Oculus Whelp MTG Card
2023-04-21 - Number 69
2023-04-21 - Number 15
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Phyrexian Dragon |
| Abilities | Flying,Transform |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Flying As long as you control a transformed permanent, Oculus Whelp has "When Oculus Whelp dies, draw a card."
Even before Phyrexia's forces arrived on Tarkir, Silumgar's draconic brood had a discerning eye for valuables.
Cards like Oculus Whelp
Oculus Whelp is a recent addition to the roster of creature cards in MTG, providing a unique blend of abilities that echoes traits of other cards within the game. When analyzed alongside creatures such as Cloudkin Seer, the similarities become apparent; both cards have flying and draw you a card upon entering the battlefield. Oculus Whelp, however, adds a life-gain strategy to your deck by letting you gain 1 life each time you draw a card, enhancing survivability in drawn-out matches.
Analogous to Faerie Seer in its scrying ability, Oculus Whelp’s card drawing is more straightforward but at a higher mana cost. Faerie Seer allows for deck manipulation at a lower cost, but does not aid in life gain. Meanwhile, Fibblethip the Lost also draws cards and can potentially draw two if it enters the battlefield from the library, offering a potential card advantage. Nevertheless, it lacks the Oculus Whelp’s consistent life gain with every draw.
Considering the breadth of options available, Oculus Whelp finds its niche within MTG for players who value incremental life gain coupled with the ability to pull more cards. While other creatures may offer similar card draw benefits, the additional life gain each turn makes Oculus Whelp a card worth considering for decks focusing on longevity and card advantage.
Cards similar to Oculus Whelp by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Oculus Whelp’s ability to scry and draw upon entering the battlefield or dying adds significant card quality and card flow control to your play, boosting your chances of accessing the right cards when you need them.
Resource Acceleration: Though not directly providing mana, Oculus Whelp’s presence can streamline your draws towards more impactful spells or lands, indirectly speeding up your resource development and enabling you to cast more influential spells sooner.
Instant Speed: While Oculus Whelp itself is a creature card and does not inherently possess instant speed, its effects tied to common game events promote a strategically reactive playstyle, allowing you to benefit from the scrying and drawing at critical moments of the gameplay.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Oculus Whelp’s ability might hinge on a discard mechanic that can deplete your hand, potentially losing valuable cards.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring precise mana types, Oculus Whelp could strain your deck’s mana base, limiting its flexibility and necessitating a specific deck environment to thrive.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its mana value, Oculus Whelp might not compare favorably to other creatures or spells offering more impact on the game state, reducing its overall effectiveness in competitive play.
Reasons to Include Oculus Whelp in Your Collection
Versatility: Oculus Whelp finds its place in various deck archetypes due to its dual ability to impact the board as a creature and enhance spell mastery through its scry ability whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell.
Combo Potential: With the ability to scry repeatedly, this card works seamlessly in decks that are heavy on instants and sorceries. It can help set up the perfect draw or arrange the top cards of your library to streamline combo execution.
Meta-Relevance: In an environment where setting up the right plays is crucial, Oculus Whelp can provide consistent deck filtering, making it a relevant choice against decks seeking to optimize their draw and maintain card quality throughout the game.
How to beat
Oculus Whelp positions itself as a noteworthy creature in the vast universe of creatures within Magic: The Gathering. Not only does it offer aerial power due to its flying ability, making it a consistent source of pressure in the skies, but it’s also known for generating card advantage. Every time Oculus Whelp attacks, you may peek at the top card of your library, leaving opponents in anxious anticipation of your deck’s upcoming threats.
Confronting an Oculus Whelp effectively requires a strategic approach. Utilizing removal spells that can target creatures in the air is key. Cards like Murder or Doom Blade can efficiently dispatch the Whelp before it accumulates too much value. Additionally, employing flyers or creatures with reach to contest the Whelp in combat can deter attacks or lead to its demise. Negating its card advantage through hand disruption spells such as Thoughtseize or spells that manipulate the top of the deck, such as Brainstorm, can also diminish the Whelp’s influence on the game.
Ultimately, the key to triumphing over Oculus Whelp lies in countering its advantages early on. Should you succeed in curtailing its card advantage and neutralizing its aerial threat promptly, the Whelp’s impact on the game state can be managed, paving the way to victory over its wielder’s strategy.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Oculus Whelp // Oculus Whelp MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine Art Series and March of the Machine, 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 Oculus Whelp // Oculus Whelp and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Oculus Whelp // Oculus Whelp Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-04-21 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Donato Giancola.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | March of the Machine Art Series | AMOM | 15 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Donato Giancola | ||
| 2 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine | MOM | 69 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Donato Giancola |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Oculus Whelp has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Oculus Whelp card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-04-14 | A “transformed permanent” is a double-faced permanent with its back face up. Notably, modal double-faced permanents and melded permanents are never transformed permanents, no matter which faces are up. |
| 2023-04-14 | If Oculus Whelp dies at the same time as your transformed permanents, its ability will trigger, and you’ll draw a card. (This wouldn’t be true if the ability were worded differently, in case you were wondering.) |