Pursued Whale MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Whale
Power 8
Toughness 8

Key Takeaways

  1. Pursued Whale may bait opponents into using removal spells, providing you with unintended card advantage.
  2. Resource acceleration isn’t direct but achieved by diverting your opponent’s gameplay and resources.
  3. Its high mana cost is offset by the strategic depth and strong board presence it provides.

Text of card

When Pursued Whale enters the battlefield, each opponent creates a 1/1 red Pirate creature token with "This creature can't block" and "Creatures you control attack each combat if able." Spells your opponents cast that target Pursued Whale cost more to cast.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Pursued Whale creates a unique dynamic that can often lead to card advantage. Upon entering the battlefield, it forces the opponent to put a 1/1 red Pirate creature token onto the battlefield, which must attack each turn if able. This interaction may compel your opponent to use removal spells on their own creature, effectively generating card advantage for you without expending additional resources.

Resource Acceleration: Despite not directly providing resource acceleration like some other cards, the Pursued Whale can indirectly contribute to this aspect. As your opponents might need to allocate resources to deal with the Whale or the consequences of the attacking Pirate token, this can slow down their own development or force them to use valuable resources prematurely.

Instant Speed: While the Pursued Whale itself is not an instant, it has an ability that can impact the game at instant speed. As spells your opponents cast that target Pursued Whale cost more to cast, it can affect your opponent’s ability to respond on their turn, effectively giving you the upper hand to play your instant-speed interactions with more ease.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Pursued Whale doesn’t inherently require a discard, it’s inclusion in a deck might compel players to adopt strategies or support cards that necessitate discard, which can compromise hand advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Pursued Whale demands a specific mana distribution with two blue and five generic mana, potentially constraining deck flexibility by requiring a heavy blue mana base to cast it reliably.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a seven mana cost for a 8/8 body, Pursued Whale comes with substantial power. However, in formats where the pace is quick and efficiency is paramount, allocating seven mana for one creature may not always align with an optimized game strategy, especially when there are alternative creatures with lower mana costs and comparable impact.


Reasons to Include Pursued Whale in Your Collection

Versatility: Pursued Whale shines in blue-based control or midrange decks, providing both a substantial blocker and a way to disrupt your opponent’s board presence. It can be a game-changer in various situations thanks to its 8/8 body and unique abilities.

Combo Potential: With Pursued Whale entering the battlefield, you immediately give your opponent a 1/1 red Pirate creature token, which can be leveraged in decks that benefit from the opponent having specific creatures, enabling interesting interactions and potential combos.

Meta-Relevance: As the game’s landscape evolves and the prevalence of creature-based strategies grows, having Pursued Whale can help counter decks that rely heavily on ground forces, making it a relevant and tactical addition to your collection.


How to beat

Pursued Whale may seem daunting with its size and effects, but clever strategies can turn the tide. Offering opponents a 1/1 red Pirate creature with the ability to make spells you cast cost three more mana, the key lies in removing or utilizing this Pirate to your advantage. Spot removal or a board wipe can easily dispatch the whale’s effect. However, if you’re unable to get rid of the Whale directly, turning the Pirate’s downside into a boon with cards that benefit from sacrificing creatures could be a smart move.

Another strategy involves playing around the Whale’s ability by casting spells on your own terms. Since the cost increase applies only while you control the Pirate token, you could either wait to cast nonessential spells until you can deal with the token or focus on playing creatures and spells that aren’t affected by the cost increase. A savvy player can navigate these obstacles with careful planning and timely action. By prioritizing removal or alternative lines of play, the might of Pursued Whale becomes far less intimidating.

Ultimately, understanding and mitigating the hindrance of the additional mana cost associated with Pursued Whale will enable resourceful players to maintain control of the game, potentially leveraging the creature’s intimidating presence to their own strategic advantage.


Cards like Pursued Whale

The Pursued Whale has carved its niche in the vast ocean of blue creatures in Magic: The Gathering. This giant of the seas shares some game mechanics with cards like Frost Titan, another commanding presence on the board. Both establish a sense of dominance with their formidable abilities to lock down opponents’ assets, but the Pursued Whale takes a unique approach by compelling the opponent to attack it with a creature every turn.

Comparable in theme and effect, Elder Deep-Fiend also taps down the opponent’s potential blockers or even lands. However, it offers more versatility with its Flash ability, making it a surprise element during a crucial phase of the opponent’s turn. In contrast, Pursued Whale’s impact is felt throughout the course of its presence, creating a consistent pressure on the opponent’s strategic options.

While the whale asserts its presence passively, forcing the opponent’s hand, cards like Sower of Temptation allow you to take control of a creature directly upon entering the battlefield. The choice between deploying a commanding creature like Pursued Whale or engaging in a more aggressive strategy with a card like Sower of Temptation can significantly shape the tide of the game.

Frost Titan - MTG Card versions
Elder Deep-Fiend - MTG Card versions
Sower of Temptation - MTG Card versions
Frost Titan - Magic 2011 (M11)
Elder Deep-Fiend - Eldritch Moon (EMN)
Sower of Temptation - Lorwyn (LRW)

Cards similar to Pursued Whale by color, type and mana cost

Island Fish Jasconius - MTG Card versions
Djinn of the Lamp - MTG Card versions
Tolarian Serpent - MTG Card versions
Blizzard Elemental - MTG Card versions
Vizzerdrix - MTG Card versions
Amugaba - MTG Card versions
Jin-Gitaxias, Progress Tyrant - MTG Card versions
Tromokratis - MTG Card versions
Hullbreaker Horror - MTG Card versions
Colossal Whale - MTG Card versions
Alhammarret, High Arbiter - MTG Card versions
Mistform Skyreaver - MTG Card versions
Slipstream Eel - MTG Card versions
Weaver of Lies - MTG Card versions
Quicksilver Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Rimefeather Owl - MTG Card versions
Errant Ephemeron - MTG Card versions
Cyclone Summoner - MTG Card versions
Isleback Spawn - MTG Card versions
Marjhan - MTG Card versions
Island Fish Jasconius - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Djinn of the Lamp - Portal (POR)
Tolarian Serpent - Weatherlight (WTH)
Blizzard Elemental - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Vizzerdrix - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Amugaba - Odyssey (ODY)
Jin-Gitaxias, Progress Tyrant - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Promos (PNEO)
Tromokratis - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Hullbreaker Horror - Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate (CLB)
Colossal Whale - Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)
Alhammarret, High Arbiter - Magic Origins (ORI)
Mistform Skyreaver - Onslaught (ONS)
Slipstream Eel - The List (PLST)
Weaver of Lies - Legions (LGN)
Quicksilver Behemoth - Darksteel (DST)
Rimefeather Owl - Coldsnap (CSP)
Errant Ephemeron - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)
Cyclone Summoner - Kaldheim Promos (PKHM)
Isleback Spawn - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Marjhan - Masters Edition II (ME2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pursued Whale MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Core Set 2021, 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 Pursued Whale and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Pursued Whale Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2020-07-03 and 2022-07-07. Illustrated by Jonathan Kuo.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 820242015normalblackJonathan Kuo
22020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 602015normalblackJonathan Kuo
32020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 3512015normalblackJonathan Kuo
42022-06-10Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's GateCLB 7322015normalblackJonathan Kuo
52022-07-07Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's GateHBG 9092015normalblackJonathan Kuo

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pursued Whale has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-06-23 If a creature affected by the Pirate token can't attack for any reason (such as being tapped or having come under that player's control that turn), then it doesn't attack. If there's a cost associated with having it attack, the player isn't forced to pay that cost, so it doesn't have to attack in that case either.
2020-06-23 To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost you're paying, add any cost increases (such as that of Pursued Whale), then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell remains unchanged, no matter what the total cost to cast it was.

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