Ghostly Wings MTG Card
2002-02-04 - Number 38
2016-04-08 - Number 66
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 and has flying. Discard a card from your hand: Return enchanted creature to its owner's hand.
Cards like Ghostly Wings
Ghostly Wings is an intriguing enchantment in Magic: The Gathering, bringing both utility and flexibility to the table. It resembles cards like Unsummon or Vapor Snag in its ability to return creatures to the owner’s hand. However, Ghostly Wings has a distinguishing feature: it attaches to a creature and requires discarding a card to activate the returning effect. Unsummon and Vapor Snag, conversely, are direct and mana-efficient, though they don’t offer the ongoing potential for reuse that Ghostly Wings does.
Comparably, Flight of Fancy presents another twist in the enchant creature space. While also providing an aerial edge with flying, Flight of Fancy offers immediate card draw when it enters the battlefield. Contrary to these traits, Ghostly Wings enables ongoing strategic flexibility, allowing players to dodge removal or reuse enter-the-battlefield triggers at the cost of card advantage.
For players evaluating their deck’s needs, Ghostly Wings stands out with its recurring use case and the aerial advantage it confers to a creature. Although it may not be as straightforward as single-use spells for creature bounce, its enchantment nature allows for unique strategic depth in game play.
Cards similar to Ghostly Wings by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Playing Ghostly Wings can provide indirect card advantage by enabling the return of your creature to your hand, thus saving it from removal or unfavorable blocks. This bounce effect can strategically re-use enter-the-battlefield triggers for more value.
Resource Acceleration: Although Ghostly Wings doesn’t produce mana or tokens, the card offers a kind of tempo acceleration. By discarding a card, you can untap the enchanted creature, potentially allowing for surprises during the combat phase or additional blockers when needed.
Instant Speed: The ability of Ghostly Wings to return the enchanted creature to its owner’s hand can be activated at instant speed. This flexibility allows you to adapt to the battlefield dynamically, whether you’re dodging a removal spell or evading a creature with lethal damage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Ghostly Wings demands the player to discard a card to activate its key feature. In situations where players are pressed for cards in hand, this can prove to be a detrimental step, potentially causing a setback by losing a crucial card or disrupting the player’s strategic flow.
Specific Mana Cost: This enchantment requires both blue mana and generic mana to cast. This dual necessity can make it less accessible or desirable for decks that aren’t focused around blue mana or for players operating a multicolored deck not predominantly blue.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The total cost to fully utilize Ghostly Wings, considering both its casting and activation requirements, can be seen as costly compared to other enchantments or spells in the game that confer similar benefits. Savvy players may opt for alternatives that provide efficient utility without the added burden of repeated costs.
Reasons to Include Ghostly Wings in Your Collection
Versatility: Ghostly Wings adds dynamic options for blue decks, as it not only serves as an aura that grants flying but also a discard outlet. This makes it a flexible card that can be a fit in various strategies, from boosting creatures’ abilities to enabling reanimation or madness tactics.
Combo Potential: This card’s ability to return the enchanted creature to its owner’s hand can be paired with enter-the-battlefield effects, or utilized to save your creatures from removal. It’s a great combo piece for decks looking to exploit such synergies for an advantage.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where air superiority and bounce effects are crucial, Ghostly Wings can significantly impact the game. It’s especially potent in formats where evasion is key, helping to maintain board presence and provide offensive or defensive options depending on the flow of the game.
How to Beat
Ghostly Wings presents a unique layer to strategies within Magic the Gathering, primarily used to grant creatures flying and then returned to a player’s hand through its discard mechanic. Overcoming this card requires strategic planning and timing. It’s useful to note that while the card provides evasion in the form of flying, one of its weaknesses lies in the necessity for a discard to activate this feature.
Removal spells that don’t target, such as board wipes, can circumvent the protective bubble that Ghostly Wings seems to offer. This is where cards like Wrath of God or Supreme Verdict shine, as they clear the board irrespective of creatures’ abilities or enhancements. Other players might rely on cards with the reach ability or those that can block flying creatures as a form of counterplay, ensuring that the battlefield remains controlled.
Beyond specific card choices, the strategic aspect involves patience and thoughtfully determining when your opponent is most vulnerable, perhaps waiting for them to invest in equipping Ghostly Wings and subsequently exploiting the timing to disrupt their plans. In essence, defeating Ghostly Wings entails a mix of proper card selection and psychological warfare to gain an upper hand.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ghostly Wings MTG card by a specific set like Torment and Shadows over Innistrad, 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 Ghostly Wings 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 Ghostly Wings Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2002-02-04 and 2016-04-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2002-02-04 | Torment | TOR | 38 | 1997 | Normal | Black | David Martin | |
| 2 | 2016-04-08 | Shadows over Innistrad | SOI | 66 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Josu Hernaiz |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ghostly Wings has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ghostly Wings card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-04-08 | After the last ability of Ghostly Wings resolves, it will be an Aura on the battlefield that isn’t attached to a creature and will immediately be put into its owner’s graveyard. |
| 2016-04-08 | If Ghostly Wings leaves the battlefield before its activated ability resolves, the creature that was enchanted immediately before Ghostly Wings left is the one that will be returned to its owner’s hand, if it’s still on the battlefield. |
| 2016-04-08 | You can activate the last ability multiple times to discard multiple cards. Only the first ability to resolve will have any effect. |
| 2016-04-08 | You control Ghostly Wings even while it enchants an opponent’s creature. Only you can activate the last ability of Ghostly Wings. |