Vedalken Ghoul MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Vedalken Zombie
Released	2009-04-30
Set symbol
Set name	Alara Reborn
Set code	ARB
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	32
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dave Kendall

Key Takeaways

Vedalken Ghoul can create card advantage by forcing opponents into discard upon combat damage.
Its specific mana cost may limit deck versatility, requiring commitment to blue-black mana.
Vedalken Ghoul excels in grindy metagames with its persistent discard-triggered abilities.

Text of card

Whenever Vedalken Ghoul becomes blocked, defending player loses 4 life.

For four nights following Ennor's death and the reclaiming of his etherium, its recipients were found slain, the etherium ripped from their bodies.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Vedalken Ghoul doesn’t directly grant you card draw, it presents a repeatable form of card advantage through its ability to impose resource penalties on your opponent. Each successful attack with the ghoul forces a discard, effectively whittling down your opponent’s hand size and options.

Resource Acceleration: Vedalken Ghoul itself may not ramp your mana, but by consistently attacking and forcing the opponent to lose life, it can accelerate your game plan, bringing you closer to victory. By putting pressure on your opponent, you’re indirectly speeding up the pace at which you can deploy your strategies.

Instant Speed: Although the Vedalken Ghoul operates at sorcery speed, its ability to influence combat can create situations where the opponent has to play at instant speed to deal with it. This often shifts the tempo in your favor, as your opponent must react to the constant threat the ghoul poses on the battlefield.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Vedalken Ghoul asks players to forfeit another card from their hand every time it becomes the target of a spell or ability. This can be particularly painful when you’re already struggling with card availability, turning the creature into a liability instead of an asset.

Specific Mana Cost: Though manageable, this azure-skinned creature demands a blue and a black mana for play. This specific mana cost requirement can hinder deck flexibility, making the card a less preferable choice for decks that are not dedicated to these colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its stats and abilities, Vedalken Ghoul might seem a bit pricey at two mana. In the constant evolving landscape of the game, where efficiency is key, there might be alternative creatures or spells that offer more bang for your buck, without the additional risk to your hand’s resources.

Reasons to Include Vedalken Ghoul in Your Collection

Versatility: Vedalken Ghoul may not be the staple in every deck, but it has a place in strategies that thrive on consistent damage and resource denial. Its ability to chip away at an opponent’s life total whatever block or becomes blocked makes it a nuisance on the board that requires an answer.

Combo Potential: In decks that emphasize on proliferating -1/-1 counters or capitalizing on discard mechanics, Vedalken Ghoul’s ability to hurt the opponent’s life while controlling their hand size can be a key part of a powerful strategy.

Meta-Relevance: Given the dynamics of certain metagames where slower, grindier matches prevail, having a repeatable source of life loss for your opponent might tilt games in your favor, especially in environments that are less focused on creature combat.

How to beat

Vedalken Ghoul may not be a towering threat in MTG, but it possesses an ability that can gradually chip away at an opponent’s life total. This artifact creature benefits from being on a board with consistent ways to ensure it connects with the opponent. Typically, evasive measures or removal spells that clear the path for it to attack uninterrupted are usually employed to maximize its potential.

To counter this strategy, consider adjusting your game plan to include ample creature removal or board control spells. Having instant-speed interaction to eliminate Vedalken Ghoul before the combat damage step is key. Additionally, utilizing cheap creatures with high toughness can provide a defensive barrier that’s difficult for Vedalken Ghoul to bypass. Finally, employing graveyard disruption can minimize the number of times Vedalken Ghoul returns to the field if a recursion strategy is in play, securing your position against this persistent artifact creature.

Overall, by prioritizing removal, defense, and graveyard control, you can neutralize the effects of Vedalken Ghoul, keeping your life total secure and your pathway to victory clear.

Cards like Vedalken Ghoul

Vedalken Ghoul joins the ranks of targeted discard mechanics within the world of Magic: The Gathering. Its abilities resonate with creatures like Burglar Rat, which also forces the opponent to discard a card upon entry to the battlefield. However, Vedalken Ghoul has the added strategic depth of potentially dealing damage each time it becomes blocked, providing a recurring threat that Burglar Rat lacks.

Delving into the realm of blue-black creatures, we also spot Duskmantle Operative as a comparable card. The Operative carries the advantage of slipping past defenders with higher power, but it doesn’t offer the discard trigger that Vedalken Ghoul does. Meanwhile, the inclusion of Liliana’s Specter introduces a flying variant to the discard mechanic, posing an aerial threat alongside the hand disruption – a dimension Vedalken Ghoul cannot explore.

Overall, Vedalken Ghoul finds its niche in decks focused on repeatable discard effects and direct opponent harassment. While it doesn’t fly like Liliana’s Specter or evade like Duskmantle Operative, its ability to whittle down an opponent’s life with its triggered ability is a unique trait that makes Vedalken Ghoul a nuanced choice for MTG players keen on exploiting every block attempt to their advantage.

Duskmantle Operative - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Vedalken Ghoul by color, type and mana cost

Sygg, River Cutthroat - MTG Card versions

Inkfathom Infiltrator - MTG Card versions

Krydle of Baldur's Gate - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Vedalken Ghoul MTG card by a specific set like Alara Reborn, 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 Vedalken Ghoul and other MTG cards: