TL;DR Summary

Ghostly Pilferer is a 2/1 Spirit Rogue that excels at disrupting opponents' plans while rewarding its controller with card advantage. Its key features include:

• Card draw: When untapped, it lets you pay {2} to draw a card, creating a consistent source of card advantage.
• Counter spell: Drawing a card when an opponent casts a spell from outside their hand makes it a formidable counter to various spells and strategies.
• Blocking prevention: Discarding a card prevents the Pilferer from being blocked, allowing it to attack or protect more effectively.

In Commander decks, Ghostly Pilferer is a great addition for those focused on controlling the board and generating card advantage. Its relatively low mana cost of {1}{U} makes it an attractive option for various blue-based strategies. It synergizes well with cards like Phantasmal Conjur or Tide Force, and can be paired with tokens to create a formidable force on the battlefield.

When building around Ghostly Pilferer, consider including a mix of blue removal spells, such as Counterspell or Dazing to take advantage of its counter spell ability. This combination allows for a more aggressive strategy while maintaining card draw and control elements.

Ghostly Pilferer's Abilities

The Ghostly Pilferer is a 2/1 Spirit Rogue creature with a mana cost of {1}{U}. Its Oracle Text outlines two key abilities and one interaction that impact gameplay.

Ability 1: Untap Trigger

• Whenever the Ghostly Pilferer becomes untapped, you may pay {2} to draw a card.
  • Trigger Timing: This ability triggers on the untapping of the creature itself, not its controller's untap step.
  • Example: If an opponent casts a spell that would tap your creatures for their own turn, they'll create an opportunity for the Ghostly Pilferer to become untapped and trigger this ability.

Ability 2: Spell Trigger

• Whenever an opponent casts a spell from anywhere other than their hand, you draw a card.
  • Trigger Scope: This ability only triggers on spells cast from zones outside of their hand, such as the command zone, exile, or graveyard.
  • Example: Casting Liliana of the Veil's ultimate ability from the command zone would trigger this ability.

Ability 3: Discard Interaction

• Discarding a card allows the Ghostly Pilferer to become unblockable for the turn.
  • Interaction Scope: Only discarding a card during your turn can make the Ghostly Pilferer unblockable; cards discarded by opponents or effects like Phantasmal Terrain do not have this effect.
  • Example: If you discard a Ancestral Recall from hand, you'll be able to attack with the Ghostly Pilferer without it being blocked.

In-Gameplay Interactions and Considerations

The Ghostly Pilferer's abilities interact with various cards in unique ways:

• It can become untapped by effects that specifically mention tapping creatures for their own turn.
• It has a higher chance of drawing additional cards if paired with spells that create an environment where opponents cast spells from non-hand zones.
• Discarding specific cards like Phantasmal Terrain or using abilities that manipulate card draws can make the Ghostly Pilferer unblockable.

Ghostly Pilferer is a versatile and impactful creature that can fit into various Commander archetypes. Its primary roles are to generate card advantage and provide an additional layer of defense through its ability to become unblockable.

Card Draw

The first aspect of Ghostly Pilferer is its ability to draw cards when it becomes untapped or when an opponent casts a spell from anywhere other than their hand. This can be particularly effective in combination with Counterspell and Dance of the Dead, which allow players to cast spells that trigger the Pilferer's ability without using up valuable resources.

Unblockable

The second key aspect is its ability to become unblockable when a player discards a card. This can be leveraged in combination with cards like Squee, the Immovable Object and Krenko, Mob Boss, which allow players to discard cards to create an unbeatable attacking force.

Common Archetypes

Ghostly Pilferer is often found in:

• Merfolk decks, where its ability to draw cards and become unblockable synergize with other merfolk creatures like Merrow Reejerey.
• Izzet control decks, which focus on disrupting opponents through card advantage and counterspells.
• Rogues and thieves archetype decks, which emphasize drawing cards and generating value.

Role in the Battlefield

Ghostly Pilferer is typically played as a mid-game to late-game creature. Its relatively low power and toughness mean it should be protected by more formidable creatures or supported with card draw effects.

In the right deck, Ghostly Pilferer can create a powerful attacking force that's difficult for opponents to block, while also generating valuable card advantage through its abilities.

Ghostly Pilferer is a versatile and sneaky creature that can be the perfect addition to a variety of Commander decks. Its ability to draw cards whenever it becomes untapped or when an opponent casts a spell from outside their hand makes it an excellent late-game finisher.

One notable synergy is with cards like Sylvan Library, which allows you to draw additional cards when Ghostly Pilferer becomes untapped. This creates a powerful loop, where the creature's ability triggers, and then Sylvan Library kicks in again, drawing even more cards. When combined with other ramp spells or lands, this can lead to a near-infinite draw step.

Ghostly Pilferer also pairs well with cards that create advantage when an opponent casts a spell from outside their hand, such as Bolas's Citadel or Jace, the Mind Sculptor. These cards will trigger Ghostly Pilferer's ability multiple times, allowing you to draw a large number of cards in a single turn.

Another creative use for Ghostly Pilferer is as a blocker-remover. When an opponent casts a spell from outside their hand, Ghostly Pilferer draws a card and becomes immune to blocking until the end of turn. This can be used to protect more valuable creatures or prevent opponents from removing your own blockers.

Here's an example list that showcases Ghostly Pilferer in action:

• 1x Ghostly Pilferer
• 4x Sylvan Library
• 2x Bolas's Citadel
• 3x Jace, the Mind Sculptor
• 10 Creatures with high power and toughness (e.g. Mwonvuli Acid-Moss, Trostani's Summoner)
• Lands to accelerate Ghostly Pilferer's ability, such as Expedite or Vandalblast

Ghostly Pilferer can be a valuable addition to any deck looking for a consistent draw engine and a way to create advantage when opponents cast spells from outside their hand.

Ghostly Pilferer Mistakes

In Commander, Ghostly Pilferer can be a game-changing card due to its ability to draw cards at will. However, players often make mistakes with this card, leading to suboptimal results.

1. Misunderstood Timing of Oracle Text Ability

• Many players forget that the oracle text ability triggers when Ghostly Pilferer becomes untapped, not just when it enters the battlefield.
• This means that if a player casts Ghostly Pilferer on their turn and then taps it immediately to activate its ability, they will draw a card.
• However, if they cast Ghostly Pilferer on their opponent's turn or don't tap it until after their opponent has passed the turn, the ability won't trigger.

2. Overlooking Discard Ability

• The discard ability of Ghostly Pilferer, which prevents it from being blocked when a card is discarded, can be easily overlooked.
• Players often forget to use this ability, allowing opponents to block their creature and gaining an advantage in combat.
• For example, if a player has Liliana, Master of Shadows on the battlefield and wants to attack with Ghostly Pilferer, they should discard a card before attacking to prevent it from being blocked.

3. Poor Synergies

• Players often pair Ghostly Pilferer with cards that don't synergize well with its abilities.
• For instance, combining Ghostly Pilferer with cards like Ancestral Recall or Ponder, which draw multiple cards at once, can lead to a slower game and less control over the board state.

4. Failing to Protect the Creature

• Ghostly Pilferer has low toughness (1) and moderate power (2), making it vulnerable in combat.
• Players often underestimate its fragility and fail to protect it with other creatures or spells, such as Aegisaur or Lightning Bolt.

Ghostly Pilferer is a solid addition to any Commander deck featuring blue. Its ability to draw cards when it becomes untapped is particularly useful in decks that rely on mana efficiency, such as those built around Meren of Winds of Ambush or Rafiq of the Many. When paired with a lifegain source like Vedalken Shackles, Pilferer's ability can provide a consistent draw engine.

The second ability, drawing a card whenever an opponent casts a spell from anywhere other than their hand, is more situational. It rewards decks that rely on artifact or enchantment synergies, such as those featuring Aurelia, the Warleader or Emrakul, the Aeons Torn. However, its effectiveness is diminished in decks without a strong presence of these types of permanents.

Pilferer's ability to become unblockable when discarded can be a game-changer in certain situations. This interaction is particularly noteworthy with cards like Mox Opal, which can provide an instant source of mana to discard Pilferer and create an unblockable threat.

Considering its relatively low price point, Ghostly Pilferer offers good value for any Commander deck that can take advantage of its abilities. Its inclusion may be particularly beneficial in decks that feature a strong blue presence or rely on artifact/enchantment synergies.