Are You a Monstar or on the Tune Squad? Ghost Legend X Space Jam is Here!

In 1996, Warner Bros released a live-action animated sports comedy movie starring Looney Toons characters alongside basketball legend Michael Jordan. It’s called Space Jam, and opened to massive box office success as well as a rich nostalgic “cult following” throughout the years.

As one of the first movies ever shot in a virtual studio, it is argued that Space Jam altered the direction of cinematography, combining real-world elements with fictional virtual ones.

Decide once and for all if you’re with the Tune Squad or the Monstars in Ghost Legend’s Space Jam collab!

It can be similarly argued that Ghost Lifestyle, a supplement brand run by Dan Lourenco and Ryan Hughes, have taken over their corner of the world with a similar strategy, combining popular online personas and officially licensed flavors with well-formulated supplement collaborations.

Ghost Legend x Space Jam is here!

Ghost has taken their collabs to a whole new level – no longer are they just collaborating with athletes and foods, they’re collaborating with popular culture itself. Today, they’re launching the official Ghost Legend x Space Jam collaboration, which features two new Ghost Legend flavors that each have their own formula variations.

Monstars vs. Tune Squad – which style Legend pre workout are you?

In Space Jam, the Jordan-led Tune Squad (with Bugs Bunny, Lola Bunny, and friends) play against the villainous Monstars. In these Ghost Legend collabs, we’ll see two different formulas that align with the teams’ personalities. The Monstars version deviates further from the original Legend pre workout, clocking in at 350 milligrams of caffeine (more than any other Ghost release to date) and far more. Tune Squad, however, keeps it lighter and fresher, replacing rauwolfia with NeuroFactor.

Are you a Monstar or on the Tune Squad? Below, we dig into the label differences to help guide you along, but first, check PricePlow’s coupon-powered prices.

Note: Due to its heavier formula, Monstars is available in 20 servings above while Tune Squad has 25 servings.

How Monstars and Tune Squad are different

The Tune Squad (left) vs Monstars (right) Ingredients — which one are you?!

• Tune Squad is generally closer to the current Ghost Legend label:
  • Its major change is removing rauwolfia in exchange for NeuroFactor.
• Monstars deviates further from the original Ghost Legend label, with a larger scoop size (and 20 servings instead of 25 in Tune Squad) that:
  • 

    Of the Space Jam Collabs, Ghost Legend’s Monstars formula is the further derivation from the original

    Aggressively uses 350 milligrams of caffeine anhydrous, ditching the natural caffeine and going with the highest-caffeinated Ghost Legend variety yet,

  • chases nitrate-based pumps, with added citrulline nitrate yielding more total citrulline (Nitrosigine has been removed though),
  • further adds hydration-based pumps (and muscle-building potential) with betaine (though taurine has been removed),
  • doubles the choline source in alpha-GPC, providing more focus effect,
  • amplifies stimulation with bitter orange, likely standardized for synephrine

Both formulas have removed rauwolfia / alpha yohimbine, which has become a trend we’re seeing with the Ghost Legend collabs of recent.

In general, Monstars is a more aggressive formula, while Tune Squad is a more “feel-good” version of the original Legend.

Below, we dive into these differences, keying in on the bullet points above. If you’re completely new to these formulas, see our article titled Ghost Legend V2: New Formula and Flavors for Pre Workout Legends! Let’s start with Tune Squad.

Tune Squad’s differences: Let’s talk NeuroFactor

As mentioned above, Tune Squad has one major change: replacing rauwolfia for NeuroFactor. While Rauwolfia, which provides rauwolscine (also known as alpha yohimbine) leads to intense energy, sometimes it’s a bit too intense for some users. NeuroFactor presents the opposite.

The Ghost legend Tune Squad Ingredients – fewer changes than Monstars

NeuroFactor is a trademarked Coffee arabica extract standardized from coffeeberry, and is often used to improve focus and cognition, although we anecdotally believe there are mild mood-enhancing effects as well.

It works by increasing levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which improves learning and memory faculty in the brain – researchers have seen improved cognitive function with higher levels of BDNF.^[1] This serves as a neuroprotectant, as it helps with the promotion of neuron differentiation – higher levels of BDNF may be protective against neurotoxicity and various neurological disorders.^[1,2]

On the other hand, lower levels of BDNF are associated with the risk of neurodegeneration,^[2] something we wish to avoid by keeping BDNF levels higher. Research has shown that 100 milligrams of coffee fruit extract increases plasma BDNF levels by 143% compared to controls.^[2]

Anecdotally, we consider NeuroFactor a feel-good focus ingredient, and those who dislike rauwolfia but like everything else in Ghost Legend – like the epic Nitrosigine-driven pumps – will see the pendulum swing back far in their direction with Tune Squad.

Monstars Differences: More Aggressive, More Variations

Monstars is basically an entirely different pre workout supplement. Let’s cover the major differences from Ghost Legend V2:

• Caffeine Anhydrous – 350 mg

  

  The Ghost Legend Space Jam Monstars Ingredients has far more deviations from the original Legend label

  This alone could be a make-it-or-break-it decision for consumers. Some want more caffeine, others are fine where Legend was at. At 350 milligrams caffeine, Monstars is the most-caffeinated Ghost supplement ever released.

  The good news is that if you don’t want this much, you’ll still get plenty of pump effect if you take about ¾ scoop. At this point, it’s up to you to understand your caffeine tolerance.

  Worth noting that Monstars also ditches the natural caffeine and goes for caffeine anhydrous, which is what’s in most pre-workout supplements. This seems like a more monster-friendly way to energize – Monstars don’t want your feel-good caffeine source.

• Citrulline Nitrate (NO3-T)

  Monstars has more total citrulline (6 grams as opposed to 4), and Ghost boosts in two ways:

  1. An extra 0.66 grams of L-Citrulline, so the 4.66 grams of powder yield 4.52 grams actual citrulline

  2. 2 grams of Citrulline Nitrate, which yields 1.48 grams of citrulline and nitrates

  Citrulline nitrate is a unique nitrate-based compound that provides a dual-pump effect, and we recently saw this combination in Christian Guzman’s 4th Edition Ghost Legend collab.

  

  November 10, 2021, the day the world forever changed

  To read about nitrates, see our article about Ghost Pump titled Ghost Pump V2: Still VICIOUS with Bigger Pumps in an Upgraded Formula, which contains a different form of nitrate. In general, nitrates have been shown to have the following benefits:

  • Better overall blood flow^[3]
  • Less oxygen required for exercise^[3-6]
  • Increased power production and force leading to greater strength^[7,8]
  • Higher nitric oxide levels^[7,9]
  • Increased athletic endurance / decreased fatigue^[5,6]
  • Lower recovery time needed and better overall cellular energy^[8-10]

  There’s also a solid meta-analysis covering the above studies, and more.^[11] Nitrates work great for workout applications. But this combo takes it even further:

  Citrulline + Nitrate Synergy for more Nitric Oxide

  Additionally, there are synergistic effects between citrulline and nitrate.

  A 2019 study on 24 older adults showed that combining 520 milligrams of nitrates with 6 grams of citrulline for a month saw significant improvements to their heart rate, blood pressure, overall oxygen consumption, and max power output!^[12] While the study was on an aging demographic, the numbers are hard to deny – Monstars Legend has a potent ingredient combination built in.

  A note on stacking Monstars with Ghost Pump

  For the record, we don’t recommend two-scooping both Monstars and Ghost Pump together unless you really know what you’re doing, since the nitrate levels could actually be too powerful. Our general take is to max out at a total of three scoops between the two supplements.

• Betaine anhydrous – 2500 mg

  Next up, we have a full clinical dose of 2.5 grams of betaine in Monstars Legend, which replaces the taurine (and then some). Our most in-depth coverage to date is in our article titled Ghost SIZE: The “Epic” Creatine Supplement Gets Stronger, which should indicate to you where this ingredient is going: muscle building.

  

  Throwback: When Size v1 was about to launch, Ghost sent out beta tubs in these epic Ghost’s Secret Stuff tubs.

  Betaine is actually an osmolyte that helps regulate water (and general fluid) levels across cells and cellular membranes, which keeps them generally more resilient^[13] and can also help protect from thermal shock,^[14] if training in the heat is your thing. This means that if you drink enough water, you should get those cell volumization pumps that are so much fun — on top of the hydrating endurance gains.

  In the Ghost Size article linked above, we run you through years of research where scientists realized how well betaine improves endurance and performance. It all came to a head when a study showed that 2.5 grams of betaine taken daily helped men significantly increase muscle mass while losing fat mass.^[15,16]

  The study was replicated in women, where fat loss effects were once again seen at this dose.^[17] That was all followed up with a major systematic review in 2019, where betaine was statistically shown to reduce body fat.^[18]

  The long story short is that we love betaine somewhere in your daily stack, and it makes most sense in the pre-workout portion of it thanks to its ability to help hydrate the cells, boost endurance, and give a nice “water pump” while we’re at it. Just drink enough water with Monstars!

• Alpha-GPC 50% – 600 mg yielding 300 mg

  We cover Alpha-GPC in our main Ghost Legend article – this ingredient is a choline donor that serves as the precursor for our “learning neurotransmitter”, acetylcholine. More of this generally leads to more focus, and in terms of training, we often get a better “mind-muscle connection” when using it pre workout, especially at this dose.

  More dose, more research

  

  You can also choose your shaker

  Here, we have twice the dose of Legend V2, which now gets us closer to what was used in studies where Alpha-GPC was shown to increase strength,^[19] power,^[20] and even athleticism through jump strength!^[21]

• Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Fruit Extract – 60 mg

  Replacing rauwolfia, Ghost uses Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) Extract in Monstars Legend, stealing a page from Christian Guzman V4 as well as Ghost Burn.

  This ingredient is likely standardized for synephrine, a potent energy-boosting, fat-burning ingredient. This stimulatory metabolic booster works via beta receptor agonism, specifically as a beta-2 and beta-3 adrenergic receptor agonist,^[22,23] helping the body free up fatty acids for use (in the gym).

  Synephrine can boost metabolism while suppressing appetite,^[23] which is why we see it in thermogenics like Ghost Burn. However, we think it’s a great workout stimulant in general, whether or not you’re on a “diet” (this product did come out during bulking season, after all). What’s cool is that it can raise heart rate without raising blood pressure,^[24] something we love to see from a workout stimulant.

Ultimately, these ingredient variations are rather fitting for the Tune Squad and Monstars.

What are the flavors?

In terms of the flavors, you’ll notice that there’s nothing descriptive listed – and that’s for a reason. It’s meant to surprise you, since it’s not about the flavors for once.

The best we can say is that Tune Squad is an orange/citrus mix (comparable to Sunny D), while Monstar is very… green… if that means anything to you.

All Ghost Legend Flavors available

Below is everything PricePlow has seen regarding Ghost Legend:

You know your branding & collab game is on the next level when you’ve got Bugs Bunny and friends involved!

Don’t miss the Ghost apparel for this one!

Did you know: Ghost created this Monstars logo!

We don’t normally cover apparel here (we’re all about formulas), but it’s worth noting that Ghost had to completely invent their own Monstars apparel, since none previously existed. In fact, Monstars didn’t even have a logo – so Ghost created one for them as well!

This means that the Ghost x Space Jam apparel is unlike anything you’ve ever seen – because it never existed before this collab!

Ghost x Space Jam is here, and it’s incredible

Ghost took the entire supplement industry to new heights with their flavor collaborations, which started with WARHEADS, then led to “Project X” (Swedish Fish and Sour Patch Kids), and made it all the way to Chips Ahoy and even OREO. They caught the world off guard, and haven’t let anyone catch up since.

Throughout the process, they collaborated with athletes (and even athlete’s moms), making for one incredible, happy family.

2021 has been an insane year, with tons of “V2s” and more flavor collabs to come – sign up for alerts on our Ghost news page so you don’t miss a single one!

Now, it’s time for the next step – a collab that’s not driven by the athletes, candy, or food, but one driven by nostalgia… a different type of nostalgia. Depending on your age, Space Jam has been on the periphery of the social zeitgeist, combining real world with virtual elements. That’s a microcosm for where this world is heading — and Ghost has done the same with their lifestyle brand. Ahead of time and ahead of schedule, as always.

Note: Due to its heavier formula, Monstars is available in 20 servings above while Tune Squad has 25 servings.