Ghost-Lit Stalker MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Spirit
Abilities Channel
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides card advantage and strategic flexibility to outmaneuver opponents.
  2. Demanding mana costs could hinder deck inclusion without careful planning.
  3. Potential for disruption makes it a worthy addition to control decks.

Text of card

, : Target player discards two cards. Play this ability only any time you could play a sorcery. Channel , Discard Ghost-Lit Stalker: Target player discards four cards. Play this ability only any time you could play a sorcery.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ghost-Lit Stalker enables a player to trade itself for an opponent’s card, potentially disrupting their plans and gaining card advantage in longer battles.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana, this creature encourages strategic play, possibly saving resources by forcing an opponent to deal with it or invest in defenses.

Instant Speed: Offering a sacrifice ability at instant speed means you can utilize Ghost-Lit Stalker flexibly during any phase of the game, aligning with your tactical needs without telegraphing your plays in advance.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ghost-Lit Stalker demands that you discard a card to activate its ability. This can put you at a disadvantage, especially if your hand is running low and every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: To make the most of Ghost-Lit Stalker’s abilities, you’ll need to incorporate black mana into your deck. This can be restrictive and may not fit with your deck’s overall mana base, especially if you are running a multi-color strategy without sufficient mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At two mana for a 1/1 creature, and an additional four to activate its primary ability, Ghost-Lit Stalker could be considered mana-inefficient. There are cards available that can provide greater power or utility at a similar, if not lower, mana investment.


Reasons to Include Ghost-Lit Stalker in Your Collection

Versatility: Ghost-Lit Stalker is a flexible card that can be integrated into a variety of decks. Its ability to disrupt the opponent’s hand makes it a valuable asset in control strategies or any deck looking to gain an advantage over combo-oriented opponents.

Combo Potential: With its channel ability, Ghost-Lit Stalker provides interesting synergies and interactions within spirit or arcane-themed decks. It can be used strategically to activate abilities that rely on discarding or casting spirits or arcane spells, thus empowering your strategic plays.

Meta-Relevance: Given an environment where players heavily rely on hand resources for their game plan, Ghost-Lit Stalker becomes a critical tool. It can effectively weaken strategies that are dependent on specific nonland cards by forcing them to discard, potentially disrupting their tempo and reducing their chances of executing a win condition efficiently.


How to beat

Ghost-Lit Stalker presents a unique challenge with its ability to boost its power through its untap mechanic, potentially becoming a formidable opponent on the battlefield. However, this spirit creature can be effectively managed. The key to overcoming it lies in maintaining a proactive defense. Utilize creature removal spells such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile to neutralize it before its power can be amplified. Instant-speed interactions are particularly valuable, as they allow you to respond to the untapping trigger. Alternatively, sweepers like Wrath of God can handle it alongside any other threats. Keep in mind that Ghost-Lit Stalker requires a significant mana investment to become a serious threat, so tempo plays that put pressure on your opponent’s resources can also be beneficial. By managing the board state and carefully choosing your moments to act, Ghost-Lit Stalker can be kept in check.


Cards like Ghost-Lit Stalker

When exploring the vast array of options in Magic: The Gathering, Ghost-Lit Stalker stands out as an intriguing spirit card. Much like its brethren, such as Tormented Soul, this creature is unblockable, ensuring your damage hits its target without fail. Nonetheless, Ghost-Lit Stalker diverges with its unique ability to disrupt an opponent’s strategy by allowing you to pay four mana and exile it to force each opponent to discard two cards.

Comparing it to other cards that provoke discards, such as Liliana’s Specter, provides an interesting perspective. Liliana’s Specter also causes opponents to discard a card upon entering the battlefield. It offers this effect without any additional mana cost but does not offer the repeatable use that Ghost-Lit Stalker does should additional mana be available. Another card in this realm is Rotting Rats, allowing each player to discard a card upon entry and with its unearth ability, but unlike Ghost-Lit Stalker, it does not have the unblockable trait.

Hence, Ghost-Lit Stalker can be a strategic asset in MTG decks focused on hand disruption. Its unique combination of being an evasive creature with a discard ability gives it an edge in certain gameplay situations, making it a noteworthy card for players who favor control tactics.

Tormented Soul - MTG Card versions
Liliana's Specter - MTG Card versions
Rotting Rats - MTG Card versions
Tormented Soul - Wizards Play Network 2011 (PWP11)
Liliana's Specter - Magic 2011 Promos (PM11)
Rotting Rats - Conflux (CON)

Cards similar to Ghost-Lit Stalker by color, type and mana cost

Stone-Throwing Devils - MTG Card versions
Will-o'-the-Wisp - MTG Card versions
Vampire Bats - MTG Card versions
Bog Rats - MTG Card versions
Sewer Rats - MTG Card versions
Muck Rats - MTG Card versions
Vebulid - MTG Card versions
Urborg Skeleton - MTG Card versions
Carrion Rats - MTG Card versions
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions
Dark Supplicant - MTG Card versions
Bile Urchin - MTG Card versions
Rimebound Dead - MTG Card versions
Plague Beetle - MTG Card versions
Festering Goblin - MTG Card versions
Sleeper Agent - MTG Card versions
Knucklebone Witch - MTG Card versions
Nightshade Stinger - MTG Card versions
Smolder Initiate - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Dead - MTG Card versions
Stone-Throwing Devils - Arabian Nights (ARN)
Will-o'-the-Wisp - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Vampire Bats - Renaissance (REN)
Bog Rats - Chronicles (CHR)
Sewer Rats - Mirage (MIR)
Muck Rats - Portal Second Age (P02)
Vebulid - Urza's Saga (USG)
Urborg Skeleton - Invasion (INV)
Carrion Rats - Torment (TOR)
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Dark Supplicant - Legions (LGN)
Bile Urchin - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Rimebound Dead - Coldsnap (CSP)
Plague Beetle - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Festering Goblin - Tenth Edition (10E)
Sleeper Agent - Tenth Edition (10E)
Knucklebone Witch - Lorwyn (LRW)
Nightshade Stinger - Lorwyn (LRW)
Smolder Initiate - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Kjeldoran Dead - Masters Edition II (ME2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ghost-Lit Stalker MTG card by a specific set like Saviors of Kamigawa and Duel Decks Anthology: Garruk vs. Liliana, 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-Lit Stalker and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ghost-Lit Stalker Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2005-06-03 and 2014-12-05. Illustrated by Hideaki Takamura.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12005-06-03Saviors of KamigawaSOK 692003normalblackHideaki Takamura
22014-12-05Duel Decks Anthology: Garruk vs. LilianaGVL 342015normalblackHideaki Takamura

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ghost-Lit Stalker has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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