Pulsating Illusion MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Illusion
Abilities	Flying
Released	2001-10-01
Set symbol
Set name	Odyssey
Set code	ODY
Power	0
Toughness	1
Number	96
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Arnie Swekel

Key Takeaways

Card swapping feature allows for maintained hand quality and refreshing of game strategy.
Instant speed activation provides flexibility and the ability to surprise opponents.
Demands careful management of hand size to avoid losing momentum in the game.

Text of card

Flying Discard a card from your hand: Pulsating Illusion gets +4/+4 until end of turn. Play this ability only once each turn.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pulsating Illusion presents a unique opportunity to maintain card quality by allowing substitutions from your hand, which can refresh your game plan by swapping out less useful cards for new ones from your deck.

Resource Acceleration: As a blue spell, this card can synergize with decks focused on resource acceleration, potentially working with cards that untap lands or artifacts, effectively mitigating its upkeep cost and maximizing mana efficiency.

Instant Speed: Pulsating Illusion’s ability to be activated at instant speed grants the flexibility to adapt your strategy in response to opponent moves, providing a dynamic defense mechanism or an unexpected shift in your offensive lineup.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the downsides of Pulsating Illusion is the necessity to discard a card as part of its activation cost. For decks that are already operating with a slim hand, this requirement can sometimes force tough decisions and potentially lead to a loss of momentum if critical resources are discarded.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Pulsating Illusion includes double blue mana, which means it is heavily aligned with blue mana strategies. This can make it difficult to incorporate into decks that aren’t primarily blue, limiting its versatility across different deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total casting cost of five mana, Pulsating Illusion sits at the higher end of the mana curve for an effect that doesn’t necessarily have an immediate impact on the game. In environments where tempo plays a significant role, investing such a large amount of mana into a potentially vulnerable creature may not be the most efficient use of resources.

Reasons to Include Pulsating Illusion in Your Collection

Versatility: Pulsating Illusion offers flexibility as it can serve multiple roles within a deck. Its ability to turn into a 4/4 flyer allows it to be an offensive threat while also holding defensive utility. This shift can adapt to various in-game situations, making it a valuable addition to blue-centric decks that thrive on adaptability.

Combo Potential: The discard component of Pulsating Illusion’s ability can be advantageous in decks that capitalize on graveyard strategies or need to cycle through cards for a specific combo. This self-discard can enable various interactions and synergies within your deck, putting it in line with complex strategic plays.

Meta-Relevance: Given that MTG metas can often be swayed by flying creatures, having Pulsating Illusion can provide an answer to or complement such strategies. Its utility in the current gameplay environment could position it as a sleeper hit in decks designed to surprise opponents with unexpected card interactions.

How to beat

Pulsating Illusion is a unique creature card that offers Magic: The Gathering players a blend of flexibility and strategic depth. At first glance, its ability to become a 5/5 creature until end of turn seems formidable. However, its reliance on the discard of three cards from your hand is its pivotal weakness. This cost provides an avenue for adept players to outmaneuver their opponent.

In terms of strategy, maintaining card advantage is key to countering Pulsating Illusion. Utilize removal spells that don’t require a target, such as board wipes, which circumvent the need to address its boosted state. Another effective tactic is to pressure the opponent’s hand size, leaving them with insufficient resources to activate Pulsating Illusion’s ability. Cards with hand disruption abilities can erode their options and diminish the threat posed by Pulsating Illusion by preemptively removing the resources needed to activate its potent ability.

Ultimately, understanding the card’s mechanics and properly managing your resources are crucial in overcoming the challenge posed by Pulsating Illusion. By exploiting its high activation cost and maintaining control over the pace of the game, one can ensure that Pulsating Illusion remains more of an illusion of threat rather than a pulsating problem on the battlefield.

Cards like Pulsating Illusion

Pulsating Illusion offers MTG players a distinctly versatile tool for creature-based strategies. Comparable to Clone effects in blue, this card reflects the shapeshifter’s ability to adapt, similar to the classic card Vesuvan Doppelganger. Like the Doppelganger, Pulsating Illusion can mimic other creatures but with a twist. The Doppelganger allows you to choose a new creature to copy during each of your upkeeps, whereas Pulsating Illusion demands the discarding of a card to activate its copying ability, potentially at a much higher frequency.

Another relatable card is the well-known Mirage Mirror. Mirage Mirror’s ability to become a copy of any artifact, creature, enchantment, or land until end of turn gives it incredible utility. However, unlike the Mirror which requires just an activation cost, Pulsating Illusion requires both an activation cost and a card discard, offering a high-risk, high-reward dynamic. Phantasmal Image also deserves a mention; it is cheaper to cast but it sacrifices itself when targeted, while Pulsating Illusion can dodge such targeting by changing its form, yet at the cost of card advantage.

All things considered, Pulsating Illusion situates itself as a unique option among blue copy effects, with a self-refreshing quality that is balanced by its card-discard requirement. It caters to players who seek flexible and dynamic solutions in their MTG decks.

Vesuvan Doppelganger - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Pulsating Illusion by color, type and mana cost

Sun Ce, Young Conquerer - MTG Card versions

Timin, Youthful Geist - MTG Card versions

Meloku the Clouded Mirror - MTG Card versions

Azami, Lady of Scrolls - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pulsating Illusion MTG card by a specific set like Odyssey, 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 Pulsating Illusion and other MTG cards: