Shambling Ghoul MTG Card

Effective for early game pressure and maintaining board control with its solid 2/3 body. Cost-efficient for aggressive strategies, doesn’t impede instant-speed card playing. Lacks discard synergy, restricted to black mana decks, but a reliable early blocker.

Magic Origins (ORI)
2015-07-17 - Number 119

Battlebond (BBD)
2018-06-08 - Number 159

Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
2022-12-02 - Number 465

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Zombie
Power	2
Toughness	3

Text of card

Shambling Ghoul enters the battlefield tapped.

Once he gets up and going, he will forever shamble on.

Cards like Shambling Ghoul

Shambling Ghoul is a solid card choice for those players looking to bolster their creature lineup in Magic: The Gathering. While cards like Walking Corpse offer a similar zombie creature experience, Shambling Ghoul differs with its unique entrance effect – it enters the battlefield tapped. Walking Corpse, on the other hand, arrives ready to attack or block. This subtle difference can influence your strategy during the early game phases.

Comparatively, Festering Mummy is another creature that packs a bit more punch with its ability to place a -1/-1 counter on a target creature upon death. This utility provides a slight advantage in creature combat over Shambling Ghoul, which lacks any direct interactive abilities on the field. Sultai Emissary also shares the same mana cost as Shambling Ghoul and brings more to the table with its manifest ability, potentially turning a top-deck card into a surprise threat on the battlefield.

Ultimately, Shambling Ghoul holds its ground as a staple in zombie decks seeking a cost-effective creature that, despite entering play tapped, can reliably support your undead forces as the game progresses.

Cards similar to Shambling Ghoul by color, type and mana cost

Order of the Ebon Hand - MTG Card versions

Nezumi Graverobber // Nighteyes the Desecrator - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shambling Ghoul provides a solid body on the battlefield right upon entry. This two-drop creature can pressure opponents early in the game, ensuring you’re maximizing your card plays. Its presence helps to maintain board parity, especially in limited formats where a 2/3 creature can be quite impactful.

Resource Acceleration: While the Shambling Ghoul doesn’t directly provide resource acceleration in terms of mana, it does offer a cost-effective creature that fits well within aggressive strategies. Its affordable casting cost means you can deploy it alongside other spells more quickly, keeping the pressure on and freeing up your resources.

Instant Speed: Though Shambling Ghoul is not an instant itself, its entrance into the battlefield tapped doesn’t hinder your ability to react at instant speed with other cards in your hand. By committing a durable creature to the board on your turn, you can then reserve your instant-speed interactions for crucial moments on your opponent’s turn, ensuring you’re always a step ahead.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Shambling Ghoul doesn’t require a discard upon entry, the lack of this feature means missing potential synergies with graveyard mechanics that could be leveraged in a game.

Specific Mana Cost: Shambling Ghoul requires one black mana, which may not be readily available in multicolored or colorless decks, thereby restricting its playability to mainly black-focused decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Considering its stats, Shambling Ghoul’s two-mana cost is on the higher side for its 2/3 body, especially when other two-drops in the game could offer more immediate impact or utility.

Reasons to Include Shambling Ghoul in Your Collection

Versatility: Shambling Ghoul is a solid addition to any black deck that benefits from a reliable early blocker. Its two mana cost for a 2/3 body makes it a dependable choice in limited formats or decks aiming to establish board control quickly.

Combo Potential: With its enters-the-battlefield tapped condition, Shambling Ghoul pairs well with cards that capitalize on creatures’ summoning sickness, such as those with rally abilities or those that can untap creatures for added value.

Meta-Relevance: Considering Shambling Ghoul holds up well against many other two-drops in the game, it has relevance in a meta populated with aggressive strategies. It can function as an early-game deterrent, slowing down opponents and safeguarding your life total as you set up your winning moves.

How to beat Shambling Ghoul

Shambling Ghoul enters the battlefield tapped, which can be a tactical disadvantage for the player using it. When facing such a creature, it is crucial to capitalize on this delay. Direct removal spells such as Shock allow you to remove the Ghoul before it ever gets a chance to act. Additionally, creatures with vigilance offer advantageous trades, remaining ready to block or apply pressure elsewhere on your turn.

Furthermore, exploit the fact that Shambling Ghoul is a single-target creature without inherent protection. Utility cards which can bounce creatures back to their owner’s hand, such as Unsummon, negate any tempo your opponent tries to build by playing the Ghoul, effectively setting them back. This strategy works particularly well against decks that rely on building creature presence quickly.

By leveraging these strategies, you can effectively neutralize the impact of Shambling Ghoul, ensuring that this creature doesn’t become an obstacle in your path to victory. Keep in mind the significance of board control and tempo to outmaneuver your opponent whenever they commit to playing cards with known disadvantages.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shambling Ghoul MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins and Battlebond, 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 Shambling Ghoul and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Shambling Ghoul Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-07-17 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Joseph Meehan.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2015-07-17	Magic Origins	ORI	119	2015	Normal	Black	Joseph Meehan
2	2018-06-08	Battlebond	BBD	159	2015	Normal	Black	Joseph Meehan
3	2022-12-02	Jumpstart 2022	J22	465	2015	Normal	Black	Joseph Meehan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Shambling Ghoul has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal