Whip Vine MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Plant Wall
Abilities Defender,Reach
Power 1
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Whip Vine’s ability to block multiple creatures ensures an enduring battlefield presence and card efficiency.
  2. Demands careful hand management due to its discard requirement, yet offers nuanced strategic play opportunities.
  3. Its specific mana cost and higher mana value may limit its utility in diverse deck designs.

Text of card

Can block creatures with flying. You may choose not to untap Whip Vine during your untap phase. oc T: Tap target creature with flying blocked by Whip Vine. That creature does not untap during its controller's untap phase as long as Whip Vine remains tapped.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Whip Vine provides the ability to potentially neutralize multiple threats without losing card equity, as it can block any number of creatures each turn. This can tilt the battlefield in your favor over time, leading to a formidable defense that helps preserve your hand while taxing your opponent’s resources.

Resource Acceleration: As a creature card that can serve as a reliable defender, Whip Vine can help maintain your life total while you build up your mana base and deploy more impactful spells. This stalling can be especially crucial for decks that focus on ramping up to large game-winning threats.

Instant Speed: While Whip Vine itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its reach and the capability to block multiple creatures can surprise opponents who might not factor in its defensive flexibility during their attack phase. This allows you to react effectively to developing threats on the fly, providing a tactical advantage during combat.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To unleash its potential, Whip Vine necessitates tossing a card from your hand into the graveyard. This trade-off can hinder your game plan, especially if your hand is already stretched thin and you’re clinging to key pieces for later plays.

Specific Mana Cost: Whip Vine’s casting cost demands specific mana, which could pose a challenge in multicolored decks. Its reliance on a precise combination of mana types means players must carefully manage their resources or risk being unable to cast it when needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that’s on the higher end for its abilities, Whip Vine may not always represent the best value for your mana investment. In a game where tempo and efficiency are crucial, allocating a large chunk of your mana to cast it can sometimes set you back, particularly if there are alternative creatures or spells that could accomplish more for the same or lower cost.


Reasons to Include Whip Vine in Your Collection

Versatility: Whip Vine offers a flexible role in decks emphasizing control or those needing to shore up defenses. Its ability to tangle with flying creatures gives it a unique niche, making it adaptable to various game scenarios.

Combo Potential: The card’s reach and “must be blocked by an untapped creature” feature can be exploited in combinations to manipulate or exhaust opponents’ board states, which can be especially effective in decks revolving around combat tricks or tapping abilities.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where airborne threats are prevalent, Whip Vine can serve as a deterrent. It stands as a situational sideboard card that could swing games by locking down more formidable fliers, adding strategic depth to your collection.


How to beat Whip Vine

Whip Vine is a unique creature in the vast array of Magic: The Gathering cards, with abilities that can be tricky for unprepared players. Functionally, it operates as both a defender and an obstacle, with the capability to block creatures attacking from the air—a potent ability for green decks that typically lack flying defenders. This puts it in a niche spot similar to Spider creatures with Reach, which can also engage flying threats.

To overcome the hurdle of Whip Vine, focus on removal spells that bypass combat, such as Doom Blade or Path to Exile, as they successfully eliminate the creature without engaging in battle. Additionally, spells granting Trample to your attacking creatures can be instrumental in dealing damage whether Whip Vine is on the battlefield or not. Engaging in combat with creatures that have inherently higher power and toughness can also render the Vine’s blocking capabilities ineffective. Enchantment-based removals, such as Oblivion Ring or Cast Out, provide another avenue of neutralizing Whip Vine’s influence on the game by exiling it or neutralizing its abilities.

Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the card, strategies to mitigate its impact become clear, allowing savvy MTG players to maintain the momentum and advance their board position despite the presence of this thorny adversary.


Cards like Whip Vine

The Magic: The Gathering landscape is teeming with unique creatures, and Whip Vine is no exception. This card is often compared to the likes of Wall of Vines for its similar defensive capabilities. Both serve as excellent blockers, but Whip Vine provides the added flexibility of being able to untap itself when it blocks a creature with flying, offering strategic advantages on the battlefield.

Looming Altisaur, another creature known for its defensive stature, shares the same mana value as Whip Vine but lacks the reach or the untap ability. This makes Whip Vine a more versatile choice in certain deck builds. Conversely, Canopy Spider, while smaller, brings reach to the table at a lower cost and can be a more early-game defensive play versus flying creatures.

Analyzing these comparisons, Whip Vine holds a distinctive position among defenders and reach-enabled creatures. Its special untap feature not only provides defense against aerial assaults but also keeps the card ready for consecutive blocks, a trait that is fairly uncommon and valuable in MTG’s multifaceted matches.

Wall of Vines - MTG Card versions
Looming Altisaur - MTG Card versions
Canopy Spider - MTG Card versions
Wall of Vines - Magic 2011 (M11)
Looming Altisaur - Ixalan (XLN)
Canopy Spider - Tempest (TMP)

Cards similar to Whip Vine by color, type and mana cost

Cat Warriors - MTG Card versions
Rysorian Badger - MTG Card versions
Sabertooth Cobra - MTG Card versions
Quirion Druid - MTG Card versions
Uktabi Orangutan - MTG Card versions
Spike Feeder - MTG Card versions
Hungry Hungry Heifer - MTG Card versions
Titania's Chosen - MTG Card versions
Taoist Mystic - MTG Card versions
Femeref Archers - MTG Card versions
Lydari Druid - MTG Card versions
Steel Leaf Champion - MTG Card versions
Realmwalker - MTG Card versions
Topiary Stomper - MTG Card versions
Territorial Scythecat - MTG Card versions
Wirewood Savage - MTG Card versions
Shizuko, Caller of Autumn - MTG Card versions
Reki, the History of Kamigawa - MTG Card versions
Timberwatch Elf - MTG Card versions
Leatherback Baloth - MTG Card versions
Cat Warriors - Legends (LEG)
Rysorian Badger - Homelands (HML)
Sabertooth Cobra - Mirage (MIR)
Quirion Druid - Visions (VIS)
Uktabi Orangutan - World Championship Decks 1997 (WC97)
Spike Feeder - Stronghold (STH)
Hungry Hungry Heifer - Unglued (UGL)
Titania's Chosen - Urza's Saga (USG)
Taoist Mystic - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Femeref Archers - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Lydari Druid - Sega Dreamcast Cards (PSDG)
Steel Leaf Champion - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Realmwalker - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)
Topiary Stomper - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Territorial Scythecat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Wirewood Savage - Onslaught (ONS)
Shizuko, Caller of Autumn - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Reki, the History of Kamigawa - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Timberwatch Elf - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Leatherback Baloth - DCI Promos (PDCI)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Whip Vine MTG card by a specific set like Alliances and Alliances, 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 Vine and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Whip Vine Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 1996-06-10 and 1996-06-10. Illustrated by Allen Williams.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11996-06-10AlliancesALL 103a1993normalblackAllen Williams
21996-06-10AlliancesALL 103b1993normalblackAllen Williams

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Whip Vine has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks