Ghost Ship MTG Card
1994-08-01 - Number 28
1995-04-01 - Number 75
1995-04-01 - Number 75
1995-08-01 - Number 33
2006-10-06 - Number 21
2018-03-16 - Number 60
2019-11-07 - Number 390
2020-09-26 - Number A25-60
| Card sets | Released in 8 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Spirit |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Flying, o Uo Uoo U Regenerates
"That phantom prow split the storm as lightning cast its long shadow on the battlefield below." —Mireille Gaetane, *The Valeriad*
Cards like Ghost Ship
Ghost Ship stands as an intriguing blue creature in Magic the Gathering that has long floated through the realm of flying defenders. Although its stats do not immediately overwhelm, its resilience is where it shines, similar to the well-known Drift of Phantasms. Both share the flying attribute, though Drift of Phantasms offers a more defensible stat line coupled with transmute, allowing it to fetch key combo pieces from your deck.
In the same sphere of flying defenders, we have Mistform Wurm, which also presents adaptability in battle, morphing into any creature type as needed. However, what distinguishes Ghost Ship is its capacity to regenerate, a feature that enables it to endure where others might not, granting a consistent aerial blocker. Wall of Air is another comparable card that provides a durable defender with respectable toughness, yet it does not possess the tenacious regeneration ability that keeps Ghost Ship persistently afloat on the battlefield.
Evaluating the unique capabilities and roles of similar blue creatures, Ghost Ship offers a persistent presence and defense in the skies of Magic the Gathering, all while having the potential to circumvent removal spells that would send other creatures to the graveyard.
Cards similar to Ghost Ship by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Ghost Ship offers a steady source of card advantage due to its regeneration ability. This mechanism allows you to keep Ghost Ship on the board, maintaining your defenses and recurring blocker to absorb repeated attacks without losing card resources.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or acceleration, the resilience of Ghost Ship means you’re less likely to need to spend additional resources on fielding more creatures. This indirect resource conservation can be pivotal in long-drawn-out matches, allowing you to allocate mana elsewhere.
Instant Speed: Ghost Ship’s regeneration ability can be activated at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to respond to threats during any phase of the game. This instant-speed interaction can deter opponents from attacking, as they know you potentially can save the Ghost Ship from destruction and thwart their strategies.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Haunting the seas of your draft or casual decks, Ghost Ship may come with a requirement that could send a shiver down a player’s spine – the need to discard cards. This ghostly vessel demands a form of sacrifice to stay afloat in the treacherous waters of battle. Should your hand be thinning, maintaining its spectral presence might be costlier than expected, leaving you adrift.
Specific Mana Cost: Summoning this eerie apparition from the depths of your deck isn’t just a matter of amassing enough mana. Ghost Ship requires a specific concoction of mana types, limiting its compatibility with a variety of decks. It’s not every captain that can command such a spectral crew, with its adherence to blue mana evoking the ocean’s fickle nature that may not blend well with a landlubber’s strategy.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Weighing the anchor at four mana, Ghost Ship might find itself outpaced by more agile vessels. As countless options sail the vast seas of Magic: The Gathering, other creatures and spells cost less and could provide greater tactical advantage or swifter board presence, potentially relegating this phantom galleon to the briny depths of your binder.
Reasons to Include Ghost Ship in Your Collection
Versatility: Ghost Ship offers a unique blend of evasion and resilience, making it a great fit for blue-based control or midrange decks. Its flying ability allows it to soar over ground-based blockers, while its regeneration capability helps it to withstand removal spells that would normally take out other creatures.
Combo Potential: With Ghost Ship’s regeneration ability, it can be a key part of combos that involve sacrificing creatures for value, as it can be brought back from the brink of destruction. It’s an ideal partner for cards that require continuous creature presence on the board for maximum impact.
Meta-Relevance: As metas shift to favor decks packed with creature removal, Ghost Ship can become a persistent threat that’s difficult for opponents to permanently deal with. This staying power can give players the upper hand in attrition wars where resources are gradually depleted.
How to Beat Ghost Ship
Avoiding Davy Jones’ locker when facing the Ghost Ship card means understanding its strengths and weaknesses. This spectral vessel brings resilience to the table, coming with a modest toughness and the ability to regenerate. However, it’s this very ability that can be exploited. The key is to force a situation where your opponent has to tap mana during their turn to regenerate Ghost Ship, thus limiting their options for counterplay.
Effective strategies against Ghost Ship often involve ramping up mana to overpower the opponent’s resource pool or deploying spells that don’t deal damage but rather remove, exile, or force the player to sacrifice the creature. Consider strategic plays like using enchantments that nullify Ghost Ship’s abilities or employing creatures that can block it indefinitely. Maintaining pressure while managing your resources smartly will eventually navigate you to victory against this eerie adversary.
Remember, true dominance in Magic: The Gathering comes from outmaneuvering your opponent—anticipate, adapt, and watch the Ghost Ship fade into the mist of the defeated.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ghost Ship MTG card by a specific set like The Dark and Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border, 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 Ghost Ship 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 Ghost Ship Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 1994-08-01 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-08-01 | The Dark | DRK | 28 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Tom Wänerstrand | |
| 2 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 75 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Tom Wänerstrand | |
| 3 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 75 | 1993 | Normal | White | Tom Wänerstrand | |
| 4 | 1995-08-01 | Renaissance | REN | 33 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Tom Wänerstrand | |
| 5 | 2006-10-06 | Time Spiral Timeshifted | TSB | 21 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Tom Wänerstrand | |
| 6 | 2018-03-16 | Masters 25 | A25 | 60 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Bastien L. Deharme | |
| 7 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 390 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Bastien L. Deharme | |
| 8 | The List | PLST | A25-60 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Bastien L. Deharme |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ghost Ship has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |