Whirling Catapult MTG Card
1996-06-10 - Number 136
2008-09-22 - Number 224
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact |
Text of card
: Remove the top two cards of your library from the game to have Whirling Catapult deal 1 damage to each creature with flying and each player.
"Direct confrontation never was to the Orcs' taste." —General Varchild
Cards like Whirling Catapult
Whirling Catapult stands out as a unique artifact in Magic: The Gathering due to its ability to deal damage across enemy creatures. This functionality aligns Whirling Catapult with cards like Pyroclasm and Slagstorm which also offer a damage spread, albeit through different mechanisms. However, what sets Whirling Catapult apart is that it targets only opponent’s creatures, providing a level of control not found in the aforementioned board sweeping spells.
Engulfing Flames and Electrickery also draw parallels with Whirling Catapult, as they too can affect multiple creatures. While Engulfing Flames can only hit one target with the upside of exiling it if destroyed, Electrickery can be overloaded to strike multiple targets, though it’s limited by its one-damage output. Whirling Catapult offers a middle ground with the capacity to chisel away at the opponent’s army more selectively without a sweeping effect that can sometimes be too indiscriminate.
In analyzing these comparisons, it’s apparent that Whirling Catapult possesses a unique niche. It’s not just about the raw damage output, but also the strategy behind when and how to employ its effect to disrupt your adversary’s plans and maintain board advantage.
Cards similar to Whirling Catapult by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Unleashing Whirling Catapult can disrupt your opponent’s strategies, indirectly leading to a card advantage. By eliminating multiple tokens or small creatures at once, it can pave the way for your own attacks.
Resource Acceleration: Whirling Catapult doesn’t directly offer resource acceleration, but by controlling the board and saving your key spells for more decisive moments, it can indirectly influence your resource management positively.
Instant Speed: While Whirling Catapult is an artifact with an activated ability rather than an instant, its ability can be activated at instant speed. This provides the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s moves during their turn or end phase, ideally after they’ve committed to a strategy that your Whirling Catapult can disrupt.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Whirling Catapult doesn’t directly demand a card to be discarded, but it might force you into situations where your hand is rapidly depleted. Ensuring you have enough creatures to utilize its ability can lead to discarding valuable assets to maintain board presence.
Specific Mana Cost: This artifact requires a dedicated commitment of four colorless mana, which implies it has to fit into a deck that can afford such a generic yet substantial mana investment.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of four mana to deploy and additional costs to activate, Whirling Catapult has a high upfront investment. It also competes with other four-mana spells that could potentially offer immediate impact or greater versatility on the battlefield.
Reasons to Include Whirling Catapult in Your Collection
Versatility: Whirling Catapult offers a range of tactical advantages that can adapt to various board states and strategies. Its ability to deal damage to multiple creatures makes it a valuable tool for maintaining control over the battlefield.
Combo Potential: This card can work wonders in decks looking to exploit damage-inflicting abilities or effects that trigger upon dealing damage to creatures. It can set off a cascade of combos by weakening or clearing out opponents’ creatures.
Meta-Relevance: As the MTG meta shifts and creature-heavy decks become prevalent, having Whirling Catapult can give players an edge. It’s particularly effective in formats where swarming tactics are common, letting it serve as both a deterrent and a means of reclaiming board dominance.
How to beat
Whirling Catapult, an artifact card from the fallen empires set, possesses the intriguing ability to deal damage to multiple creature tokens. Its appeal lies in its potential for crowd control against token-heavy strategies prevalent in many Magic: The Gathering games.
One straightforward tactic to subvert the Whirling Catapult’s advantage is to focus on building a deck that relies on fewer, stronger creatures rather than swarms of tokens. This reduces the overall impact of its damage spread and maintains your board’s integrity. Additionally, employing hexproof or shroud abilities can shield your creatures from the Catapult’s indiscriminate damage. Enchantment removals, like Naturalize or Disenchant, are crucial tools to have in your deck to directly deal with the threat of Whirling Catapult and other similar artifacts, securing your strategy against such disruptive forces.
Given the Catapult’s limited scope, decks that use evasion tactics, such as flying creatures, can essentially negate the relevance of this artifact in the game. In essence, by understanding the Whirling Catapult’s operational parameters and preparing your MTG deck accordingly, you effectively disarm this particular threat, tilting the scales in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Whirling Catapult MTG card by a specific set like Alliances and Masters Edition II, 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 Whirling Catapult 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 Whirling Catapult Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1996-06-10 and 2008-09-22. Illustrated by Dan Frazier.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996-06-10 | Alliances | ALL | 136 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier | |
| 2 | 2008-09-22 | Masters Edition II | ME2 | 224 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Dan Frazier |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Whirling Catapult has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Whirling Catapult card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-10-01 | If your library has fewer than two cards in it, you can’t activate the ability. |