent's control at the end of the turn.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-12T13:40:20.060Z
Ah, ok, I'd wondered about that as well.  Thank you for your help!
Tavian
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-15T22:27:05.637Z
@Tavian Consider clicking "Accept answer" if this answer helped you sufficiently and was the best (of 1 in this case).
joedragons
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-12T02:32:04.213Z
2022-08-12T02:32:04.213Z
murgatroid99
<p>Ok so let's say you've stolen a creature from an opponent with <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Zealous%20Conscripts">Zealous Conscripts</a>.  You then play <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Mystic%20Reflection">Mystic Reflection</a> and then flicker it with <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ghostly%20Flicker">Ghostly Flicker</a>, which puts it back onto the battlefield under your control, and transformed into a <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Blightsteel%20Colossus">Blightsteel Colossus</a>.  Since it is no longer the Target creature from Zealous Conscripts, would it still return to its opponent's control?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-12T02:33:03.317Z
I want to note that "transform" has a specific meaning in Magic: it refers to changing which face is currently up on a transforming double-faced card.
murgatroid99
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-12T13:39:54.763Z
Ah ok thanks, sorry. Still relatively new to the game and haven't gotten all of the terminology down just yet
Tavian
<magic-the-gathering>
Does transforming a card thats been temporarily stolen remove its target status from it?
Tavian
# Does transforming a card thats been temporarily stolen remove its target status from it?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-08-12)

Ok so let's say you've stolen a creature from an opponent with [Zealous Conscripts](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Zealous%20Conscripts). You then play [Mystic Reflection](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Mystic%20Reflection) and then flicker it with [Ghostly Flicker](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ghostly%20Flicker), which puts it back onto the battlefield under your control, and transformed into a [Blightsteel Colossus](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Blightsteel%20Colossus). Since it is no longer the Target creature from Zealous Conscripts, would it still return to its opponent's control?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I want to note that "transform" has a specific meaning in Magic: it refers to changing which face is currently up on a transforming double-faced card.  
> **username_0**: Ah ok thanks, sorry. Still relatively new to the game and haven't gotten all of the terminology down just yet  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-08-12. Score: 8

**You do keep the creature, but not because of Mystic Reflection.**

Whenever an object changes zones, it becomes a completely new object, with no memory of its previous existence (other than some exceptions that don't apply here). In this case, Ghostly Flicker moves the creature to exile then back to the battlefield. Once that happens, it is no longer "the creature that was taken by Zealous Conscripts" and it is instead "a new creature that entered the battlefield under your control". So, there is no previous controller for it to return to. You just control it.

Mystic Reflection doesn't matter here because changing an object's characteristics doesn't change which object it is, and that is the thing that matters for an effect like on Zealous Conscripts. In fact, if you used an effect like [True Polymorph](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=True%20Polymorph) to turn the creature into a Blightsteel Colossus without it leaving the battlefield, it would still return to the opponent's control at the end of the turn.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Ah, ok, I'd wondered about that as well.  Thank you for your help!  
> **username_2**: @username_0 Consider clicking "Accept answer" if this answer helped you sufficiently and was the best (of 1 in this case).  

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