Noggin Whack MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Tribal Sorcery — Rogue
Abilities	Prowl
Released	2008-02-01
Set symbol
Set name	Morningtide
Set code	MOR
Number	70
Frame	2003
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Alan Pollack

Key Takeaways

Noggin Whack disrupts opponents by making them discard, tilting the match in your favor through resource control.
Its prowl cost provides resource acceleration, synergizing with rogue strategies for a more efficient mana spend.
Requires prior rogue play for prowl, demanding strategic deck design and precise play timing.

Text of card

Prowl (You may play this for its prowl cost if you dealt combat damage to a player this turn with a Rogue.) Target player reveals three cards from his or her hand. You choose two of them. That player discards those cards.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Noggin Whack offers the potential to disrupt the opponent’s hand significantly by forcing the discard of two cards. This action can sometimes lead to a substantial shift in the balance of a match, as you diminish the resources available to your opponent while maintaining your own hand size.

Resource Acceleration: This card’s synergy with rogue decks can be an indirect form of resource acceleration. By enabling the prowl cost, you not only save mana that can be allocated to other spells and abilities but also advance your board state with lower investment, keeping the tempo in your favor.

Instant Speed: While Noggin Whack doesn’t operate at instant speed, it compensates by having a conditional reduced cost through the prowl mechanic, making it an efficient play post-combat, especially in rogue-focused strategies that can meet the requisite condition.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Noggin Whack comes with the additional stipulation of requiring a player to have already played another rogue card this turn to get the prowl cost benefit, adding complexity to deck building and timing.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both blue and black mana, Noggin Whack asks for a commitment to a specific two-color combination, hindering its flexibility in deck incorporation outside of these colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a regular casting cost of four mana, and even at its reduced prowl cost, it may still be considered steep for the effect when compared to other disruption spells available.

Reasons to Include Noggin Whack in Your Collection

Versatility: Noggin Whack fits well into decks that exploit the discard mechanic, such as rogue or discard-themed strategies, giving it a broad application across various game formats.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes with other cards that reward player disruption, specifically those that gain advantage as your opponent loses resources, making it a critical piece in combo-driven constructs.

Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to disrupt hand advantage, Noggin Whack can be an asset in a meta dominated by combo or control decks where stripping key components from your opponent’s hand is crucial to success.

How to beat

Noggin Whack, a pertinent spell in the rogues’ arsenal in Magic: The Gathering, presents players with a strategic challenge. It stands out with its prowl cost, which can be a game-changer if you’re playing a deck with a rogue theme. When you cast this spell for its prowl cost, after dealing damage with a rogue, Noggin Whack’s ability to force the opponent to discard two cards becomes more efficient, disrupting their plans significantly.

Countering Noggin Whack effectively requires a few considerations. Prioritize maintaining card advantage; this might involve deck strategies that include drawing cards or spells that allow you to recover from discard efficiently. Instant-speed spells that counter sorceries are also vital in any strategy against discard-heavy decks. Additionally, having cards with flashback or other abilities that function from the graveyard can lessen the impact of being forced to discard cards. By adopting these approaches, you can safeguard your game plan from the disruptive power of Noggin Whack and similar strategies.

Overall, understanding and preparing for the rogue’s tricks is key to overcoming the strategic depth that a card like Noggin Whack introduces to a match in Magic: The Gathering. With the right countermeasures, players can stay one step ahead and maintain control of the game.

Understanding Noggin Whack’s Place in the MTG Landscape

Noggin Whack stands out in the realm of targeted discard spells within Magic: The Gathering. It shares a tactical kinship with cards like Mind Rot, which traditionally allows a player to force an opponent to discard two cards. The distinctiveness of Noggin Whack lies in its prowl cost, which can reduce its mana cost if you’ve dealt damage with a rogue this turn, making it a synergistic choice for rogue-themed decks versus the always fixed cost of Mind Rot.

Cards like Noggin Whack

Exploring the depths of discard strategies, Noggin Whack can often be measured against Distress, another spell causing an opponent to discard two cards. However, the latter allows you to choose the specific cards to be discarded, granting it a strategic advantage in disrupting precise threats. Then there’s Wrench Mind, often concluded to be an efficient inclusion as its base cost is lower, but it is susceptible to being weakened by artifact cards which nullify its effect.

To add another contender, Hymn to Tourach offers an even more random approach, compelling opponents to discard at random. This can sometimes lead to more disruptive plays, although it lacks the possibility of a reduced cost through prowling. Each card has its scenario where it shines, but for rogue enthusiasts, Noggin Whack integrates seamlessly with their strategy, adding both thematic consistency and a potentially lower casting cost.

In examining these comparisons, Noggin Whack finds a specific slot in MTG where it can be more than a mere discard spell, blending in rogue tactics for a potentially game-altering two-for-one advantage.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Noggin Whack MTG card by a specific set like Morningtide, 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 Noggin Whack and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Noggin Whack has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2008-04-01	If the player has fewer than three cards in their hand, the player reveals all of them, you choose all of them, and they’re all discarded.