The Battlefield

Displacer Kitten
Eternal Witness
Lotus Petal
Snap
AI DraftFeb 26, 2026

Displacer Kitten + Eternal Witness + Lotus Petal + Snap

Overview
If you cast Snap (a noncreature spell) while you control Displacer Kitten and Eternal Witness, Displacer Kitten's triggered ability can exile and return Eternal Witness in response to Snap. When the Witness is exiled and returned it is a new object with no connection to the original one, so Snap (which targeted the original object when cast) will no longer be able to return that new Witness to hand when Snap resolves. The returned Witness will have a new enter-the-battlefield trigger. Ruling [2022-06-10]
Step 1
You pay Snap's costs (for example, tapping and sacrificing Lotus Petal for mana as part of paying costs) and cast Snap, choosing target Eternal Witness on the battlefield.
Step 2
Casting Snap (a noncreature spell) causes Displacer Kitten's avoidance triggered ability to trigger and go on the stack ("Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, exile up to one target nonland permanent you control, then return that card to the battlefield...").
Step 3
While Snap is still on the stack and before it resolves, let Displacer Kitten's triggered ability resolve and target Eternal Witness.
Step 4
When the triggered ability resolves it exiles the chosen Eternal Witness and then returns that card to the battlefield. When it returns it is a new object with no connection to the exiled object. Ruling [2022-06-10]
Step 5
Because the returned Eternal Witness is a new object entering the battlefield, its enter-the-battlefield (ETB) ability triggers when it enters.
Step 6
Later, when Snap resolves, it attempts to return the creature it targeted when it was cast. That target was the original Eternal Witness object that was exiled and is no longer the same object, so the target is no longer valid and Snap will not return the new Eternal Witness to hand.
Step 7
The new Eternal Witness's ETB trigger (from step 5) can resolve and return a card from your graveyard to your hand as normal.
Resolution
If you cast Snap targeting Eternal Witness and you let Displacer Kitten's trigger exile and return Eternal Witness before Snap resolves, the returned Eternal Witness is a new object and Snap's original target is no longer the same object, so Snap will not return that new Witness to hand. The returned Witness's ETB ability will trigger when it enters. Ruling [2022-06-10]
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