Swallow Whole MTG Card

Swallow Whole offers a mix of creature removal and resource savor, pivotal for white deck strategies. Despite the efficiency, the card’s mana specificity and tapping requirement may limit versatility. Inclusion in a collection depends on current metagame and deck synergy with tap mechanics.

Swallow Whole - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Sorcery
Released	2020-04-24
Set symbol
Set name	Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
Set code	IKO
Number	35
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Svetlin Velinov

Text of card

As an additional cost to cast this spell, tap an untapped creature you control. Exile target tapped creature. Put a +1/+1 counter on the creature tapped to pay this spell's additional cost.

"World's better with one fewer poacher in it." —Winota, heartbonder

Cards like Swallow Whole

The strategic nuances of Swallow Whole make it an intriguing card in Magic: The Gathering for players who prefer precision in their creature removal tactics. This mechanic is seen in other cards like Pacifism, which prevents a creature from attacking or blocking without removing it from play. Unlike Swallow Whole, which requires you to tap a creature you control and remove the threat outright, Pacifism leaves the creature on the battlefield, potentially susceptible to enchantment removal.

Analogously, Journey to Nowhere also offers creature exile functionality but differs in its lack of prerequisite actions to initiate the removal, thus providing a seamless answer at a similar cost. Additionally, other spells like Declaration in Stone queue up well for comparison, bypassing the need to tap a creature at the expense of providing your opponent with Clue tokens, which could be a downside depending on the game’s scenario.

While evaluating these choices, Swallow Whole stands out for its ability to shore up your defenses while effectively dealing with opponents’ threats, marking its place among choice removal spells especially in creature-based and control strategies within the Magic: The Gathering framework.

Declaration in Stone - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Swallow Whole doesn’t draw cards directly, the ability to remove an opponent’s creature while furthering your board presence by untapping your own creature can be viewed as a form of card advantage. It essentially combines creature removal and vigilance-like effects in a single, resource-efficient card.

Resource Acceleration: Swallow Whole doesn’t create additional mana or treasure tokens, but it helps accelerate your resources in a different manner. By controlling the board and maintaining your creatures, it ensures your mana investments remain impactful and preserve the tempo of your gameplay.

Instant Speed: Swallow Whole operates at sorcery speed, which means that while it can’t be used during your opponent’s turn, the strategic planning around its use can give you leverage during your turn. Thoughtful application of this type of removal can alter the course of the game significantly by disrupting your opponent’s strategy when they least expect it.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Swallow Whole does not have a discard requirement, it necessitates tapping an untapped creature you control as part of its casting cost. This can set you back by not allowing that creature to attack or to be used for other abilities during your turn, essentially reducing your available resources.

Specific Mana Cost: Swallow Whole requires one white mana to cast. Its specificity to white mana can restrict its integration into multi-color decks or those that do not prioritize white mana sources, potentially making it a less flexible option for decks that aren’t heavily white.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its appealing removal effect, the card comes at the cost of a single white mana and the additional requirement of tapping another creature you control. In a game where tempo and mana efficiency are key, there may be situations where Swallow Whole’s cost is too great compared to alternative removal spells that don’t demand these additional sacrifices.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Swallow Whole offers a unique removal option that can slot into numerous White decks, particularly those looking to utilize their creatures in multiple ways. The fact it’s cast at sorcery speed for a single White mana makes it an efficient play against aggressive decks that rely on early threats.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with decks that have a focus on +1/+1 counters or those employing tap mechanics. It can turn a simple creature tap into a strategic move to eliminate opponents’ threats while strengthening your board presence.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment rife with low-cost utility creatures or where “creature fall” strategies dominate, Swallow Whole can provide an edge by removing key opponent pieces without incurring a high mana cost, letting you maintain tempo and control of the game.

How to beat

Swallow Whole is a white removal spell in Magic: The Gathering that offers a unique way to deal with creatures on the battlefield. To rise above this particular challenge, players must smartly maneuver around its mechanics. Swallow Whole requires a tapped creature as its target and demands the controller to tap an untapped creature they control in addition to paying its mana cost. Understanding this, the key is to maintain vigilance over your board state, ensuring that your essential creatures are not vulnerable after attacking or using tap abilities.

Equally important is diversification of threat sizes in your deck. Swallow Whole can only target creatures with power less than or equal to the creature tapped to pay for its spell cost. Including creatures with varying power levels can significantly reduce the risk of being completely neutralized by this spell. It’s also effective to utilize spells that can untap your creatures, making it impossible for an opponent to select their target for Swallow Whole. Instant-speed removal or hexproof abilities can also disrupt the spell’s execution, safeguarding your key creatures from being exiled.

In essence, careful play and conscious deck-building with powerful, varied, and protected creatures are your best bet against Swallow Whole, ensuring that your formidable creatures remain a threat on the board and out of reach from such targeted removal strategies.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Swallow Whole MTG card by a specific set like Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, 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 Swallow Whole and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Swallow Whole has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Swallow Whole card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2020-04-17	If an effect copies Swallow Whole, the copy will put a +1/+1 counter on the creature tapped to pay the additional cost of the original spell.
2020-04-17	If the target creature is an illegal target by the time Swallow Whole tries to resolve, the spell won’t resolve. You won’t put a +1/+1 counter on any creature.
2020-04-17	The target tapped creature will be exiled even if the creature you tapped leaves the battlefield or becomes untapped before Swallow Whole resolves.
2020-04-17	You can tap any untapped creature you control, including a creature you haven’t controlled continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn, to pay the additional cost.
2020-04-17	You must tap exactly one creature to cast Swallow Whole; you can’t cast it without tapping a creature, and you can’t tap additional creatures.