Short answer first, then the reasoning — that is how rules questions deserve to be answered, in plain English and from real card text. The ...
Short answer first, then the reasoning — that is how rules questions deserve to be answered, in plain English and from real card text.
The short answer
When a permanent phases out, it is treated as though it does not exist — it cannot be targeted, its abilities do not function, and it does not trigger anything by leaving, because phasing is not a zone change at all. The permanent never left the battlefield; it simply stops being visible to the game until it phases back in, which normally happens automatically at the start of its controller's untap step, before lands untap. Because nothing left or entered, phasing dodges almost everything removal-shaped: exile effects, destroy effects, and sacrifice effects all fail to find a phased-out permanent. The differences that matter most: a phased-out commander has not changed zones, tokens that phase out do come back (unlike tokens that are actually exiled and cease to exist), and Auras or Equipment attached to a permanent that phases out phase out with it, indirectly, and return attached the same way.
A real card, for reference
Teferi, Time Raveler (mana cost {1}{W}{U}; Legendary Planeswalker — Teferi; rarity: mythic; most recent printing listed by Scryfall: Ravnica Remastered):
Each opponent can cast spells only any time they could cast a sorcery.
+1: Until your next turn, you may cast sorcery spells as though they had flash.
−3: Return up to one target artifact, creature, or enchantment to its owner's hand. Draw a card.
Keep the reference card's wording in mind when you apply the explanation above — in Magic, the exact printed text of the cards involved always outranks any general summary, including this one. When a table disagrees, read the cards aloud, apply the explanation step by step, and you will reach the right answer almost every time.
Build and check your list with the MTGBrew Learn guides, and browse every card mentioned here in the MTGBrew card database on MTGBrew.
If this topic is on your bench, keep going with Precon Upgrade Guide: Ulalek, Fused Atrocity — What to Cut, What to Add, by Role — it covers the neighbouring decisions from a different angle, and the two pieces together give you a fuller picture than either one alone.
Keep reading
Keep reading: Precon Upgrade Guide: Ulalek, Fused Atrocity — What to Cut, What to Add, by Role and Worldly Tutor in Commander: What It Does and Which Decks Want It.
Keep building on it
Ask what the deck looks like when it is merely fine. A resilient build still develops its board, still draws extra cards, and still threatens something through an average opening hand. The spectacular draws take care of themselves; spend your card choices making the average draw functional, because you will see far more average draws than perfect ones.
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