Moonlight Geist MTG Card


Moonlight Geist - Avacyn Restored
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Spirit
Abilities Flying
Released2012-05-04
Set symbol
Set nameAvacyn Restored
Set codeAVR
Power 2
Toughness 1
Number29
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byDan Scott

Key Takeaways

  1. Adept flying blocker, the Moonlight Geist poses challenges for opponents and secures the aerial territory effectively.
  2. Instant speed ability allows tactical play, making the Moonlight Geist a flexible and reactive card in matches.
  3. Though the mana cost is restrictive, its benefits in Spirit decks or against aggressive metas can be substantial.

Text of card

Flying : Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to and dealt by Moonlight Geist this turn.

Wails and whispers are the only weapons she has left.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Moonlight Geist offers a form of card advantage by maintaining a defensive presence on the board. It can block multiple threats because of its flying ability, effectively conserving the cards in your hand by dealing with threats in the air.

Resource Acceleration: While Moonlight Geist doesn’t directly create mana or tokens, its relatively low casting cost aids in resource acceleration by allowing you to establish board presence without consuming much mana, keeping resources available for other plays.

Instant Speed: Moonlight Geist can utilize its mana ability at instant speed, providing the flexibility to choose when to make it unblockable, either as a blocker or on your turn to push through damage. This adaptability can be critical, especially when the game hinges on quick and strategic reactions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Moonlight Geist, as a part of the gameplay, doesn’t directly require discarding cards; this means it generally won’t set you back in hand resources. However, always evaluate if your deck strategy aligns with what the card inherently offers.

Specific Mana Cost: Casting Moonlight Geist demands white mana, two of which must be specifically white. This restricts the card’s inclusion to decks that can reliably produce white mana, limiting its versatility across multiple deck types.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including two white, Moonlight Geist’s defensive abilities might be deemed costly when compared to other cards with similar or lower mana requirements offering more proactive board influence.


Reasons to Include Moonlight Geist in Your Collection

Versatility: Moonlight Geist shows its flexibility by offering both a reliable flying blocker and a straightforward way to protect from combat damage with its activated ability. It can find a home in decks that prioritize defensive tactics as well as in Spirit tribal strategies.

Combo Potential: Its activated ability can be combined with cards that benefit from activation costs or provide synergies with Spirit creatures, adding layers to your in-game strategy and interactions.

Meta-Relevance: Moonlight Geist can play a crucial role against aggressive decks that lean on creatures. In a meta with combat-centric strategies, it offers an efficient solution to mitigate incoming attacks while setting up your own plays.


How to beat

Moonlight Geist presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its ability to become unblockable. This MTG spirit card, much like other ghosts in lore, tends to slip through the cracks, frustrating opponents who are unprepared. Understanding how to combat such a slippery foe requires strategic planning, as the conventional use of blockers will not suffice against its evasive maneuvers.

Fortunately, there are methods to counteract the Geist’s intangibility. Removal spells are a solid answer, as they can target the Geist directly, bypassing the need for combat interaction. Enchantment and artifact removal can also play a crucial role in dismantling the Geist’s defenses, as it often relies on its synergies with other cards to maintain an upper hand. Spell versatility and timing are key; instant-speed interaction can prevent the Geist from utilizing its abilities, effectively grounding it before it can take advantage of its unblockable state.

Board control is thus essential. Players must keep their options open and anticipate the need to shift gears from creature combat to direct removal. This flexibility can make all the difference, ensuring the Moonlight Geist’s flight through the aether is grounded before it can haunt one’s chances of victory.


Cards like Moonlight Geist

Moonlight Geist is a ghostly contender in the Magic: The Gathering realm, known for creating graveyard mysteries and providing defensive capabilities. When looking at its closest relatives, it shares the battlefield with cards like Dawn Gryff and Ephemeral Shields. Dawn Gryff has a similar three mana cost and also features flying, giving it an edge in aerial combat. Unlike Moonlight Geist, however, it lacks the ability to render itself unblockable to creatures with specific power.

Walking a different path, Ephemeral Shields offers the convoking opportunity to protect creatures without paying mana. It can’t soar through the skies like Moonlight Geist, but it holds the fort by granting indestructibility. Then you have the Serra Angel, a higher-tier card equipped with flying and vigilance. It demands more mana but compensates with better stats and consistent combat presence. The angelic protector doesn’t have the same spectral shield as Moonlight Geist, but it is a formidable opponent with a self-maintaining defense.

Ultimately, whether Moonlight Geist earns a place in a deck over these souls comes down to the player’s strategy. Its tactical shield can make it an essential block piece in ghostly themed decks within the MTG universe, outshining others in scenarios that demand flexibility and fleeting protection.

Dawn Gryff - MTG Card versions
Ephemeral Shields - MTG Card versions
Serra Angel - MTG Card versions
Dawn Gryff - Eldritch Moon (EMN)
Ephemeral Shields - Magic 2015 (M15)
Serra Angel - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Moonlight Geist by color, type and mana cost

Argivian Blacksmith - MTG Card versions
Jamuraan Lion - MTG Card versions
Snow Hound - MTG Card versions
Femeref Knight - MTG Card versions
Border Guard - MTG Card versions
Stern Marshal - MTG Card versions
Benalish Knight - MTG Card versions
Regal Unicorn - MTG Card versions
Wild Griffin - MTG Card versions
Pianna, Nomad Captain - MTG Card versions
Dogged Hunter - MTG Card versions
Diving Griffin - MTG Card versions
Faithful Squire // Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty - MTG Card versions
Kitsune Palliator - MTG Card versions
Freewind Equenaut - MTG Card versions
Sanctum Guardian - MTG Card versions
Field Marshal - MTG Card versions
Kithkin Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Hookmaster - MTG Card versions
Zhalfirin Commander - MTG Card versions
Argivian Blacksmith - Antiquities (ATQ)
Jamuraan Lion - Media Inserts (PMEI)
Snow Hound - Ice Age (ICE)
Femeref Knight - Mirage (MIR)
Border Guard - Portal (POR)
Stern Marshal - Portal (POR)
Benalish Knight - Anthologies (ATH)
Regal Unicorn - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Wild Griffin - Starter 2000 (S00)
Pianna, Nomad Captain - Odyssey (ODY)
Dogged Hunter - Odyssey (ODY)
Diving Griffin - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Faithful Squire // Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Kitsune Palliator - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Freewind Equenaut - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Sanctum Guardian - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Field Marshal - Coldsnap (CSP)
Kithkin Healer - Lorwyn (LRW)
Kor Hookmaster - Zendikar (ZEN)
Zhalfirin Commander - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Moonlight Geist MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored, 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 Moonlight Geist and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Moonlight Geist has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks