Ghoulcaller's Bell MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact
Abilities	Mill
Released	2011-09-30
Set symbol
Set name	Innistrad
Set code	ISD
Number	224
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Lars Grant-West

Key Takeaways

Ghoulcaller’s Bell offers strategic library manipulation, aiding draw setups and disrupting opponents.
A versatile MTG artifact; instant speed activation provides significant game control.
Despite benefits, potential drawbacks include unintended self-mill and recurring mana costs.

Text of card

: Each player puts the top card of his or her library into his or her graveyard.

The bell's chime heralds the rise of the unhallowed from the grave and the fall of their victims into the earth.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ghoulcaller’s Bell provides subtle card advantage by manipulating both players’ libraries. This allows for setting up beneficial draws or disrupting the opponent’s upcoming resources without directly adding cards to your hand.

Resource Acceleration: Despite not accelerating mana directly, this artifact subtly accelerates your strategic resources by filtering through the deck more efficiently. This can lead to faster assembly of combo pieces or key cards needed to gain board presence.

Instant Speed: As an activated ability that can be used at any time you could cast an instant, Ghoulcaller’s Bell can be activated during the opponent’s end step or in response to actions, making it a versatile tool for controlling the flow of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Though Ghoulcaller’s Bell does not directly cause you to discard, its milling effect may inadvertently discard valuable cards from your own deck if not strategically used. This could potentially lead to a disadvantage, particularly if your strategy relies on certain key cards.

Specific Mana Cost: Ghoulcaller’s Bell requires one generic mana to play, which is manageable, but its activation is not free. This cost must be factored in each turn you wish to use it, which can compete with your other mana demands throughout the game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Even though one mana might not seem much, over several turns, the cost of activating Ghoulcaller’s Bell adds up. In games where tempo and efficient mana usage are crucial, consistently spending mana to activate the bell can put you at a disadvantage compared to using cards with passive or more impactful effects.

Reasons to Include Ghoulcaller’s Bell in Your Collection

Versatility: The Ghoulcaller’s Bell is an artifact that has a place in a variety of decks, particularly those that aim to control or manipulate both the player’s own library and their opponent’s. Its one-mana cost makes it an easily accessible piece for early plays, setting up subsequent turns.

Combo Potential: This card shines in its ability to combo with other cards that benefit from or enable milling strategies. Pairing Ghoulcaller’s Bell with cards that capitalize on an opponent’s growing graveyard can pave the way for some highly synergetic and potentially game-winning interactions.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where graveyard-based strategies are prevalent, having a consistent means to disrupt your opponent’s plans can be invaluable. Ghoulcaller’s Bell allows players to subtly control the flow of the game, making it a surprisingly relevant tool in certain metagames.

How to beat

Ghoulcaller’s Bell occupies a niche role in Magic: The Gathering as a persistent, low-cost milling artifact. It subtly forces both players to put the top card of their library into their graveyard, serving as a potential disruptor or enabler depending on the deck strategies at play. Unlike direct destruction or shuffling effects, Ghoulcaller’s Bell offers a constant, yet controllable stream of mill that can shape both players’ gameplans.

To effectively counteract Ghoulcaller’s Bell, cards that target specific artifacts, such as Naturalize or Shatter, offer straightforward solutions by removing it entirely. Furthermore, decks heavy with graveyard recursion can actually benefit from the Bell’s consistent mill. Utilizing cards like Tarmogoyf can also turn this slow mill to your advantage by growing stronger with each card type in the graveyard. In essence, disrupting the Bell’s controller’s strategy while leveraging its milling effect for your own benefit, stands as a potent way to mitigate the artifact’s influence and turn the tide of the match.

Ultimately, Ghoulcaller’s Bell demands consideration beyond simple disruption. Tailoring your strategy to use its milling against your opponent can often prove to be an unexpected and game-winning maneuver in the complex and ever-evolving world of Magic: The Gathering.

Cards like Ghoulcaller's Bell

Ghoulcaller’s Bell offers a unique approach to deck manipulation in Magic: The Gathering. It shares a comparable purpose with cards like Codex Shredder, which also grants the ability to mill the top card of a player’s library. What’s interesting about Ghoulcaller’s Bell is its unbiased effect, targeting all players equally. This is distinct from the selective milling that Codex Shredder permits, aiming only at a single player’s deck.

Another parallel can be drawn with Mesmeric Orb. This artifact forces each player to mill whenever a permanent becomes untapped, upping the ante in milling potential. While Mesmeric Orb has a broader impact with each untap step, Ghoulcaller’s Bell maintains control with its one-card-at-a-time strategy. Then we might consider Grind Clock, which accumulates counters to mill multiple cards. It allows for a build-up of momentum, resulting in potentially powerful mill turns, unlike Ghoulcaller’s Bell’s consistent, but smaller, effect.

Ultimately, Ghoulcaller’s Bell holds its ground in MTG as a milling tool that provides a steady, manageable stream of deck disruption. Its impartial approach can slip seamlessly into strategies that benefit from symmetrical deck thinning, distinguishing itself within the artifacts designed for library control.

Cards similar to Ghoulcaller's Bell by color, type and mana cost

Candelabra of Tawnos - MTG Card versions

Phyrexian Dreadnought - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ghoulcaller's Bell MTG card by a specific set like 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 Ghoulcaller's Bell and other MTG cards: