Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet MTG Card


Exiling creatures for card advantage makes Kalitas a powerful card in MTG. Sacrificing creatures for +1/+1 counters offers significant resource acceleration. Flexibility at instant speed provides strategic depth to its users.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Vampire Warrior
Abilities Lifelink
Power 3
Toughness 4

Text of card

Lifelink If a nontoken creature an opponent controls would die, instead exile that card and create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token. , Sacrifice another Vampire or Zombie: Put two +1/+1 counters on Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet.


Cards like Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet

Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet works as a fantastic pillar for many MTG decks. It has a similar effect to Anafenza, the Foremost because both cards interact with the graveyard. Anafenza exiles creatures your opponents would send to the graveyard, which hinders strategies that rely on graveyard interactions. In contrast, Kalitas replaces your opponent’s dying creatures with tokens under your control, turning their losses into your gains.

Scavenging Ooze can be another worthy comparison. The Ooze allows you to exile cards from any graveyard to power itself up and gain you life, at a mana cost. This offers more control over the outcome, but Scavenging Ooze lacks Kalitas’s powerful in-built protection against damage, making it less durable.

Meanwhile, Withered Wretch also focuses on graveyard exile strategy, but it lacks the dynamic which the Kalitas card offers. Withered Wretch can exile any card from a graveyard, which can disrupt decks reliant on recasting cards from their graveyard, but it doesn’t match Kalitas when it comes to turning the tide of a battle as efficiently.

All in all, Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet rises as a potent creature card against other similar MTG cards thanks to his unique conversion mechanic and superior defensive capabilities.

Anafenza, the Foremost - MTG Card versions
Scavenging Ooze - MTG Card versions
Withered Wretch - MTG Card versions
Anafenza, the Foremost - MTG Card versions
Scavenging Ooze - MTG Card versions
Withered Wretch - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Rakdos VampiresRakdos Vampires PioneerRakdos VampiresPioneer Preliminary 2024-05-11
Rakdos MidrangeRakdos Midrange PioneerRakdos MidrangePioneer Showcase Challenge 2024-05-12

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The ability of Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet to exile your opponent’s creature from their graveyard whenever a nontoken creature an opponent controls would die is a big plus. Instead of going to the graveyard, it gets exiled and you get to create a tapped 2/2 black Zombie creature token. It’s excellent for maintaining or improving card advantage in a game.

Resource Acceleration: Kalitas’ ability to sacrifice another Vampire or Zombie to put two +1/+1 counters on himself is a great way for resource acceleration. This ability considerably reinforces your line of defense and offers you durable beaters for offensive actions, accelerating your path to victory.

Instant Speed: Although Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet is not an instant card, its abilities can be activated at instant speed. This flexibility permits you to respond immediately to your opponents’ actions, adding a layer of unpredictability and strategic depth to your gameplay.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet doesn’t come with a discard requirement per se. However, to maximize his potential, sacrificing another vampire or zombie card from your hand is often necessary. This can be perceived as a downside, particularly when resources are scarce.

Specific Mana Cost: Like most specialized cards, Kalitas has a precise mana cost requirement. Tapping three colorless and one black mana to summon him means he favors certain decks, predominantly black. This selectiveness narrows his applicability and can be a challenge if your deck is multi-colored or lacks the required black mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of 2BB, Kalitas Traitor of Ghet isn’t the cheapest creature to put on the battlefield. The four-mana cost seems steep when looked upon superficially compared to other vampire cards. It can be highly demanding for a lean mana curve, making players ponder if there are might be more cost-efficient alternatives.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Truly showcasing its worth, Kalitas Traitor of Ghet can nestle into numerous types of decks, especially ones that are powered by graveyard manipulation and creature control strategies. With its inherent lifelink ability and zombie token production, this card is a formidable asset.

Combo Potential: Kalitas pairs incredibly well with cards that force opponents to sacrifice creatures. Each time an opponent’s creature hits the graveyard, Kalitas conjures up a zombie token while beefing up Kalitas himself, adding to your battlefield prowess and scaring off your rivals.

Meta-Relevance: With an ever fluctuating meta-game, the strength of Kalitas Traitor of Ghet cannot be overstated. Whether you’re dealing with aggro, midrange, or control decks, the ability to consistently modify the state of play while still garnering life points provides an inarguable benefit to your gameplay.


How to beat

Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet is a force to reckon with in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. This black Legendary Creature is notable for its ability to generate zombies, exile opponent’s creatures, and its impressive vampiric strength. A popular strategy for beating this card revolves around managing its power and the swarm of zombies it can generate.

Removal spells are instrumental in this scenario, especially those that can bypass its inbuilt protection against graveyard. Let’s consider spells like Path to Exile or Oblivion Ring that can shift Kalitas directly to exile. Cards imbued with haste are also a smart choice. Speedy attacks can eliminate Kalitas before it gets a chance to leverage its zombie-making ability. Remember, the zombies only come into play when another creature dies.

Another technique is to prioritize other potent threats in your opponent’s deck. This approach tends to put pressure on your adversary, forcing them to sacrifice resources for Kalitas’s lifelink ability. On the whole, taking down Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet requires a deep understanding of your own deck’s strengths as well as a careful management of resources.


BurnMana Recommendations

Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet is more than a card; it’s a game-changer for any MTG enthusiast. With its unique token creation and vampiric capabilities, savvy players see the inherent value and synergy this card offers. If you’re passionate about refining your deck with cards that do more than fill a slot, Kalitas deserves your attention. Mastering its abilities can alter the course of your matches, providing you with card advantage and a more robust defense strategy. For those who thirst for strategic depth and commanding presence on the battlefield, learn more about leveraging Kalitas to its fullest potential and fortify your path to MTG mastery.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet MTG card by a specific set like Oath of the Gatewatch Promos and Oath of the Gatewatch, 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 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-01-22 and 2022-07-28. Illustrated by Todd Lockwood.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-01-22Oath of the Gatewatch PromosPOGW 86s2015NormalBlackTodd Lockwood
22016-01-22Oath of the GatewatchOGW 862015NormalBlackTodd Lockwood
32020-09-26The ListPLST OGW-862015NormalBlackTodd Lockwood
42022-07-28Explorer Anthology 1EA1 52015NormalBlackTodd Lockwood

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2016-01-22 Abilities that trigger whenever a creature an opponent controls dies won’t trigger unless that creature is a token (see below).
2016-01-22 If Kalitas dies at the same time as creatures your opponents control, those creature cards will be exiled and you’ll get that many Zombies.
2016-01-22 If a creature token an opponent controls dies, it goes to that player’s graveyard as normal before ceasing to exist.
2016-01-22 You can’t sacrifice Kalitas to activate the last ability, even if it’s somehow become a Zombie.