Ghostway is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Exile each creature you control. Return those cards to the battlefield under their owner's control at the beginning of the next end step.
Complete guide
Ghostway is a powerful defensive tool that offers a unique way to protect your board or re-trigger entry abilities. This instant allows you to temporarily remove your creatures from the battlefield, shielding them from harm before they return at the end of the turn.
What It Does
When Ghostway resolves, it exiles every creature you currently control. Unlike protection or hexproof, this removes the permanents from the battlefield entirely, meaning they cannot be affected by board wipes or targeted removal. These cards then wait in the exile zone until the next end step begins, at which point they return to the battlefield under their owner's control.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, you cast Ghostway and it goes on the stack. Upon resolution, all creatures you control move to the exile zone; any Auras attached to them go to the graveyard, and Equipment stays on the battlefield unattached. Next, the game waits for the beginning of the next end step. When that trigger occurs, all cards exiled by Ghostway return to the battlefield simultaneously. This return triggers any 'enters the battlefield' abilities for those creatures.
Common Mistakes
One frequent error involves creature tokens. If a token is exiled by Ghostway, it ceases to exist immediately and will not return at the end step. Additionally, remember that creatures return under their owner's control. If you used an effect to steal an opponent's creature, Ghostway will return it to that opponent's side of the field.
When to Play It
The best time to cast Ghostway is in response to a spell that would destroy your creatures or during an opponent's end step to reset your board. Because the return happens at the beginning of the 'next' end step, casting it during an end step means the creatures won't return until the following turn's end step, effectively keeping them hidden for a full round.
Interaction examples
Generous GiftIf your opponent targets your favorite creature with Generous Gift, you can cast Ghostway in response. Ghostway resolves first, exiling your creatures. When Generous Gift tries to resolve, its target is gone, so the spell fails to resolve. Your creature returns safely at the end step, and the opponent doesn't even get to destroy your permanent.
Teferi's ProtectionWhile Teferi's Protection causes permanents to phase out (staying on the battlefield but treated as non-existent), Ghostway physically moves creatures to the exile zone. This means Ghostway will trigger 'leaves the battlefield' and 'enters the battlefield' abilities, whereas Teferi's Protection will not. If you need to re-use an entry effect, Ghostway is the superior choice.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Ghostway
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Auras attached to the exiled creatures will be put into their owners' graveyards. Equipment attached to the exiled creatures will become unattached and remain on the battlefield. Any counters on the exiled creatures will cease to exist.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If a creature token is exiled, it ceases to exist. It won't be returned to the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Ghostway
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.