Ghalta and Mavren MTG Card


Ghalta can dominate games by its low-cost casting potential, leveraging creature power on the battlefield. Mavren Fein excels in vampire decks, creating a growing army of tokens without mana cost. Both cards command the board, yet face challenges like specific mana needs and initial high costs.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Dinosaur Vampire
Abilities Trample
Power 12
Toughness 12

Text of card

Trample Whenever you attack, choose one — • Create a tapped and attacking X/X green Dinosaur creature token with trample, where X is the greatest power among other attacking creatures. • Create X 1/1 white Vampire creature tokens with lifelink, where X is the number of other attacking creatures.


Cards like Ghalta and Mavren

In the realm of powerful creatures within Magic: The Gathering, Ghalta, Primal Hunger stands out for its massive power at a potentially reduced cost. This dinosaur is similar to Gigantosaurus, another behemoth that boasts colossal power and toughness but lacks Ghalta’s cost reduction feature, which ties to the total power of creatures you control. While Gigantosaurus is consistently mana heavy, Ghalta can hit the board much earlier if you’ve already populated the battlefield with a sizable force.

Mavren Fein, Dusk Apostle, offers a contrasting approach, akin to Legion Lieutenant and Forerunner of the Legion in their support for vampire tribal strategies. However, Mavren Fein excels by creating additional vampire tokens whenever one of your vampires attacks, granting you an ever-growing army. Legion Lieutenant serves more so as a lord, enhancing your existing vampires, whereas Forerunner of the Legion allows you to search your library for a vampire card, providing strategic deck manipulation.

While these cards cater to distinct playstyles, each excels in its design. Ghalta rewards players for developing a formidable presence, and Mavren Fein consistently builds a legion to overwhelm foes, marking their unique spots in decks that capitalize on creature synergies and tribal themes.

Gigantosaurus - MTG Card versions
Legion Lieutenant - MTG Card versions
Forerunner of the Legion - MTG Card versions
Gigantosaurus - MTG Card versions
Legion Lieutenant - MTG Card versions
Forerunner of the Legion - MTG Card versions

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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Ghalta and Mavren. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Abzan VampiresAbzan Vampires PioneerAbzan VampiresPioneer League 2023-12-09
4c Vampires4c Vampires Pioneer4c VampiresPioneer Challenge 64 2024-03-30
Naya MidrangeNaya Midrange StandardNaya Fight Rigging16 Day2
Naya AggroNaya Aggro StandardNaya Fight RiggingJapan Standard Cup: Murders at Karlov Manor
DecklistDecklist Free formHoliday Night Magic
Mardu GreasefangMardu Greasefang Pioneer4c GreasefangThe Gathering Showdown Series
Rakdos ComboRakdos Combo Pioneer4c MidrangeCity Class Games Showdown IV | Ciclo 1 Ano 2

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ghalta, Primal Hunger can act as a massive board presence that requires immediate answers from opponents, effectively forcing them to use up valuable removal spells. Similarly, Mavren Fein, Dusk Apostle can generate a steady stream of Vampire tokens, providing card advantage through board state rather than card draw.

Resource Acceleration: With Ghalta’s cost reduction ability based on the total power of creatures you control, you have the potential to cast a 12/12 trample for as little as two green mana, leading to substantial resource acceleration. Meanwhile, Mavren Fein can be an engine for creating tokens without additional mana investment, escalating your board presence turn after turn.

Instant Speed: While neither Ghalta nor Mavren have instant speed themselves, their influence on the game demands instant-speed responses from opponents. Ghalta can be cast surprisingly quickly, changing the pace of the game, while Mavren’s token generation can quickly tilt the scales in your favor, especially if he is protected or the board is kept clear with instant-speed tricks or removals.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In certain situations, utilizing cards like Mavren Fein, Dusk Apostle can pressure players into a disadvantageous position. When you’re already facing a resource scarcity, the necessity to discard to activate abilities or synergize with other vampires can be a taxing demand, potentially depleting your hand when you might need options most.

Specific Mana Cost: Ghalta, Primal Hunger necessitates an exclusive green mana commitment which can be restrictive. Decks not heavily invested in the forests’ power may struggle to meet Ghalta’s green mana stipulations, limiting the behemoth’s integration across a diverse array of deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Ghalta’s cost can be reduced by controlling creatures with high power, the initial twelve mana investment can prove cumbersome, especially in the early game. This makes Ghalta vulnerable in high-speed matches where quicker board setups are paramount. In contrast, while Mavren Fein’s mana cost is lower, it pales in competition with other three-drop creatures or disruptive spells that might yield immediate board presence or control.


Reasons to Include Ghalta and Mavren in Your Collection

Versatility: Ghalta, Primal Hunger, thrives in creature-heavy decks where its cost reduction ability shines, while Mavren Fein, Dusk Apostle, is a solid inclusion in any vampire or token strategy, offering consistent creature generation.

Combo Potential: Ghalta can be the lynchpin in green-based ramp decks, while Mavren enables powerful synergies with vampire tribal themes, especially when combined with cards that benefit from creature tokens or increase the number of vampires you control.

Meta-Relevance: Both cards have their place in their respective decks; Ghalta can quickly close games in a meta dominated by slower control or midrange decks, and Mavren’s ability to populate the board with tokens makes him valuable in matchups where board presence is crucial.


How to beat Ghalta and Mavren in MTG

Ghalta, Primal Hunger presents itself as a formidable creature in MTG, towering over the battlefield with its massive 12 power and toughness, which could be cast for a significantly less amount of mana considering the total power of creatures you control. Mavren Fein, Dusk Apostle, on the other side, is known for generating Vampire tokens, enhancing your army with each attack from your non-token Vampires. To tackle these threats, control strategies tend to be effective. Including board wipes like Wrath of God can clear out Mavren’s tokens and even Ghalta in a single fell swoop, resetting the opponent’s momentum. Permission spells are also crucial. Counterspell and its variations can prevent Ghalta from hitting the field or Mavren from taking over the game with an onslaught of tokens. Lastly, spot removals such as Doom Blade for Mavren or Dismember for Ghalta can efficiently deal with these cards before they alter the state of the game. A blend of these tactics can keep the beasts at bay and maintain the board in your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Ghalta, Primal Hunger and Mavren Fein, Dusk Apostle are two MTG cards that bring unique advantages to the table. Ghalta can quickly become an unstoppable force, while Mavren consistently bolsters your vampire ranks. When leveraging these cards’ strengths, you can create decks that are not just competitive but downright daunting for your opponents. Recognize the value of card versatility and meta-relevance in building your deck and savor the thrill of evolving your strategy. Want to harness the full potential of Ghalta’s might or Mavren’s swarming tactics? Dive deeper into our resources. Whether you are looking for strategic deck-building tips or comprehensive play guides, we’ve got you covered. Unleash your true power in MTG with every draw and turn the tide of battle in your favor.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ghalta and Mavren MTG card by a specific set like March of the Machine and March of the Machine, 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 Ghalta and Mavren and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ghalta and Mavren Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-04-21 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-04-21March of the MachineMOM 3862015NormalBlackBetty Jiang
22023-04-21March of the MachineMOM 3072015NormalBlackJody Clark
32023-04-21March of the Machine PromosPMOM 225p2015NormalBlackZezhou Chen
42023-04-21March of the MachineMOM 2252015NormalBlackZezhou Chen
52023-04-21March of the Machine PromosPMOM 225s2015NormalBlackZezhou Chen

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ghalta and Mavren has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ghalta and Mavren card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2023-04-14 Although the Dinosaur token enters the battlefield attacking, it was never declared as an attacking creature (for the purposes of abilities that trigger whenever a creature attacks, for example).
2023-04-14 For both modes, the value of X is determined as the ability resolves.
2023-04-14 If you choose the first mode and there are no other attacking creatures, you’ll create a 0/0 Dinosaur token. Unless something else is immediately raising its toughness, the token will die. You won’t have time to respond with a spell or ability to try and save it. A similar situation occurs if the greatest power among other attacking creatures is 0 or less.
2023-04-14 If you choose the second mode and there are no other attacking creatures, you won’t create any Vampire tokens.
2023-04-14 You choose which player, planeswalker, or battle the Dinosaur token is attacking. It doesn’t have to be the same player, planeswalker, or battle that Ghalta and Mavren is attacking.