Whipflare MTG Card

Card advantage: Whipflare efficiently deals with swarms of creatures, setting back opponents without using multiple cards. Board control: Especially suited to artifact strategies, it dictates the pace against aggressive creature-focused decks. Strategic play: As a sorcery, Whipflare requires tactical timing, maximizing impact on the game during your turn.

New Phyrexia (NPH)
2011-05-13 - Number 102

Commander 2014 (C14)
2014-11-07 - Number 184

Commander 2016 (C16)
2016-11-11 - Number 140

Whipflare - Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)

Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)
2018-06-08 - Number 130

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Sorcery

Text of card

Whipflare deals 2 damage to each nonartifact creature.

The slag-workers wasted no time in creating their own flare pulses to cleanse the area of the *incompleat*.

Cards like Whipflare

Whipflare has carved its niche in Magic the Gathering as an efficient board control tool, particularly for those piloting artifact-based strategies. It’s often weighed against other damage-inflicting spells, like Pyroclasm. While both deal 2 damage to each creature, Whipflare’s advantage lies in its favoritism towards artifact creatures, which remain unscathed. This makes it a staple in environments where artifacts feature prominently.

Another card that echoes this strategic damage distribution is Anger of the Gods. Though at a higher mana cost, it inflicts 3 damage and exiles creatures that it would destroy, preventing reanimation tactics. Conversely, Whipflare’s lower cost and selective nature can be pivotal in maintaining a dominant board state when aligned with the right deck. Similarly, Kozilek’s Return offers an instant-speed option with a damage radius that also bypasses your own devoid creatures, granting it a situational edge.

To conclude, each of these spells offers unique benefits depending on your deck’s composition. Whipflare remains a favored choice for MTG players who treasure the synergy with artifact creatures and who are looking to swiftly clear a path to victory.

Cards similar to Whipflare by color, type and mana cost

Embereth Shieldbreaker // Battle Display - MTG Card versions

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Despite not providing direct card draw, Whipflare offers a form of card advantage through its ability to potentially clear multiple opposing creatures with a single spell. This can tip the scales in your favor, especially when facing decks that flood the board with smaller creatures.

Resource Acceleration: While Whipflare doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, it helps maintain your pace on the board by efficiently dealing with early threats. This facilitates things for mana-hungry decks, allowing them to stabilize and make their more impactful plays without being overrun by aggro strategies.

Instant Speed: Whipflare’s fast effect can be deceiving, as it is a sorcery. This means timing is crucial—casting it at the right moment during your turn can be as impactful as an instant, creating a pseudo-instant speed advantage when clearing out creatures before they can contribute to your opponent’s game plan.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside to Whipflare is that it does not have a requirement to discard cards, which means it doesn’t help cycle through your deck or provide an avenue for discarding less useful cards in hand.

Specific Mana Cost: Whipflare’s mana cost of two red makes it somewhat inflexible, particularly for decks that are not heavily red or don’t have an easy way to produce the required colored mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not exorbitantly priced at a converted mana cost of two, some MTG players may find it costly compared to other mass-damage spells that affect the entire board or have additional benefits.

Reasons to Include Whipflare in Your Collection

Versatility: Whipflare offers board control capabilities across a variety of decks, particularly those that need to manage multiple creatures early in the game. Its ability to deal 2 damage to each non-artifact creature makes it a valuable card for players who focus on artifact-centric strategies.

Combo Potential: This card can be a critical part of combos in artifact decks, acting as a one-sided board wipe that clears the way for your own creatures to attack. It can also synergize with cards that benefit from the death of creatures, such as those with ‘morbid’ or similar triggers.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames crowded with aggressive creature decks, Whipflare is a cost-effective way to maintain parity on the board, preventing early game overwhelms. It helps stabilize the playing field against swarms of low-toughness creatures that are commonly found in many current competitive formats.

How to Beat Whipflare

Whipflare has cemented its place in Magic the Gathering as a powerful tool for red-based decks looking to control the board. This card has been instrumental in decks aiming to clear out the myriad of early game creatures opponents may deploy. However, every powerful card has its countermeasures, and Whipflare is no exception.

To effectively neutralize Whipflare’s impact, consider including creatures with toughness greater than two in your deck to withstand its damage output. Diversifying your threats can mitigate the setback from a potential Whipflare play. Additionally, take advantage of indestructible creatures or those with regeneration abilities, as they can survive the fiery onslaught. Using spells like Heroic Intervention can also give your creatures temporary protection from such board-clearing spells.

Moreover, spells that counter red or specifically instant and sorcery spells offer a direct answer to Whipflare. They allow you to keep your creatures on the battlefield and maintain your board presence. By anticipating and preparing for removal spells like Whipflare, you can preserve your advantage and outmaneuver your opponent’s strategies.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Whipflare MTG card by a specific set like New Phyrexia and Commander 2014, 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 Whipflare and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Whipflare Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2011-05-13 and 2018-06-08. Illustrated by Johann Bodin.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2011-05-13	New Phyrexia	NPH	102	2003	Normal	Black	Johann Bodin
2	2014-11-07	Commander 2014	C14	184	2015	Normal	Black	Johann Bodin
3	2016-11-11	Commander 2016	C16	140	2015	Normal	Black	Johann Bodin
4	2018-06-08	Commander Anthology Volume II	CM2	130	2015	Normal	Black	Johann Bodin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Whipflare has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal