Wavebreak Hippocamp MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 3 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Enchantment Creature — Horse Fish |
Power | 2 |
Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Whenever you cast your first spell during each opponent's turn, draw a card.
Tritons search for omens in its wake.
Cards like Wavebreak Hippocamp
Wavebreak Hippocamp is an intriguing creature card that weaves its magic best when paired with spells that play on opponents’ turns in Magic: The Gathering. If we look at cards like Thassa’s Oracle, we find a different kind of sea creature that also values the strategic casting of spells, albeit focusing on the scry ability and a potential victory condition if your deck is heavily drawn. Wavebreak Hippocamp edges ahead by offering card draw each time you cast your first spell during an opponent’s turn, rather than a one-time effect.
Comparing it to the likes of Gadwick, the Wizened reveals another dimension. Gadwick lets you draw x cards and potentially taps down opposing creatures, a powerful versatility in control matches. Wavebreak Hippocamp, while less explosive than Gadwick’s entry onto the battlefield, promises ongoing value and synergizes with flash spells that fuel its draw ability. It’s a more subtle, but consistent engine. Lastly, Murmuring Mystic could be seen as a parallel for creating value on casting spells, this time generating bird tokens instead of card draw. While they both reward playing spells on your opponent’s turn, Wavebreak Hippocamp offers the tangible advantage of immediately expanding your hand size.
Wavebreak Hippocamp stabilizes its footing within such comparisons by offering consistent card advantage potential and staying power every turn it remains in play, making it a staple in decks that operate on interactive play during an opponent’s turn.
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Wavebreak Hippocamp. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
# | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Esper Flash | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 13 2024 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Dive into deeper strategic plays with Wavebreak Hippocamp as it offers continuous opportunities to draw extra cards whenever you cast a spell during an opponent’s turn, keeping your hand filled with options.
Resource Acceleration: While this enchanting sea creature doesn’t directly produce mana or tokens, its synergy with instant-speed spells and abilities can effectively lead to resource acceleration by ensuring your draws give you the resources needed to stay ahead.
Instant Speed: Playing spells on an opponent’s turn not only disrupts their strategy, but paired with Wavebreak Hippocamp, it turns each of those spells into a potential draw engine. This elevates the importance of instant speed spells in your deck, providing dual utility and significantly bolstering your board position with a wealth of resources.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Wavebreak Hippocamp doesn’t have a discard requirement, but it lacks abilities that allow manipulation of your own hand which some synergistic cards might offer, potentially reducing its utility in certain strategic scenarios.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Wavebreak Hippocamp includes blue mana symbols. This specificity means it fits primarily into blue or blue-inclusive decks, which can be restrictive for deck-building outside those colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including two blue, Wavebreak Hippocamp is an investment in the early game. There are alternative creatures or spells at lower mana costs that could provide quicker board presence or immediate impact, which may be preferable in fast-paced games.
Reasons to Include Wavebreak Hippocamp in Your Collection
Versatility: Wavebreak Hippocamp’s ability to draw a card whenever you cast your first spell during each opponent’s turn lends itself to a variety of blue-based control or flash decks, enabling consistent card advantage.
Combo Potential: This enchanting sea creature synergizes well with strategies that focus on casting spells on the opponent’s turns, potentially setting off chains of draws and plays that can quickly tip the scales in your favor.
Meta-Relevance: Given its inherent synergy with instant-speed spells, Wavebreak Hippocamp shines in metas where interaction during opponents’ turns is crucial, keeping your hand full and your options open against various deck archetypes.
How to Beat Wavebreak Hippocamp
Wavebreak Hippocamp has certainly made a splash as a unique enchantment creature in Magic: The Gathering, promising substantial card advantage with its ability to draw a card every time you cast your first spell during an opponent’s turn. To undermine the Hippocamp’s strengths, consider utilizing instant-speed removal spells that can swiftly dispatch it, bypassing its card drawing capability.
Spot removal spells, like the efficient Fatal Push or Path to Exile, can be very effective to remove it before its ability triggers. In addition, counterspells can serve as both reactive and preemptive measures, preventing the hippocamp from hitting the board altogether. Cards like Negate and Mana Leak are excellent against it, specifically if you’re aiming to control the pace of the game.
Moreover, implementing enchantment exile cards like Banishing Light can provide a more permanent solution. It’s crucial to take action quickly against Wavebreak Hippocamp, as allowing your opponent to build card advantage with it on the field can lead to a slippery slope towards your defeat. Therefore, prioritizing the removal of the hippocamp can help maintain an even keel in card advantage and keep you ahead in the game.
BurnMana Recommendations
Mastering MTG involves more than just understanding individual cards like Wavebreak Hippocamp; it encompasses deck building, strategy execution, and staying ahead of the meta. The Hippocamp offers card advantage and resource acceleration that can be crucial in blue-based control or flash decks. Embracing its potential for long-term value over flashier, immediate impacts makes it a strong contender in interactive play. Curating a deck with this enchanting sea creature at its core could greatly enhance your game. Delve further into Wavebreak Hippocamp’s world and discover how to optimize your deck with strategic insights. Enhance your MTG experience by joining our community and learning more.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Wavebreak Hippocamp MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Theros Beyond Death, 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 Wavebreak Hippocamp 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 Wavebreak Hippocamp Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2020-01-24 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Caio Monteiro.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 79951 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Caio Monteiro | ||
2 | 2020-01-24 | Theros Beyond Death | THB | 80 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Caio Monteiro | |
3 | 2020-01-24 | Theros Beyond Death Promos | PTHB | 80s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Caio Monteiro | |
4 | 2020-01-24 | Theros Beyond Death Promos | PTHB | 80p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Caio Monteiro | |
5 | 2020-01-24 | Theros Beyond Death | THB | 310 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Caio Monteiro | |
6 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 371 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Caio Monteiro |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Wavebreak Hippocamp 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 Wavebreak Hippocamp card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2020-01-24 | An ability that triggers when you cast a spell resolves before the spell that caused it to trigger. It resolves even if that spell is countered. |
2020-01-24 | If you have more than one opponent, this ability can trigger once during each of those opponents’ turns. |
2020-01-24 | In a Two-Headed Giant game, this ability triggers no more than once during each opposing team’s turn. |
2020-01-24 | This ability triggers only on your very first spell during an opponent’s turn, not the first spell after the card is on the battlefield. If you cast a spell before it’s on the battlefield (including if you cast this card somehow during an opponent’s turn), the ability won’t trigger. |