Arcbound Whelp MTG Card
2021-06-18 - Number 113
2021-08-26 - Number 410
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Dragon |
| Abilities | Flying,Modular |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 0 |
Key Takeaways
- Generates card advantage through combat damage, fueling strategic options and in-game resources.
- Artifact synergy can significantly reduce its casting cost for earlier and versatile plays.
- Instant speed interaction contributes to its unpredictable and flexible board presence.
Text of card
Flying : Arcbound Whelp gets +1/+0 until end of turn. Modular 2 (This creature enters the battlefield with two +1/+1 counters on it. When it dies, you may put its +1/+1 counters on target artifact creature.)
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Arcbound Whelp’s ability to draw cards upon dealing combat damage gives you an upper edge in terms of card flow, ensuring that you have more options and resources available as the game progresses.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly a source of resource acceleration, Arcbound Whelp’s affinity for artifacts can effectively reduce its casting cost, making it much easier to play earlier in the game or alongside other spells in a single turn.
Instant Speed: With the capacity to act at instant speed, Arcbound Whelp offers flexibility and unpredictability, as it can fit into your strategy without preempting other plans you might want to execute during your turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: To activate certain abilities of Arcbound Whelp, you may be required to discard another card. This can put you at a disadvantage in situations where your hand size is critical for strategy execution or when you’re trying to maintain card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: Arcbound Whelp requires a specific combination of mana to cast. Its cost includes red mana, which means it’s predominantly suitable for red or multi-colored decks, potentially limiting its versatility in mono-colored or other deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its casting and ability costs, Arcbound Whelp might be considered mana intensive compared to other creatures in its mana range. This can affect your tempo, as dedicating resources to a single creature might leave you less prepared to respond to opponents’ moves or to develop your own board presence.
Reasons to Include Arcbound Whelp in Your Collection
Versatility: Arcbound Whelp offers flexibility in deck building, adept at slipping into artifact-centric or red aggro strategies with its flying ability and modular mechanic, ensuring it remains a valuable piece in various gameplay situations.
Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with other artifact synergies, allowing for powerful interactions in decks that utilize +1/+1 counters or that capitalize on artifact creatures entering or leaving the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where smaller creatures predominate, Arcbound Whelp can be a game-changer. Its ability to grow through its modular keyword and present a recurrent threat from the air makes it a potent addition facing various popular deck archetypes.
How to beat
Arcbound Whelp is a formidable inclusion in artifact-based decks within Magic: The Gathering. Its presence on the board can quickly escalate the threat level with its flying ability and the potential for +1/+0 boosts when you cast a multicolored spell. However, like all creatures, there are strategies to mitigate the Whelp’s impact and ensure it doesn’t overwhelm your game plan.
One effective strategy is to prioritize removal spells that can target flying creatures. Enchantment-based removals, such as “Seal Away”, bypass the Whelp’s red color protection, while instants like “Path to Exile” offer a swift answer regardless of your opponent’s multicolor synergies. Additionally, utilizing board wipes can clear multiple threats at once, diminishing the value of any single card like Arcbound Whelp.
Countering the spells that would trigger the Whelp’s ability is another approach. Spell counters not only neutralize the immediate threat but also prevent Arcbound Whelp from becoming more potent. However, timing is crucial, so it’s important to anticipate and disrupt your opponent’s multicolored plays. By combining removal, counters, and strategic play, any player can overcome the challenge posed by Arcbound Whelp in a match.
Cards like Arcbound Whelp
Arcbound Whelp enters the vast pantheon of modular creatures with a fiery presence. Its direct comparison is often drawn with its predecessor, Arcbound Ravager. While Ravager is known for its utility in sacrificing artifacts to grow its power, Whelp introduces flying, giving it access to the skies for an evasive angle of attack. However, unlike its land-bound cousin, Whelp’s breath weapon feeds off red mana to deal direct damage, providing a more aggressive strategy in player’s arsenals.
Analogous in their modular abilities, Arcbound Crusher and Whelp share the core mechanic of accumulating +1/+1 counters. Crusher, however, offers a beefier approach, gaining counters with each artifact’s arrival. Yet it lacks the immediacy of Whelp’s direct damage capability. When comparing to Furnace Whelp, another dragon-themed card, Arcbound Whelp stands out with the modular trait allowing it to redistribute the counters, thus reinforcing the resilience of your creature lineup upon its demise.
All things considered, Arcbound Whelp doesn’t just complement the family of Arcbound creatures but also carves its niche with aerial dominance and a potent firepower ready to unleash at a moment’s notice, enriching red-based artifact compositions in Magic: The Gathering with its unique blend of versatility and aggression.
Cards similar to Arcbound Whelp by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Arcbound Whelp MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons 2 and Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, 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 Arcbound Whelp and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Arcbound Whelp Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-06-18 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Craig J Spearing.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-06-18 | Modern Horizons 2 | MH2 | 113 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Craig J Spearing | |
| 2 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 410 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Craig J Spearing |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Arcbound Whelp has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Arcbound Whelp card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-06-18 | If this creature gets enough -1/-1 counters put on it to cause it to go to the graveyard, modular will put a number of +1/+1 counters on the target artifact creature equal to the number of +1/+1 counters on this creature before it left the battlefield. |
