Belligerent Whiptail MTG Card

Belligerent Whiptail - Battle for Zendikar

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Wurm
Abilities	Landfall
Released	2015-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Battle for Zendikar
Set code	BFZ
Power	4
Toughness	2
Number	141
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Jakub Kasper

Key Takeaways

Landfall synergy enhances Belligerent Whiptail’s impact, making it a strategic inclusion in specific MTG decks.
Its restrictive mana requirements can challenge deck diversity, demanding careful mana base construction.
A decent choice for collections, Whiptail provides versatility and meta-relevance with its conditional first strike.

Text of card

Landfall — Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, Belligerent Whiptail gains first strike until end of turn.

"Whiptails can sense a traveler's footsteps from a great distance. Measuring that distance has been . . . difficult." —Jalun, Affa sentry

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Belligerent Whiptail itself does not draw cards directly, it fits well into decks that utilize landfall mechanics, synergizing with cards that allow you to put additional lands into play, thereby gaining potential card advantage through enhanced board presence over your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Although the Belligerent Whiptail doesn’t accelerate resources the traditional way, it works hand in hand with land ramp strategies common in red/green decks. Pairing it with cards that bring lands into play rapidly can lead to escalating threats each turn, indirectly speeding up your game plan.

Instant Speed: Belligerent Whiptail operates at sorcery speed, but in a deck with instant-speed land play abilities—like fetching lands from your deck to the battlefield—you can trigger its landfall ability on opponents’ turns. This interaction allows for unexpected combat tricks and can be a tactical advantage when timing attacks or blocks.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One major downside players find with Belligerent Whiptail is its requirement to be combined with landfall triggers to activate its ability. Without land drops or ways to put lands onto the battlefield, this creature lacks the utility it’s designed for, which can be a setback during gameplay.

Specific Mana Cost: With its casting cost demanding both red and colorless mana, Belligerent Whiptail necessitates a dedicated land base. This restriction can hinder deck fleexibility, particularly in multicolor decks that might struggle with mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At four mana, including two red, Belligerent Whiptail’s cost-to-effect ratio is a point of contention. When considering the fast-paced nature of many games, a 4/2 body without immediate board impact can be a hard sell, especially since aggressive red decks prize efficiency and speed.

Reasons to Include Belligerent Whiptail in Your Collection

Versatility: Belligerent Whiptail is a creature that can adapt to various play styles due to its landfall ability. This card can be slotted into red aggressive decks that look to capitalize on land drops for increased damage output on each turn.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that allow extra land plays or with deck manipulation strategies, Belligerent Whiptail’s landfall-triggered ability becomes a consistent source of pressure, turning every land drop into potential damage.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where slower, durdling decks are common, Belligerent Whiptail serves as a threat that must be answered. Its ability to potentially gain first strike makes it a formidable creature against creature-based strategies, demanding immediate removal or disrupting opponent’s combat plans.

How to Beat Belligerent Whiptail

Belligerent Whiptail offers an interesting dynamic on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. Its landfall ability grants first strike on your turn, making it a formidable attacker. Navigating against this card requires a strategy that minimizes its combat presence. One effective tactic is to employ removal spells that don’t rely on damage, circumventing the first strike advantage. Spells like Murder or Path to Exile dispatch it before it can leverage its ability.

Alternatively, exploiting the Whiptail’s ordinary defensive capabilities can prove useful. It only has the upper hand during your turn, so taking the fight to your opponent when it’s their turn can shift the tide. Cards with flash can surprise an unprepared adversary, ensuring that the Whiptail is dealt with outside of its element. A good defense, such as creatures with high toughness or those that can produce tokens to block, can deter any advantageous attacks. Remember, containing Belligerent Whiptail’s landfall-triggered first strike is key to maintaining control.

Ultimately, overcoming a creature like Belligerent Whiptail is about adapting your play to its strengths and timing your interactions smartly. By doing so, you keep the upper hand in the duel against this aggressive reptile.

Cards like Belligerent Whiptail

Belligerent Whiptail is a notable creature card in MTG, contributing to the roster of four-mana creatures with its own distinct flair. It holds a similarity to cards like Akoum Warrior, both sharing the same converted mana cost and power. However, Belligerent Whiptail brings a unique combat ability to the table – landfall, which gives it first strike until end of turn. In contrast, Akoum Warrior doubles as a land, offering flexibility, but it lacks combat tricks.

Another comparison is drawn with Territorial Baloth. This creature also benefits from landfall, gaining significant power boost during your turn. Both cards capitalize on playing additional lands, but Belligerent Whiptail emphasizes tactical combat advantages while Territorial Baloth leans towards sheer power increase. Though Baloth offers potentially more damage, the Whiptail’s first strike can be a pivotal defense during the opponent’s turn.

Ultimately, Belligerent Whiptail stands out amongst similar mana-cost creatures thanks to its balance of power and the strategic option of first strike during landfall. When considering card synergy and battlefield control, it earns its place in decks that are looking to capitalize on landfall triggers and combat interactions.

Cards similar to Belligerent Whiptail by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Belligerent Whiptail MTG card by a specific set like Battle for Zendikar, 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 Belligerent Whiptail and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Belligerent Whiptail has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2015-08-25	A landfall ability triggers whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control for any reason. It triggers whenever you play a land, as well as whenever a spell or ability puts a land onto the battlefield under your control.
2015-08-25	If the ability has an additional or replacement effect that depends on the land having a certain basic land type, the ability will check that land’s type as the ability resolves. If, at that time, the land that entered the battlefield is no longer on the battlefield, use its types when it left the battlefield to determine what happens.
2015-08-25	When a land enters the battlefield under your control, each landfall ability of the permanents you control will trigger. You can put them on the stack in any order. The last ability you put on the stack will be the first one to resolve.