A "death trigger" is an ability that uses the phrase "when [this creature] dies" — and dying is defined very specifically in the rules. According to CR 700.4, a permanent "dies" when it is put into the graveyard from the battlefield. Moving to exile is an entirely different zone transition and does not satisfy this definition.
A flicker effect (such as Cloudshift or Momentary Blink) exiles the creature and then returns it to the battlefield. The creature moves from the battlefield to the exile zone — not to the graveyard — so no death trigger is satisfied. CR 400.1 lists the zones of the game, and each zone transition is evaluated independently and precisely.
It is also worth noting that when a flickered creature returns to the battlefield, it is treated as a brand-new object with no memory of its previous existence (CR 400.7). So even if the returning creature had a death trigger, that trigger never fired during the exile-and-return process.
Concrete example: You control a Blood Artist and a Ravenous Rats. An opponent targets Ravenous Rats with a flicker effect. Blood Artist's triggered ability says "whenever another creature dies" — because Ravenous Rats moved to exile (not the graveyard), Blood Artist does NOT trigger and no life is lost or gained.
In summary: exile ≠ dying. Only a trip to the graveyard from the battlefield counts as death for the purposes of "dies" triggers (CR 700.4).
Unofficial fan resource — not affiliated with or endorsed by Wizards of the Coast. Answers are AI-generated estimates grounded in the Comprehensive Rules and are not a substitute for an official judge. Verify anything match-critical.