Pulse of the Fields MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Instant
Released	2004-02-06
Set symbol
Set name	Darksteel
Set code	DST
Number	11
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Paolo Parente

Key Takeaways

Can consistently return to hand for recurring life gain if life total is below the opponent’s.
Instant speed allows disruptive plays against aggressive strategies and careful timing.
Limited by higher life total requirement and specific casting costs, restricting flexibility.

Text of card

You gain 4 life. Then if an opponent has more life than you, return Pulse of the Fields to its owner's hand.

Before religion or civilization, there was order.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pulse of the Fields offers a unique form of card advantage because it can be returned to your hand repeatedly under the right conditions. This means that as long as your life total is less than that of your opponent’s, you can consistently gain life and recycle Pulse of the Fields to outlast your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Although Pulse of the Fields does not directly provide resource acceleration like generating mana or treasure tokens, it indirectly contributes to resource conservation. By increasing your life total, you’re less reliant on using other cards or mana to stabilize your life, allowing you to allocate resources elsewhere.

Instant Speed: The power of Pulse of the Fields is significantly maximized by its instant speed. This allows you to use the life gain as a response to an opponent’s attack or during their end step, which can disrupt their strategy and timing, especially if they’re trying to reduce your life total for lethal damage or to trigger an effect based on life totals.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Pulse of the Fields potentially forces you to part ways with it, as to activate its repeatable effect, it requires you to have more life than your opponent, which might not always be the case, limiting its usability at times.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that requires two white mana, Pulse of the Fields is tailored for white-based decks, which may not blend well in multicolor decks that have a tight mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The initial mana investment of three, including two that are color-specific, can be steep for the effect provided. Other cards at similar or lower cost can offer more immediate or versatile benefits without the life total condition.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Pulse of the Fields offers a unique lifegain mechanism that adapts to various game situations. It’s particularly effective in decks that aim to stabilize against aggressive strategies or wish to capitalize on high life totals.

Combo Potential: This card works seamlessly in life-gain synergistic strategies, potentially combining with cards that trigger off life gain or setting up conditions for win conditions based on life differences.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where burn decks or other fast-paced offensive strategies are prevalent, Pulse of the Fields can be a crucial sideboard card, providing repeated life boosts to outlast opponents.

How to Beat Pulse of the Fields

In the realm of life-gaining spells in Magic: The Gathering, Pulse of the Fields stands out with its potential for repeated use. It’s not just a one-shot deal; if you’re at a lower life total than your opponent, the card returns to your hand. This creates a challenge, as beating it involves more than a simple counteraction.

One effective strategy is to maintain a higher life total, nullifying Pulse of the Fields’ recursion ability. This can be achieved through your own life-gain spells or by dealing damage in increments to carefully manage your opponent’s life. Also consider cards that hinder graveyard interactions or return spells, such as Leyline of the Void or Grafdigger’s Cage, as these can prevent the card from bouncing back to the hand.

Additionally, proactive measures that pressure your opponent’s life total, forcing them to use Pulse defensively rather than proactively, can shift the balance in your favor. Ultimately, understanding the mechanics and timing your plays to disrupt the rhythm of your opponent’s strategy is key to overcoming the resilience of Pulse of the Fields.

Cards like Pulse of the Fields

Pulse of the Fields stands out in Magic: The Gathering as it serves as a unique life management tool. Its closest relatives in terms of effect are cards that also allow players to repeatedly gain life, resembling the recurrent nature of Pulse of the Fields under the right conditions.

One could compare it to Renewed Faith, a card that provides an immediate burst of 6 life or can be cycled away for 2 life and a new card. While Renewed Faith offers flexibility with cycling, Pulse of the Fields has an enduring presence if the player’s life total remains lower than their opponent’s. Martyr of Sands is another card that deserves a mention; it can often lead to a significant one-time life gain, potentially swinging the game in a single turn. However, unlike Pulse of the Fields, it is a creature card with a one-time effect and lacks the potential for reuse.

Diving deeper into the life gaining theme, we notice that Pulse of the Fields leans towards a strategic edge in longer, grindy matches where repeated usage can outvalue the singular lifegain instances provided by the aforementioned cards. This repeatedly accessible source of life can offer players a durable advantage, making Pulse of the Fields a distinctive choice for life-centric strategies.

Cards similar to Pulse of the Fields by color, type and mana cost

Ardenvale Tactician // Dizzying Swoop - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pulse of the Fields MTG card by a specific set like Darksteel, 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 of the Fields and other MTG cards: