<p>If you counter a spell cast for its Flashback cost from the graveyard, it gets exiled. The rule that covers flashback is <a href="http://mtgsalvation.gamepedia.com/Flashback" rel="noreferrer">702.33a</a>, and it says</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Flashback appears on some instants and sorceries. It represents two static abilities: one that functions while the card is in a player's graveyard and the other that functions while the card is on the stack. &quot;Flashback [cost]&quot; means &quot;You may cast this card from your graveyard by paying [cost] rather than paying its mana cost&quot; and <strong>&quot;If the flashback cost was paid, exile this card instead of putting it anywhere else any time it would leave the stack.&quot;</strong> Casting a spell using its flashback ability follows the rules for paying alternative costs in rules 601.2b and 601.2e-g.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Countering a spell normally sends it to the graveyard (or, in some cases, exile, its owner's hand, or their library), but the flashback ability makes it go to exile instead.</p>
<p>It's worth noting that if a counterspell says to exile the spell it's countering (like <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Spelljack">Spelljack</a>, for example), and then does something with it after it's exiled, that still happens. That's because if the spell is getting exiled anyway, the flashback ability doesn't change anything.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-17T01:00:31.877Z
Maybe mention the interaction with Spelljack and Kheru Spellsnatcher?
Hao Ye
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-17T02:18:37.853Z
I added that to my answer.
murgatroid99
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-07T05:59:02.803Z
Your link to Spelljack is broken
Pedro A
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-07T09:24:22.170Z
All of the autocard links are broken. They will be fixed in a [mass cleanup](https://boardgames.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/2068/mass-fix-broken-links-from-old-usages-of-autocard-functionality) some time this month.
murgatroid99
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-17T00:58:15.887Z
2014-11-17T02:18:07.913Z
2014-11-17T02:18:07.913Z
murgatroid99
<p>If I flashback <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Past%20in%20Flames">Past in Flames</a> and it is countered by <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Cancel">Cancel</a>, is it exiled or put back into my graveyard?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-17T00:58:51.850Z
On this site, you can use the syntax `[mtg:Card Name]` to link directly to a card.
murgatroid99
<magic-the-gathering>
Is a countered flashback spell exiled?
BolasStone
# Is a countered flashback spell exiled?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-11-17)

If I flashback [Past in Flames](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Past%20in%20Flames) and it is countered by [Cancel](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Cancel), is it exiled or put back into my graveyard?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: On this site, you can use the syntax `[mtg:Card Name]` to link directly to a card.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-11-17. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

If you counter a spell cast for its Flashback cost from the graveyard, it gets exiled. The rule that covers flashback is [702.33a](http://mtgsalvation.gamepedia.com/Flashback), and it says

> Flashback appears on some instants and sorceries. It represents two static abilities: one that functions while the card is in a player's graveyard and the other that functions while the card is on the stack. "Flashback [cost]" means "You may cast this card from your graveyard by paying [cost] rather than paying its mana cost" and **"If the flashback cost was paid, exile this card instead of putting it anywhere else any time it would leave the stack."** Casting a spell using its flashback ability follows the rules for paying alternative costs in rules 601.2b and 601.2e-g.

Countering a spell normally sends it to the graveyard (or, in some cases, exile, its owner's hand, or their library), but the flashback ability makes it go to exile instead.

It's worth noting that if a counterspell says to exile the spell it's countering (like [Spelljack](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Spelljack), for example), and then does something with it after it's exiled, that still happens. That's because if the spell is getting exiled anyway, the flashback ability doesn't change anything.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Maybe mention the interaction with Spelljack and Kheru Spellsnatcher?  
> **username_1**: I added that to my answer.  
> **username_3**: Your link to Spelljack is broken  
> **username_1**: All of the autocard links are broken. They will be fixed in a [mass cleanup](https://boardgames.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/2068/mass-fix-broken-links-from-old-usages-of-autocard-functionality) some time this month.  

---

