Ghoulsteed MTG Card

Ghoulsteed - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)

Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)
2016-04-08 - Number 113

Ultimate Masters (UMA)
2018-12-07 - Number 97

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Zombie Horse
Power	4
Toughness	4

Key Takeaways

Its ability to resurrect from the graveyard means sustained board presence, enhancing long-term strategy.
Despite the versatility, the discard requirement for resurrection may hinder hand resources.
While mana-intensive, Ghoulsteed holds potential for combo plays and enduring against control decks.

Text of card

, Discard two cards: Return Ghoulsteed from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.

It once served a cathar roadwatcher, patrolling the crossways between villages. Its hooves still carry it along the same path.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Ghoulsteed is discarded into the graveyard, it holds the potential to be returned to the battlefield, effectively recycling the card and preserving card equity in comparison to other creatures that lack this resilience.

Resource Acceleration: While Ghoulsteed doesn’t directly produce mana or treasure, its ability to be reanimated from the graveyard offers a form of resource acceleration, bypassing the mana cost associated with casting creatures from the hand.

Instant Speed: One of Ghoulsteed’s strategic benefits is its return mechanism which can be activated at instant speed. This flexibility allows a savvy player to decide the most opportune moment, whether that’s during an opponent’s end step or in response to battlefield shifts, to bring Ghoulsteed back into play.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ghoulsteed requires a player to discard two cards in order to resurrect it from the graveyard. This activation cost can be a considerable setback, especially if your hand is already depleted or if the discarded cards are essential to your game strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Ghoulsteed demands a specific mana combination to cast — five mana, including two black. This requirement can cause difficulties in mana fixing and may not fit seamlessly into all deck archetypes, particularly those that run multiple colors or have a tight mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, Ghoulsteed is on the higher end of the mana spectrum for its stats and abilities. When evaluating the overall efficiency of the card, there are cards with lower mana costs that may provide similar or better board presence and impact in a game.

Reasons to Include Ghoulsteed in Your Collection

Versatility: Ghoulsteed offers a resilient option for decks that aim to utilize the graveyard. Its ability to return from the graveyard to the battlefield ensures it can provide continuous pressure or defense as your strategy dictates.

Combo Potential: As a creature that can be consistently returned to play, it synergizes well with abilities or spells that trigger upon a creature entering the battlefield or dying, opening up numerous combo possibilities in black-centered decks.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where control decks may rule the format, having a creature that can come back from the graveyard can be crucial. Ghoulsteed’s persistent presence on the board can be a key factor in outlasting control strategies and other attrition-based games.

How to Beat Ghoulsteed

Ghoulsteed can be a tricky adversary on the battlefield due to its ability to return from the graveyard. Typically found in black-centric decks, this creature packs a punch and offers resilience, making it a persistent threat. When looking for strategies to counter this card, it’s essential to focus on its mechanics and the resources your opponent invests in it.

Exile effects are one of the most effective tactics against Ghoulsteed. By using cards that can exile instead of just destroying, you prevent Ghoulsteed from coming back repeatedly. Consider spells like Path to Exile or Scavenger Grounds to permanently remove Ghoulsteed from the game. Additionally, employing graveyard disruption such as Leyline of the Void or Rest in Peace can neutralize its recursive ability and diminish your opponent’s advantage.

Strategic play, such as timing your removal spells after your opponent has committed to paying the cost for Ghoulsteed’s return, can also prove beneficial. This not only thwarts the creature’s window of impact but wastes your adversary’s resources, giving you a better position in the game. By understanding Ghoulsteed’s strengths and structuring your deck to counteract its abilities, you enhance your chances of overcoming it in play.

Cards like Ghoulsteed

Ghoulsteed brings unique dynamics to the realm of creature cards in MTG. It exudes shades of similarity to other reanimation cards, like Stitchwing Skaab, which also graces graveyard strategies with the ability to return to the battlefield. Yet, Ghoulsteed distinguishes itself by demanding a heavier cost, both in mana and additional card discard, to unlock its revival. Conversely, Stitchwing Skaab offers a lighter resurrection toll, appealing to players who prefer a faster gameplay pace.

Exploring the landscape further, we cross paths with Gorgon Recluse, which shares the asset of being a powerful creature to return from the graveyard. Despite this common ground, the mechanics diverge, as Gorgon Recluse doesn’t demand a discard, but rather is a conditional cast triggered by a specific game state—a stark contrast to Ghoulsteed’s immediate discard requirement.

At the junction of cost versus effect, Ghoulsteed stands as a commendable choice within MTG’s vast array of creature cards offering resilience and late-game fortitude, presenting an intriguing option for deck builders looking to weave in persistence and surprise into their game strategy.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ghoulsteed MTG card by a specific set like Shadows over Innistrad and Ultimate Masters, 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 Ghoulsteed and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ghoulsteed Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2016-04-08 and 2018-12-07. Illustrated by Jason Kang.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2016-04-08	Shadows over Innistrad	SOI		113	2015	Normal	Black	Jason Kang
2	2018-12-07	Ultimate Masters	UMA		97	2015	Normal	Black	Jason Kang

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ghoulsteed has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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