Deepwood Ghoul MTG Card
1999-10-04 - Number 131
2003-07-28 - Number 127
2003-07-28 - Number 127★
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Zombie |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Pay 2 life: Regenerate Deepwood Ghoul.
They feed on the living to stay undead.
Cards like Deepwood Ghoul
Deepwood Ghoul is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering that invites a comparison with other life payment cards. A notable comparison is with the card Vampire Nighthawk, which offers flying and deathtouch abilities but doesn’t require life payments for regeneration like Deepwood Ghoul. This ghoul stands out with its regeneration ability which can be activated by paying 2 life, lending resilience to the battlefield presence at a health cost.
Moving onwards to Wall of Blood, it shares the theme of paying life, allowing players to pump its toughness at the expense of life points, a power that can provide a surprise defensive advantage. Deepwood Ghoul doesn’t offer the same flexibility in terms of variable life investment, sticking to a fixed cost for its immortality on the field. Lastly, we have Mortal Combat, an enchantment that plays into the graveyard mechanics, potentially offering a direct win condition, unlike Deepwood Ghoul, whose approach to endurance is more subtle and tactical.
Deepwood Ghoul’s value becomes evident through its regeneration, setting it apart from others, blending the aspects of endurance and strategic life management on the MTG battlefield. While each card has its merit, Deepwood Ghoul ensures its presence is a thorn in the opponent’s side through consistent staying power.
Cards similar to Deepwood Ghoul by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Deepwood Ghoul’s constant threat of regeneration presents itself as a formidable obstacle for opponents, effectively protecting your board presence and helping you maintain card advantage. If unmanaged, the ghoul can repeatedly stave off would-be attackers or combat tricks, preserving your hand and resources.
Resource Acceleration: By utilizing its ability to come back from the graveyard, Deepwood Ghoul can be an enabler for graveyard-based strategies or synergies. This allows players to not only keep a creature on the board but also to potentially accelerate their game plan indirectly through various graveyard interactions.
Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, Deepwood Ghoul’s regeneration ability can be activated at instant speed, providing flexibility. It gives you the option to react to threats or bait your opponent into unfavorable actions during their turn without committing resources until necessary, while continuously threatening to make the Ghoul an imperishable blocker or attacker.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Deepwood Ghoul comes with a discard mandate that may not always align with your strategy. This mechanic requires you to let go of precious hand assets which, in certain game situations, could lead to a disadvantage, particularly if your hand size is already dwindling or the cards you hold are central to your game plan.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Deepwood Ghoul involves a specific mana allocation—requiring black mana—which may restrain its integration into decks that don’t run heavily on swamps or lack ample mana-fixing capabilities. This specificity can restrict deck-building options and affect the card’s overall versatility on the battlefield.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its abilities, Deepwood Ghoul’s mana cost can be considered on the pricier side compared to other creatures in its category. When mana efficiency is key, players might lean towards alternative creatures that offer more value, utility, or staying power for a similar, if not lower, mana investment.
Reasons to Include Deepwood Ghoul in Your Collection
Versatility: Deepwood Ghoul offers a resilient option for any deck that capitalizes on creatures with staying power. As a creature that can regenerate, it hinders your opponents’ removal strategies, making it a stubborn asset in both offensive and defensive situations.
Combo Potential: For decks that utilize life as a resource, Deepwood Ghoul can be a key piece. It can activate abilities or synergize with cards that thrive on life point transactions, enhancing strategies around life gain and loss.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta teeming with aggressive strategies, Deepwood Ghoul can be a formidable roadblock. Its ability to stick on the battlefield makes it an excellent choice for those looking to thwart creature-based assaults or buy time for their own win conditions to unfold.
How to beat
Overcoming Deepwood Ghoul in your MTG games hinges on recognizing its key weakness – the upkeep cost that drains a player’s life. Unlike other creatures that boost your position, this card requires a continuous investment of health to stay on the battlefield. As a result, one strategy is to pressure the Ghoul’s controller, forcing them to choose between maintaining a dwindling life total or sacrificing their creature.
Moreover, Deepwood Ghoul does not come with built-in protection, making it vulnerable to common removal spells. Taking advantage of its susceptibility to spells like Shock or Fatal Push can remove it efficiently. Additionally, because it operates at sorcery speed, players can carefully plan their removal to circumvent the creature’s potential impact on the game.
Lastly, cards with lifelink or those that offer life-gaining abilities can counteract the life lost to the Ghoul’s upkeep. By incorporating these elements into your deck, you can nullify the drawback of keeping Deepwood Ghoul on the field while simultaneously bolstering your own defenses against your opponent’s strategy.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Deepwood Ghoul MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques and Eighth Edition, 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 Deepwood Ghoul and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Deepwood Ghoul Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1999-10-04 and 2003-07-28. Illustrated by Alan Pollack.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999-10-04 | Mercadian Masques | MMQ | 131 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Alan Pollack | |
| 2 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 127 | 2003 | Normal | White | Alan Pollack | |
| 3 | 2003-07-28 | Eighth Edition | 8ED | 127★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Alan Pollack |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Deepwood Ghoul has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |