Pulmonic Sliver MTG Card


Pulmonic Sliver’s ability tailors top library control, offering tactical card recovery to keep Slivers in play. Meticulous mana requirements and higher casting costs emphasize strategic deck building and timing in gameplay. Integration into MTG collections bolsters Sliver decks, carving a niche for Pulmonic Sliver in tribal strategies.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Sliver
Power 3
Toughness 3

Text of card

All Slivers have flying and "If this creature would be put into a graveyard, you may put it on top of its owner's library instead."

Like a great bellows it hisses, and its kin, both living and dead, are lifted to safety.


Cards like Pulmonic Sliver

Pulmonic Sliver is a unique creature in the world of Magic: The Gathering, closely related to other cards in the Sliver tribe. It stands out with its ability to place Slivers on top of the library instead of the graveyard when they die. This ability mirrors that of creatures with undying or persist, allowing for their return to the battlefield. However, the ability to control the order in which these Slivers return sets Pulmonic Sliver apart.

Comparatively, Frenetic Sliver offers a different angle of resilience, giving Slivers a chance to evade death by flipping a coin. While this can be quite a gamble and less reliable, it does add an element of unpredictability in your defense strategy. Muscular Sliver is another family member, boosting each Sliver’s muscle rather than granting them a second life, enhancing the tribe’s offense instead of their longevity.

Nevertheless, for players who value consistency and control over their Sliver tribe’s disposition, Pulmonic Sliver brings a tactical edge. Its return-from-grave ability provides a steady method of keeping essential Slivers in play, making this card a linchpin in any Sliver-based strategy.

Frenetic Sliver - MTG Card versions
Frenetic Sliver - MTG Card versions

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Conclave Phalanx - MTG Card versions
Veteran Bodyguard - MTG Card versions
Rashida Scalebane - MTG Card versions
Avenging Angel - MTG Card versions
Lancers en-Kor - MTG Card versions
Radiant, Archangel - MTG Card versions
Master Healer - MTG Card versions
Angel of Mercy - MTG Card versions
Serra Angel - MTG Card versions
Border Patrol - MTG Card versions
Enduring Angel // Angelic Enforcer - MTG Card versions
Sigardian Savior - MTG Card versions
Celestial Gatekeeper - MTG Card versions
Collector Protector - MTG Card versions
Kiyomaro, First to Stand - MTG Card versions
Belfry Spirit - MTG Card versions
Petra Sphinx - MTG Card versions
Barrenton Medic - MTG Card versions
Ivory Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Shu Elite Companions - MTG Card versions
Conclave Phalanx - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pulmonic Sliver provides a unique mechanics for Sliver enthusiasts, allowing for top library manipulation with any Sliver’s death, thus keeping the hand replenished. This can be a turning point allowing Sliver players to stay ahead in the card count.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly influencing resources, the card indirectly accelerates a Sliver player’s board state. In a tribal deck, every Sliver is crucial and Pulmonic Sliver’s ability helps to secure a stronghold by potentially returning key slivers back on top of the library to be drawn again.

Instant Speed: Although Pulmonic Sliver itself does not have an ability that operates at instant speed, its static ability affects the game at any time. This persistent effect on the board can deter opponents from removing your Slivers, knowing they may quickly return to the battlefield, maintaining momentum and possibly dissuading instant speed removal against your Sliver army.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Pulmonic Sliver can be a strategic drawback if it necessitates discarding other valuable cards to pay for its cost. This can occasionally lead to resource depletion, making it tough to counter your opponent’s moves or sacrificing a potentially valuable card from your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Pulmonic Sliver demands a specific combination of mana types, which includes two white mana. This color reliance means it’s not as flexible for multicolored Sliver decks that may prioritize other colors. It can also be hard to cast in the early game if your mana base isn’t set up properly.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, including two of which must be white, Pulmonic Sliver can be a heavy investment in the early to mid-game. This high cost can slow down your deck’s momentum especially when competing against aggressive decks that capitalize on low-cost creatures.


Reasons to Include Pulmonic Sliver in Your Collection

Versatility: Pulmonic Sliver offers a unique form of support to Sliver creatures, which are already known for their adaptability. This particular Sliver grants all Slivers you control the ability to be placed on top of your library rather than in your graveyard when they die, giving you repeatable use of your creatures.

Combo Potential: This card has high synergy with decks that revolve around Sliver creatures. It can be a crucial piece in combos that involve the sacrifice and recurrence of Slivers, thereby maximizing their tribal benefits and enabling powerful plays turn after turn.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where creature-based strategies are prevalent, having Pulmonic Sliver can make your Sliver deck resilient against removal-heavy opponents. It maintains your board presence and can be a game changer by keeping key Slivers in constant circulation, rather than being lost to the graveyard.


How to beat

Pulmonic Sliver offers a unique layer of resilience to Sliver decks, granting all Slivers the ability to be placed on top of their owner’s library should they perish. To tackle this enduring creature, efficient removal is key. Board wipes that don’t destroy, such as “Settle the Wreckage” or “Merciless Eviction”, can bypass the triggered ability of Pulmonic Sliver, permanently clearing the board without the option of retrieval. Additionally, countering this Sliver creature as it’s cast disrupts the opponent’s game plan significantly. Utilizing countermagic like “Negate” or “Dissipate” ensures that Pulmonic Sliver never enters the battlefield, thus avoiding its protective clause altogether.

Moreover, graveyard manipulation spells pose a formidable strategy against Pulmonic Sliver. Cards like “Bojuka Bog” can exile the entire graveyard, while “Tormod’s Crypt” can be activated in response to the Sliver’s triggered ability, ensuring that it can’t be recycled to the top of the library. By prioritizing these angles of attack, a player can circumvent the durability Pulmonic Sliver brings to the table, keeping the opponent’s board clear and manageable.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive into the strategic depth that Pulmonic Sliver offers for Sliver aficionados and collectors alike. With our analysis highlighting its strengths and weaknesses, we’ve shown how it can be a game-changer in the right deck, offering resilience and recurrent power to your Sliver horde. Keep in mind the potential this MTG card has for combos and board presence in a creature-centric meta. Whether it’s safeguarding key Slivers or maximizing your tribal tactics, Pulmonic Sliver is a must-consider for any Sliver strategy. Explore more tips, deck techs, and strategies with us to refine your collection and gameplay.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pulmonic Sliver MTG card by a specific set like Time Spiral and Secret Lair Drop, 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 Pulmonic Sliver and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Pulmonic Sliver Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2006-10-06 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by Jeff Easley.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12006-10-06Time SpiralTSP 362003NormalBlackJeff Easley
22019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 6132015NormalBlackJeff Easley
32021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 342015NormalBlackJeff Easley

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pulmonic Sliver has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Pulmonic Sliver card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2013-07-01 Abilities that Slivers grant, as well as power/toughness boosts, are cumulative. However, for some abilities, like flying, having more than one instance of the ability doesn’t provide any additional benefit.
2013-07-01 If the creature type of a Sliver changes so it’s no longer a Sliver, it will no longer be affected by its own ability. Its ability will continue to affect other Sliver creatures.
2021-03-19 If multiple Slivers owned by one player would die at the same time, that player chooses any of those Slivers and puts them on top of their library in any order. They don’t reveal this order.
2021-03-19 The replacement effect that Pulmonic Sliver grants to all Slivers applies to Pulmonic Sliver and any Slivers that would die at the same time as it.