Ghastly Death Tyrant MTG Card
2022-06-10 - Number 127
2022-06-10 - Number 11
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Beholder Skeleton |
| Abilities | Death Ray,Disintegration Ray |
| Power | 6 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
When Ghastly Death Tyrant enters the battlefield, choose one — • Disintegration Ray — Destroy target enchantment an opponent controls. You lose life equal to its mana value. • Death Ray — Creatures you control gain deathtouch until end of turn.
Cards like Ghastly Death Tyrant
The Ghastly Death Tyrant emerges as a formidable force within the pantheon of daunting creatures in Magic: The Gathering. When we set the lens on creatures that also intimidate opponents with their sheer presence and ability to disrupt, Grave Titan stands as an ancestral kin. Like Ghastly Death Tyrant, Grave Titan conjures an army of Zombie tokens, although with a nuanced approach that delivers these tokens immediately upon entering the battlefield and whenever it attacks. Yet, Grave Titan does not possess the capacity to manipulate the flow of combat by forbidding creatures from untapping.
We also observe Massacre Wurm, crossing our path with terror strikingly close to the Ghastly Death Tyrant’s chilling effect. Both creatures share the trait of penalizing opponents when their creatures die, but Massacre Wurm’s ability lowers the health of enemy creatures, potentially triggering a board wipe. However, unlike Ghastly Death Tyrant, it doesn’t provide a perpetual deterrent against untapping creatures, limiting its control over the battlefield.
Within this tight cluster of horror, the Ghastly Death Tyrant distinguishes itself with its unique blend of offensive and defensive utilities, orchestrating a slow yet steady grip over the course of play, and situating it as a distinct, invaluable card for players seeking to control the battlefield through dread and dominance.
Cards similar to Ghastly Death Tyrant by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Ghastly Death Tyrant has the potential to draw you extra cards with its unique ability to create Zombie tokens upon certain conditions being met. Each Zombie token represents not just a creature on the board, but also a resource that could translate into card advantage through various other card interactions in your deck.
Resource Acceleration: As the Ghastly Death Tyrant builds your undead army, it effectively amplifies your board presence, which is a form of indirect resource acceleration. In some decks, these additional tokens can be converted into actual mana or other valuable resources through synergistic cards, pushing you ahead of your opponent in the resource game.
Instant Speed: While the Ghastly Death Tyrant itself does not operate at instant speed, it synergizes well with spells that do. Casting supporter cards at instant speed allows you to maximize the effectiveness of the Tyrant’s abilities by responding swiftly to the state of the board and your opponent’s actions, making it a formidable force during gameplay.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of the Ghastly Death Tyrant is that it necessitates discarding a card in certain circumstances. This can be particularly taxing on your hand, especially during the late game when each card in hand can be crucial to maintaining advantage over your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature comes with a specific mana cost that includes black mana. Players not running a deck with black mana sources might find incorporating this card challenging, which could limit its flexibility across different deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Though powerful, Ghastly Death Tyrant commands a high mana cost. When compared to other options available within its mana range, players might find it less appealing, especially in formats where speed and efficiency are key. The high mana cost also means that it might sit in your hand for a while before you are able to play it, which in fast-paced games can be a significant disadvantage.
Reasons to Include Ghastly Death Tyrant in Your Collection
Versatility: A card that provides strategic flexibility, Ghastly Death Tyrant, can adapt to various game scenarios with its formidable presence on the battlefield. It can act as a powerful deterrent, influencing opponents’ decisions just by its potential to dominate combat phases.
Combo Potential: This card shines in its ability to synergize with graveyard-based strategies, maximizing value from creatures that you’ve sacrificed or that have otherwise found their way to your graveyard. Its ability to grow in power from such effects paves the way for devastating combo finishes.
Meta-Relevance: The current game environment, often populated with creature-centric decks, makes Ghastly Death Tyrant a potent inclusion. Its ability to counteract and often surpass these strategies ensures it remains a relevant and formidable force in evolving metagames.
How to Beat
Encountering a Ghastly Death Tyrant on the battlefield can be a daunting experience for many players. This formidable card poses a unique challenge with its ability to dictate the pace of combat and exert pressure on opponents. Navigating around its threats requires strategic card selection and timing. Creature removal spells are key; having access to cards like Path to Exile or Murderous Rider can swiftly take the Tyrant off the board before its effects become too oppressive.
In addition, board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the field, nullifying the advantage that the Ghastly Death Tyrant provides. It’s also worth noting the importance of graveyard control; cards that exile creatures from graveyards, like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void, can prevent the Tyrant from leveraging death triggers to the opponent’s detriment. Lastly, enchantments or artifacts that prevent or reduce the effectiveness of triggers, like Torpor Orb, can significantly diminish the Ghastly Death Tyrant’s impact during the game.
Ultimately, with the right mix of removal, grave hate, and trigger control, players can neutralize the Ghastly Death Tyrant and maintain an even playing field.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ghastly Death Tyrant MTG card by a specific set like Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate and Battle for Baldur's Gate Art Series, 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 Ghastly Death Tyrant 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
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Printings
The Ghastly Death Tyrant Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2022-06-10 and 2022-06-10. Illustrated by Peter Polach.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2022-06-10 | Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate | CLB | 127 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Peter Polach | |
| 2 | Battle for Baldur's Gate Art Series | ACLB | 11 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Peter Polach |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ghastly Death Tyrant has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |