Mournwhelk MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 7 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Elemental |
| Abilities | Evoke |
| Released | 2007-10-12 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Lorwyn |
| Set code | LRW |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 127 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jeremy Jarvis |
Key Takeaways
- Mournwhelk facilitates card advantage through its unique discard ability when evoked, subtly tilting hand balance.
- Evoke cost allows Mournwhelk to fit into strategic plays, complementing a mana-efficient turn and advancing game plans.
- Despite its higher mana cost, Mournwhelk’s versatility makes it valuable for decks focusing on disruption and control.
Text of card
When Mournwhelk comes into play, target player discards two cards. Evoke (You may play this spell for its evoke cost. If you do, it's sacrificed when it comes into play.)
It hoards Lorwyn's rare sorrows.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Mournwhelk provides a unique twist to card advantage. When it enters the battlefield, it forces an opponent to discard two cards if you played it for its evoke cost, subtly shifting the balance of cards in hand in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: While Mournwhelk itself does not directly accelerate resources, casting it through evoke at a reduced cost can leave mana available for other strategic plays within the same turn, effectively smoothing out your mana curve and accelerating your overall game plan.
Instant Speed: Although Mournwhelk is not cast at instant speed, the tactical advantage lies in its evoke mechanic. This allows you to disguise your true intentions until the last possible moment, setting up a situation where you could impact the board while still keeping mana open for instant speed interactions on the same turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Mournwhelk’s evoke ability requires players to discard a card, which may not always be beneficial, especially in hands already running low on options.
Specific Mana Cost: Mournwhelk requires a precise combination of black and generic mana to cast, posing a challenge for decks that are not heavily invested in black mana resources or those aiming for a more diverse mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of seven mana, there are numerous alternatives that could provide discard effects or creature control for a lower investment, making it a less competitive choice in fast-paced games.
Reasons to Include Mournwhelk in Your Collection
Versatility: Mournwhelk provides flexibility in its utility, fitting into blue and black decks that appreciate both creature presence and disruption. The card’s evoke mechanic allows for a cost-effective way to trigger its discard effect without the need for the creature to stay on the battlefield.
Combo Potential: As a creature with an impactful enters-the-battlefield ability, Mournwhelk can be recurrently utilized in decks that harness graveyard recursion or blink strategies. Combining it with cards that allow you to repeatedly take advantage of its effect can severely hamper your opponents’ game plans.
Meta-Relevance: In game environments where hand control is key to disrupting opponents, Mournwhelk’s ability to force discard can be a strategic advantage. It’s especially useful in metas dominated by combo decks, where dismantling your opponent’s hand could mean the difference between victory and defeat.
How to beat
Mournwhelk presents an eerie challenge with its unique ability to force a discard when it enters the battlefield—a trait that can disrupt any player’s strategy in Magic: The Gathering. This card stands out for its evoke mechanic, which allows it to be cast for a cheaper alternative cost, triggering the discard effect, but sacrificing the creature in the process. It’s a tactic that players must be ready to handle.
To navigate around Mournwhelk’s discard effect, it’s crucial to maintain a strategic hand, keeping in reserve cards that can be discarded with minimal impact, or utilizing cards that benefit from being in the graveyard. Implementing graveyard retrieval spells or creatures that can return cards from the graveyard to your hand are effective counters. Ensuring a diverse and responsive deck can mitigate the potential damage caused by Mournwhelk’s presence on the battlefield.
Ultimately, the key to countering Mournwhelk lies in anticipating its arrival and maintaining a flexible game plan that can adapt to the loss of resources. By effectively managing your hand and graveyard, you can turn the tides and neutralize the threat Mournwhelk poses in your MTG match.
Cards like Mournwhelk
Mournwhelk is an intriguing creature card within the Magic: The Gathering universe. It offers a unique blend of abilities that resonate with cards like Mind Rot or Ravenous Rats. Much like these peers, Mournwhelk’s primary function lies in its ability to disrupt the opponent’s hand, forcing them to discard. Mournwhelk, however, is a creature card, which provides additional board presence. When it enters the battlefield, if you played it from your hand, an opponent discards two cards, aligning it closely with the effect of Mind Rot but with the tangible benefit of a creature.
Ravenous Rats presents a similar functionality, albeit on a more modest scale – causing the opponent to discard only a single card upon entry. What sets Mournwhelk aside from these comparisons is its evoke ability, which allows you to obtain the discard effect at a reduced cost without the creature sticking around. This creates a flexible option for players to gain an edge in terms of hand disruption without committing to the full creature cost.
Overall, Mournwhelk stands out in its class, providing strategic flexibility and a dual threat of board presence and hand disruption, casting a shadow on other cards of a similar nature within the MTG realm.
Cards similar to Mournwhelk by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Mournwhelk MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn, 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 Mournwhelk 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Mournwhelk has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Mournwhelk card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-04-15 | If you cast this card for its evoke cost, you may put the sacrifice trigger and the regular enters-the-battlefield trigger on the stack in either order. The one put on the stack last will resolve first. |
