Ghoul's Feast MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Ghoul’s Feast transforms graveyard creatures into a single, potent force for impactful combat scenarios.
  2. Instant speed casting provides tactical flexibility to surprise opponents or capitalize on an unblocked state.
  3. Despite its benefits, the card’s high cost and discard requirement may deter its use in some decks.

Text of card

Target creature gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is the number of creature cards in your graveyard.

Mercadians not wealthy enough to buy a tomb are thrown into a bog called "the Ghoul's Larder."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ghoul’s Feast can potentially create a sizable threat that could also turn into card advantage if it helps in eliminating an opponent’s creature in combat or provides the last few points of damage to end the game.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly accelerating resources, the fact that Ghoul’s Feast helps make the most of the creatures in your graveyard means that none of your resources go to waste, allowing your graveyard to act as a resource in itself.

Instant Speed: Ghoul’s Feast can be cast at instant speed, which means you can wait to play it until the most opportune moment, such as during the declare blockers step to surprise an opponent or after they have declared no blocks to maximize damage output.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ghoul’s Feast requires a card discard to activate its ability, a trade-off that could diminish your options, particularly in the tight fray of the late game when every card in hand can be pivotal.

Specific Mana Cost: The card demands black mana specifically to cast. This requirement means it naturally fits into mono-black or black-heavy decks but can be harder to play in multi-colored decks that might not have the requisite mana as readily available.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card costs a total of five mana, which is a considerable investment for its single-use effect. For the same or lower cost, you might be able to find alternatives that offer permanent buffs or provide a board presence, leading to potentially greater long-term benefits.


Reasons to Include Ghoul’s Feast in Your Collection

Versatility: Ghoul’s Feast offers flexibility to graveyard-centric decks, allowing players to turn their graveyard into a temporary threat on the battlefield. This card can be included in various strategies that aim to cycle creatures through the graveyard for value, fitting seamlessly into multiple deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: This card can significantly enhance strategies based around sacrificing creatures or graveyard shenanigans. Its ability to turn graveyard contents into a sizable creature at instant speed can work well with sacrifice outlets or other effects that require creatures on the field.

Meta-Relevance: In metas where creature-based strategies prevail, Ghoul’s Feast has potential as a surprise offensive move or defensive block, utilizing what is typically an underutilized zone – the graveyard. It also dodges sorcery-speed removal, which is common in many meta environments, making it an unexpectedly resilient play.


How to beat

Ghoul’s Feast is a unique card that can turn the tide of battle by transforming your graveyard’s creature count into a potent, albeit temporary, force. Unlike permanent buffs, Ghoul’s Feast provides a burst of power that can catch an opponent off guard. To counter this crafty card, strategic graveyard management is key. Implementing graveyard hate cards, like Scavenging Ooze or Rest in Peace, can effectively neuter Ghoul’s Feast by removing potential power from the equation before it can be used against you. It’s also vital to play around the timing; since Ghoul’s Feast can be used at instant speed, be wary of overextending your attacks when your opponent has untapped mana and cards in hand.

Control decks also have an edge against this card, as they can counter it directly with spells like Negate or Dovin’s Veto. Additionally, any removal that exiles, such as Path to Exile, can preemptively address creatures that might be candidates for a Ghoul’s Feast boost. Be mindful, stay on your toes to manage the graveyard, and Ghoul’s Feast won’t catch you by surprise.


Cards like Ghoul's Feast

Ghoul’s Feast is a unique black card in Magic: The Gathering that brings a temporary but substantial power boost to the table. Imagine Ghoul’s Feast in relation to other graveyard-utilizing cards, such as Bone Splinters. While Bone Splinters focuses on a single-use removal by sacking a creature, Ghoul’s Feast utilises your graveyard to temporarily enhance a creature on the battlefield.

Another close relative in terms of mechanics is Call to the Netherworld. This card, at a glance, offers a similar revival aspect but instead of boosting the power on the battlefield, it retrieves a black creature from your graveyard back to hand. The one mana cost and madness ability make it a versatile choice. Additionally, Unearth deserves a mention. It stands out by bringing creatures back directly into play with haste, though only until end of turn, similar to the brevity of Ghoul’s Feast’s buff.

When comparing these, Ghoul’s Feast might prove most advantageous in games where a sudden burst of power can achieve an overwhelming strike, showcasing its unique position in a strategic MTG black deck as a finisher or crucial moment enhancer.

Bone Splinters - MTG Card versions
Call to the Netherworld - MTG Card versions
Unearth - MTG Card versions
Bone Splinters - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Call to the Netherworld - Time Spiral (TSP)
Unearth - Urza's Legacy (ULG)

Cards similar to Ghoul's Feast by color, type and mana cost

Simulacrum - MTG Card versions
Word of Command - MTG Card versions
Terror - MTG Card versions
Transmutation - MTG Card versions
Diabolic Edict - MTG Card versions
Headstone - MTG Card versions
Soul Rend - MTG Card versions
Shallow Grave - MTG Card versions
Wicked Reward - MTG Card versions
Urborg Justice - MTG Card versions
Imps' Taunt - MTG Card versions
Rapid Decay - MTG Card versions
Tainted Pact - MTG Card versions
Toxic Stench - MTG Card versions
Doom Blade - MTG Card versions
Go for the Throat - MTG Card versions
Cast Down - MTG Card versions
Smother - MTG Card versions
Hero's Demise - MTG Card versions
Sickening Shoal - MTG Card versions
Simulacrum - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Word of Command - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Terror - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Transmutation - Legends (LEG)
Diabolic Edict - Masters 25 (A25)
Headstone - Homelands (HML)
Soul Rend - Mirage (MIR)
Shallow Grave - Mirage (MIR)
Wicked Reward - Visions (VIS)
Urborg Justice - Weatherlight (WTH)
Imps' Taunt - Tempest (TMP)
Rapid Decay - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Tainted Pact - Odyssey (ODY)
Toxic Stench - Judgment (JUD)
Doom Blade - The List (PLST)
Go for the Throat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Cast Down - Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate (CLB)
Smother - Worldwake (WWK)
Hero's Demise - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Sickening Shoal - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ghoul's Feast MTG card by a specific set like Mercadian Masques and Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari, 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 Ghoul's Feast and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ghoul's Feast Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1999-10-04 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11999-10-04Mercadian MasquesMMQ 1371997normalblackAlan Pollack
22012-09-07Duel Decks: Izzet vs. GolgariDDJ 672003normalblackAlan Pollack
32022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 1202015normalblackOvidio Cartagena

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ghoul's Feast has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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