Whirlermaker MTG Card
2016-09-30 - Number 239
2020-11-12 - Number 276
2022-12-02 - Number 808
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact |
Key Takeaways
- Offers continuous board presence with its token-generating ability, impacting game flow over time.
- Flexible mana usage enables strategic plays, maximizing turn efficiency and in-game adaptability.
- Strategic artifact removal is key to dismantling Whirlermaker’s long-term advantage in matchups.
Text of card
, : Create a 1/1 colorless Thopter artifact creature token with flying.
"Our creations are more than mere things. They have life in them, little bits of ourselves." —Saheeli Rai
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Whirlermaker is unique in that it serves as a recurring source of token generation, effectively providing long-term card advantage. Each token can be converted into either a chump blocker or a surprise attacker, ensuring you always have board presence.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana, the utility of this artifact offers indirect resource acceleration by allowing you to invest mana effectively when other plays are not available, helping you make the most of your turns.
Instant Speed: The ability to create Thopter tokens at instant speed with Whirlermaker enables strategic depth during gameplay. You can end your opponent’s turn by creating a token, retaining the element of surprise and flexibility in how you utilize your mana and resources.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Whirlermaker doesn’t have a direct discard requirement, it does necessitate resource allocation. Operating the device to churn out tokens requires both the investment of the initial mana to play it and continued mana to produce thopters. This repeated outlay can result in a lack of available cards for other actions.
Specific Mana Cost: Whirlermaker demands a sharp mana commitment. With a three-colorless mana cost for its deployment and activation, it can be rigid in its demand, potentially disrupting mana curve optimization in diverse decks. The requirement for colorless mana does provide some flexibility, yet it also clashes with the mana needs of more color-intensive cards.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The investment of three mana may seem fair for a reusable token generator, but when examining the full utility of Whirlermaker, one must consider the effectiveness of alternative options. Competing artifacts or token-producing cards might offer more for less mana, or provide additional benefits beyond token creation, making Whirlermaker’s four mana total cost—for cast and use—a potentially hefty price for its singular function.
Reasons to Include Whirlermaker in Your Collection
Versatility: Whirlermaker offers adaptive game play, fitting into various deck styles, especially those that capitalize on artifacts. This card can turn any stalemate on the board into an opportunity by creating Thopter tokens, which are useful for both offense and defense.
Combo Potential: This card’s ability to consistently churn out Thopter artifacts can seamlessly tie into numerous combos, especially in decks that revolve around artifact synergy or sacrifice mechanics.
Meta-Relevance: Given its ability to provide a steady stream of flying blockers or attackers, Whirlermaker holds its own in meta-games where incremental advantage can be the difference between victory and defeat, situating it as a solid inclusion against a range of strategies.
How to beat
Whirlermaker is an intriguing utility artifact in the world of Magic: The Gathering known for its ability to churn out tokens that can be utilized for various purposes. This card might not seem formidable at first glance due to its relatively high activation cost for producing a mere 1/1 Thopter artifact creature token with flying. But left unchecked, Whirlermaker can turn the tide of the game by providing an army of blockers or chipping away at an opponent’s life total.
When facing off against Whirlermaker, the key is to disrupt the setup. Artifact removal spells such as Naturalize or Shatter are highly effective, offering a straightforward solution by dismantling the artifact before it can generate significant value. Forcing the Whirlermaker player to invest mana into creating Thopters that you can then efficiently wipe away with cards like Electrickery or Pyroclasm can set them back on crucial tempo. Furthermore, enchantment-based removal like Seal of Primordium gives you the flexibility to decide when to trigger the destruction, keeping the Whirlermaker’s owner on their toes.
Negating the artifact’s ability to produce an endless swarm of Thopters ensures that your opponent will have to find alternative paths to victory. Counterplay such as this maintains your advantage, proving that even the most creative machines can be dismantled with the right tools and strategy.
Cards like Whirlermaker
The Whirlermaker is an intriguing artifact in the MTG universe, offering a unique utility to its controller. This card allows players to churn out 1/1 colorless Thopter artifact creature tokens with flying. In terms of functionality, Whirlermaker finds its peers most notably in the likes of Thopter Spy Network. Both cards focus on producing Thopter tokens, yet Whirlermaker does not rely on certain preconditions such as having other artifact cards to operate. Furthermore, Thopter Spy Network provides an additional ability to draw cards when Thopters deal combat damage, which Whirlermaker lacks.
Another card to consider in this comparison is the Efficient Construction, offering synergy with artifacts. It provides a Thopter each time another artifact comes into play under your control, potentially generating more tokens than Whirlermaker under the right circumstances. While Whirlermaker requires a mana investment to create tokens, Efficient Construction triggers its effect merely by playing artifacts, which can lead to a more passive token generation strategy.
Altogether, Whirlermaker stands as a flexible option for token generation in MTG. Its independence from other game states makes it a reliable and controlled source of flying tokens, perfect for decks that seek to incrementally amass a board presence with minimal prerequisites.
Cards similar to Whirlermaker by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Whirlermaker MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Kaladesh Remastered, 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 Whirlermaker and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Whirlermaker Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Victor Adame Minguez.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016-09-30 | Kaladesh | KLD | 239 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Victor Adame Minguez | |
| 2 | 2020-11-12 | Kaladesh Remastered | KLR | 276 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Victor Adame Minguez | |
| 3 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 808 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Victor Adame Minguez |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Whirlermaker has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
