Whispers of Emrakul MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Sorcery
Abilities	Delirium
Released	2016-07-22
Set symbol
Set name	Eldritch Moon
Set code	EMN
Number	114
Frame	2015
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Jason Rainville

Key Takeaways

Disruptive power paired with delirium makes Whispers of Emrakul a strategic play in MTG decks.
Mana specificity and delirium condition can be restrictive, affecting deck compatibility and timing.
Hand disruption spells like Whispers of Emrakul are crucial in metas dominated by combo decks.

Text of card

Target opponent discards a card at random. Delirium — If there are four or more card types among cards in your graveyard, that player discards two cards at random instead.

Your thoughts are no longer your own.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Cast Whispers of Emrakul to disrupt your opponent’s game plan while building your own hand strength. By forcing your adversary to discard at random, you create a significant advantage for yourself, potentially stripping them of key cards they need to win.

Resource Acceleration: While this card itself does not provide direct resource acceleration, it paves the way for it. Removing resources from your opponent’s hand increases the likelihood of controlling the game’s tempo, allowing you to accelerate your own resources unhindered.

Instant Speed: Though Whispers of Emrakul is a sorcery, its effects can synergize well with instant-speed cards in your deck. Ensuring your opponent has fewer cards means your instant-speed interactions are more likely to resolve effectively, making each play more impactful.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Whispers of Emrakul necessitates that a player has delirium – having four or more card types among cards in their graveyard – to force an opponent to discard. This condition might be tough to fulfill, particularly in the early game or in decks not finely tuned to enable it.

Specific Mana Cost: The specific mana cost of one colorless and one black mana can be restrictive. Decks that aren’t running black or those with a tight mana base may find it difficult to consistently cast Whispers of Emrakul when needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana and the additional requirement of achieving delirium, some players might consider the overall cost of setting up Whispers of Emrakul’s optimum discard condition to be too high compared to other disruption options available in the game.

Reasons to Include Whispers of Emrakul in Your Collection

Versatility: Whispers of Emrakul is a unique inclusion in decks that aim to disrupt the opponent’s hand. Due to its potential to force a discard of two cards at random, it’s a versatile card that can be a surprise element in various strategies that focus on hand disruption.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that increase the number of cards an opponent discards or cards that benefit from having delirium, Whispers of Emrakul shines. This makes it a key piece in combos that capitalize on your opponent’s decreased resources.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where control decks or strategies reliant on specific combos proliferate, the ability of Whispers of Emrakul to unsettle the carefully curated hands of your opponents can be game-changing, allowing you to gain the upper hand in the match.

How to beat

Whispers of Emrakul is a potent Magic: The Gathering card that can wreak havoc by forcing an opponent to discard cards at random. This can be likened to the infamous Hymn to Tourach from MTG’s earlier sets. To tackle Whispers of Emrakul effectively, preparation is key. Ensuring your deck has a robust hand or graveyard manipulation component can mitigate its impact significantly.

Strategies include employing cards that allow you to draw more cards swiftly, thus replenishing your hand and minimizing the disruption caused by random discards. Another approach is utilizing mechanics that benefit from having cards in your graveyard, turning a potential disadvantage into an advantage. Cards with Flashback or mechanics akin to Jump-start can thrive in this environment.

Tactically, playing your most important cards before the opponent has a chance to cast Whispers of Emrakul helps in preserving your game plan. Moreover, cards that can counter noncreature spells, or that can pull vital cards back from the graveyard, can also be a thorn in the side for anyone attempting to leverage Whispers of Emrakul’s chaotic nature.

Cards like Whispers of Emrakul

Whispers of Emrakul carves its niche in Magic: The Gathering as a potent disruptive force within the vast library of hand disruption spells. Resembling the iconic Hymn to Tourach, this particular card shares the same objective of plunging an opponent into card disadvantage by forcing them to discard two at random. While Hymn to Tourach demands no specific setup and has a lower mana cost, Whispers of Emrakul requires delirium – having four or more card types among cards in your graveyard – to activate its full potential.

Thoughtseize is another staple in the realm of hand attack spells, giving players the power to select and discard any nonland card from an opponent’s hand, gaining precise control over the game’s flow. Though unlike Whispers of Emrakul, Thoughtseize does not affect the number of cards opponents have, it does come with the price of 2 life.

Considering the mechanics and playstyles, Whispers of Emrakul fits comfortably in decks aimed at exploiting graveyard synergy. It rewards strategic planning and could lead to substantial card advantage when the conditions are right. Each of these hand disruption spells offers unique strategic approaches, with Whispers of Emrakul demanding a tailored deck for maximum efficacy.

Cards similar to Whispers of Emrakul by color, type and mana cost

Sinkhole - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)

Soul Exchange - Masters Edition II (ME2)

Imperial Edict - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)

Chainer's Edict - Ultimate Masters (UMA)

Predators' Hour - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Whispers of Emrakul MTG card by a specific set like Eldritch Moon, 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 Whispers of Emrakul and other MTG cards: