Colossal Whale MTG Card
2013-07-18 - Number 48★
2013-07-19 - Number 48
2023-06-23 - Number 186
2002-06-24 - Number 49834
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Whale |
| Abilities | Islandwalk,Landwalk |
| Power | 5 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
Islandwalk (This creature can't be blocked as long as defending player controls an Island.) Whenever Colossal Whale attacks, you may exile target creature defending player controls until Colossal Whale leaves the battlefield. (That creature returns under its owner's control.)
Cards like Colossal Whale
Colossal Whale sails into the fleet of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering with a mighty presence. This card shares the seas with other leviathans such as Stormtide Leviathan, which also commands a sizeable mana cost and brings a dominating effect on the battlefield. The unique trait of Colossal Whale lies in its ability to exile creatures it battles, much like the dreaded Roil Elemental, which has a similar capture mechanic; however, Roil Elemental requires landfall to trigger its effect.
Looking at Aethertide Whale, there’s resemblance in the thematic element and the flavor of large creatures ruling the skies or seas. Aethertide Whale, though not as large as the Colossal Whale, offers an energy counter twist, making it a flexible choice for decks that can capitalize on that synergy. While Colossal Whale stands out with its straightforward and impactful exile ability.
Ultimately, Colossal Whale sets itself a notch above others in its category due to its direct and potentially game-changing board impact, particularly in Commander games where large creatures and exotic effects can turn the tide of battle.
Cards similar to Colossal Whale by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Colossal Whale MTG card is a hand refresher, offering the potential to gain card advantage by exiling an opponent’s creature every time it attacks. This strategic move can lead to your opponent losing valuable resources while you maintain control of the board.
Resource Acceleration: With a creature like Colossal Whale, you can efficiently control the pace of the game by deterring opponent attacks and preserving your life total. This natural deterrent often results in a form of indirect resource acceleration since you can allocate mana elsewhere, rather than constantly playing defense.
Instant Speed: Although the Colossal Whale itself does not operate at instant speed, the power it holds on the battlefield can impact your opponent’s instant speed decision-making. Knowing that attacking creatures could be exiled provides a psychological edge, which often influences the opponent to hold back, allowing you to optimize your instant speed plays.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Colossal Whale can sometimes force players into difficult decisions, especially in formats where card advantage is crucial. If you’re required to bounce the Whale back to your hand, it can feel as if you’re discarding valuable in-play assets.
Specific Mana Cost: A mainstay in blue-centric decks, Colossal Whale demands a precise mana structure. With its requirement for both generic and blue mana, this sea creature may be out of reach for a multicolor deck struggling with mana fluidity.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Ringing in at seven mana, Colossal Whale is a significant investment. This means it often competes with other high-impact spells in your deck. With a myriad of options available, it’s worth considering if the Whale’s abilities justify its hefty summoning cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Colossal Whale offers unique interactions with the battlefield, as it can disrupt opponent strategies by exiling creatures it blocks or is blocked by. Its ability to affect the board’s dynamics makes it a useful addition to decks that capitalize on tempo and control.
Combo Potential: With the capability to repeatedly exile creatures, this card synergizes well with flicker effects that allow you to abuse the enter and leave the battlefield triggers, giving you constant control over the state of play.
Meta-Relevance: In a format where creatures are key, having an imposing presence like Colossal Whale can be a game-changer. Its relevance increases in metas that are creature-heavy or lacking in consistent exile removals, making it a daunting threat for opponents.
How to beat
The Colossal Whale is a formidable creature card in Magic: The Gathering known for its ability to exile opposing creatures. Having a 5/5 body and the dramatic impact of removing creatures from the game when it attacks, Colossal Whale has the potential to dominate a match. However, like any card, it has its vulnerabilities. It’s important to note that the exiled creatures return to the battlefield if the whale leaves the game. Therefore, direct removal spells like Path to Exile or Murder are effective tools to swiftly deal with the leviathan.
Alternately, countering the whale as it is cast can prevent it from ever hitting the battlefield. Counterspell or Negate serve as robust measures to stop the whale in its tracks. Additionally, cards that force the opponent to sacrifice creatures can circumvent the whale’s abilities. Diabolic Edict or Liliana of the Veil can be instrumental in these scenarios. Lastly, since Colossal Whale is a considerable mana investment, applying early pressure and keeping pace with aggressive creature plays can minimize the window for the opponent to safely cast such a high-cost card.
Navigating against Colossal Whale requires strategic use of removals, counterspells, and maintaining a tempo that challenges the opponent’s resources, ensuring the whale’s effects don’t turn the tides against you.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Colossal Whale MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic 2014 Promos, 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 Colossal Whale and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Colossal Whale Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2013-07-18 and 2023-06-23. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 49834 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Erica Yang | ||
| 2 | 2013-07-18 | Magic 2014 Promos | PM14 | 48★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Erica Yang | |
| 3 | 2013-07-19 | Magic 2014 | M14 | 48 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Adam Paquette | |
| 4 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 186 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Nicholas Gregory |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Colossal Whale has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Colossal Whale card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-07-01 | Auras attached to the exiled creature will be put into their owners' graveyards. Equipment attached to the exiled creature will become unattached and remain on the battlefield. Any counters on the exiled creature will cease to exist. |
| 2013-07-01 | Colossal Whale's ability causes a zone change with a duration, a new style of ability that's somewhat reminiscent of older cards like Oblivion Ring. However, unlike Oblivion Ring, cards like Colossal Whale have a single ability that creates two one-shot effects: one that exiles the creature when the ability resolves, and another that returns the exiled card to the battlefield immediately after Colossal Whale leaves the battlefield. |
| 2013-07-01 | Colossal Whale's triggered ability triggers and resolves during the declare attackers step, before blocking creatures are declared. |
| 2013-07-01 | If Colossal Whale leaves the battlefield before its triggered ability resolves, the target creature won't be exiled. |
| 2013-07-01 | If a creature token is exiled, it ceases to exist. It won't be returned to the battlefield. |
| 2013-07-01 | In a multiplayer game, if Colossal Whale's owner leaves the game, the exiled card will return to the battlefield. Because the one-shot effect that returns the card isn't an ability that goes on the stack, it won't cease to exist along with the leaving player's spells and abilities on the stack. |
| 2013-07-01 | The exiled card returns to the battlefield immediately after Colossal Whale leaves the battlefield. Nothing happens between the two events, including state-based actions. The two creatures aren't on the battlefield at the same time. For example, if the returning creature is a Clone, it can't enter the battlefield as a copy of Colossal Whale. |