Whalebone Glider MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact

Key Takeaways

  1. Enhances card quality, particularly useful in lengthened games where strategic draws are crucial.
  2. Generates early-game momentum by reducing creature costs, setting a faster gameplay pace.
  3. Demands specific mana and a discard, potentially constraining its inclusion in varied decks.

Text of card

,oc T: Target creature with power no greater than 3 gains flying until end of turn. Other effects may later be used to increase that creature's power beyond 3.

"It's no Ornithopter, but then I'm no Urza." —Arcum Dagsson, Soldevi Machinist


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Whalebone Glider offers the benefit of enabling you to sift through your library, enhancing the likelihood of drawing into key pieces of your strategy. This can be particularly helpful in longer matches where maintaining card quality can determine the winner.

Resource Acceleration: As a mana rock, Whalebone Glider helps you ramp up by effectively reducing the cost of all the creatures in your hand. This acceleration empowers you to deploy threats earlier than usual, giving you a substantial edge over your opponent.

Instant Speed: Though it’s not an instant itself, Whalebone Glider lets you utilize your creatures with flash-like speed. By reducing your creatures’ costs, you free up mana, which can then be kept in reserve to cast spells instantaneously, keeping your opponents constantly on the defense.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Whalebone Glider comes at a certain sacrifice, necessitating a discard from your hand. Such a demand can be taxing, particularly when your hand is already depleted, making it a risky play for decks that don’t have adequate draw support or hand replenishment strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: To activate and make the most of Whalebone Glider’s abilities, a precise mana composition is required. This makes it less flexible, as it may not seamlessly fit into multi-colored decks or those that have a less stable mana base, potentially limiting its playability across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that’s on the higher side for its effects, it competes with other cards that may offer either more efficient mana-to-impact ratios or provide additional benefits. Decks aiming for high-speed play or those seeking cost-effective solutions might find Whalebone Glider a less attractive option.


Reasons to Include Whalebone Glider in Your Collection

Versatility: Whalebone Glider is a unique addition that can adapt to numerous deck archetypes. Its ability to discount creature spells with changeling or specific creature types makes it a dynamic card that can seamlessly integrate into tribal or theme-based decks. This trait also enables the inclusion of larger creatures earlier in the game, thus enhancing your board presence.

Combo Potential: This card shines in its ability to unlock powerful combos by reducing mana costs for key creatures. It facilitates the casting of creatures that can interact synergistically with other pieces on your board, perhaps enabling infinite loops or game-ending plays. Continued use of Whalebone Glider’s effect can overwhelm opponents who aren’t prepared to address an expanding threat each turn.

Meta-Relevance: Current gameplay often values efficiency and speed. Whalebone Glider fits well in a meta where tempo and curve optimization are paramount. By lowering mana investments for critical creatures, it allows players to maintain momentum and pressure, potentially outpacing opponents who are unable to match the swift development of your battlefield.


How to beat

Whalebone Glider finds its niche in Magic: The Gathering as a utility artifact capable of giving equipped creatures flying, a valuable form of evasion. This aspect of aerial superiority can be a game-changer, especially when your battlefield lacks creatures with flying or reach. To navigate the challenges posed by Whalebone Glider, consider implementing cards that disrupt artifact strategies directly. Artifact removal such as Naturalize or Shatterstorm can dismantle your opponent’s game plan by sending Whalebone Glider to the graveyard before it becomes a threat.

Another strategy is to strengthen your defenses with creatures that inherently have flying or reach. This transformation will enable your creatures to block those equipped with the Whalebone Glider. Additionally, utilizing counter spells to prevent the Glider from being cast or countering the equip ability can stifle your opponent’s strategy. It’s also effective to apply pressure with a swift and aggressive playstyle, which can overrun an opponent before they effectively utilize Whalebone Glider’s capabilities. Keeping these tactics in mind will help you maintain control over the skies and secure victory.


Cards like Whalebone Glider

Whalebone Glider has sailed into the world of MTG as an intriguing artifact. Slight in comparison to other mana acceleration artifacts, it offers a distinctive advantage with its ability to provide mana specifically for Spirit creatures or enchantment spells. In the realm of similar cards, we have the iconic Sol Ring, which provides a more generic mana boost but lacks Whalebone Glider’s targeted support.

Then there is Star Compass, another card that accelerates mana, which shares the initial setup cost with Whalebone Glider but again doesn’t cater to a specific creature type or spell category. Alternatively, Herald’s Horn is noteworthy for its cost reduction for creature types, similar to the Glider’s spirit-focused cost efficiency. However, Herald’s Horn also lines your hand with creatures of the chosen type, an ability Whalebone Glider doesn’t possess.

In essence, Whalebone Glider’s unique appeal lies in its synergy with spirit decks and enchantment strategies. It serves a specialized role that, while not as universally powerful as its counterparts, becomes an essential cog for decks built around these themes in MTG’s vast landscape.

Sol Ring - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Star Compass - Planeshift (PLS)
Herald's Horn - Treasure Chest (PZ2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Whalebone Glider MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Coldsnap Theme Decks, 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 Whalebone Glider and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Whalebone Glider Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2006-07-21. Illustrated by Amy Weber.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11995-06-03Ice AgeICE 3491993normalblackAmy Weber
22006-07-21Coldsnap Theme DecksCST 3492003normalblackAmy Weber

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Whalebone Glider has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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