Scavenging Ghoul MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 126
1993-10-04 - Number 127
1993-12-01 - Number 127
1993-12-10 - Number 127
1993-12-10 - Number 127
1994-04-01 - Number 128
1994-04-01 - Number 128
1994-06-21 - Number 128
1995-04-01 - Number 159
1995-04-01 - Number 159
2011-01-10 - Number 95
2022-11-28 - Number 420
2022-11-28 - Number 123
| Card sets | Released in 13 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Zombie |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
At the end of each turn, put one counter on the Ghoul for each other creature that was destroyed without regenerating during the turn. If Ghoul dies, you may use a counter to regenerate it; counters remain until used.
Cards like Scavenging Ghoul
In the graveyard-centric world of MTG, Scavenging Ghoul carves out its niche by feeding on the death of creatures. Its counterpart Carrion Feeder shares the theme of growth through sacrificing creatures, but it comes with the ability to sac at will, giving it a sneaky versatility. However, Carrion Feeder cannot naturally grow its power at the end of a turn, whereas Scavenging Ghoul gains +1/+1 counters providing a steady power increase in creature-heavy matchups.
Nighthowler is another peer, thriving on graveyard contents to bolster its might. Unlike Scavenging Ghoul, Nighthowler can amplify its strength based on the number of creature cards in all graveyards, but it misses out on the incremental end-of-turn bonus that the Ghoul offers. Lastly, there’s the Wight of Precinct Six, which, like Nighthowler, gains power from the number of creatures lying in your opponents’ graveyards but falls short as it cannot benefit from your own creature deaths.
Overall, Scavenging Ghoul maintains a unique stance in MTG, thanks to its ability to capitalize on the natural ebb and flow of combat, making it a formidable and autonomous growing threat on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Scavenging Ghoul by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With Scavenging Ghoul, you gain the ability to incrementally increase your graveyard resources, which can prove crucial in outlasting opponents. It’s not just about having more cards in hand; it’s about having more options in play and in the graveyard, which ultimately puts you ahead.
Resource Acceleration: Though it may not produce mana or Treasure tokens directly, Scavenging Ghoul can be instrumental in strategies that thrive on death triggers or graveyard synergy. By converting creatures’ death into +1/+1 counters, it effectively accelerates your board presence and the potency of your forces.
Instant Speed: The ability of Scavenging Ghoul to interact at any point during a game cycle, due to its triggered ability, provides flexibility. This capability allows you to adapt and take advantage of new counters at instant speed, aligning with your broader game plan while reacting to the current board state.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The effectiveness of Scavenging Ghoul can be hindered by its reliance on creatures being sent to the graveyard. Without a consistent flow of creatures dying, its ability to gather +1/+1 counters may not be utilized to its full potential.
Specific Mana Cost: Scavenging Ghoul demands a precise casting cost that includes two black mana. This can be restrictive, making it challenging to fit into multi-colored decks or those that run on a tight mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The necessity of four mana to deploy Scavenging Ghoul might be prohibitively expensive when considering the paced nature of the game. Players might find that other cards could fulfill a similar role at a lower mana investment, possibly yielding a faster and more efficient board presence.
Reasons to Include Scavenging Ghoul in Your Collection
Versatility: Scavenging Ghoul is a flexible card that can easily find a place in graveyard-centric decks. Its ability to benefit from creature deaths makes it adaptable across various formats where creatures are abundant.
Combo Potential: This card can be a key component in creating powerful combos. It thrives in an environment where creature death is frequent, allowing it to grow stronger or facilitate resource accumulation for game-winning plays.
Meta-Relevance: With the ever-evolving MTG meta, Scavenging Ghoul’s ability to interact with the graveyard can be vital. In metas where graveyard strategies are prevalent, it serves as both a disruptor and beneficiary, making it a valuable addition to any player’s arsenal.
How to beat
Scavenging Ghoul is a classic from the earlier Magic: The Gathering sets, offering a unique but manageable challenge on the battlefield. Known for its ability to grow stronger by feasting on the graveyard, this creature can quickly become a threat if left unchecked. To counter Scavenging Ghoul effectively, it’s crucial to limit its food supply. Using graveyard hate cards that exile creatures from the graveyard, such as Rest in Peace or Relic of Progenitus, can cripple the ghoul’s power-up potential.
Another strategy is to keep the board clear of creatures, minimizing the chances for the ghoul to scavenge. Cards that can continuously remove or exile creatures on the field, such as Path to Exile or Silent Gravestone, are particularly potent tools against it. Additionally, since Scavenging Ghoul thrives in a slow-paced game, increasing the tempo and reducing the number of turns can significantly diminish its impact, leading to a favorable outcome for you.
In summation, while Scavenging Ghoul can be a growing menace, maintaining graveyard control and a high-pace game are effective methods to neutralize this carnivorous creature, ensuring it stays more of a rare sighting than a recurring nightmare on your playmat.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Scavenging Ghoul MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Scavenging 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Scavenging Ghoul Magic the Gathering card was released in 12 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Jeff A. Menges.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 126 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 127 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 127 | 1993 | Normal | White | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 127 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 127 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 128 | 1993 | Normal | White | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 128 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 128 | 1993 | Normal | White | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 159 | 1993 | Normal | White | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 159 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 11 | 2011-01-10 | Masters Edition IV | ME4 | 95 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 12 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 420 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges | |
| 13 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 123 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jeff A. Menges |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Scavenging Ghoul has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Scavenging Ghoul card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | The Ghoul still gets to claim counters even if it enters the battlefield after the creatures died. |