Whetstone MTG Card
1998-10-12 - Number 316
2000-08-02 - Number nl316
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact |
| Abilities | Mill |
Text of card
o3: Each player puts the top two cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
To hone swords and dull minds. —Whetstone inscription
Cards like Whetstone
Whetstone offers a unique angle in the realm of card filtering mechanics in MTG. Its closest cousin might be Feldon’s Cane, which allows a player to reshuffle their graveyard back into their library. Whetstone differs as it takes on a more active role by enabling any player to mill two cards with every activation. In contrast, Feldon’s Cane is a one-time-use artifact, offering a more final solution to graveyard management.
Another relative in the milling strategy is Mesmeric Orb, which forces a mill for each untap. Whetstone stands out by being controllable, allowing the player to choose when to activate the ability, potentially strategizing around opponents’ play patterns. However, Mesmeric Orb can be more relentless, impacting the board with each untap cycle.
Considering the strategic implications and the ability to influence both the player’s and the opponent’s decks, Whetstone holds a distinctive position within MTG card dynamics. It provides a continuous threat that needs to be answered, making it a noteworthy component in decks that exploit milling as a path to victory.
Cards similar to Whetstone by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Whetstone offers consistent card selection by allowing players to potentially sift through their library quickly. This effect scales with each activation, often providing the player wielding it a subtle yet substantial edge over opponents struggling to find the right answers or threats.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating resources in terms of mana, Whetstone can effectively accelerate a player’s access to crucial resources by filtering through undesirable cards. This ensures that players are more likely to draw into the lands or spells they need to execute their game plan efficiently.
Instant Speed: The ability to activate Whetstone at instant speed grants players remarkable flexibility. It can be used at the end of an opponent’s turn to maximize efficiency of mana use, or in response to an opponent’s actions, allowing for reactive play and adaptive strategies—which in MTG can often mean the difference between victory and defeat.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Whetstone compels players to pitch another card from their hand, which could deplete valuable resources, especially in a tight match where every card counts.
Specific Mana Cost: This artifact demands both colorless and blue mana, which slightly limits its flexibility by necessitating a commitment to blue mana sources within your deck construction.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing a total of three mana, this card may seem steep when considering its singular effect to repeatedly mill cards, while other milling options in the game might do so more efficiently or add additional value.
Reasons to Include Whetstone in Your Collection
Versatility: Whetstone offers a unique advantage in that it can be incorporated into a variety of deck styles. Its ability to potentially mill both players creates strategic depth in game play. This versatility can be crucial in adapting to different opponents and situations.
Combo Potential: The milling ability of Whetstone isn’t just a standalone feature. It can be combined with graveyard mechanics like reanimation or delve to further your board state advantage, or with cards that capitalize on opponents’ graveyard contents to hinder their play.
Meta-Relevance: Considering the importance of card advantage and graveyard manipulation in many current metagames, Whetstone can become an essential part of disrupting your opponent’s strategy while fueling your own. In metas where graveyard interactions are significant, Whetstone shines.
How to beat
Whetstone is a potent card in Magic: The Gathering, offering players a way to continuously mill their deck. Understanding how to successfully navigate against this card can determine the flow of the match. To thwart its effects, players should aim to include cards that target artifact removal or graveyard shuffling back into libraries. Thrashing Brontodon or Nature’s Claim are excellent choices, targeting Whetstone directly for removal. For those avoiding the green spectrum, versatile options like Disenchant serve well in white decks.
Hand disruption plays a significant role as well. Duress or Thoughtseize can preemptively remove Whetstone from your opponent’s hand before they have a chance to use it. Another effective tactic is utilizing cards like Elixir of Immortality, which can shuffle your graveyard back into your library, diminishing the mill strategy. Lastly, incorporating cards that capitalize on having a large graveyard, like Nighthowler or Wight of Precinct Six, can turn Whetstone’s strategy into a strength for your own gameplay.
When facing an opponent using Whetstone, it’s vital to adapt your strategies and include tech cards that disrupt or leverage the milling mechanic. A well-prepared deck, equipped to handle this specific threat, can make Whetstone an advantage rather than a setback.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Whetstone MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and World Championship Decks 2000, 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 Whetstone 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 Whetstone Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2000-08-02. Illustrated by Greg Simanson.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-10-12 | Urza's Saga | USG | 316 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Greg Simanson | |
| 2 | 2000-08-02 | World Championship Decks 2000 | WC00 | nl316 | 1997 | Normal | Gold | Greg Simanson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Whetstone has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Whetstone card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | Can be used if a player has less than 2 cards in their library. It will remove 0 or 1 cards if that is all that is available. |
| 2004-10-04 | It is not a draw effect so it will not cause a player with less than 2 cards in their library to lose. |
| 2004-10-04 | Since you are putting more than one card in the graveyard at one time, each affected player can choose the order the 2 cards go in. |