Mind Whip MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
| Released | 1995-06-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Ice Age |
| Set code | ICE |
| Number | 149 |
| Frame | 1993 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Drew Tucker |
Key Takeaways
- Activating Mind Whip at instant speed allows for game-time decisions, adding a layer of strategic depth.
- The card’s forced discard effect can hinder your opponent’s resource acceleration significantly.
- Mind Whip’s recurring disruption potential makes it a strong consideration for control-focused decks.
Text of card
During target creature's controller's upkeep, he or she pays o3 or Mind Whip deals 2 damage to him or her. If Mind Whip deals damage in this way, tap that creature.
"A mind in agony is a sparrow without wings." —Lim-Dûl, the Necromancer
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Mind Whip enables you to disrupt your opponent’s gameplay by forcing a discard, thereby potentially gaining card advantage as your opponent loses essential resources.
Resource Acceleration: The forced discard from Mind Whip can impede your opponent’s resource acceleration by discarding key ramp spells or creatures, which can indirectly benefit your game tempo.
Instant Speed: Being able to activate Mind Whip at instant speed offers strategic flexibility, allowing you to wait until your opponent’s draw step before deciding whether to use it, thereby maximizing its potential impact.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Mind Whip forces a discard from the opponent at a steep personal cost, needing you to forfeit a card from your hand too. This is particularly taxing when your hand is depleting and each card’s value is heightened.
Specific Mana Cost: The activation requirement for Mind Whip is strictly black mana, which can be prohibitive for multicolored decks or those with a less stable mana base, thus limiting its versatility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With other cards in the game offering similar or better effects for less, the four mana investment for Mind Whip’s effect can be a deal-breaker, especially considering the pace of the gameplay and the necessity to maximize mana efficiency.
Reasons to Include Mind Whip in Your Collection
Versatility: Mind Whip offers adaptability to various deck building strategies, especially in formats that support discard or control themes, making it a valuable inclusion for players who appreciate flexible cards.
Combo Potential: This card’s ability to force an opponent to discard at the beginning of their upkeep can be synergized with other discard mechanics or strategies that capitalize on the opponents’ reduced hand size.
Meta-Relevance: In a metagame where control decks prevail, Mind Whip can serve as an ongoing source of disruption, potentially deterring opponents from establishing a steady game plan with its recurring discard effect.
How to beat
Mind Whip is a unique card that can disrupt your opponent’s strategy by forcing them to either discard a card or take damage. Overcoming this nuisance requires strategic play. Using cards with instant-speed abilities to draw or discard can leave you less vulnerable to the effects of Mind Whip. Additionally, cards that provide a benefit when being discarded, such as those with Madness or Jump-start, can turn Mind Whip’s downside into an advantage for you.
Moreover, leveraging graveyard strategies can turn the tables on Mind Whip. If your deck has ways to play cards from the graveyard, discarding becomes less of a setback. Alternatively, ensuring a robust hand size can cushion the impact of the discard, allowing you to discard the least impactful card. Decks with strong card draw engines or those that generate card advantage can consistently recover from the disruption Mind Whip imposes.
Furthermore, preventing Mind Whip’s activation altogether through artifact destruction or counterspells before it impacts the game can be a key to success. Denying your opponent the chance to use Mind Whip by removing it from the battlefield or negating its activation can preserve your hand and your life total, keeping your strategy intact and on the road to victory.
Cards like Mind Whip
Mind Whip is an intriguing Magic: The Gathering card, sharing some aspects with other disruption spells in the game. Like Mind Whip, cards such as Blightning offer a combination of effects to advance players’ positions. While Blightning inflicts damage as well as forces a discard, Mind Whip focuses solely on the disruption tactic of making an opponent discard each turn. This persistent threat can shape the course of a game.
Another card worth comparing is Hymn to Tourach, which also revolves around discard strategies. Unlike Mind Whip, this powerful spell makes the opponent discard two cards at random and for a lower mana cost. This can be devastating early in the game. The trade-off with Mind Whip is that it allows for recurring disruption instead of a one-time effect. Lastly, we look at Liliana’s Caress, a card that punishes opponents whenever they discard. When paired with Mind Whip, this can be a relentless combination that slowly whittles away an opponent’s resources.
Overall, Mind Whip offers a unique tactical advantage in ongoing player disruption. It stands out among MTG cards that influence hand control, providing a reusable means to upset opponents’ strategies.
Cards similar to Mind Whip by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Mind Whip MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age, 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 Mind Whip 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Mind Whip has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |