Star Whale MTG Card
Text of card
Flying, vigilance Other creatures you control have ward . Suspend 6— (Rather than cast this card from your hand, you may pay and exile it with six time counters on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a time counter. When the last is removed, cast it without paying its mana cost. It has haste.)
Cards like Star Whale
Star Whale joins the ranks of fascinating creatures in Magic: The Gathering, boasting unique abilities that echo those of beloved sea giants in the card pool. Cards such as Stormtide Leviathan also make an impactful presence on the board with their sizeable bodies and game-altering effects. However, Star Whale offers an additional tactical advantage with its ability to return to the owner’s hand, allowing for repeated plays and synergies.
Looking at other creatures of the deep, Lorthos, the Tidemaker, presents both size and the capacity to control the battlefield by tapping down permanents. Despite these merits, Lorthos lacks the bouncing ability that gives Star Whale a persistent threat status. Similarly, when considering card versatility and related synergies, Whalebone Glider, albeit a less formidable card, shares a Whale-centric theme providing buffs to the oceanic behemoths but without directly impacting the board as Star Whale does.
When evaluating Star Whale against its aquatic peers, it stands out for its combination of daunting reappearance and board influence. It’s this mix that aids in making a splash in decks focused on leveraging large sea creatures, reinforcing Star Whale’s place in the MTG ecosystem.
Cards similar to Star Whale by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Star Whale offers a dynamic way to maintain a strong hand, with abilities that may allow you to draw additional cards, potentially outpacing your opponent in resources.
Resource Acceleration: The power of Star Whale can often translate into resource acceleration, giving you the upper hand to cast spells more quickly and efficiently than your opponents by potentially unlocking new mana opportunities or synergies.
Instant Speed: The capability to use Star Whale’s abilities or play it at instant speed provides flexibility, allowing you to adapt to the unfolding game and surprise your opponent with unexpected turns of play.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One notable drawback of the Star Whale card is the mandatory card discard when certain abilities are used. This can inadvertently deplete your hand, particularly detrimental in games where maintaining card advantage is crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: Star Whale demands a precise combination of mana types to be cast, which could potentially restrict its integration into a wide variety of decks. Players may find their deck-building options limited as they work to accommodate the mana needs of Star Whale.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that’s on the higher end of the spectrum, Star Whale represents a significant investment of resources. Considering the pace of the game and the cost-effectiveness of alternatives, players might be hesitant to allocate such a large portion of their mana pool for this single play.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Star Whale is a unique addition to any deck that thrives on manipulating creatures and game tempo. With its ability to impact the board just by coming into play, it offers a dynamic strategy for decks that require creatures with staying power.
Combo Potential: This card can serve as a key piece in combos, especially in decks that capitalize on creature synergies or those looking to maximize the value of entering-the-battlefield triggers. Plus, its synergistic interaction with bounce mechanics can be a game-changer.
Meta-Relevance: Given its substantial presence on the battlefield and its potential to disrupt opponents’ strategies, Star Whale can play a decisive role in a meta dominated by battles of attrition or one that rewards significant individual creatures.
How to beat
The allure of the Star Whale in the vast MTG universe is undeniable. Its colossal size and formidable abilities make it a daunting presence on the battlefield. A game-changer with the potential to alter the tide of any match, it can, at first glance, seem almost unstoppable. Yet, for every leviathan, there exists a strategy to navigate the treacherous waters.
Counterspells are an essential tool in the arsenal of any seasoned player going up against this behemoth. By anticipating your opponent’s move and having a mana reserve ready, you can prevent the Star Whale from ever breaching the board’s surface. Similarly, exile effects offer a reliable means of dealing with this creature once it’s in play, bypassing any traditional destruction avoidance it may possess. Moreover, cards that force sacrifice can skillfully circumvent the whale’s size and abilities, as they typically don’t target a creature directly.
Utilizing these strategies, players can tip the scales in their favor. When it comes to the Star Whale, remember: it’s not just about the power you wield, but how astutely you deploy it. With the right cards and timing, even the mightiest creatures of MTG can be subdued.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Star Whale MTG card by a specific set like Doctor Who and Doctor Who, 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 Star Whale 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
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Star Whale Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-10-13 and 2023-10-13. Illustrated by Simon Dominic.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2023-10-13 | Doctor Who | WHO | 660 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Simon Dominic | |
| 2 | 2023-10-13 | Doctor Who | WHO | 55 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Simon Dominic |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Star Whale has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Star Whale card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-10-13 | As the second triggered ability resolves, you must cast the card if able. You must do so even if it requires targets and the only legal targets are ones that you really don't want to target. Timing permissions based on the card's type are ignored. |
| 2023-10-13 | Cards exiled with suspend are exiled face up. |
| 2023-10-13 | Exiling a card with suspend isn't casting that card. This action doesn't use the stack and can't be responded to. |
| 2023-10-13 | If an effect refers to a "suspended card," that means a card that (1) has suspend, (2) is in exile, and (3) has one or more time counters on it. |
| 2023-10-13 | If the card has in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost. |
| 2023-10-13 | If the first triggered ability of suspend (the one that removes time counters) is countered, no time counter is removed. The ability will trigger again at the beginning of the card's owner's next upkeep. |
| 2023-10-13 | If the second triggered ability is countered, the card can't be cast. It remains exiled with no time counters on it, and it's no longer suspended. |
| 2023-10-13 | If the spell requires any targets, those targets are chosen when the spell is finally cast, not when the card is exiled. |
| 2023-10-13 | If you can't cast the card, perhaps because there are no legal targets available, it remains exiled with no time counters on it, and it's no longer suspended. |
| 2023-10-13 | If you cast a card "without paying its mana cost," such as with suspend, you can't choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those if you want to cast the card. |
| 2023-10-13 | Suspend is a keyword that represents three abilities. The first is a static ability that allows you to exile the card from your hand with the specified number of time counters (the number before the dash) on it by paying its suspend cost (listed after the dash). The second is a triggered ability that removes a time counter from the suspended card at the beginning of each of your upkeeps. The third is a triggered ability that causes you to cast the card when the last time counter is removed. If you cast a creature spell this way, it gains haste until you lose control of that creature (or, in rare cases, you lose control of the creature spell while it's on the stack). |
| 2023-10-13 | The mana value of a spell cast without paying its mana cost is determined by its mana cost, even though that cost wasn't paid. |
| 2023-10-13 | When the last time counter is removed, the second triggered ability of suspend (the one that lets you cast the card) triggers. It doesn't matter why the last time counter was removed or what effect removed it. |
| 2023-10-13 | You are never forced to activate mana abilities to pay costs, so if there is a mandatory additional mana cost (such as from Thalia, Guardian of Thraben), you can decline to activate mana abilities to pay for it and hence fail to cast the suspended card, leaving it in exile. |
| 2023-10-13 | You can exile a card in your hand using suspend any time you could cast that card. Consider its card type, any effects that modify when you could cast it (such as flash) and any other effects that stop you from casting it (such as from Meddling Mage's ability) to determine if and when you can do this. Whether you could actually complete all steps in casting the card is irrelevant. For example, you can exile a card with suspend that has no mana cost or that requires a target even if no legal targets are available at that time. |
Guide to Vigilance card ability
In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.