Diregraf Ghoul MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Zombie
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. An efficient 2/2 for one mana, Diregraf Ghoul bolsters early-game aggression in zombie-themed decks.
  2. Limited castability and discard drawbacks may reduce late-game options and deck flexibility.
  3. Ideal for quick starts in aggressive strategies but requires careful play to mitigate entry tapped.

Text of card

Diregraf Ghoul enters the battlefield tapped.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Diregraf Ghoul may not directly contribute to traditional card draw effects, its low casting cost makes it a highly efficient creature card enabling a player to maintain the pressure on opponents without sacrificing the hand size.

Resource Acceleration: Diregraf Ghoul is a one-mana 2/2 creature, which represents a significant acceleration of board presence. This early game advantage can be key in aggressive strategies that seek to overwhelm opponents quickly.

Instant Speed: Although Diregraf Ghoul does not operate at instant speed, its immediate impact as a powerful one-drop in the first turn of the game compensates by affecting the board state exceptionally early. This can force opponents to react sooner than they would prefer.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Diregraf Ghoul is an efficient creature, it doesn’t come without its drawbacks. One notable downside is that the card requires you to discard another card or make a certain gameplay sacrifice. This can deplete your hand and reduce your options later in the game, which can be especially detrimental if Diregraf Ghoul is removed from the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: Diregraf Ghoul has a mana cost that requires a black mana, which ties it strictly to decks that can produce this color. This can limit the card’s flexibility and utility, particularly in multicolored decks where black mana might not always be readily available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Diregraf Ghoul has a low casting cost of just one black mana, when considering other cards with a similar cost, it could be argued that its power and toughness might not justify the slot in a deck. Players may find other one-mana creatures with additional abilities more appealing and thus might opt for those instead, depending on the deck strategy and format.


Reasons to Include Diregraf Ghoul in Your Collection

Versatility: Diregraf Ghoul is a solid inclusion in any deck focusing on the zombie archetype, due to its one-mana cost. It’s a great opener that can put pressure on opponents early in the game and can be used effectively in both aggressive and midrange strategies.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with other zombie-themed cards and mechanics such as graveyard recursion and sacrifice effects. It can act as an early combo piece with cards that benefit from having zombies on the field or creatures entering the graveyard.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where fast starts are crucial, Diregraf Ghoul gives zombie decks that early game presence. Against slower, control-type builds, having an efficient one-drop can make all the difference in maintaining board pressure and outpacing opponents.


How to Beat

Diregraf Ghoul is a solid card in MTG, often featuring in aggressive Zombie decks with its one-mana cost for a 2/2 creature, making for quite the advantageous opening play. However, this card does come with a downside – it enters the battlefield tapped, delaying its impact until your next turn.

To counter Diregraf Ghoul effectively, speed and response are key. Removal spells that can target creatures, even those with just one mana, such as Shock or Fatal Push, are incredibly efficient ways to remove the Ghoul before it becomes a threat. Additionally, since the Ghoul enters the battlefield tapped, it leaves a window of opportunity to deal with it using sorcery-speed removal spells or setting up defences before it starts attacking.

Moreover, cards with the Defensive ability or those that can generate tokens quickly can block the Ghoul effectively, negating the advantage it offers in the early game. It is essential to balance your removal resources and know when to take care of the Ghoul, especially in formats where Zombies are prevalent. Anticipating your opponent’s plays and keeping their graveyard in check—since Zombies utilize it heavily—can often mitigate the threats posed by Diregraf Ghoul and its synergistic horror.


Cards like Diregraf Ghoul

Diregraf Ghoul strikes a compelling pose in the realm of one-mana creatures, standing shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Gravecrawler. Both are zombies, pivotal in tribal decks, but Diregraf Ghoul has a simpler entry onto the battlefield with just a single tap on the next upkeep. Though not as resilient as Gravecrawler, which can be recast from the graveyard, Diregraf Ghoul’s immediate board presence gives players an early advantage.

Zombie aficionados might also compare it to Sarcomancy. While this enchantment also delivers a one-mana zombie, it comes with a downside if the zombie token is ever absent. Binding players to maintain a zombie or suffer damage, it can be both a blessing and a curse. Conversely, Diregraf Ghoul is a no-strings-attached play with a clear-cut mechanic.

In evaluating one-drop creatures within MTG’s extensive library, the Diregraf Ghoul maintains a solid standing. Its strength lies in its sheer simplicity, allowing undead strategists to apply pressure from the get-go without the immediate drawbacks some similar cards carry.

Gravecrawler - MTG Card versions
Sarcomancy - MTG Card versions
Gravecrawler - Dark Ascension Promos (PDKA)
Sarcomancy - Tempest (TMP)

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

Stone-Throwing Devils - MTG Card versions
Will-o'-the-Wisp - MTG Card versions
Vampire Bats - MTG Card versions
Bog Rats - MTG Card versions
Insidious Bookworms - MTG Card versions
Sewer Rats - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Dead - MTG Card versions
Muck Rats - MTG Card versions
Circling Vultures - MTG Card versions
Vebulid - MTG Card versions
Zodiac Rat - MTG Card versions
Urborg Skeleton - MTG Card versions
Carrion Rats - MTG Card versions
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions
Champion of the Perished - MTG Card versions
Dark Supplicant - MTG Card versions
Bile Urchin - MTG Card versions
Nezumi Shadow-Watcher - MTG Card versions
Rimebound Dead - MTG Card versions
Mindlash Sliver - MTG Card versions
Stone-Throwing Devils - Arabian Nights (ARN)
Will-o'-the-Wisp - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Vampire Bats - Renaissance (REN)
Bog Rats - Chronicles (CHR)
Insidious Bookworms - Alliances (ALL)
Sewer Rats - Mirage (MIR)
Kjeldoran Dead - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Muck Rats - Portal Second Age (P02)
Circling Vultures - Weatherlight (WTH)
Vebulid - Urza's Saga (USG)
Zodiac Rat - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Urborg Skeleton - Invasion (INV)
Carrion Rats - Hachette UK (PHUK)
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Champion of the Perished - Innistrad: Double Feature (DBL)
Dark Supplicant - Legions (LGN)
Bile Urchin - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Nezumi Shadow-Watcher - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Rimebound Dead - Coldsnap (CSP)
Mindlash Sliver - Time Spiral (TSP)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Diregraf Ghoul MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Innistrad Promos, 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 Diregraf Ghoul and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Diregraf Ghoul Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2011-09-24 and 2018-07-13. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 428822003normalblackAustin Hsu
22011-09-24Innistrad PromosPISD 972003normalblackAustin Hsu
32011-09-30InnistradISD 972003normalblackDave Kendall
42016-02-26Duel Decks: Blessed vs. CursedDDQ 542015normalblackDave Kendall
52018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 922015normalblackDave Kendall

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Diregraf Ghoul has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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