<p><strong>Yes.</strong></p>

<p>Undying is a triggered ability, not a replacement effect. That means Undying creatures still "die" -- meaning that the card is placed into the graveyard from the battlefield. <em>Then</em> its Undying ability goes on the stack. You can activate Thraben Heretic in response to exile the creature card from the graveyard. The Undying ability do nothing when in resolves because the card it's supposed to fetch back to the battlefield is no longer in the graveyard.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-09T21:34:56.377Z
Similarly, Nihil Spellbomb and other cards that move cards from the graveyard to other zones will ruin Undying's day.
Ian Pugsley
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-09T23:40:14.647Z
And then you recur the Spellbomb with Sun Titan and keep drawing cards off of it while your opponent cries a little bit. This is basically the reason I play toolsy control decks stuffed to the gills with one-ofs.
Alex P
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-16T02:14:58.753Z
It doesn't fizzle (get countered) since it doesn't target. It resolves and does nothing.
ikegami
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-09T21:29:11.637Z
2012-10-16T13:43:09.103Z
2012-10-16T13:43:09.103Z
Alex P
<p><a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Thraben%20Heretic">Thraben Heretic</a> says:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>{T}: Exile target creature card from a graveyard.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Undying says:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Undying (When this creature dies, if it had no +1/+1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control with a +1/+1 counter on it.)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>So, when a creature with Undying dies, can I use Thraben Heretic to exile that creature from the graveyard before Undying resolves?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-10T16:57:40.420Z
Wow, didn't even think of doing this. Good question!
adamjford
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-10T20:10:18.597Z
@adamjford Mark Rosewater loves balance, I'm sure he got this printed to counter act undying
DForck42
<magic-the-gathering>
Can Thraben Heretic be used on creatures with undying?
DForck42
# Can Thraben Heretic be used on creatures with undying?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-02-09)

[Thraben Heretic](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Thraben%20Heretic) says:

> {T}: Exile target creature card from a graveyard.

Undying says:

> Undying (When this creature dies, if it had no +1/+1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control with a +1/+1 counter on it.)

So, when a creature with Undying dies, can I use Thraben Heretic to exile that creature from the graveyard before Undying resolves?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Wow, didn't even think of doing this. Good question!  
> **username_0**: @username_1 Mark Rosewater loves balance, I'm sure he got this printed to counter act undying  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2012-02-09. Score: 13 | Accepted answer

**Yes.**

Undying is a triggered ability, not a replacement effect. That means Undying creatures still "die" -- meaning that the card is placed into the graveyard from the battlefield. *Then* its Undying ability goes on the stack. You can activate Thraben Heretic in response to exile the creature card from the graveyard. The Undying ability do nothing when in resolves because the card it's supposed to fetch back to the battlefield is no longer in the graveyard.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Similarly, Nihil Spellbomb and other cards that move cards from the graveyard to other zones will ruin Undying's day.  
> **username_2**: And then you recur the Spellbomb with Sun Titan and keep drawing cards off of it while your opponent cries a little bit. This is basically the reason I play toolsy control decks stuffed to the gills with one-ofs.  
> **username_4**: It doesn't fizzle (get countered) since it doesn't target. It resolves and does nothing.  

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