Whirlpool Whelm MTG Card

Whirlpool Whelm combines disruption and draw sculpting with its ‘scry 2’ and bounce effect. Flexibility in timing enhances its utility, but the discard requirement can be a critical trade-off. Although mana-specific, it’s a versatile card in tempo control especially against creature-heavy decks.

Lorwyn (LRW)
2007-10-12 - Number 96

Commander 2011 (CMD)
2011-06-17 - Number 69

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant
Abilities	Clash

Text of card

Clash with an opponent, then return target creature to its owner's hand. If you win, you may put that creature on top of its owner's library instead. (Each clashing player reveals the top card of his or her library, then puts that card on the top or bottom. A player wins if his or her card had a higher converted mana cost.)

Cards like Whirlpool Whelm

Whirlpool Whelm is an intriguing spell in the realm of control magic in Magic: The Gathering. It’s often compared to other bounce spells like Unsummon due to their ability to return creatures to their owners’ hands. Whirlpool Whelm, though, brings an element of choice with the Clash mechanic, potentially allowing the caster to place an opponent’s creature on the top of their library if they win the clash.

Looking at Echoing Truth, we find another card with similarities. Echoing Truth can target multiple copies of a card, offering more versatility against decks utilizing many tokens or copies of a creature. However, it doesn’t offer the possibility of Clash to potentially disrupt your opponent’s next draw.

Aether Gust is another card in this category, capable of influencing the battlefield by putting a red or green spell or permanent back into its owner’s hand or library. The precision and target restrictions of Aether Gust make it both a boon and a limitation compared to the wider range of targets Whirlpool Whelm can address. When examining function and flexibility, Whirlpool Whelm commendably holds a position in the niche of control and tempo within the deep and varied arsenal of Magic: The Gathering’s spells.

Cards similar to Whirlpool Whelm by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Whirlpool Whelm is a strategic spell that supports card selection for the user, offering a ‘scry 2’ before potentially returning an opponent’s creature to the top of their library. This can disrupt an opponent’s plan while sculpting the user’s next draws for optimal play.

Resource Acceleration: This isn’t usually associated with Whirlpool Whelm directly, but the card’s ability to efficiently deal with early threats can indirectly maintain momentum and resource allocation for future turns. This keeps you on track for more potent spells down the line.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Whirlpool Whelm at instant speed gives players the flexibility to react to threats as they arise, as well as bluff holding up answers for other potentially more dangerous plays. This utility at instant speed can be pivotal in protecting your strategy or disrupting your opponent’s.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Whirlpool Whelm forces the player to make a choice when the clash is won, potentially leading to the discard of a beneficial card, which may not always be a favourable trade especially during tight gameplay where every card in hand counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Demanding both blue mana and colorless mana, Whirlpool Whelm necessitates a specific mana base, often limiting it to blue-centric or two-color decks that can reliably generate the required mana types, reducing its versatility across varied deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing a total of three mana, including two blue, Whirlpool Whelm has a mana investment that could be seen as substantial for its temporary impact on the game state, as many alternative spells provide a permanent solution for the same, or less, mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Whirlpool Whelm offers a flexible approach, fitting seamlessly into decks that capitalize on controlling the tempo of the game. It can be a useful tool in various situations, either by returning a creature to its owner’s hand or potentially scrying if you meet the clash condition.

Combo Potential: This card offers combo enthusiasts the ability to manipulate both players’ decks. The clash mechanic, while reliant on luck, can set up the top of your library for future plays or disrupt your opponent’s next draw, aligning with strategies that require deck manipulation.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies are dominant, Whirlpool Whelm can be an effective sideboard card. It allows you to temporarily deal with problematic creatures and possibly gain additional information about your opponent’s upcoming plays through the clash mechanic.

How to beat

Whirlpool Whelm is a card that provides an element of surprise and utility in Magic: The Gathering. It stands out with its Clash mechanic, allowing both players to reveal the top card of their decks and potentially bounce a creature to its owner’s hand. This interaction can disrupt an opponent’s board, especially when timed right. But like every spell in MTG, there are strategies to counter it.

One effective tactic to mitigate Whirlpool Whelm’s impact is by maintaining a low creature count on the board. This minimizes the potential targets for the spell. Playing creatures with enter the battlefield effects can also turn apparent setbacks into advantages. If a creature has been returned to your hand, you’ll get another chance to utilize its entry effects on the battlefield. Similarly, having instant-speed spells to protect your creatures or spells that grant them hexproof can prevent your opponents from selecting them as targets in the first place.

Understanding when to apply pressure and when to hold back resources can make Whirlpool Whelm less potent against your strategy. Overall, this approach to gameplay can ensure that the temporary setback this card presents becomes a mere ripple in your game plan, rather than a disrupting whirlpool.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Whirlpool Whelm MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn and Commander 2011, 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 Whirlpool Whelm and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Whirlpool Whelm Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2007-10-12 and 2011-06-17. Illustrated by Cyril Van Der Haegen.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2007-10-12	Lorwyn	LRW		96	2003	Normal	Black	Cyril Van Der Haegen
2	2011-06-17	Commander 2011	CMD		69	2003	Normal	Black	Cyril Van Der Haegen

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Whirlpool Whelm has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Whirlpool Whelm card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2007-10-01	If you clash with the owner of the targeted creature and win, the owner of the creature decides where to put to card revealed during the clash before you decide whether to put the creature on top of that library. You know the player’s decision before you make your decision.
2007-10-01	If you don’t win the clash, the targeted creature always goes to its owner’s hand. If you win the clash, you choose whether the creature goes to its owner’s hand or the top of its owner’s library.
2007-10-01	You choose the target when you play Whirlpool Whelm, not when you clash.