Pulse Tracker MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Vampire Rogue
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Indirectly influences card advantage by early consistent opponent life total pressure and resource trade-off.
  2. Low casting cost catalyzes a quick and aggressive strategy, supplementing mana efficiency for early game plans.
  3. Demands attention on the battlefield, potentially disrupting opponent’s instant speed responses and plans.

Text of card

Whenever Pulse Tracker attacks, each opponent loses 1 life.

Pulse trackers terrorize adventurers, driving them through the jungle toward certain death at the gates of Malakir.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pulse Tracker may not directly allow you to draw cards, but by applying consistent pressure on your opponent’s life total from turn one, it can force your opponent to react and trade resources unfavorably, potentially granting you an indirect advantage over the game as it progresses.

Resource Acceleration: While Pulse Tracker itself doesn’t offer traditional forms of resource acceleration, its low casting cost provides a strategic advantage, enabling you to deploy other threats or hold mana open for reactive spells efficiently. This allows for a smooth and aggressive start, especially in decks aiming to outnumber and overwhelm opponents early on.

Instant Speed: Although Pulse Tracker operates at sorcery speed being a creature, its ability to demand immediate answers can disrupt your opponent’s instant speed plans. Its mere presence on the battlefield can alter the pace of the game, pressing opponents to act hastily and potentially at a tactical disadvantage.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Despite its seeming aggressiveness, the need to discard an important card can sometimes backfire, particularly if your hand is already dwindling in size. In such cases, playing Pulse Tracker can become a costly price to pay, stripping you of valuable assets needed later in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Pulse Tracker’s black mana requirement may not seamlessly fit into every deck’s mana base, especially in multi-colored decks that might prioritize other hues for early game plays. This can limit the card’s utility to mono-black or heavily black-oriented decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the card’s overall impact, its mana cost may not align with the efficiency a player seeks. While its one black mana cost is reasonable for a 1/1 creature, competitive formats often offer creatures with higher power-toughness ratios or additional beneficial abilities at a similar cost. This discrepancy may relegate Pulse Tracker to being a less attractive option for decks aiming for maximum board presence and efficiency.


Reasons to Include Pulse Tracker in Your Collection

Versatility: Pulse Tracker thrives in decks that focus on aggression. Its ability to guarantee at least one life loss for your opponent each turn makes it an asset for aggressive and tempo-oriented strategies, regardless of the overarching deck theme.

Combo Potential: This card shines in synergistic combinations with life-loss mechanics. When paired with other effects that capitalize on opponent life loss or with cards that trigger upon life change events, Pulse Tracker can serve as a linchpin in some combo-oriented decks looking to exploit such interactions.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame where fast starts and early pressure can determine the outcome, Pulse Tracker gains value. The ability to start ticking down your opponent’s health right from the first turn can be a deterrent against slower decks, positioning it as a strategic play in certain meta contexts.


How to beat

Pulse Tracker is a creature that thrives in aggressive decks within Magic: The Gathering. This one-mana Vampire Rogue can be intimidating, especially when early damage potentially alters the course of the game. With its ability to make each opponent lose life whenever it attacks, it can put opponents on a faster clock.

However, there are several strategies to counter Pulse Tracker effectively. Utilizing cheap removal spells is the most straightforward method. Spells like Fatal Push or Shock can easily deal with Pulse Tracker before it manages to chip away at your life total. Additionally, having blockers with higher toughness ready can neutralize it without any casualties on your side. Pulse Tracker’s low toughness also makes it susceptible to board clearing spells, even those with minimal damage output. Remember, keeping the board clear of these early threats can be key in stabilizing the game and shifting the momentum in your favor. Consequently, incorporating some of these strategies into your deck can help you maintain control against decks that utilize Pulse Tracker and other similar aggressive cards.

In sum, defeating Pulse Tracker in Magic: The Gathering involves a combination of early creature removal, strategic blocking, and staying ahead in board management to prevent the snowball effect of life loss.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the subtleties of Pulse Tracker can tip the scales in your favor within the MTG arena. Its excellence in aggressive strategies makes it a worthy contender in your collection, especially for those eyeing a fast-paced game plan. Whether you aim to optimize your early-game pressure or you’re looking for the right piece in a life-loss combo, Pulse Tracker could be your under-the-radar ace. As the metagame evolves, staying informed and adapting your strategy is paramount. We encourage you to continue exploring the synergies and deck compositions that fit your playstyle. Dive deeper into MTG strategy with us and harness the full potential of your deck, including powerful yet often underestimated cards like Pulse Tracker.


Cards like Pulse Tracker

Pulse Tracker is a unique creature in Magic: The Gathering that brings a subtle yet potentially impactful advantage to the battlefield. As a similar one-drop vampire, Vampire Lacerator stands out with its own aggressive potential. While Lacerator also deals extra damage to the opponent, it requires having an opponent at 10 life or less to avoid damaging its controller.

Vicious Conquistador, another close counterpart, guarantees a loss of life for your opponent whenever it attacks, much like what Pulse Tracker offers. However, it brings additional toughness to the table, which can be crucial for staying power in the early game. Comparatively, Shadow Alley Denizen provides a different type of advantage by giving another attacking creature an element of evasion, but does not necessarily apply immediate pressure like Pulse Tracker does on its own.

Each of these cards has its merits depending on the strategy employed. Nonetheless, Pulse Tracker excels by ensuring a consistent and automatic loss of life for the opponent regardless of whether the creature is blocked or not, a trait highly valued in aggressive strategies aiming to reduce an opponent’s life total swiftly.

Vampire Lacerator - MTG Card versions
Vicious Conquistador - MTG Card versions
Shadow Alley Denizen - MTG Card versions
Vampire Lacerator - Zendikar (ZEN)
Vicious Conquistador - Ixalan (XLN)
Shadow Alley Denizen - Gatecrash (GTC)

Cards similar to Pulse Tracker by color, type and mana cost

Stone-Throwing Devils - MTG Card versions
Will-o'-the-Wisp - MTG Card versions
Vampire Bats - MTG Card versions
Bog Rats - MTG Card versions
Muck Rats - MTG Card versions
Vebulid - MTG Card versions
Urborg Skeleton - MTG Card versions
Carrion Rats - MTG Card versions
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions
Dark Supplicant - MTG Card versions
Bile Urchin - MTG Card versions
Rimebound Dead - MTG Card versions
Plague Beetle - MTG Card versions
Festering Goblin - MTG Card versions
Sleeper Agent - MTG Card versions
Knucklebone Witch - MTG Card versions
Nightshade Stinger - MTG Card versions
Smolder Initiate - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Dead - MTG Card versions
Deathgreeter - MTG Card versions
Stone-Throwing Devils - Arabian Nights (ARN)
Will-o'-the-Wisp - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Vampire Bats - Renaissance (REN)
Bog Rats - Chronicles (CHR)
Muck Rats - Portal (POR)
Vebulid - Urza's Saga (USG)
Urborg Skeleton - Invasion (INV)
Carrion Rats - Torment (TOR)
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Dark Supplicant - Legions (LGN)
Bile Urchin - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Rimebound Dead - Coldsnap (CSP)
Plague Beetle - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Festering Goblin - Tenth Edition (10E)
Sleeper Agent - Tenth Edition (10E)
Knucklebone Witch - Lorwyn (LRW)
Nightshade Stinger - Lorwyn (LRW)
Smolder Initiate - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Kjeldoran Dead - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Deathgreeter - Shards of Alara (ALA)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pulse Tracker MTG card by a specific set like Worldwake and Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska, 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 Pulse Tracker and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Pulse Tracker Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2010-02-05 and 2014-03-14. Illustrated by Andrew Robinson.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-02-05WorldwakeWWK 622003normalblackAndrew Robinson
22014-03-14Duel Decks: Jace vs. VraskaDDM 432003normalblackAndrew Robinson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pulse Tracker has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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