Act on Impulse MTG Card


Gives immediate access to the top three cards of your library, potentially expanding strategic options mid-game. Enables fast play, fitting into aggressive red decks that thrive on speed and surprise tactics. Lends itself to combo play, synergizing with rapid spellcasting and top-deck strategies.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Exile the top three cards of your library. Until end of turn, you may play cards exiled this way. (If you cast a spell this way, you still pay its costs. You can play a land this way only if you have an available land play remaining.)

"You don't want to know what happens after I put on the goggles."


Cards like Act on Impulse

Within the realm of Magic: The Gathering sits Act on Impulse, a nifty card that serves as a window to potential plays. This card draws a comparison with strategies like Light Up the Stage, which offers a similar ‘exile and play’ mechanic. The catch with Act on Impulse is its three mana cost and the fact that it allows you to play the cards until the end of your turn only, while Light Up the Stage has a potential lower cost with the spectacle mechanic and grants you an entire extra turn to play the exiled cards.

Another parallel can be found in cards like Expropriate, which not only allows you to exile and cast spells but also to choose permanents off the battlefield. Although it operates on a much grander scale in terms of mana cost and impact, Expropriate is seen in higher-stake tables where the mana investment can be game-ending. Meanwhile, Act on Impulse offers a quick-paced, immediate value that can fit into a wider variety of decks that operate on tighter mana curves.

All things considered, when faced with options, Act on Impulse has its unique position in MTG. It provides a burst of card advantage that can synchronize beautifully with decks capitalizing on immediate play, making it a favorable choice for players who relish in fast-paced, opportunistic strategies.

Light Up the Stage - MTG Card versions
Expropriate - MTG Card versions
Light Up the Stage - MTG Card versions
Expropriate - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Act on Impulse by color, type and mana cost

Stone Rain - MTG Card versions
Game of Chaos - MTG Card versions
Evaporate - MTG Card versions
Pillage - MTG Card versions
Goblin War Cry - MTG Card versions
Steam Blast - MTG Card versions
Goblin Offensive - MTG Card versions
Desert Sandstorm - MTG Card versions
Arc Lightning - MTG Card versions
Search for Survivors - MTG Card versions
Panic Attack - MTG Card versions
Searing Rays - MTG Card versions
Rupture - MTG Card versions
Tundra Fumarole - MTG Card versions
Browbeat - MTG Card versions
Anger of the Gods - MTG Card versions
Erratic Explosion - MTG Card versions
Threaten - MTG Card versions
Sizzle - MTG Card versions
Hammer of Bogardan - MTG Card versions
Stone Rain - MTG Card versions
Game of Chaos - MTG Card versions
Evaporate - MTG Card versions
Pillage - MTG Card versions
Goblin War Cry - MTG Card versions
Steam Blast - MTG Card versions
Goblin Offensive - MTG Card versions
Desert Sandstorm - MTG Card versions
Arc Lightning - MTG Card versions
Search for Survivors - MTG Card versions
Panic Attack - MTG Card versions
Searing Rays - MTG Card versions
Rupture - MTG Card versions
Tundra Fumarole - MTG Card versions
Browbeat - MTG Card versions
Anger of the Gods - MTG Card versions
Erratic Explosion - MTG Card versions
Threaten - MTG Card versions
Sizzle - MTG Card versions
Hammer of Bogardan - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Act on Impulse expands your accessible card options by revealing the top three cards of your library, thus offering potential for significant hand extension. In matches where access to more choices can influence the tide of the game, this surge of new cards can be a game-changer.

Resource Acceleration: This card enables immediate utilization of additional resources by allowing you to play the revealed cards this turn. This temporary boost can accelerate your game plan and catch opponents off guard by rapidly deploying threats or answers.

Instant Speed: Even though Act on Impulse is a sorcery, its influence on the game can mimic the flexibility of an instant. Casting it during the first main phase can provide strategic advantages by adapting to the evolving state of the board before committing to subsequent plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Act on Impulse asks you to play the cards you exile with it during the same turn or they’re gone forever, pressuring you to use them or lose them without future benefit.

Specific Mana Cost: This card relies solely on red mana which narrows its playability to mainly red or red-inclusive decks, potentially excluding a variety of deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including two red, other spells may allow you to draw or interact with more cards with the same or less investment.


Reasons to Include Act on Impulse in Your Collection

Versatility: Act on Impulse provides an exceptional flexibility to players, allowing them to temporarily access additional cards without immediately committing resources. It’s a card that can be slotted into various red decks, specifically those that capitalize on playing with the top of the library or enjoy a surplus of short-term card options.

Combo Potential: This card plays well with strategies built around casting numerous spells in a single turn. It can also be an enabler in storm decks or synergize with cards that benefit from nontraditional forms of card draw, giving it a unique position in combo archetypes.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that rewards quick adaptability and the ability to out-maneuver opponents through superior card selection, Act on Impulse holds its ground. It offers a burst of card advantage, which could turn games in favor of the player using it at pivotal moments, especially against slower, more controlling decks.


How to beat Act on Impulse

Act on Impulse is a unique red sorcery from the world of MTG that challenges opponents with a temporary burst of card access. Its ability to exile the top three cards of your library and allow you to play them this turn can create a significant advantage. To counteract this, aim for disruption strategies that hinder your opponent’s play. Effective hand disruption, like Thoughtseize or Duress, can preemptively remove Act on Impulse before it’s cast. Additionally, counter spells are highly effective against sorceries; having a Mana Leak or Counterspell ready can ensure Act on Impulse never resolves.

Denying your opponent the chance to capitalize on Act on Impulse’s benefits is also key. You can achieve this by utilizing instant speed removals or bounce effects for the cards they try to cast with Act on Impulse. This will leave them with wasted resources and a dwindling window of opportunity. With precise timing and a well-tuned strategy, Act on Impulse can be overcome, keeping your opponent’s impulses in check and their threats at bay.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Act on Impulse MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2015 and Mystery Booster, 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 Act on Impulse and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Act on Impulse Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2014-07-18 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Brad Rigney.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12014-07-18Magic 2015M15 1262015NormalBlackBrad Rigney
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 8322015NormalBlackBrad Rigney
32020-09-26The ListPLST M15-1262015NormalBlackBrad Rigney
42022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 4922015NormalBlackBrad Rigney

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Act on Impulse has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2014-07-18 Any cards you don't play will remain exiled.
2014-07-18 Playing a card this way follows the normal rules for playing the card. You must pay its costs, and you must follow all applicable timing rules. For example, if one of the cards is a creature card, you can cast that card only during your main phase while the stack is empty.
2014-07-18 The cards are exiled face up.
2014-07-18 Under normal circumstances, you can play a land card exiled with Act on Impulse only if you haven't played a land yet that turn.