Cavern Whisperer MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Nightmare
Abilities Menace,Mutate
Power 4
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Cavern Whisperer offers card advantage and board presence through its Mutate ability and card draw.
  2. Its specific mana cost and required board state can limit deck-building flexibility and timely plays.
  3. Versatility and meta relevance make Cavern Whisperer a valuable creature card in various strategies.

Text of card

Mutate (If you cast this spell for its mutate cost, put it over or under target non-Human creature you own. They mutate into the creature on top plus all abilities from under it.) Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.) Whenever this creature mutates, each opponent discards a card.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cavern Whisperer boosts your hand by triggering a Mutate ability, letting a player draw a card and discard one, refining your hand and keeping the momentum going.

Resource Acceleration: When mutated, it can help to advance on the battlefield by allowing you to select the best creature features from it and the host, essentially accelerating your board presence with a potentially more powerful creature.

Instant Speed: Despite not being an instant, the mutate mechanic brings flexibility to the table, similar to casting spells at instant speed. You can wait for the perfect moment during your turn to surprise your opponent and enhance your creature’s abilities or react effectively to in-game developments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Cavern Whisperer hinges on the Mutate mechanic, requiring you to have another non-Human creature on the battlefield to cast it for its Mutate cost; otherwise, you’re forced to cast it for five mana. This prerequisite can be restrictive as needing a specific board state to take full advantage of its abilities.

Specific Mana Cost: Cavern Whisperer’s mana cost includes double black mana, making it less versatile when it comes to deck-building options. Players not running a deck with a heavy black mana base might find it challenging to reliably play this creature on curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a total cost of four or five mana, depending on how you play it, Cavern Whisperer competes with other formidable monsters in the game. In metas where efficiency is paramount, the cost of fielding this creature may outweigh the benefits, especially in formats where speed is crucial.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Cavern Whisperer is a flexible addition to any collection, seamlessly fitting into decks that capitalize on the mutate mechanic or require high-powered creatures for combat.

Combo Potential: This card shines when paired with other creatures that benefit from mutate effects, enhancing your board presence and potential for powerful synergistic plays.

Meta-Relevance: As fluctuating environments dictate the pace of play, Cavern Whisperer’s ability to disrupt opponent strategies with its menace ability ensures it remains a formidable inclusion in various meta scenarios.


How to beat

Cavern Whisperer is a formidable creature card in MTG that can present a challenge when it’s on the opposite side of the battlefield. Known for its mutate ability, this card can not only beef up a creature but also force an opponent to discard, disrupting their game plan. When facing this menacing card, the key is to be strategic with your removal spells. Specifically, instant-speed removal like “Heartless Act” or “Murderous Rider” can effectively handle mutated creatures before they cause too much havoc.

Board wipes are another solution to consider. Wiping the board with a “Shatter the Sky” or “Extinction Event” can reset the playing field, especially if Cavern Whisperer has been used to stack multiple mutations on a single creature. It’s also beneficial to limit the number of non-token creatures in your deck if mutate mechanics are common in your play group, thus minimizing the potential impact of the Whisperer’s forced discard.

By having these strategies in place and maintaining situance awareness, you ensure that Cavern Whisperer’s impact is mitigated, keeping you firmly in the game and able to counteract your opponent’s moves effectively.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the power and potential pitfalls of cards like Cavern Whisperer is the key to mastering your MTG playstyle. Its ability to mutate and affect the game’s flow can give you a significant advantage, yet strategic deck building must accommodate potential constraints. Consider integrating removal spells that work at instant speed or board wipes to counteract opposing mutating creatures. Whether you’re enhancing your own gameplay or seeking to neutralize a threat, keeping informed can turn the tides of battle. Delve deeper into MTG strategies and elevate your game with our insights and tips tailored for players committed to growth and victory.


Cards like Cavern Whisperer

Deep within the card pools of Magic: The Gathering, the Cavern Whisperer carves its niche among the fearsome creatures. It bears a striking resemblance to Nightshade Stinger in its Menace ability, but stands out due to the “mutate” option. While Nightshade Stinger is a humble low-cost creature, Cavern Whisperer offers a more robust presence on the battlefield and the potential for explosive plays through its mutate mechanic.

Another parallel can be drawn with Keybreaker Demon, yet Cavern Whisperer diverges with a lower casting cost and the absence of an upkeep trigger, making it a less demanding choice for a player’s mana resources. Importantly, the mutate-triggered card disadvantage it imposes on your opponent can tilt the balance during a game, a strategic advantage not found in the Keybreaker Demon’s arsenal.

Card adaptability is critical in MTG, and creatures like Cavern Whisperer provide both pressure and flexibility. Its ability to disrupt while building a stronger creature through mutation makes it a formidable choice against pure beaters like Nightshade Stinger or more maintenance-heavy devils like Keybreaker Demon. Selecting Cavern Whisperer for a deck means prioritizing on-the-fly adaptability and the element of surprise.

Nightshade Stinger - MTG Card versions
Nightshade Stinger - Lorwyn (LRW)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cavern Whisperer MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, 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 Cavern Whisperer and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Cavern Whisperer Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-04-24 and 2020-04-24. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 809772015mutateblackSteve Ellis
22020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 2872015mutateblackSteve Ellis
32020-04-24Ikoria: Lair of BehemothsIKO 792015mutateblackAntonio José Manzanedo

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cavern Whisperer has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-04-17 As the triggered ability resolves, first the next opponent in turn order (or, if it’s an opponent’s turn, the opponent whose turn it is) chooses a card in hand without revealing it, then each other opponent in turn order does the same. Then all the chosen cards are discarded at the same time.

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