A spell does not go to the graveyard until it has fully resolved. A spell going to the graveyard is the absolute last thing to happen when it resolves. You do everything on the card, in order, and then put it into the bin (or try to, in this case). With the Militant, whether or not the removal is exiled depends on what sort of removal it is.
Traditional ‘that dies now’ stuff like Murder or Barter in Blood will end up in the graveyard, because they actually kill the Militant while they’re resolving. By the time they go to the graveyard, Militant is dead, and her effect is not working at that moment. This is true for anything that says “destroy,” “exile,” “sacrifice,” or “return to owner’s hand or top/bottom of library.”
Burn spells (those that deal damage), however, DO get exiled. The reason for that is that State-Based Actions, the janitors of the game, only come around for a checkup immediately before priority is given to anyone. They can’t check on anything in the middle of a spell resolving, so the Militant is marked with lethal damage, but is not dead just yet when the Electrickery resolves. So, when it finishes resolving it ends up exiled, and THEN the Militant dies right after that.
Today’s Rules Tip written by
Trevor Nuñez