Dampening Pulse MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Released | 2015-10-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Battle for Zendikar |
| Set code | BFZ |
| Number | 75 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Johann Bodin |
Text of card
Creatures your opponents control get -1/-0.
"Quiet now, you dreadful vermin." —Noyan Dar, Tazeem roilmage
Cards like Dampening Pulse
Dampening Pulse makes its mark in Magic: The Gathering as a tactical enchantment designed to weaken your opponent’s creatures. When stacked up against other cards with similar debuffing abilities, Dampening Pulse’s consistent -1/-0 effect across all enemy creatures makes it a noteworthy tool for defensive strategies. Comparable to it is Cumber Stone, which also diminishes the power of opposing creatures. Nonetheless, Cumber Stone reduces both power and toughness, offering a more aggressive approach to creature control.
Glaring Spotlight is another card that works well in tandem with Dampening Pulse, focusing more on removing hexproof and making creatures vulnerable to spells and abilities. This combination enhances board control significantly. On the utility spectrum, there’s also Meekstone, targeting creatures with power greater than 2, making it a selective yet effective control piece, particularly against decks with large attackers, but it does not affect the entire field like Dampening Pulse does.
While each card comes with its unique benefits, Dampening Pulse stands out in multi-creature scenarios, providing a consistent level of suppression that makes it valuable for players wanting to maintain the upper hand in creature-heavy matches within Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Dampening Pulse by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: When dealing with Dampening Pulse, you won’t directly draw cards, but the ability to weaken every opponent’s creature provides an indirect form of advantage. It means your creatures are likely to survive combat more often, allowing you to keep your resources on the board and maintain pressure without losing card equity.
Resource Acceleration: Although Dampening Pulse doesn’t generate mana or tokens, it supports a longer-term form of resource acceleration by preserving the state of your battlefield. With opponent creatures diminished, your strategy can accelerate as you’re less likely to need to use removal spells, saving those resources for key plays later.
Instant Speed: While Dampening Pulse is not an instant itself, it affects the board in a way that compliments instant speed interactions. By reducing the power of opposing creatures, your instant speed removal and tricks become more effective, as you have to deal with less threatening creatures, allowing for more efficient trades and combat tricks during your opponent’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although not directly requiring a discard, Dampening Pulse’s specific utility might sometimes result in card disadvantage. It could demand holding back other spells to keep pace with board development.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both blue and colorless mana, Dampening Pulse may not easily fit into multicolored or color-specific strategies, potentially limiting its flexibility across various deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At four mana, the investment for Dampening Pulse’s ongoing effect competes with other impactful creatures and enchantments that might provide more immediate or potent benefits to your gameplay.
Reasons to Include Dampening Pulse in Your Collection
Versatility: Dampening Pulse is a unique addition to decks that thrive on controlling the battlefield tempo. Its ability to weaken opposing creatures gives it a universal quality that can be an asset in multiple deck archetypes, primarily in blue-based control strategies.
Combo Potential: This card fits well with strategies that aim to inhibit your opponent’s creatures. It can be combined with cards that impose additional penalties on creatures’ power or with defensive setups that capitalize on reduced power to ensure your creatures survive in combat.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where aggro decks are prevalent, Dampening Pulse becomes a powerful tool. It can de-escalate swarming strategies and give you a significant edge by turning the tide of creature-based skirmishes to your favor, making it a valuable sideboard option against aggressive decks.
How to beat
Dampening Pulse is an intriguing enchantment in Magic: The Gathering that has the potential to be a thorn in the side of creature-heavy decks. This card diminishes the power of each opponent’s creature, which can significantly swing the tide of board presence in your favor. However, countering Dampening Pulse requires a multi-faceted approach due to its passive ability that affects the entire battlefield.
One strategy to overcome Dampening Pulse is by utilizing removal spells that can target enchantments directly, such as Disenchant or Naturalize, thus eliminating the threat altogether. Another method is to pivot to a strategy that relies less on creature strength and more on non-creature spells like burn, counterspells, or planeswalkers. This change in game plan can mitigate the impact of your opponent’s Dampening Pulse, allowing you to bypass its effects and maintain the upper hand.
Conclusively, Dampening Pulse demands a careful reassessment of your strategy and the adoption of a flexible playstyle. With the right countermeasures and quick adaptation, it’s entirely possible to neutralize the obstacle posed by this card and continue your quest for victory in Magic: The Gathering.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Dampening Pulse MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Dampening Pulse and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Dampening Pulse has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |