Oath of Ghouls MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Released | 1998-06-15 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Exodus |
| Set code | EXO |
| Number | 69 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | Brom |
Key Takeaways
- Oath of Ghouls provides regular card advantage by returning creatures from graveyard to hand.
- It accelerates resource use by allowing graveyard creature retrieval without extra cost.
- The card’s upkeep-triggered effect can be a surprising tactical manoeuvre during games.
Text of card
During each player's upkeep, if there are more creature cards in that player's graveyard than in target opponent's graveyard, the player may return a creature card from his or her graveyard to his or her hand.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Oath of Ghouls gives you the ability to recover creatures from your graveyard to your hand each turn. This consistent retrieval creates significant card advantage over time, as you’re effectively drawing an extra card each turn.
Resource Acceleration: By reclaiming creatures from your graveyard, Oath of Ghouls accelerates your resource deployment without expending additional cards from your hand. This recycling effect ensures that you’re always a step ahead in utilizing your resources effectively.
Instant Speed: Although Oath of Ghouls is not an instant itself, the card’s effect applies during the upkeep phase which can catch opponents off guard. Recovering creatures at this speed allows for surprise blockers or unexpected plays that can be as strategic as using an instant during a critical moment.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Oath of Ghouls enforces a particular gameplay pattern, requiring players to meet certain graveyard criteria to benefit from its effect. Those unable to maintain a graveyard advantage might find the card less useful, possibly consuming a slot in the deck that could be devoted to more universally applicable cards.
Specific Mana Cost: Oath of Ghouls demands a dedicated black mana source, which might not seamlessly fit into multicolor deck strategies. Players will need to carefully balance their mana base to ensure they can cast it consistently, which can be restrictive when optimizing a deck’s mana efficiency.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Its cost of two black mana and one generic mana may deter players, considering that some other cards could offer creature retrieval at a potentially lower expense. While its recurring ability is potent in the right deck, the startup cost can be steep, especially in fast-paced games where speed and efficiency are paramount.
Reasons to Include Oath of Ghouls in Your Collection
Versatility: Oath of Ghouls offers an enduring edge in decks that capitalize on creature recursion, making it a staple in formats which allow for its play. Its ability to return creatures from your graveyard to your hand each upkeep can be a game-changer, especially in long, grindy matchups.
Combo Potential: This card is ideal for strategies that revolve around sacrificing creatures for value and then bringing them back for additional benefits. In combination with cards that have dying triggers or beneficial effects when they enter the battlefield, Oath of Ghouls can become a relentless engine that opponents must answer or face overwhelming odds.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where players often find their creatures hitting the graveyard, either through board wipes or targeted removal, Oath of Ghouls gains significant value. Its ability to maintain a presence on the board and provide a steady stream of creatures can keep you in contention even when the meta is harsh on permanents.
How to Beat Oath of Ghouls
Oath of Ghouls is a unique enchantment that requires strategic play to overcome in a game of Magic: The Gathering. This card allows players with fewer creatures in their graveyard than their opponent to return a creature card from their graveyard to their hand at the beginning of each upkeep. Dealing with it on the battlefield means understanding the balance of creature cards in graveyards.
To effectively neutralize Oath of Ghouls’ advantage, it’s vital to manage graveyard populations. Employing graveyard hate cards such as Rest in Peace or Relic of Progenitus can remove creatures from all graveyards, nullifying Oath of Ghouls’s ability. Additionally, crafting a game state where you and your opponent have an equal number of creatures in your graveyards can also render this card ineffective. This can be achieved by either increasing your graveyard creature count or reducing your opponent’s.
Understanding the dynamics of Oath of Ghouls is crucial. It thrives in a game where one player has sustained significant creature losses. Maintaining parity or applying graveyard removal are key tactics in dismantling the benefit Oath of Ghouls provides. By doing so, you ensure that the enchantment no longer poses a significant threat to your path to victory.
Cards like Oath of Ghouls
Oath of Ghouls is a unique enchantment in Magic: The Gathering, reminescent of mechanics seen in other graveyard interaction cards. Its closest kin could be Palace Siege, which allows for the return of creatures to the player’s hand during their upkeep. Oath of Ghouls differentiates itself by offering direct recurring creature return to the battlefield under conditions, rather than providing an option like Palace Siege.
Another card that shares the resurrection theme is Phyrexian Reclamation. This enchantment gives players a more controlled way to reclaim creatures from the graveyard at the cost of some life and mana. Oath of Ghouls stands out by circumventing mana costs although it requires more strategy concerning the number of creatures in graveyards. Finally, Tortured Existence is yet another card that grazes the surface of this function. It’s a more one-to-one exchange compared to Oath of Ghouls which has potential to be a continual source of creature return each turn.
Within the realm of reanimation spells and enchantments, Oath of Ghouls holds a distinctive position, rewarding strategic graveyard management and potentially offering a higher return on creatures without immediate investment each turn.
Cards similar to Oath of Ghouls by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Oath of Ghouls MTG card by a specific set like Exodus, 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 Oath of Ghouls and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Magic products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Oath of Ghouls has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Oath of Ghouls card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2009-10-01 | The ability can only target an opponent of the current player. |
| 2009-10-01 | The targeted player’s graveyard having fewer creature cards in it than the current player’s is a part of the targeting requirement. A player can’t be targeted by this ability unless it’s true, and the ability doesn’t resolve if it’s no longer true at that time. |
