If I have a sprite that dies at the start of my turn due to Temporary, does Zhonya's Hourglass proc and save that sprite? If so, will the sprite still have the keyword Temporary?

Question

Accepted Answer

A replacement effect like Zhonya's Hourglass can stop the Temporary death only if that replacement effect is active in the correct zone at the moment the Temporary-triggered kill would occur. If the replacement effect successfully replaces the kill and heals/recalls the unit, the permanent retains the Temporary characteristic and so will be subject to Temporary again on its controller’s next Beginning Phase.

If a replacement effect that can replace the unit’s death is active in the zone where it needs to be when the Temporary kill would happen, that replacement effect can apply and save the sprite by replacing the kill event [370.3]. If the replacement effect instead is not active in the required zone (for example, it’s printed on an Equipment whose printed text is inactive because the Equipment is attached), it cannot replace that death [FAQ:unleashed#14]. When the replacement effect does save the unit (heals, exhausts, recalls it), the permanent still has the Temporary keyword as a characteristic, so it will trigger again at the start of its controller’s next Beginning Phase unless that Temporary is removed by some other effect [816.1.b] [816.3].

The Beginning Phase of the sprite’s controller starts; Temporary’s Trigger Condition occurs (Temporary is a triggered ability that triggers at the start of the controller’s Beginning Phase) [816.1.b]. That trigger will create an event/instruction to kill the permanent (kill this). Before the kill is finalized, check for Replacement Effects that can replace that kill. A Replacement Effect will apply only if it is active in the zone where it must be evaluated before the event occurs [370.3]. If Zhonya's Hourglass (or another replacement source) has its replacement effect active in the correct zone at that moment, it may replace the kill event (for example, by being killed instead and healing/exhausting/recalling the unit) and so the sprite is not killed [370.3]. If the replacement effect is not active in the correct zone (for example, the hourglass’ printed text is inactive because it is Attached and thus can’t apply) then it cannot replace the Temporary kill and the sprite dies as usual [FAQ:unleashed#14]. If the replacement effect saved the unit by healing and recalling it, the permanent still has the Temporary characteristic, because Temporary is a characteristic of the permanent and is not removed simply by replacing its death; so it will trigger again on its controller’s next Beginning Phase unless another effect removes Temporary first [816.3] [816.1.b].

If multiple Replacement Effects could apply, the normal rules for choosing and applying Replacement Effects govern which one actually replaces the event; the replacement that is applied must be active in the appropriate zone at the right time [370.3]. If the replacement effect itself would rely on an object entering a zone (e.g., an effect in trash that would be banished to replace the death), timing/order matters and the effect may not be available if it is not already in the correct zone before the kill event resolves [370.3]. If the potential replacer is an Equipment that is Attached to the unit, bear in mind attached printed text is inactive per the official clarification — that can prevent the equipment’s printed replacement effect from being available to replace the death unless that replacement effect is granted by another source or otherwise active [FAQ:unleashed#14]. Multiple instances of Temporary are redundant; even if the unit somehow has more than one instance, it only triggers once at the start of the Beginning Phase [816.2].

Temporary is a triggered ability that causes the permanent to be killed “At the start of this permanent’s controller’s Beginning Phase” [816.1.b]. That kill is an event which can be replaced by Replacement Effects, but a Replacement Effect can only be applied if it is active in the zone where it must be evaluated before the event occurs [370.3]. The rules examples and FAQs make two important points relevant to your question. First, if a replacement effect like the common Zhonya’s-style effect (“if a unit you control would die, kill this instead; then heal/exhaust/recall that unit”) is available and active in the correct zone at the time Temporary’s kill would occur, it can replace that kill and thus save the unit [370.3]. Second, equipment’s printed rules text is made inactive while that equipment is Attached, per the official clarification; that can prevent an attached Equipment’s printed replacement effect from being available to replace the death caused by Temporary [FAQ:unleashed#14].

If the replacement effect successfully replaces the Temporary kill and results in the unit being healed/exhausted/recalled (i.e., the unit was not killed), the unit still retains the Temporary characteristic because Temporary is a characteristic of the permanent and is not removed by being healed or recalled unless another effect specifically removes it [816.3]. Therefore the Temporary trigger will occur again at the start of that permanent’s controller’s next Beginning Phase and will attempt to kill the permanent again then [816.1.b].

Because the exact card text for Zhonya's Hourglass was not provided, the most defensible ruling is: Yes, a Zhonya-style replacement effect can save a sprite from its Temporary death, but only if that replacement effect is active in the correct zone at the time the Temporary kill would occur [370.3]. If Zhonya's Hourglass is an Attached Equipment whose printed replacement text is therefore inactive, it will not be able to replace the Temporary kill [FAQ:unleashed#14]. In either case, if the unit is saved, it keeps the Temporary keyword and will be subject to Temporary again next turn [816.1.b] [816.3].