Whiptail Wurm MTG Card
1997-05-01 - Number 192
1999-07-01 - Number 149
2011-01-10 - Number 173
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Wurm |
| Power | 8 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Cards like Whiptail Wurm
The Whiptail Wurm card makes a significant mark among the high-powered creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It has a striking similarity to creatures such as Craw Wurm, both boasting a substantial power and toughness for late-game presence. However, Whiptail Wurm stands out with its unique characteristic – the trample ability, allowing excess damage dealt to a creature to be inflicted on the opponent. Craw Wurm, while sharing a similar cost and size, does not have trample, making it less likely to push through those lethal points of damage.
When we look at creatures like Greater Sandwurm, parallels emerge in their trample traits. Greater Sandwurm is also mana-intensive and possesses the potential to be unblockable by creatures with power 2 or less. However, it commands a higher mana value and holds a different role due to its evasion capability. Venturing towards green creature staples with trample, such as Stampeding Wildebeests which also has a built-in card advantage mechanic, it’s evident that Whiptail Wurm offers a more streamlined and pure power approach for players fond of straightforward combat tactics.
In the realm of heavy-hitting green creatures with trample in Magic: The Gathering, Whiptail Wurm carves out its niche. It presents an efficient power to mana cost ratio, making it a viable option for decks that aim to dominate the battlefield with impactful creatures.
Cards similar to Whiptail Wurm by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Whiptail Wurm may not directly provide card draw, but as a sizable creature card, it demands answers from your opponents. Controlling a large threat like this means your opponents will often have to use more than one card to deal with it, indirectly leading to card advantage on your side.
Resource Acceleration: The cost to bring Whiptail Wurm onto the battlefield is considerable, but once it’s in play, it can be a formidable force that validates the initial resource investment. Though it doesn’t provide classic mana acceleration, its sheer presence can discourage opponents from attacking, effectively conserving your resources for future plays.
Instant Speed: While Whiptail Wurm can’t be cast at instant speed, understanding the ecosystem of MTG cards that can interact with it at instant speed is crucial. For example, readying tricks or protective spells to use when the Wurm is under threat showcases the importance of instant speed interactions within the game. Knowing when to play your Wurm to avoid instant speed removals is a strategic advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While the Whiptail Wurm doesn’t specifically require a discard to play, its very presence may push you towards discarding other potentially useful cards to ensure you reach its substantial mana cost, negatively impacting your hand.
Specific Mana Cost: Summoning the Whiptail Wurm requires a commitment to green mana. Although common in mono-green ramp decks, the required green mana can make it less flexible for multicolored or splash decks, potentially limiting the variety of strategic plays available.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the cost to put this creature onto the battlefield, players could find themselves at a tempo disadvantage. In games where speed and efficiency are critical, the mana investment needed to summon the Whiptail Wurm might be better allocated to more impactful or cost-effective creatures.
Reasons to Include Whiptail Wurm in Your Collection
Versatility: Whiptail Wurm can be a valuable addition to various deck types, especially those looking for a significant power creature without a high-cost investment. Its imposing presence on the battlefield can act as a substantial deterrent to opponents.
Combo Potential: This card can synergize with effects that benefit from high power creatures, such as those that might enable Trample or use power-based metrics for card advantage or damage outputs. Moreover, it can be the target of enchantments or buffs that make it a more formidable threat.
Meta-Relevance: Whiptail Wurm holds a spot in symmetrical balance within the meta, providing a stout blocker or heavy hitter that can adapt to various scenes. It’s most effective in games that extend into later rounds where its presence becomes more pronounced and can turn the tide of battle.
How to beat
Encountering a Whiptail Wurm on the battlefield can be daunting, given its formidable presence and high toughness. This green creature card is recognized for its sheer size, making it a wall against many attacking creatures. However, its lack of trample or other abilities leaves it vulnerable to certain strategic moves.
To effectively counter a Whiptail Wurm, one approach is to leverage flying creatures. Since the Wurm does not have reach, it cannot block those with the flying ability, allowing you to soar over and deal damage unhindered. Removal spells are another efficient option—cards like Murder or Path to Exile can dispatch the Wurm regardless of its toughness. Combat tricks can surprise an opponent as well, with pump spells boosting your creatures’ power to overcome the Wurm’s defense during a crucial turn.
As with many high-cost creatures, resource denial strategies also work well. Land destruction or mana disruption can prevent your adversary from ever casting the Whiptail Wurm. In MTG, understanding the weaknesses of powerful creatures is just as important as recognizing their strength, ensuring you maintain an upper hand in the duel.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Whiptail Wurm MTG card by a specific set like Portal and Starter 1999, 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 Whiptail Wurm 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 Whiptail Wurm Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1997-05-01 and 2011-01-10. Illustrated by Una Fricker.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997-05-01 | Portal | POR | 192 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Una Fricker | |
| 2 | 1999-07-01 | Starter 1999 | S99 | 149 | 1997 | Normal | White | Una Fricker | |
| 3 | 2011-01-10 | Masters Edition IV | ME4 | 173 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Una Fricker |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Whiptail Wurm has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |