Dakmor Ghoul MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Zombie
Released	1999-07-01
Set symbol
Set name	Starter 1999
Set code	S99
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	70
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	White
Illustred by	Dana Knutson

Key Takeaways

Provides card advantage by feeding graveyard synergies, useful in certain MTG strategies.
A role-player in resource acceleration and sacrifice mechanics for swift, powerful plays.
Enhances instant-speed strategies with its readiness to be sacrificed when needed.

Text of card

When Dakmor Ghoul comes into play, target opponent loses 2 life. You gain 2 life.

"Cursed be the sickly forms that err from honest Nature's rule!" —Alfred, Lord Tennyson, "Locksley Hall"

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dakmor Ghoul stands out by offering potential card advantage through graveyard synergies. When utilizing strategies that benefit from creatures entering the graveyard, this card becomes a resource that can feed such mechanics, possibly allowing you to recoup the lost card or gain further benefits from its demise.

Resource Acceleration: In decks focused on resource acceleration, Dakmor Ghoul can play a crucial role. Its synergy with sacrifice mechanics can offer a burst of resources, setting the stage for more powerful plays in subsequent turns. This zombie creature could be instrumental in escalating your board state faster than your opponent anticipates.

Instant Speed: While Dakmor Ghoul itself does not tout an instant speed ability, it complements strategies that operate at instant speed. By providing a creature that can be sacrificed at a moment’s notice, Dakmor Ghoul enhances the effectiveness of cards requiring creature sacrifices, making it a timely asset in various situations.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Dakmor Ghoul commands that you discard a card upon resolution of its triggered ability when it enters the battlefield. This can prove problematic when you are already working with limited card options in your hand, as relinquishing another card can weaken your strategic position.

Specific Mana Cost: With a precise mana cost that includes two black symbols, the tuned mana requirement can be a key challenge for players, particularly in multicolored decks. This restricts its integration into a diverse array of strategies, often confining it to mono-black builds or demanding a strong mana base to support it.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing four mana, two of which are black, Dakmor Ghoul could be seen as having a somewhat steep cost for its stats and effect. There are numerous creatures available at a lower mana cost that potentially provide greater value or more strategic versatility, thereby placing Dakmor Ghoul at a comparative disadvantage in terms of mana efficiency.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Dakmor Ghoul’s straightforward utility allows it to slide effortlessly into graveyard-focused or aggro decks, giving you options for varied gameplay while increasing your resilience against control decks that may struggle to handle recurring threats.

Combo Potential: As a creature that can easily find its way back from the graveyard to the battlefield, Dakmor Ghoul works well in combinations with sacrifice outlets or reanimation strategies, allowing for powerful synergies and recurring value throughout the game.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where life totals can swing dramatically, Dakmor Ghoul can contribute significantly to aggressive strategies. Moreover, its solid stats for mana cost can be effective in putting early pressure on opponents, making it a worthy consideration for any collection given the ever-shifting MTG meta.

How to beat

Dakmor Ghoul is a classic creature in Magic the Gathering that can induce anxiety on the battlefield with its simple yet heavy-hitting presence. When this zombie creature comes into play, your opponent is set back by losing life, which can complement aggressive strategies especially in the early to mid-game. Even though Dakmor Ghoul presents an undeniable threat, overcoming it is well within reach with the right approach.

To effectively handle Dakmor Ghoul, consider utilizing removal spells that can bypass its enter-the-battlefield trigger. Direct removal cards such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push offer excellent solutions, removing the ghoul without any life loss penalty. Furthermore, since Dakmor Ghoul demands a significant sacrifice of life by its controller upon entering the battlefield, converting this to an advantage with timely direct damage spells or life gain tactics can turn the tables, mitigating the impact of its aggressive entry.

Strategically, including cards that overtake the Ghoul in terms of board presence, such as creatures with higher defense, can nullify the impact. Finally, always playing mindful of the tempo and keeping removal spells or creatures that can block and survive its attack can ensure that Dakmor Ghoul becomes a manageable component of any opponent’s arsenal.

Cards like Dakmor Ghoul

Dakmor Ghoul stands as an intriguing creature offering in the vast landscape of Magic: The Gathering. It invites comparison with cards such as Sangrophage, which also demands a toll from the player in the form of life points. Dakmor Ghoul requires its controller to sacrifice two life when it enters the battlefield, akin to the repeated life payment of Sangrophage at your upkeep. However, Sangrophage, unlike Dakmor Ghoul, is a part of your regular lineup without an entrance fee in life points.

Exploring further, we encounter the likes of Dross Harvester. Although this creature recuperates your life with each creature’s death, it shares the trait of life point manipulation with Dakmor Ghoul. It’s this ability to impact life totals which threads these cards together. Additionally, there are cards like Geralf’s Messenger that impose a loss of life to your opponent upon entering the battlefield. While this does not affect your life directly like Dakmor Ghoul, the strategy of adjusting life totals remains central.

Ultimately, when comparing Dakmor Ghoul to other similar creature cards, its condition upon entry and the potential strategic implications carve out its unique space within Magic: The Gathering, underlining the constant evolution of how life points can serve as a resource in the game.

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

Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed - MTG Card versions

Demon of Catastrophes - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dakmor Ghoul MTG card by a specific set like Starter 1999, 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 Dakmor Ghoul and other MTG cards: