Archghoul of Thraben MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Zombie Cleric
Power 3
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Enables graveyard strategies and maintains card flow through strategic milling and card interaction.
  2. Operates at instant speed, adding a layer of unpredictability and momentum shift during play.
  3. Requires balancing advantages with the challenge of its discard condition and specific mana costs.

Text of card

Whenever Archghoul of Thraben or another Zombie you control dies, look at the top card of your library. If it's a Zombie card, you may reveal it and put it into your hand. If you don't put the card into your hand, you may put it into your graveyard.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Archghoul of Thraben allows you to delve into your library, helping you find answers or threats while maintaining card flow. By milling cards, it fuels graveyard strategies and potentially brings you to an advantageous board state.

Resource Acceleration: This versatile card interacts well with the graveyard, potentially accelerating your resources indirectly. By stocking your graveyard, it paves the way for various synergistic plays and helps you get the most out of cards with graveyard-based abilities.

Instant Speed: As a creature, Archghoul of Thraben offers constant board presence. However, by enabling instant speed interactions thanks to its ability to play off of milled instants or sorceries, it keeps your opponents guessing and can swing the momentum in your favor at critical moments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Archghoul of Thraben necessitates a card to be discarded to activate its pertinent ability. This can be particularly taxing when your hand is already depleted or when every card in hand is crucial for upcoming turns. Moreover, it can be a hindrance in formats where card advantage is pivotal.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost to cast this creature is exclusively black, which can be restrictive for decks that are not mono-black or lack sufficient mana fixing. Its casting requirements might not align well with multicolor decks aiming for mana efficiency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring three mana to cast, this card falls on the higher end for its creature type and effects. Considering its capabilities, some players might find other creatures or spells more mana-efficient for their strategies, which may lead to Archghoul of Thraben being overlooked in favor of lower-cost alternatives.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Archghoul of Thraben is a versatile card suitable for decks that leverage graveyard strategies. Its ability to enable cards like disturb or flashback from your graveyard means it can play multiple roles across various game states

Combo Potential: This card’s potential to unearth creatures from your graveyard opens up numerous combo possibilities. Incorporating the Archghoul in a setup aiming for a decisive combo can bring you one step closer to a game-winning play.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capability to disrupt opponents’ graveyards and provide card advantage, Archghoul of Thraben stands out in metas heavy with graveyard-dependent strategies. It serves as both a proactive and reactive piece, crucial in current competitive play.


How to beat

Confronting the Archghoul of Thraben in MTG requires strategic maneuvers to gain the upper hand. This formidable creature, when deployed, can resurrect creatures from the graveyard, potentially tipping the scales each turn. To counteract its continuous revival rhythm, focus on exile effects that can permanently remove cards from play. Cards like Path to Exile or Leyline of the Void can prevent the Archghoul from utilizing its strength of recurring creatures from the graveyard.

Another effective strategy is to utilize board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation before the Archghoul’s ability can be activated. This preemptive move ensures that the board is clear, denying your opponent the chance to take advantage of the Archghoul’s abilities. Timing is crucial; execute your cleansing sweep just after they cast the Archghoul to maximize the effectiveness.

Ultimately, adapting a deck with tools to disrupt graveyard strategies is key. Including cards that offer graveyard hate, control options, or exile mechanics will give you a dynamic edge against the Archghoul of Thraben, securing your dominance on the field while negating the advantages it brings to your opponent.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering MTG is an ongoing quest, filled with discovering powerful cards and strategies. Archghoul of Thraben is a card that demands attention. It helps players utilize their graveyard, turning it into a resource that can propel you to victory. For those looking to enhance their deck with strategic graveyard play, understanding the full potential of this card is crucial. We encourage avid players and those curious about graveyard-synergy strategies to join us for a deep dive into maximizing the benefits of Archghoul of Thraben and other impactful cards. Learn more about enhancing your deck’s performance and excel in your MTG gameplay.


Cards like Archghoul of Thraben

The Archghoul of Thraben has carved out its own niche within the lineup of zombie-centric cards in Magic: The Gathering. It could draw comparison to cards like Gravecrawler, another resilient zombie creature. While Gravecrawler can be cast from the graveyard providing a constant threat, the Archghoul brings a fresh dynamic with its ability to exploit cards from the opponent’s graveyard. This not only adds a strategic depth but can turn the tide by utilizing the opponent’s strengths against them.

However, Archghoul of Thraben boasts a unique angle with its graveyard plundering abilities on a broader scale. Death Baron is another formidable comparison which gives other zombies you control a bonus and deathtouch, strengthening your undead army. While Death Baron bolsters your own forces, Archghoul puts pressure on opponent’s resources.

Lastly, the synergy between Archghoul of Thraben and cards like Diagram Colossus shouldn’t go unnoticed, where spells that focus on zombie token generation can lead to an overwhelming board presence. Although Archghoul doesn’t inherently create tokens, it complements such strategies by disrupting and drawing from the graveyard. We see here that the Archghoul’s flexibility can blend effectively into existing strategies and offer a unique angle in the strong tradition of zombie cards in the game.

Gravecrawler - MTG Card versions
Death Baron - MTG Card versions
Gravecrawler - MTG Card versions
Death Baron - MTG Card versions

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Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
El-Hajjâj - MTG Card versions
Frozen Shade - MTG Card versions
Scathe Zombies - MTG Card versions
Sorceress Queen - MTG Card versions
Lost Soul - MTG Card versions
Mindstab Thrull - MTG Card versions
Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions
Strongarm Thug - MTG Card versions
Razortooth Rats - MTG Card versions
Ghastly Remains - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Undead - MTG Card versions
Deepwood Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Dross Prowler - MTG Card versions
Nim Abomination - MTG Card versions
Vesper Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Specter - MTG Card versions
Dusk Imp - MTG Card versions
Severed Legion - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Archghoul of Thraben MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad: Crimson Vow and Innistrad: Double Feature, 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 Archghoul of Thraben and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Archghoul of Thraben Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2022-01-28. Illustrated by Johann Bodin.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-11-19Innistrad: Crimson VowVOW 932015NormalBlackJohann Bodin
22022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 3602015NormalBlackJohann Bodin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Archghoul of Thraben has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-11-19 If Archghoul of Thraben and another Zombie you control die at the same time, this ability will trigger once for each of them.

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