Razortip Whip MTG Card


Razortip Whip - Gatecrash
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact
Released2013-02-01
Set symbol
Set nameGatecrash
Set codeGTC
Number235
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJames Paick

Key Takeaways

  1. Razortip Whip provides consistent pressure, incrementally affecting opponents’ life totals without additional resource costs.
  2. Vital in control strategies, its instant speed activation maximizes mana use and maintains battlefield leverage.
  3. Against life-gain strategies, it’s a key card, adding subtle, yet crucial, persistent damage for an edge.

Text of card

, : Razortip Whip deals 1 damage to target opponent.

"It no longer surprises me what shows up in our raid of a Rakdos revue." —Janik Bara, Wojek captain


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Razortip Whip offers the ability to whittle down an opponent’s health steadily, indirectly contributing to card advantage by diminishing the necessity to use other cards to achieve the same result. Over multiple turns, this incremental damage can add up, applying pressure without expending additional resources.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly associated with traditional mana acceleration, Razortip Whip serves as a constant threat that accelerates the pace of resource depletion for your opponent. Every turn it’s in play is a turn they’re forced to react or face the ticking clock of life loss, potentially draining their resources faster than they can recover.

Instant Speed: Razortip Whip’s ability can be activated at instant speed, which gives you the flexibility to use your mana efficiently. You can keep mana open for instant-speed interactions or tricks during your opponent’s turn and still utilize the Whip if no immediate actions are required, maintaining constant pressure on your adversary.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In the tactical universe of MTG, every card in hand could be a potential game-changer, which makes the discard requirement on Razortip Whip a potential disadvantage, especially in the later stages of play where resources are crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Razortip Whip comes with a specific mana cost that demands black mana, which can sometimes restrict its integration into multicolored decks or those that do not focus on black mana generation.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Razortip Whip can be a useful tool for chipping away at an opponent’s life total, its mana value might be considered steep by many players. There are alternative cards that could provide a greater impact or more utility on the battlefield for the same, or even lower, mana investment.


Reasons to Include Razortip Whip in Your Collection

Versatility: Razortip Whip can serve a variety of roles within numerous deck types. Its capacity to deal consistent damage makes it a reliable choice for control decks that need to leverage every advantage.

Combo Potential: Razortip Whip has latent synergy with cards that benefit from dealing non-combat damage or activating abilities. Its potential to integrate into complex strategies makes it a clever pick for any player looking to innovate.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where long-drawn games are the norm, Razortip Whip shines by providing a persistent source of damage. For players facing against life-gain decks or looking to edge out a win against formidable defenses, it could be a decisive addition.


How to beat

Razortip Whip can serve as a thorny nuisance in Magic: The Gathering matches, especially in the late game where unspent mana can become a consistent source of damage. This artifact’s ability to deal one damage to opponents not only adds up over turns but can be crucial in breaking stalemates or whittling down an opponent’s life total.

The key to overcoming Razortip Whip lies in swift removal or disruption. Consider cards like Naturalize or Disenchant that can target and destroy artifacts with minimal mana expense. Speed is essential—recognize the early signs of an artifact-centered strategy and prepare your sideboard accordingly. This ensures that if Razortip Whip does enter the battlefield, you won’t be caught off guard and can neutralize it before it siphons away too much of your life total.

Alternatively, cards that limit the ability to tap such as Frozen Aether can prevent Razortip Whip from being used each turn. If your deck runs counterspells, keeping one in reserve when you sense an impending artifact play can be a smart move, negating the threat before it lands. By anticipating and disrupting your opponent’s strategy, you maintain the upper hand and can focus on executing your winning plays.


Cards like Razortip Whip

Razortip Whip finds its niche within the array of artifacts in MTG, offering a unique passive damage ability. It’s akin to cards like Viridian Longbow, which allows you to tap a creature to deal one damage to any target. Razortip Whip, however, deals the damage directly to a player, providing a consistent pressure without the need to tap a creature, though at the cost of one mana per activation.

Another card worth mentioning is the Throne of the God-Pharaoh, which delivers damage to each opponent at the end of your turn based on the number of tapped creatures you control. While Throne of the God-Pharaoh can potentially deal more damage in a single turn, especially in token decks, Razortip Whip offers direct and controlled damage at any time. A third parallel can be drawn with Hermetic Study, granting a creature the power to ping any target but differs from Razortip Whip’s restriction to only damage players.

Assessing their roles and effectiveness, Razortip Whip stands out as a consistent damage dealer that can bypass creature-based defenses, making it a strategic inclusion in decks looking to whittle down an opponent’s life total directly.

Viridian Longbow - MTG Card versions
Throne of the God-Pharaoh - MTG Card versions
Hermetic Study - MTG Card versions
Viridian Longbow - Mirrodin (MRD)
Throne of the God-Pharaoh - Amonkhet (AKH)
Hermetic Study - Urza's Saga (USG)

Cards similar to Razortip Whip by color, type and mana cost

Chaos Orb - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Ankh of Mishra - MTG Card versions
Amulet of Kroog - MTG Card versions
Nacre Talisman - MTG Card versions
Howling Mine - MTG Card versions
Essence Bottle - MTG Card versions
Emerald Medallion - MTG Card versions
Scrying Glass - MTG Card versions
Cursed Totem - MTG Card versions
Mask of Intolerance - MTG Card versions
Tsabo's Web - MTG Card versions
Millikin - MTG Card versions
Swiftfoot Boots - MTG Card versions
Ark of Blight - MTG Card versions
Surestrike Trident - MTG Card versions
Demon's Horn - MTG Card versions
Energy Chamber - MTG Card versions
Water Gun Balloon Game - MTG Card versions
Angel's Feather - MTG Card versions
Chaos Orb - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Winter Orb - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Ankh of Mishra - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Amulet of Kroog - Rinascimento (RIN)
Nacre Talisman - Ice Age (ICE)
Howling Mine - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Essence Bottle - Tempest (TMP)
Emerald Medallion - Commander Anthology (CMA)
Scrying Glass - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Cursed Totem - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Mask of Intolerance - Apocalypse (APC)
Tsabo's Web - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Millikin - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Swiftfoot Boots - The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts (BRR)
Ark of Blight - Scourge (SCG)
Surestrike Trident - Darksteel (DST)
Demon's Horn - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Energy Chamber - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Water Gun Balloon Game - Unhinged (UNH)
Angel's Feather - Ninth Edition (9ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Razortip Whip MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash, 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 Razortip Whip and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Razortip Whip has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

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