Pulmonic Sliver — ruling 1

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.

Pulmonic Sliver — ruling 2

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.

Pulmonic Sliver — ruling 3

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.

Pulmonic Sliver — ruling 4

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.

Pulmonic Sliver : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Pulmonic Sliver is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

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

Complete guide

Pulmonic Sliver is a powerhouse for Sliver enthusiasts, providing both evasive flight and a way to preserve your hive from the graveyard. This five-mana creature ensures that even when your Slivers are defeated in combat, they are never truly gone for long. By granting a powerful replacement effect to every Sliver on the battlefield, it turns your library into a safe haven for your fallen creatures.

Granting Wings and Rebirth

Pulmonic Sliver has two distinct continuous effects. First, it grants the flying keyword to all Sliver creatures, making them difficult to block. Second, it grants a specific static ability to all Slivers: 'If this permanent would be put into a graveyard, you may put it on top of its owner's library instead.' This is a replacement effect, not a triggered ability. It changes where the card goes at the very moment it would leave the battlefield for the graveyard.

Step-by-Step Resolution

When a Sliver you control is about to be put into the graveyard—whether through lethal damage, being sacrificed, or a destruction effect—the replacement effect checks if you want to apply it. You make the choice immediately. If you choose to use the ability, the Sliver card never touches the graveyard; it moves directly from the battlefield to the top of your library. If multiple Slivers die simultaneously, such as during a board wipe, you decide the order in which they are placed on top of your library without needing to reveal that order to your opponents.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is treating the library-tucking effect as a triggered ability. Because it uses the word 'instead,' it is a replacement effect that does not use the stack and cannot be responded to once the Sliver would die. Additionally, remember that Pulmonic Sliver grants this ability to itself. If Pulmonic Sliver and other Slivers die at the same time, they can all be put back on top of the library. However, if a Sliver loses its creature type before dying, it loses the protection granted by Pulmonic Sliver.

When to Play It

Pulmonic Sliver is best played when you have a board presence you need to protect or when you need to bypass a ground-based defense. It is particularly effective against 'Destroy' effects. While putting cards on top of your library might slow down your draw of new cards, it ensures you can consistently redeploy your most dangerous Slivers every turn, effectively exhausting your opponent's removal spells.

Interaction examples

Escaping the Grave

Solemn Simulacrum

If you have both Pulmonic Sliver and Solemn Simulacrum on the battlefield and a spell destroys all creatures, Pulmonic Sliver can return to the top of your library. However, Solemn Simulacrum is not a Sliver, so it will go to the graveyard as normal. Furthermore, because Pulmonic Sliver's effect is a replacement effect that prevents it from hitting the graveyard, 'dies' triggers (like the one on Solemn Simulacrum) would not fire for the Slivers saved this way.

Type-Changing Synergies

Roaming Throne

If Roaming Throne enters the battlefield and you choose 'Sliver' as the creature type, it becomes a Sliver and gains flying and the library-replacement effect from Pulmonic Sliver. If Roaming Throne would then be destroyed, you may choose to put it on top of your library. Note that because Pulmonic Sliver grants a replacement effect and not a triggered ability, Roaming Throne's doubling ability does not affect the 'put on top of library' choice.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Pulmonic Sliver

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1March 19, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
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.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2March 19, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
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.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3July 1, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
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.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4July 1, 2013· Wizards of the Coast
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.
No other card is named in this ruling.