Pure Intentions MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Rare
Type	Instant — Arcane
Released	2005-06-03
Set symbol
Set name	Saviors of Kamigawa
Set code	SOK
Number	25
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Randy Gallegos

Key Takeaways

Recycles flashback cards from the graveyard, providing strategic hand replenishment and future play setup.
Instant speed allows tactical play, optimizing timing and maximizing card value during critical moments.
Combines wide-range creature protection with hand recovery, distinguishing it in MTG’s defensive spells category.

Text of card

Whenever a spell or ability an opponent controls causes you to discard cards this turn, return those cards from your graveyard to your hand. Whenever a spell or ability an opponent controls causes you to discard Pure Intentions, return Pure Intentions from your graveyard to your hand at end of turn.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pure Intentions offers a unique edge to players by allowing them to return all cards with flashback from their graveyard to their hand. This not only recaptures valuable resources but also sets up the potential for future plays without the cost of drawing additional cards.

Resource Acceleration: While Pure Intentions itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it significantly boosts your plays by revitalizing flashback cards. Deploying these cards again accelerates your strategy and provides a tempo swing that can put you ahead of the opponent.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Pure Intentions at instant speed adds a layer of tactical depth to your game. By waiting for the optimal moment, such as in response to a board wipe or when multiple flashback cards are in your graveyard, you can maximize the value and impact of this powerful spell.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Pure Intentions card demands a discard from your hand upon casting. This cost can put you at a disadvantage, particularly when your hand resources are already stretched thin, leaving you more vulnerable as you forfeit potential plays.

Specific Mana Cost: Pure Intentions requires white mana for casting. This requirement can be restrictive because it doesn’t fit seamlessly into every deck build, especially if your strategy doesn’t heavily feature white or you’re running a multicolored deck with a tight mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that may be considered on the higher end for its effects, Pure Intentions may not be the most mana-efficient choice available. For decks that aim for high-speed play or those that need to maximize every mana spent, there might be alternative spells that offer similar benefits without the hefty mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Pure Intentions is a unique tool that can be seamlessly integrated into decks requiring graveyard protection or spells that target multiple creatures. This card ensures that your strategy remains uncompromised, even in the face of removal-heavy opponents.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, Pure Intentions can turn a routine board wipe into a strategic advantage by refilling your hand. It plays well with self-milling strategies, where you can set up your graveyard for a big comeback.

Meta-Relevance: In environments with high levels of creature-based interaction, Pure Intentions safeguards your key creatures from targeted removal. Its synergy with decks that face spells prone to sweeping effects makes it a smart inclusion for a well-rounded collection ready to tackle shifting metagames.

How to beat

Pure Intentions, the white instant spell in MTG, offers a unique twist on spell protection by not only countering spells that target a single creature but also by potentially rebounding those spells back into the caster’s hand. Its ability to shield your creatures from targeted spells is pivotal in gameplay, requiring strategic planning to overcome. While powerful in the right situation, Pure Intentions can be circumvented.

Overcoming this card involves a multi-pronged approach. Tactics include utilizing spells that affect multiple creatures at once, bypassing the “single target” limitation. Board sweepers or global effects negate the protection Pure Intentions provides. Alternatively, waiting to cast removal spells until the turn after Pure Intentions is played can be effective due to its rebound mechanic only functioning on spells cast in the same turn. Also, employing counterspells when Pure Intentions is cast ensures the protection spell itself never resolves, maintaining the path clear for your targeted spells to reach their mark.

Given its conditional rebound and focus on single targets, Pure Intentions requires precise timing and specific conditions to be most effective. By deploying diverse removal strategies and considering the timing of spellcasting, players can navigate around the defenses that Pure Intentions presents.

Cards like Pure Intentions

Pure Intentions is an intriguing defense mechanism for decks in Magic: The Gathering. Its nearest relative could be considered Emerge Unscathed, which also grants protection to creatures but with a focus on combat scenarios. Where Pure Intentions shines is in its sweep of protection against all colors momentarily, perfect for sheltering your entire board from a multi-color threat. Emerge Unscathed instead offers the rebound advantage, allowing a second round of protection the following turn.

Another card to contrast is Apostle’s Blessing, which requires either mana or life to cast. This option can protect a creature or an artifact from the color or artifact type of your choice. The flexibility to choose between life or mana is an asset but differs from the blanket coverage of Pure Intentions. Moreover, Pure Intentions holds special utility by returning ashen remains from graveyard to hand whenever a spell or ability an opponent controls causes you to discard it, making it a safety net against discard strategies.

While all these cards serve the purpose of protecting your strategic pieces, Pure Intentions offers a unique combination of wide-range protection and hand-recovery, setting it apart in MTG’s vast library of defensive spells.

Cards similar to Pure Intentions by color, type and mana cost

Swords to Plowshares - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pure Intentions MTG card by a specific set like Saviors of Kamigawa, 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 Pure Intentions and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pure Intentions has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2005-06-01	Discarding Pure Intentions to your own spell or ability doesn’t trigger its abilities.
2005-06-01	If a spell or ability an opponent controls causes a player to discard multiple cards, such as Waking Nightmare or Three Tragedies, Pure Intentions doesn’t return to hand until its triggered ability has resolved. A player can’t discard the same Pure Intentions twice for the same discard effect.
2005-06-01	Neither part cares who decides which card to discard — only the controller of the spell or ability matters.
2005-06-01	The first part of Pure Intentions is the effect of casting Pure Intentions. The second part is a triggered ability that triggers whenever an opponent’s spell or ability causes a player to discard Pure Intentions.