Ghost Council of Orzhova MTG Card


Offers life-draining advantage and potential for reutilizing creature effects, enhancing resourcefulness and board impact. Demanding mana requirements and sacrifice mechanic can restrict gameplay, demanding strategic deck construction and play. Decisive in grindy games, excelling in both offensive and defensive strategies due to its versatile ability set.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Spirit
Power 4
Toughness 4

Text of card

When Ghost Council of Orzhova comes into play, target opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life. , Sacrifice a creature: Remove Ghost Council of Orzhova from the game. Return it to play under its owner's control at end of turn.


Cards like Ghost Council of Orzhova

The Ghost Council of Orzhova stands out among the myriad of legendary creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It’s often compared to other life-draining cards like Blood Artist, which also provides a benefit whenever a creature dies. However, the Ghost Council offers more direct control, allowing players to dictate the timing of its ability by sacrificing creatures at their discretion. While Blood Artist’s effect is passive and depends on other events in the game, the Ghost Council offers an active strategy element.

Another card that bears similarities is Falkenrath Noble. Like the Ghost Council, it triggers on creature death to impact an opponent’s life total. Nonetheless, the Noble does not provide the same utility in being able to dodge removal spells or save players from lethal damage. The Ghost Council’s ability to exile and return itself to the battlefield not only protects it from threats but can be used strategically in various gameplay scenarios.

Assessing the strengths and adaptabilities of these creatures, Ghost Council of Orzhova holds a unique position. Its blend of tactical advantages, survivability, and life manipulation makes it a card that can pivot between offense and defense, marking its distinction in the MTG universe.

Blood Artist - MTG Card versions
Falkenrath Noble - MTG Card versions
Blood Artist - MTG Card versions
Falkenrath Noble - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Ghost Council of Orzhova by color, type and mana cost

Shaile, Dean of Radiance // Embrose, Dean of Shadow - MTG Card versions
Orah, Skyclave Hierophant - MTG Card versions
Felisa, Fang of Silverquill - MTG Card versions
Voracious Hatchling - MTG Card versions
Alms Beast - MTG Card versions
Triad of Fates - MTG Card versions
Unyielding Krumar - MTG Card versions
Restoration Gearsmith - MTG Card versions
Aryel, Knight of Windgrace - MTG Card versions
Seraph of the Scales - MTG Card versions
Teysa Karlov - MTG Card versions
Basilica Bell-Haunt - MTG Card versions
Resolute Rider - MTG Card versions
Elenda, the Dusk Rose - MTG Card versions
Spiteful Squad - MTG Card versions
Barrowin of Clan Undurr - MTG Card versions
Edgar, Charmed Groom // Edgar Markov's Coffin - MTG Card versions
Minthara, Merciless Soul - MTG Card versions
Rasaad, Shadow Monk - MTG Card versions
Ratadrabik of Urborg - MTG Card versions
Shaile, Dean of Radiance // Embrose, Dean of Shadow - MTG Card versions
Orah, Skyclave Hierophant - MTG Card versions
Felisa, Fang of Silverquill - MTG Card versions
Voracious Hatchling - MTG Card versions
Alms Beast - MTG Card versions
Triad of Fates - MTG Card versions
Unyielding Krumar - MTG Card versions
Restoration Gearsmith - MTG Card versions
Aryel, Knight of Windgrace - MTG Card versions
Seraph of the Scales - MTG Card versions
Teysa Karlov - MTG Card versions
Basilica Bell-Haunt - MTG Card versions
Resolute Rider - MTG Card versions
Elenda, the Dusk Rose - MTG Card versions
Spiteful Squad - MTG Card versions
Barrowin of Clan Undurr - MTG Card versions
Edgar, Charmed Groom // Edgar Markov's Coffin - MTG Card versions
Minthara, Merciless Soul - MTG Card versions
Rasaad, Shadow Monk - MTG Card versions
Ratadrabik of Urborg - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ghost Council of Orzhova offers a notable edge by providing a repeatable life-draining ability. Each time you activate its ability, you’re essentially forcing a two-life point swing in your favor, edging you closer to victory while diminishing your opponent’s resources.

Resource Acceleration: This spectral council can also function as a form of indirect resource acceleration. By flickering another creature with an enter-the-battlefield effect, you’re able to reuse those abilities. This effectively multiplies the resources at your disposal without the need for additional cards.

Instant Speed: The activation of the Ghost Council’s exile ability can be done at instant speed, offering tactical flexibility. This allows you to avoid unfavorable combat or removal spells during your opponent’s turn, ensuring that your key creature remains a persistent threat on the board.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Ghost Council of Orzhova commands a certain level of strategy, notably requiring you to sacrifice a creature whenever you desire its exile and return ability. This can be a setback for players without expendable creatures, potentially putting them at a disadvantage if their board presence is already weak.

Specific Mana Cost: The Ghost Council of Orzhova comes with a rather specific mana requirement for casting – two white and two black mana. This can limit the card’s integration into multicolored decks or make it difficult to play if your mana base isn’t properly tuned to accommodate such costs.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial casting cost of four mana, Ghost Council of Orzhova might appear costly when compared to other cards with similar effects. This could deter players from including it in their decks, especially in formats where tempo and efficiency are crucial to outpacing opponents.


Reasons to Include Ghost Council of Orzhova in Your Collection

Versatility: Ghost Council of Orzhova serves multiple roles within a deck. Its life-draining ability coupled with its evasion from being targeted through its flicker-effect make it a resilient threat in many game situations. This versatility ensures it finds a place in both aggressive and control-oriented decks.

Combo Potential: This card is a favorite among players who love intricate combos. It has natural synergy with cards that trigger off entering or leaving the battlefield. Additionally, its ability to return to the battlefield at the end of turn can be exploited with various other card interactions for substantial benefits.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames where longer, grindy matches prevail, Ghost Council of Orzhova shines. Its consistent life swing mechanic can tip the scales in your favor, making it a relevant choice for players aiming to outlast their opponents and control the pace of the match.


How to beat

Overcoming the Ghost Council of Orzhova requires strategy and the right arsenal in a Magic the Gathering matchup. This formidable card, known for its resilience, can evade removal by flickering out of play. To beat it, consider using exile effects that don’t rely on destruction, such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares. These can handle the Ghost Council before they have a chance to use their exile ability. Another tactic is to employ graveyard hate cards like Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void, which prevent the card from returning once it has left the field. Additionally, employing instant-speed disruption when the Ghost Council tries to leave the battlefield can prevent it from dodging your threats. Remember, timing is key—interrupting the Ghost Council’s abilities and denying its lifegain and drain can shift the tide of the battle in your favor. Board presence is also crucial; developing a gameplay that outpaces the council’s life-draining ability will help secure your victory against this elusive adversary in an MTG game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ghost Council of Orzhova MTG card by a specific set like Guildpact and Modern Masters 2015, 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 Ghost Council of Orzhova and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ghost Council of Orzhova Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2006-02-03 and 2019-02-15. Illustrated by Greg Staples.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12006-02-03GuildpactGPT 1142003NormalBlackGreg Staples
22015-05-22Modern Masters 2015MM2 1762015NormalBlackGreg Staples
32019-02-15RNA Guild KitGK2 402015NormalBlackGreg Staples

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ghost Council of Orzhova has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2006-02-01 Normally, Ghost Council of Orzhova will return to the battlefield at the end of the same turn it’s exiled. But if it’s exiled during the End step, it’s too late to return it this turn. It has to wait to return to the battlefield until the next End step.
2006-02-01 Sacrificing Ghost Council of Orzhova to its own ability means it will wind up in the graveyard, not exiled.
2006-02-01 When Ghost Council of Orzhova is exiled, any Auras or Equipment on it fall off and any counters on it are removed. When it returns to the battlefield, it comes back untapped and is treated as a new version of the card.