Kaya's Ghostform MTG Card


Kaya's Ghostform - War of the Spark
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant
Released2019-05-03
Set symbol
Set nameWar of the Spark
Set codeWAR
Number94
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJohan Grenier

Key Takeaways

  1. Secures assets by countering removal, effectively rendering targeted creatures and planeswalkers resilient against destruction or exile.
  2. Enables efficient use of creatures within sacrifice-centric strategies, enhancing deck synergy and recurring value from singular cards.
  3. Its cost efficiency and versatility make it a staple in various decks, maintaining relevance in metas with prevalent creature removal.

Text of card

Enchant creature or planeswalker you control When enchanted permanent dies or is put into exile, return that card to the battlefield under your control.

The Eternals found some sparks to be quite slippery.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: By enchanting a key creature or planeswalker, Kaya’s Ghostform ensures that you don’t lose your valuable asset even if it’s targeted for removal. When the enchanted permanent dies or is exiled, you get it right back onto the battlefield, which can functionally count as drawing an extra card.

Resource Acceleration: Kaya’s Ghostform can be an indirect form of resource acceleration in decks that rely on sacrifice mechanics. It effortlessly recycles your creatures for additional enter-the-battlefield or leave-the-battlefield triggers, effectively giving you more utility and value out of each card.

Instant Speed: Although Kaya’s Ghostform is an aura that can only be cast at sorcery speed, its effect is akin to having an instant speed response to removal spells. The reanimation effect happens instantly, thereby decreasing window for opponents to capitalize on the removal of your threats.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Kaya’s Ghostform does not force you to discard cards, it’s important to note that it takes up a slot in your deck that could have been reserved for cards that offer immediate board presence or other resources.

Specific Mana Cost: Kaya’s Ghostform requires both black mana and generic mana. This means that for decks not running black mana or those with a tight mana base, including this card can be challenging and might affect the deck’s consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While one may argue that one black mana is relatively low, when you compare Kaya’s Ghostform with other protective spells or enchantments, it becomes apparent that it’s a targeted solution. If your play strategy doesn’t revolve around key creatures or planeswalkers, that mana might be better spent on more versatile cards.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Kaya’s Ghostform can be a key piece in many deck archetypes due to its ability to protect key creatures or planeswalkers. Whether you’re running an aggro deck that needs to keep a pivotal creature on board or a control deck safeguarding a valuable planeswalker, this enchantment fits a variety of roles.

Combo Potential: This card is notorious for its combo potential, particularly in decks that can easily sacrifice and recur creatures for value. In the right setup, Kaya’s Ghostform can repeatedly trigger death and enter the battlefield effects, creating opportunities for powerful synergies.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature removal is prevalent, Kaya’s Ghostform provides an inexpensive way to ensure your key pieces persist through potential threats. Its relevance in the current meta can’t be overstated, as it often equates to an extra life for your most crucial assets in the face of widespread interaction.


How to Beat Kaya’s Ghostform

Kaya’s Ghostform, from the world of Magic: The Gathering, presents a unique layer of protection for your creatures and planeswalkers. Once enchanted, the card offers a lifeline, returning the invested card to the battlefield after it dies or is exiled. This recurrency can be tricky to navigate, but there are ways to outmaneuver its effects.

The key to disarming Kaya’s Ghostform lies in timing and choice of removal. Consider using bounce effects to return the enchanted creature or planeswalker to its owner’s hand, thereby sidestepping the Ghostform’s protective clause. Alternatively, direct your removal at the enchantment itself through spells that can destroy or exile enchantments, like Disenchant or Mortify, before targeting the creature or planeswalker.

Another strategy involves forcing your opponent to sacrifice the enchanted entity. Since Kaya’s Ghostform doesn’t shield against sacrifice effects, using cards like Crackling Doom can deftly remove the threat. By understanding and exploiting these strategic plays, you can effectively contend with the resilience that Kaya’s Ghostform introduces to your opponent’s game plan.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into the dynamics of Kaya’s Ghostform can enrich your MTG arsenal with strategic depth and versatile defenses. Whether escalating your deck’s resilience in the face of removal or finessing your next spectacular combo, there’s a spectrum of potential locked within this singular black mana enchantment. For players looking to thwart their opponent’s attempts at disruption or simply to ensure their key assets have extended longevity on the battlefield, Kaya’s Ghostform remains a tactical wildcard. Elevate your collection and gameplay; explore the contexts and decks where this card shines brightest. Enhance your strategy by incorporating lessons from the full post, and watch your MTG encounters transform.


Cards like Kaya's Ghostform

Kaya’s Ghostform stands out in MTG as a unique and powerful enchantment, offering protection for creatures or planeswalkers from death or exile. Its closest counterparts might be cards like Supernatural Stamina and Abnormal Endurance, which return creatures from the graveyard to the battlefield, albeit only creatures and without the counter-exile provision Kaya’s Ghostform provides.

Comparatively, Malakir Rebirth offers creature protection with an additional land option, yet it again falls short of covering planeswalkers. Then there’s Rescue from the Underworld, which can save a creature or planeswalker, but it is considerably more mana-intensive and situates the action at a later phase, sidestepping the immediate protection that Kaya’s Ghostform grants.

Alluding to strategic flexibility and mana-efficiency, Kaya’s Ghostform establishes itself as a remarkably versatile card within MTG and sets a high bar for protective enchantments, ensuring continuity of key assets on the board.

Supernatural Stamina - MTG Card versions
Abnormal Endurance - MTG Card versions
Rescue from the Underworld - MTG Card versions
Supernatural Stamina - MTG Card versions
Abnormal Endurance - MTG Card versions
Rescue from the Underworld - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Kaya's Ghostform by color, type and mana cost

Paralyze - MTG Card versions
Unholy Strength - MTG Card versions
Evil Presence - MTG Card versions
Weakness - MTG Card versions
Imprison - MTG Card versions
Thrull Retainer - MTG Card versions
Torture - MTG Card versions
Death Watch - MTG Card versions
Leshrac's Rite - MTG Card versions
Sadistic Glee - MTG Card versions
Sarcomancy - MTG Card versions
Tortured Existence - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Motion Sensor - MTG Card versions
Sicken - MTG Card versions
Darkest Hour - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Reclamation - MTG Card versions
Dread of Night - MTG Card versions
Withering Hex - MTG Card versions
Genju of the Fens - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Link - MTG Card versions
Paralyze - MTG Card versions
Unholy Strength - MTG Card versions
Evil Presence - MTG Card versions
Weakness - MTG Card versions
Imprison - MTG Card versions
Thrull Retainer - MTG Card versions
Torture - MTG Card versions
Death Watch - MTG Card versions
Leshrac's Rite - MTG Card versions
Sadistic Glee - MTG Card versions
Sarcomancy - MTG Card versions
Tortured Existence - MTG Card versions
Volrath's Motion Sensor - MTG Card versions
Sicken - MTG Card versions
Darkest Hour - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Reclamation - MTG Card versions
Dread of Night - MTG Card versions
Withering Hex - MTG Card versions
Genju of the Fens - MTG Card versions
Vampiric Link - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kaya's Ghostform MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark, 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 Kaya's Ghostform and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kaya's Ghostform has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Kaya's Ghostform card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2019-05-03 If Kaya’s Ghostform and the enchanted permanent are both put into graveyards and/or exiled at the same time, the enchanted permanent will be returned to the battlefield.
2019-05-03 If Kaya’s Ghostform enchants a permanent you control but don’t own, that permanent will return to the battlefield under your control when it dies or is exiled. In a multiplayer game, if a player leaves the game, all cards that player owns leave as well. If you leave the game, any creatures you control from Kaya’s Ghostform’s effect are exiled.
2019-05-03 If an effect exiles the enchanted permanent and immediately returns it to the battlefield, the last ability of Kaya’s Ghostform triggers but will have no effect. If an effect exiles the enchanted permanent and would return it to the battlefield at a later time, Kaya’s Ghostform will return that card to the battlefield and it won’t be returned later.
2019-05-03 If another player gains control of the enchanted permanent, Kaya’s Ghostform will be put into your graveyard.
2019-05-03 If the enchanted permanent is put into a graveyard or exile but leaves that zone before the last ability of Kaya’s Ghostform resolves, that card stays in its new zone, even if that zone is also a graveyard or exile. You don’t return it to the battlefield.
2019-05-03 Kaya’s Ghostform can enchant a token, but its last ability won’t return the token to the battlefield.
2019-05-03 Kaya’s Ghostform is put into your graveyard once the enchanted permanent leaves the battlefield. It doesn’t return to the battlefield with that permanent.

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