Long-Finned Skywhale MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Whale
Abilities	Flying
Released	2016-09-30
Set symbol
Set name	Kaladesh
Set code	KLD
Power	4
Toughness	3
Number	54
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Cliff Childs

Key Takeaways

Long-Finned Skywhale enhances card selection, improving chances for victory with its attack-triggered card filtering.
The Skywhale demands careful resource management, with its playability hinging on specific mana requirements.
Despite its mana cost, the Skywhale’s flying ability and deck synergy make it a formidable card to consider.

Text of card

Flying Long-Finned Skywhale can block only creatures with flying.

The aethersphere is home to the most wondrous beings on all of Kaladesh, although the dangers of traversing it mean that not much is known of them.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Long-Finned Skywhale gives you the upper hand by offering repeatable card filtering whenever it attacks. This flying behemoth ensures you dredge through your deck, finding the spells you need to secure victory.

Resource Acceleration: Despite not providing direct mana acceleration, this card shapes your draws effectively, helping streamline your plays and resource management. By selectively drawing into your deck, it pseudo-accelerates your game plan, getting you to your key cards faster.

Instant Speed: While the Long-Finned Skywhale operates at sorcery speed, its presence compels opponents to consider the consequence of leaving mana open for potential countermagic or instant-speed interaction. This strategic tension can be just as valuable as the actual speed of play, giving you a subtle yet tangible edge in resource manipulation during game play.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To fully utilize the Long-Finned Skywhale, players must meet certain conditions that can hamper card advantage. While it doesn’t directly force a discard, keeping up with its energy requirements may lead players to sacrifice valuable cards elsewhere.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes double blue mana, this card fits primarily into blue-centric or two-color decks. It may not be an ideal choice for a multicolored deck that cannot reliably meet the color-specific mana demand.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a four mana value to get airborne, there might be alternative creatures offering more immediate board presence or with less intensive mana needs. This can make the Skywhale a less tempting option, especially in formats where tempo and efficiency are key.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Long-Finned Skywhale offers a unique flying dynamic to blue-based decks, serving as a robust aerial threat that can easily evade many common ground-based defenses.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize with mechanics that benefit from flying creatures or those that capitalize on the bounce effects by returning nonland permanents to their owner’s hand.

Meta-Relevance: With the ever-shifting magic game environment, a card like Long-Finned Skywhale could prove to be a strategic asset against decks that lack flying blockers or as an efficient way to surpass other mid-range creature strategies.

How to beat

Encountering a Long-Finned Skywhale can be a considerable challenge on the battlefield. With its flying ability, it soars over ground-based defenses with ease. Luckily, there are strategies to navigating this airborne threat. One effective tactic is to make use of spells that can target and destroy flying creatures or those that can change the battlefield conditions, such as Silklash Spider or Windstorm.

Another strategy to consider is direct removal. Cards like Doom Blade or Murder offer a straightforward solution to dispatch the Skywhale before it has a chance to dominate the skies. Ensnaring it with enchantments that prevent attacking or blocking, such as Pacifism, can also neutralize the threat it poses significantly.

Overall, when facing a Long-Finned Skywhale, the key is to employ a mix of aerial defense and direct removal. Dealing with this leviathan of the skies requires a well-thought-out plan that includes a diverse set of responses to keep your opponent’s creatures in check and maintain control of the game.

Cards like Long-Finned Skywhale

The Long-Finned Skywhale soars into the skies of MTG as a unique creature with its set of abilities. When we examine cards akin to our Skywhale, we can look at creatures like the Wind Drake, which also boasts the ability to fly. The Wind Drake, however, doesn’t have the additional benefit of being able to block only creatures with flying like the Long-Finned Skywhale does.

Another comparable card is the Aven Surveyor which, much like the Skywhale, has flying and impacts the board by bouncing an opposing creature back to its owner’s hand when it enters the battlefield. Despite the Skywhale not having this bounce ability, it compensates with a greater power, making it a more aggressive presence in the skies. There’s also the Phantom Monster that shares the 3/3 flying stats with the Skywhale, but the Monster lacks the Skywhale’s selective blocking capability, potentially offering the Skywhale a slight edge in aerial control.

Hence, amongst the pantheon of flying creatures, Long-Finned Skywhale distinguishes itself with its blend of power and strategic defensive utility, soaring above as a noteworthy contender within MTG’s grand collection of air dominators.

Cards similar to Long-Finned Skywhale by color, type and mana cost

Sakashima of a Thousand Faces - MTG Card versions

Johnny, Combo Player - MTG Card versions

Cytoplast Manipulator - MTG Card versions

Crookclaw Transmuter - MTG Card versions

Turtleshell Changeling - MTG Card versions

Glen Elendra Archmage - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Long-Finned Skywhale MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh, 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 Long-Finned Skywhale and other MTG cards: