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Whiplash Trap

{3}{U}{U}

Instant — Trap

C20Commander 2020#127common
Finishes
Nonfoil
Border
black
Frame
2015
Pull rate
about 1 per booster
Illustrator
Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
Found in
Commander 2020 Commander Deck Arcane Maelstrom
Printings5EDHREC rank#15,794
CommanderLegalModernLegalStandardNot legal
Format legality

Constructed

StandardNot legal
PioneerNot legal
ModernLegal
LegacyLegal
VintageLegal
PauperLegal

Commander

CommanderLegal
Pauper CommanderLegal
Duel CommanderLegal
PreDHLegal
OathbreakerLegal
Tiny LeadersNot legal

Arena

AlchemyNot legal
HistoricNot legal
TimelessNot legal
BrawlNot legal
Standard BrawlNot legal
Competitive BrawlNot legal
GladiatorNot legal

Other

PremodernNot legal
Old SchoolNot legal
Penny DreadfulLegal
Future StandardNot legal
If an opponent had two or more creatures enter the battlefield under their control this turn, you may pay {U} rather than pay this spell's mana cost. Return two target creatures to their owners' hands.
Plays as:
Cost Alternative
Market · per finishspark updated 13h ago · prices as of 2026-08-30
Nonfoil-11.1%
$0.24
$0.03 low$0.02 gapTCGplayer
Cheapest playable copy$0.13· across 5 printings· view the cheapest printing ›

Rulings

5 · latest Oct 1, 2009
  • WotCOct 1, 2009

    Casting a Trap by paying its alternative cost doesn't change its mana cost or mana value. The only difference is the cost you actually pay.

  • WotCOct 1, 2009

    Effects that increase or reduce the cost to cast a Trap will apply to whichever cost you chose to pay.

  • WotCOct 1, 2009

    You can target any two creatures, not just ones that entered this turn.

  • WotCOct 1, 2009

    You may ignore a Trap's alternative cost condition and simply cast it for its normal mana cost. This is true even if its alternative cost condition has been met.

  • WotCOct 1, 2009

    You must target two creatures as you cast Whiplash Trap. If you can't (because just one creature is on the battlefield, perhaps), you can't cast the spell.