Whippoorwill MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Bird
Released	1994-08-01
Set symbol
Set name	The Dark
Set code	DRK
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	91
Frame	1993
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Douglas Shuler

Key Takeaways

Whippoorwill alters the dynamic by preventing creature card revival, impacting graveyard-based strategies.
Its niche ability creates combo opportunities and can counter prevalent graveyard decks.
While specific in application, Whippoorwill adds strategic depth to MTG deck construction.

Text of card

o Go G, oc T: Until end of turn, target creature may not regenerate and damage done to target creature may not be prevented or redirected. If target creature goes to the graveyard, remove it from game.

If the Whippoorwill remains silent, the soul has not reached its reward.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Whippoorwill lacks direct card draw, but its ability to ensure creature cards remain in the graveyard can be pivotal in situations where opponents might rely on graveyard recursion for their card advantage, subtly tipping the scales in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While Whippoorwill itself doesn’t provide resource acceleration, it can be a key component in decks that capitalize on death triggers or graveyard synergies, which in turn can accelerate your board state and resource access through other means.

Instant Speed: While the card operates at sorcery speed, its permanent negation of creature card return from the graveyard can be just as crucial as an instant-speed interaction. It allows strategic planning around your opponent’s turns, preserving the power state you’ve built on the board without the constant threat of recurring threats.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Whippoorwill demands a precise setup to utilize its ability effectively, hampering its flexibility. The necessity to manage graveyard interactions means it becomes less useful if these conditions aren’t met or if disruption is faced from an opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: The card costs two green mana to play, which can be restrictive. Decks not heavily focused on green might find it difficult to comfortably integrate Whippoorwill without compromising mana stability.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not exceedingly expensive, its casting cost can be considered high for the effect it delivers. In the realm of creature abilities, more impactful options could be available at a lower mana investment, leading players to opt for those over Whippoorwill.

Reasons to Include Whippoorwill in Your Collection

Versatility: Although Whippoorwill is a specific and niche card, its ability to deny creature card graveyard recovery can be slotted into decks that aim to thwart strategies relying on graveyard manipulation.

Combo Potential: This card has unique synergy with effects that force opponents to sacrifice creatures. When used in tandem, it ensures that key creatures of your opponents stay out of play, effectively disrupting their long-term strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where reanimator decks or those that capitalize on creature recursion are prevalent, Whippoorwill serves as a subtle yet impactful counter-play, providing an edge to those prepared with an answer to such strategies.

How to beat Whippoorwill

Whippoorwill, a card steeped in the lore of MTG, holds a unique place due to its ability to deny creature regeneration. When you’re facing an opponent with this card, you’ll want to adapt your deck to mitigate its special feature. Considering Whippoorwill’s ability requires mana every time, an effective strategy is to limit your opponent’s mana with cards like Mana Leak or by destroying their mana sources with Stone Rain.

Moreover, as Whippoorwill can only target creatures with its ability, ensuring a diversified deck with spells that don’t rely on creatures can drastically reduce its impact. Counterspells, direct damage, or enchantments like Pacifism can render this creature-focused card significantly less threatening. The goal is to maintain pressure without opening your key creatures to Whippoorwill’s ability, thus minimizing its relevance throughout the game.

Ultimately, Whippoorwill might seem like a tricky card to play against, but with clever deck building and knowledge of your opponent’s strategy, you can navigate your way to victory, ensuring Whippoorwill’s silence on the battlefield.

Cards like Whippoorwill

Whippoorwill holds a unique position in the world of creature abilities within MTG. It echoes the function of cards like Unsummon, which aim to nullify threats by returning creatures to their owner’s hand. Whippoorwill, on the flip side, doesn’t return creatures but rather prevents regeneration, ensuring the permanent removal of a creature if it were to be destroyed. This subtle yet impactful difference can be crucial in games where regeneration is a frequent defense tactic.

Comparatively, there’s Tormod’s Crypt, a card that shares the graveyard manipulation theme. While Whippoorwill subtly hampers regeneration capabilities, Tormod’s Crypt has a broader impact by exiling an entire graveyard at no cost. This is a significant interaction, especially in formats where graveyard strategies are prevalent. Lastly, there’s Samurai of the Pale Curtain, which possesses a more preventative ability, exiling cards that would be put into a graveyard, which provides a continuous control over regeneration and reanimation attempts.

Assessing the functionalities of Whippoorwill and its contemporaries, it’s clear that while it offers specialized control over regeneration, other cards provide a wider range of graveyard disruption, positioning Whippoorwill as a niche but potentially effective tool in Magic: The Gathering deck building.

Samurai of the Pale Curtain - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Whippoorwill by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Whippoorwill MTG card by a specific set like The Dark, 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 Whippoorwill and other MTG cards: