Whip Sergeant MTG Card
2000-06-05 - Number 107
2005-07-29 - Number 227
2005-07-29 - Number 227★
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Soldier |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
oo R Target creature gains haste until end of turn. (It may attack and oc T the turn it comes under your control.)
Keldon soldiers learn to move faster than the whip.
Cards like Whip Sergeant
Whip Sergeant offers a unique twist within the realm of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. Bearing resemblance to cards like Goblin Chieftain, it bestows other creatures with haste, a powerful ability that permits immediate action upon entering the battlefield. Unlike the tribe-specific Chieftain, Whip Sergeant does not restrict its ability to goblins alone, providing a more versatile boon to a diverse array of creatures. However, it does so at the cost of mana, requiring an investment for each creature you want to accelerate.
When considering other cards that grant haste, Fervor stands out for its passive effect that gives all your creatures haste without any additional investment per use. While this presents a constant advantage, Whip Sergeant’s flexibility in selectively granting haste can be strategically advantageous. Then, we find Ogre Battledriver, an alternative that not only grants haste but also boosts creatures’ power, potentially leading to a more aggressive strategy. The Battledriver does come with a higher casting cost, making Whip Sergeant a preferable option for faster-paced tactics.
Evaluating the synergy and functionality of these cards reveals that Whip Sergeant holds a special place within the arsenal of cards that speed up creature-based strategies in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to selectively grant haste allows for tactical maneuvers that can catch an opponent off guard, making it a valuable card in the right deck.
Cards similar to Whip Sergeant by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Whip Sergeant’s ability to give target creature haste until end of turn plays a vital role in maintaining tempo and potentially providing you with an immediate impact on the battlefield. Quickly deploying creatures and activating their abilities or initiating attacks can effectively translate into card advantage by pressuring the opponent and drawing out their resources to respond.
Resource Acceleration: By granting haste, Whip Sergeant removes the need to wait a turn to utilize newly summoned creatures. This can allow for a faster build-up of your board state, effectively accelerating your resource utilization and giving you an edge, especially in aggressive strategies that demand swift and impactful plays.
Instant Speed: While Whip Sergeant itself is not an instant, its haste-giving ability can be activated at any time you could cast an instant, offering flexibility in combat and play sequencing. This enables surprise tactics and the opportunity to react to your opponent’s moves with spontaneity, potentially turning the tide of the game in your favor with a well-timed creature deployment.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Whip Sergeant can provide a significant advantage by granting haste to your creatures, it comes at the cost of a card from your hand each turn. This discard requirement can quickly deplete your resources, leaving you at a disadvantage later in the game when options become limited.
Specific Mana Cost: With its specific requirement of red mana to activate its ability, Whip Sergeant’s synergy is primarily restricted to red or red-inclusive decks. This limitation narrows its versatility across the diverse range of MTG deck archetypes and could be a deckbuilding constraint for players.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment needed to get Whip Sergeant up and running can be on the higher side. For three mana to cast and additional mana to activate its ability, players might consider alternatives that could potentially offer more immediate impact or lower cost-to-benefit ratios, especially in faster-paced formats.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Whip Sergeant has the ability to grant haste to other creatures, which makes it a useful addition to a wide variety of decks. Its functionality in enabling quick attacks can significantly alter the pace of the game, making it a flexible card in aggressive strategies.
Combo Potential: Combined with cards that have tap abilities or those that benefit from high power creatures entering the battlefield, Whip Sergeant can be part of powerful synergies. It’s an enabler for creature-based combos that capitalize on immediate engagement.
Meta-Relevance: In a gameplay environment where establishing board presence quickly is key, Whip Sergeant’s ability to give haste makes it a relevant choice. This can be especially potent in metas where unexpected bursts of speed can outpace control decks or disrupt combos.
How to beat
Within the tactical landscape of MTG, Whip Sergeant emerges as a utility creature known for enhancing the agility of your forces. The ability to grant haste to other creatures can swing the tempo of the game in your favor, making it a target for removal in your opponent’s strategy. With this in mind, promptly countering or eliminating Whip Sergeant is key to staving off its impact.
To effectively neutralize Whip Sergeant, efficient removal spells are your best tool. Options such as Swords to Plowshares or Terminate can dispatch the Sergeant before it can be a persistent threat on the battlefield. Should Whip Sergeant hit the board, having instant-speed removal at the ready ensures that you can deal with it before haste can be granted. Alternatively, leveraging creature abilities that tap or incapacitate your opponent’s creatures can also mitigate the hastening effect, keeping the advantage squarely on your side.
Ultimately, preparation and quick action form the cornerstone of any strategy seeking to blunt the sharp edge of Whip Sergeant in MTG. Keeping these solutions in hand will help maintain control over the pace of play and contribute significantly to your chances of victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Whip Sergeant MTG card by a specific set like Prophecy and Ninth Edition, 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 Whip Sergeant 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Whip Sergeant Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2000-06-05 and 2005-07-29. Illustrated by Paolo Parente.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2000-06-05 | Prophecy | PCY | 107 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Paolo Parente | |
| 2 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 227 | 2003 | Normal | White | Paolo Parente | |
| 3 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 227★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Paolo Parente |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Whip Sergeant has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |