Whirlpool Drake MTG Card


Whirlpool Drake - Apocalypse
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Drake
Abilities Flying
Released2001-06-04
Set symbol
Set nameApocalypse
Set codeAPC
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number34
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byAlan Pollack

Key Takeaways

  1. The card provides a fresh hand upon entering or exiting the battlefield, great for refreshing options.
  2. It can slot into combos, being particularly potent in decks that thrive on card draw mechanics.
  3. Despite its benefits, aligning mana sources and managing its higher cost require thorough deck consideration.

Text of card

Flying When Whirlpool Drake comes into play, shuffle the cards from your hand into your library, then draw that many cards. When Whirlpool Drake is put into a graveyard from play, shuffle the cards from your hand into your library, then draw that many cards.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Upon entering the battlefield or leaving it, Whirlpool Drake lets you shuffle your hand into your library and draw that many cards, potentially refreshing your options and maintaining a strong hand.

Resource Acceleration: By swapping cards in hand with new draws, Whirlpool Drake can indirectly accelerate your resources. This move can help you find more lands or mana-producing cards, thus speeding up gameplay or enabling bigger plays sooner.

Instant Speed: Although Whirlpool Drake itself isn’t an instant, the ability to trigger its effect at the end of an opponent’s turn by using instant-speed removal or sacrificing mechanisms can give you the upper hand. This can lead to a surprise card advantage that can be used at critical moments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Whirlpool Drake’s ability comes with the caveat of needing to discard your hand before you can draw. This can lead to a net loss of options especially if your hand is already substantial, reducing your strategic flexibility.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost to get Whirlpool Drake on the battlefield includes both blue and generic mana. This specificity necessitates a deck tailored around blue mana sources, potentially limiting its incorporation into multicolor decks or those with a tight mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a four-mana investment to reap the card’s full benefits, it’s important to weigh its cost against your other options. This can seem quite steep, particularly when alternative cards could provide more immediate or cost-effective board presence or card advantage.


Reasons to Include Whirlpool Drake in Your Collection

Versatility: Whirlpool Drake is a valuable addition to any deck looking to capitalize on drawing and recycling cards. Its flying ability allows it to serve as both an offensive and defensive asset in the air.

Combo Potential: Its enter-the-battlefield effect, paired with its dying trigger, makes it a potential engine in decks that leverage card draw for advantage or that benefit from creatures entering and leaving the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where the current trends favor constant hand refilling and graveyard strategies, Whirlpool Drake can play a significant role. It provides a continuous flow of cards that can keep you ahead of the competition.


How to beat

Whirlpool Drake adds a twist to the dynamics of card advantage in Magic: The Gathering. This creature presents a unique challenge with its “enter the battlefield” and “leaves the battlefield” effects, which cause players to shuffle their hand into their library and draw that many cards. Unlike cards that only draw upon entering, Whirlpool Drake affects the game again upon exit, demanding strategic contingencies to mitigate its impact.

Countering Whirlpool Drake effectively requires a mix of removal and timing. Cards such as Essence Scatter can prevent the Drake from hitting the board in the first place, nipping the problem in the bud. Once it’s in play, instant removal spells that can be used in response to its death trigger, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, ensure your opponent doesn’t reap the benefits of a new hand. Additionally, graveyard disruption like Rest in Peace dampens the Drake’s potency by preventing the reshuffle into the library upon death. It’s critical to stay ahead of the curve and anticipate your opponent’s moves to maintain control of the game.

With careful planning and the right countermeasures, Whirlpool Drake’s influence can be contained, preserving your own strategy while destabilizing your opponent’s. Maintaining board control and choosing the right moment to act are key in ensuring that the tides of the game don’t turn against you.


Cards like Whirlpool Drake

Whirlpool Drake offers a unique twist to the world of flying creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Standing alongside the likes of Wind Drake, both creatures feature flying, but Whirlpool Drake brings an additional effect upon entering or leaving the battlefield – it shuffles your hand into your library and then draws the same number of cards. This cycling ability provides a refresh of your hand, a tactic not present in Wind Drake’s straightforward approach.

Much like Whirlpool Drake, Dream Eater also manipulates players’ hands but with the added bonus of surveil, granting the ability to filter through the top cards of the library. Although it commands a higher mana cost than Whirlpool Drake, it compensates with a larger body and an immediate impact on the board state with its bounce effect. On the other hand, creatures like Aven Wind Mage offer a simpler strategy with prowess, boosting its power whenever a noncreature spell is cast, a different pathway to leveraging spells within the game.

Ultimately, Whirlpool Drake carves out its niche amongst other blue creatures by combining evasion with a unique form of card advantage, making it a card worth considering for players looking to capitalize on hand refreshment and board presence in their Magic: The Gathering matches.

Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Dream Eater - MTG Card versions
Aven Wind Mage - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - Portal (POR)
Dream Eater - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)
Aven Wind Mage - Core Set 2019 (M19)

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

Phantasmal Forces - MTG Card versions
Phantom Monster - MTG Card versions
Wall of Vapor - MTG Card versions
Screeching Drake - MTG Card versions
Tradewind Rider - MTG Card versions
Archivist - MTG Card versions
Extravagant Spirit - MTG Card versions
Thieving Magpie - MTG Card versions
Inga Rune-Eyes - MTG Card versions
Sakashima of a Thousand Faces - MTG Card versions
Laboratory Drudge - MTG Card versions
Undercover Operative - MTG Card versions
Archmage Emeritus - MTG Card versions
Hisoka, Minamo Sensei - MTG Card versions
Johnny, Combo Player - MTG Card versions
Dream Prowler - MTG Card versions
Clone - MTG Card versions
Cytoplast Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Crookclaw Transmuter - MTG Card versions
Dreamborn Muse - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Forces - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Phantom Monster - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Wall of Vapor - Chronicles (CHR)
Screeching Drake - Portal Second Age (P02)
Tradewind Rider - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Archivist - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Extravagant Spirit - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Thieving Magpie - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Inga Rune-Eyes - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Sakashima of a Thousand Faces - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Laboratory Drudge - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Undercover Operative - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Archmage Emeritus - Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos (PSTX)
Hisoka, Minamo Sensei - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Johnny, Combo Player - Unhinged (UNH)
Dream Prowler - Tempest Remastered (TPR)
Clone - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Cytoplast Manipulator - Dissension (DIS)
Crookclaw Transmuter - Time Spiral (TSP)
Dreamborn Muse - Tenth Edition (10E)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Whirlpool Drake MTG card by a specific set like Apocalypse, 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 Drake and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Whirlpool Drake has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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