Khabál Ghoul MTG Card
1993-12-17 - Number 30
2007-09-10 - Number 75
2002-06-24 - Number 215
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Zombie |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
At the end of each turn, put a +1/+1 counter on Khabál Ghoul for each other creature that died during the turn and was not regenerated.
Cards like Khabál Ghoul
Khabál Ghoul is a unique creature in the vast universe of Magic: The Gathering. This Nightstalker from the Arabian Nights set holds its place in the niche of creatures that grow in strength with each passing turn, quite similar to the mechanic of Tarmogoyf. The Ghoul’s power increases each end step when creatures die, making it potentially overwhelming in a creature-heavy format. Tarmogoyf, on the other hand, gains strength based on the variety of card types in all graveyards, which provides a different approach to incrementing power.
Another card that parallels Khabál Ghoul in the aspect of leveraging death is Blood Artist. While Blood Artist does not grow in power, it drains life from the opponent whenever a creature dies, offering a more direct route to victory. Scavenging Ooze shares the concept of benefiting from graveyard interactions, but unlike the Ghoul, it focuses on exiling cards from graveyards to gain both size and life, presenting a versatile threat.
In essence, while Khabál Ghoul may not be as flexible or fast-reacting as some of its counterparts, its specific attribute of scaling in power exclusively through creature death carves a strategic advantage for those able to orchestrate a battlefield ripe for its growth.
Cards similar to Khabál Ghoul by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Khabál Ghoul is a unique card from Magic’s early sets, boasting an ability to progressively grow stronger, potentially giving you a compounding advantage as each turn passes. Its power increases with every creature that hits the graveyard, not just your own, leading to a potential snowball effect on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: While Khabál Ghoul itself doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, its escalating strength can quickly turn it into a threatening presence. This pressure can force opponents to use up their valuable resources to handle it, indirectly serving as a resource drain against your competitor.
Instant Speed: Although Khabál Ghoul operates at sorcery speed, this card’s end-of-turn trigger can be synched with instant-speed removal, sweepers, or surprise blockers you can play on your opponent’s turn. Using these tactics can maximize the growth of the Ghoul, catching your opponent off-guard and rapidly turning it into a formidable creature by your next turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Khabál Ghoul’s effectiveness is tied to gameplay events that must unfold in a specific fashion. Without creatures dying during the turn, this card lacks an intrinsic ability to grow stronger, thus making it situational and sometimes a dead card on the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: Often, deck building can be constrained by the need to include specific mana colors. Khabál Ghoul requires black mana, which means it can only be optimally utilized in decks that support Swamp or black mana generating lands, potentially limiting its versatility in multi-color deck strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a creature that demands a clear path to grow in power, Khabál Ghoul comes with a relatively steep mana cost. In formats where mana efficiency is paramount, the investment of three black mana might be seen as prohibitive when other cards at similar costs offer immediate impact or come with built-in mechanisms for value generation.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Khabál Ghoul brings an interesting dynamic to the table, seamlessly integrating into decks built around graveyard strategies. Its power grows as creatures are put into graveyards, making it a versatile choice for players who capitalize on such synergies.
Combo Potential: This card comes with inherent combo potential, synergizing well with cards that facilitate creature deaths or graveyard manipulations. This can lead to powerful swings in board state and an ever-growing threat your opponents must address.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that includes strategies revolving around creature-heavy boards or self-mill decks, Khabál Ghoul can become a significant asset. It gains strength from the usual ebb and flow of battlefield creatures, maintaining its relevance as games progress.
How to Beat Khabál Ghoul
Khabál Ghoul, a vintage creature card that grows stronger with each passing turn, requires a strategic approach to defeat. This creature thrives in a battlefield replete with death, gaining power as other creatures meet their demise. The key to subdue Khabál Ghoul is to manage the graveyard and prevent combat casualties which fuel its ascent.
Utilizing cards that exile creatures instead of sending them to the graveyard is an effective tactic to stifle its growth. Equally, running sweepers that clear the board can reset its power, providing a breathing room. It’s essential to avoid trading creatures in combat, which directly plays into Khabál Ghoul’s strength. Additionally, incorporating graveyard disruption such as Tormod’s Crypt can keep the creature at bay by removing the very fuel it requires to become an overwhelming threat on the board.
In a contest against Khabál Ghoul, the strategic obliteration or manipulation of the graveyard, alongside a careful consideration of combat decisions, can ensure your game plan doesn’t inadvertently bolster your opponent’s Ghoul into an insurmountable force. Victory lies in deliberate action and control over the shared resources of death and the graveyard.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Khabál Ghoul MTG card by a specific set like Arabian Nights and Magic Online Promos, 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 Khabál Ghoul 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 Khabál Ghoul Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1993-12-17 and 2007-09-10. Illustrated by Douglas Shuler.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-12-17 | Arabian Nights | ARN | 30 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | |
| 2 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 215 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler | ||
| 3 | 2007-09-10 | Masters Edition | ME1 | 75 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Douglas Shuler |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Khabál Ghoul has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Khabál Ghoul card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2007-09-16 | The effect counts all creatures put into all graveyards from the battlefield during the turn. This includes creature tokens put into a graveyard as well as creatures put into a graveyard before Khabál Ghoul entered the battlefield. |