Ghastlord of Fugue MTG Card

Shadowmoor (SHM)
2008-05-02 - Number 162

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number SHM-162

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Spirit Avatar
Power	4
Toughness	4

Key Takeaways

Delving into Ghastlord’s abilities yields significant card advantage by controlling opponents’ available resources.
Despite its specificity in mana requirements, its unblockable nature ensures consistent pressure on opponents.
As MTG evolves, the strategic disruption makes Ghastlord a potent addition to control-oriented decks.

Text of card

Ghastlord of Fugue is unblockable. Whenever Ghastlord of Fugue deals combat damage to a player, that player reveals his or her hand. Choose a card from it. That player removes that card from the game.

"He is a ghost that has never known life." —*The Seer's Parables*

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When delving into the abilities of Ghastlord of Fugue, one quickly realizes the sheer value it can bring to the table. The power of this card lies in its disruptive ability, allowing you to proactively control your opponent’s hand by forcing them to discard cards of your choice, effectively translating into significant card advantage over the course of a game.

Resource Acceleration: While Ghastlord of Fugue doesn’t directly accelerate resources, the act of depriving opponents of crucial spells and threats can indirectly accelerate your game plan. By removing key pieces from your opponent’s arsenal, you effectively slow them down, giving you the upper hand to develop your board and strategy at a more favorable pace.

Instant Speed: Although Ghastlord of Fugue is not an instant itself, its unblockable nature mandates immediate attention from your opponent. They are compelled to deal with it instantly, often on their own turn, or face the consequences. This pressure can lead to suboptimal plays from your opponent, as they might have to use instant-speed removal at inopportune times to handle the looming threat of Ghastlord of Fugue.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To wield the Ghastlord of Fugue’s abilities, you must strategically navigate its condition that forces your opponent to discard cards. This powerful deception comes at a price—you need to ensure the timing maximizes the disruption to your adversary’s plans, or you may find the advantage lost.

Specific Mana Cost: Delving into the shadows with such a creature demands unwavering dedication to its mana alignment. The specific color combination necessary to summon the Ghastlord of Fugue requires a precise mana base, which may restrict its presence to only those decks immersed in the spirit of black mana’s unfathomable depths.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The resources needed to bring forth the Ghastlord are substantial—a testament to its formidable power. However, this investment may weigh heavily against your tempo, as other denizens of the realm may offer similar influence at a lesser cost, weaving their spells into the fabric of the game with greater immediacy.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Ghastlord of Fugue can seamlessly become a key player in various deck builds, particularly those that capitalize on disruptive plays and hand control tactics, ensuring opponents are left at a strategic disadvantage.

Combo Potential: This spectral force pairs well with cards that thrive on information asymmetry, allowing you to dismantle your opponent’s plan while continuously applying pressure with its unblockable nature.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state dominated by hand sculpting and strategic setup, Ghastlord of Fugue’s ability to selectively exile key cards from opponents’ hands keeps it perpetually relevant and a powerful inclusion in decks aimed at controlling the pace of the match.

How to beat

Ghastlord of Fugue presents a unique challenge on the battlefield. As an unblockable creature, it can consistently deal damage and its ability allows it to disrupt opponents’ strategies by forcing them to discard cards from their hand. To tackle this formidable foe, players need to rely on indirect removal spells or abilities that can bypass the unblockable nature.

One effective strategy is to use cards that can cause the opponent to sacrifice a creature. Since Ghastlord doesn’t have hexproof or shroud, edict effects such as Diabolic Edict can target it indirectly. Mass removal spells like Wrath of God or Damnation can also clear the board including Ghastlord, circumventing its unblockable ability. Additionally, using hand disruption tactics against the opponent can reduce Ghastlord’s impact by preemptively removing it or other key cards from their hand. Counterspells are also invaluable in preventing Ghastlord from hitting the field in the first place.

Overall, while Ghastlord of Fugue is a formidable card, there are various ways to effectively counter it within the game’s vast pool of spells and abilities, ensuring players can find a way to overcome this shadowy adversary.

Cards like Ghastlord of Fugue

Ghastlord of Fugue stands out among creatures in Magic: The Gathering with its unblockable trait, ensuring its hit on opponents is almost guaranteed. Comparable to the notorious Silumgar’s Command, which offers versatility and control, Ghastlord offers an added edge with its ability to strip a card directly from an opponent’s hand whenever it attacks. Unlike the command spell, Ghastlord reinforces a constant pressure each turn it’s able to swing.

Another analog in MTG’s vast library is Hypnotic Specter, an iconic creature that randomly discards a card from an opponent’s hand on successful damage. However, Ghastlord’s precision in choosing the card to be discarded makes for a more strategic gameplay advantage. Additionally, this compares to Blazing Specter, which similarly prompts a discard on hit, but unlike Ghastlord, it does not possess the unblockable feature, making it easier for opponents to fend off.

In summary, Ghastlord of Fugue claims a unique place in the rogues’ gallery of hand disruption creatures. By combining unblockable attacks with targeted discard, it demands immediate answers from opponents, underscoring its strength in games where control and consistent pressure are paramount.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ghastlord of Fugue MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor and The List, 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 Ghastlord of Fugue and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ghastlord of Fugue Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2008-05-02 and 2008-05-02. Illustrated by Mike Dringenberg.