Ghost Tactician MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Spirit Spellshaper
Released	2007-02-02
Set symbol
Set name	Planar Chaos
Set code	PLC
Power	2
Toughness	5
Number	6
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai

Key Takeaways

Card advantage helps maintain hand resources, granting strategic upper hand each turn.
Resource acceleration permits more plays, pushing ahead of opponents strategically.
Instant speed abilities grant tactical flexibility and advantage during crucial turns.

Text of card

, , Discard a card: Creatures you control get +1/+0 until end of turn.

Its ethereal hand confers a lifetime of experience with combat and steel.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ghost Tactician can be key to outpacing your opponents by helping you access more cards. Having additional cards in hand equates to more options each turn, increasing your chances for the right response or play. This ability ensures you’re not falling behind in the key area of hand resources.

Resource Acceleration: This tactician isn’t just about subtle maneuvers; it’s also about ramping up your resources swiftly. By facilitating resource acceleration, it enhances your mana pool, allowing for more impactful plays or multiple spell casts in a turn. Such acceleration can be a game changer, propelling you ahead of the curve.

Instant Speed: The capacity to act at instant speed offers flexibility, enabling you to adapt to the unfolding game. It allows you to make decisive plays during critical moments or in response to an opponent’s threats, keeping you one step ahead. The instant speed nature of this card’s abilities could turn the tide of a match when timed correctly.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To deploy Ghost Tactician effectively, players often have to part with another card from their hand. This can backfire, particularly in the later stages of the game, when hand resources become scarce and every card counts toward potential victory or defeat.

Specific Mana Cost: Ghost Tactician requires a dedicated color commitment in deck building. Its casting cost necessitates precise mana management, making it potentially cumbersome in multicolored decks where mana flexibility is key.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the cost-to-benefit ratio of cards, Ghost Tactician comes with a higher than average mana requirement. This can slow players down, especially when faster, more efficient cards are competing for a slot in their deck.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ghost Tactician offers an adaptable presence on the battlefield, suitable for multiple deck archetypes. Its unique abilities complement varying strategies, enhancing both offensive and defensive plays.

Combo Potential: The card excels when paired with creatures that have enter-the-battlefield effects or those that benefit from having a higher creature count, thus enabling synergistic plays that can turn the tide of the game.

Meta-Relevance: Whether the current competitive scene is dictated by quick aggro decks or slower, more controlling builds, Ghost Tactician can provide the right mix of utility and pressure to stay relevant and impactful in diverse metagames.

How to beat

Ghost Tactician is a card that can potentially alter the board state by turning its controlled entities into formidable opponents. Its ability to increase the power and toughness of your creatures can look overwhelming when facing an expansive front. However, there are several strategies to tilt the battlefield in your favor against this spectral strategist.

Spot removals are your first line of defense. A well-timed “Path to Exile” or “Fatal Push” can neutralize the Ghost Tactician before its effects ripple through your opponent’s ranks. Another efficient tactic is countering it outright — holding up a “Counterspell” can ensure the tactician never gets to command the field. If the Ghost Tactician does hit the battlefield, board wipes like “Wrath of God” or “Damnation” wipe the slate clean, undermining the creature’s power-boosting ability. Moreover, employing cards that limit the number of creatures your opponent can have, such as “Propaganda” or “Ghostly Prison,” can stifle the advantages gained from the Ghost Tactician’s abilities.

Ultimately, a duel against Ghost Tactician in MTG boils down to timing and choosing the right moments to strike. With an arsenal of the right spells, even the most clever tactician’s ghostly schemes can be laid to rest.

Cards like Ghost Tactician

The Ghost Tactician is an intriguing strategic piece for deck builders focused on creature-based synergies in Magic: The Gathering. It can be compared to cards like Veteran Armorer in terms of providing a buffing effect to other creatures. Where Ghost Tactician differs is its ghostly hand in manipulating not just the power, but the tactician aspect, potentially altering the course of a match with its unique abilities.

Similarly, creatures such as Azorius Justiciar also manipulate the battlefield, albeit in detaining opposing creatures. This control aspect is somewhat echoed in Ghost Tactician’s ability to impact combat, though through buffing your own forces rather than incapacitating enemies. Another card worth mentioning is Geist-Honored Monk, which shares the spectral theme and provides a strength-in-numbers benefit, but the Ghost Tactician strays from just number advantage, offering a subtler form of tactical finesse.

Ultimately, for those looking to craft a strategy that revolves around thoughtful maneuvering and creature empowerment, the Ghost Tactician stands out in its card class. It’s not just about adding creatures or raw power; it’s about directing the flow of battle, which can decidedly tip the scales in a tight game of Magic: The Gathering.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ghost Tactician MTG card by a specific set like Planar Chaos, 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 Ghost Tactician and other MTG cards: