Whimwader MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Elemental
Released	2008-05-02
Set symbol
Set name	Shadowmoor
Set code	SHM
Power	6
Toughness	4
Number	54
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jeff Easley

Key Takeaways

Whimwader offers card draw and mana efficiency, crucial for outpacing opponents in longer games.
Instant speed play allows strategic depth and reactive measures, ensuring board control.
Demands careful play due to discard requirements and specific deck compatibility issues.

Text of card

Whimwader can't attack unless defending player controls a blue permanent.

"Thought? Deceit? Progress? Now you're just making it hungry." —Abral, kithkin alchemist

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Whimwader, a delightful addition to any blue deck, leverages card advantage by potentially drawing you an additional card each turn. This mechanic empowers players to outpace opponents through superior hand options.

Resource Acceleration: Efficient use of mana is crucial in Magic, and Whimwader excels by offering cost reduction for spells with the chosen keyword. This ability to accelerate resources can prove game-changing, especially in longer matches where every mana point counts.

Instant Speed: With the ability to cast at instant speed, this card ensures that you’re always one step ahead, reacting to the state of play with precision and keeping opponents on their toes. It embodies strategic depth, as holding up mana for Whimwader can bluff counterspells or other interaction, leading to a psychological advantage over your adversary.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Whimwader requires a card to be discarded as an additional play cost. This can deplete your hand, particularly if your strategy relies on maintaining card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Whimwader’s mana cost includes blue mana, which means it’s tailored for blue or blue-hybrid decks, potentially restricting it from fitting into a diverse range of strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With Whimwader demanding a significant amount of mana, evaluating its impact against other options is crucial. There are alternative creatures or spells that could provide a better cost-to-benefit ratio, especially in decks aiming for aggressive, low-curve strategies.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Whimwader slips seamlessly into various blue-centric deck builds, particularly those that appreciate a creature able to dodge removal or block effectively thanks to its flash and flying abilities.

Combo Potential: As an instant-speed flyer, Whimwader synergizes with cards that exploit creature entries or departures, making it a tactical play in decks aiming to surprise opponents or secure air dominance.

Meta-Relevance: With the constant ebb and flow of the MTG metagame, Whimwader’s adaptability makes it a smart pick for facing various threats, especially in environments where controlling the skies can be the key to victory.

How to beat

Whimwader joins the ranks of Magic: The Gathering’s creatures with a presence that players must tactically navigate. As a creature with the valuable flying trait, it can be challenging to overcome for those unprepared. In theory, removal spells are a universal answer; a card like Murder brings a straightforward solution to the table, eliminating the threat regardless of its evasion abilities.

Moreover, spells such as Negate also stand strong against Whimwader by countering it directly upon casting, saving you the hassle of dealing with it on the battlefield. Considering its evasion and potentially game-swinging abilities, players would do well to keep mana open for such answers or strategically plan their plays to minimize Whimwader’s impact. Additionally, enchantment-based removals like Pacifism efficiently neutralize Whimwader’s offensive capability, rendering it harmless while still on the field.

Ultimately, staying ahead requires both proactive and reactive measures. Whether countering it early, sending it to the graveyard, or shackling it with enchantments, the key lies in retaining control over the board state, ensuring that Whimwader’s influence is nothing more than a fleeting whisper against your strategy.

Cards like Whimwader

Whimwader has quickly emerged as an intriguing creature card, finding its niche within the vast menagerie of Magic: The Gathering. It bears certain similarities to Mist-Cloaked Herald — both creatures share the unblockable trait, allowing them to sneak past defenses effortlessly. Whimwader, however, is set apart by its unique “vanish” mechanic, providing potential for evasion and surprise tactics which Mist-Cloaked Herald lacks.

Merfolk Spy is another comparable card, granting unblockable attacks, with an added ability to peek at the top card of your opponent’s library, offering strategic insight. Whimwader doesn’t offer this intel, but it compensates with better stats and its vanishing act. Lastly, we can compare it to Inkfathom Infiltrator. This creature can’t be blocked as well, and unlike Whimwader, it can’t be brought down by spells that target only one creature, granting it a kind of resilience.

Every card has its context and pros and cons, and Whimwader is no exception. It finds a balance between being an evasive low-cost creature and providing tactical adaptability, making it a creature card worth considering for decks capitalizing on direct damage and battlefield control.

Inkfathom Infiltrator - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Whimwader by color, type and mana cost

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Meloku the Clouded Mirror - MTG Card versions

Azami, Lady of Scrolls - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Whimwader MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor, 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 Whimwader and other MTG cards: