Golgari Decoy MTG Card

Golgari Decoy’s lure ability is perfect for creating advantageous card interactions for the player. Great synergy with scavenge and deathtouch abilities makes the Decoy a versatile card in decks. Strategically overcoming the Decoy involves removal spells or enchantments to neutralize its effect.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Elf Rogue
Abilities	Scavenge
Released	2012-10-05
Set symbol
Set name	Return to Ravnica
Set code	RTR
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	127
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Marco Nelor

Text of card

All creatures able to block Golgari Decoy do so. Scavenge (, Exile this card from your graveyard: Put a number of +1/+1 counters equal to this card's power on target creature. Scavenge only as a sorcery.)

Cards like Golgari Decoy

The Golgari Decoy card finds its niche in the realm of lure effects in Magic: The Gathering. It’s akin to cards like Taunting Elf, which compels all opponent creatures to block it if able. However, Golgari Decoy goes a step further by offering the beefier attribute of being able to survive encounters that Taunting Elf could not, courtesy of its higher toughness.

In the same category, we have cards such as Noble Quarry, another creature that demands attention with its alluring ability. Although Noble Quarry is also infused with the bestow mechanic, permitting it to become an aura, Golgari Decoy remains unique with its scavenge ability, allowing a secondary utility even from the graveyard.

This variety permits the Golgari Decoy to be versatile, not only as an aggro play but also as a resource for later turns. This illustrates why, within its niche of tactical battlefield control, Golgari Decoy provides an interesting option for players who appreciate the allure strategy blended with resilience and post-mortem utility.

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: By provoking each creature able to block it, Golgari Decoy can effectively clear the way for your other creatures or set up situations that are advantageous for you, leading to potential card advantage as opponents may lose valuable creatures.

Resource Acceleration: The Decoy’s ability synergizes well with resource acceleration strategies found in green and black decks, where sacrificing creatures can lead to additional mana or other beneficial effects.

Instant Speed: While the card itself isn’t an instant, its Lure ability can be used tactically during the combat phase to disrupt an opponent’s strategy, similar to the flexible nature of instant speed spells, offering a strategic depth to your game play.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When you play Golgari Decoy, you don’t typically have a discard requirement, but this green-black creature might force you to adjust your strategy, possibly discarding other valuable cards to ensure its elusiveness on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: Golgari Decoy requires a specific mana alignment: one green and three others. This cost can be a drawback in multicolored decks that may struggle with mana consistency, making it a less flexible option.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Golgari Decoy is on the higher end for creatures with its abilities. For decks focusing on tempo, there might be other creatures or spells that offer more immediate board presence or impact for the same or lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Golgari Decoy is a card that can serve multiple roles within a deck. Its ability to force all creatures your opponent controls to block it can turn the tide of battle, offering a unique method of board control and complementing both aggressive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: With its lure ability, Golgari Decoy can be a key component in intricate combos. It works particularly well with cards that have deathtouch or ones that can benefit from unblocked attackers, creating opportunities for decisive plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-heavy decks are prevalent, having a card that can dictate combat scenarios is extremely valuable. Golgari Decoy can dismantle an opponent’s line of defense, allowing for significant damage to be dealt or clearing the way for high-impact creatures to connect.

How to beat

Golgari Decoy can be a thorny card to tackle in Magic: The Gathering due to its alluring lure ability. Ensuring all creatures your opponent controls block it if able, this elf rogue can leave an open field for a swarm of smaller, unblocked attackers to hit your opponent directly. However, there are ways to outmaneuver this crafty decoy.

Removal spells are your first line of defense. Direct removal like Doom Blade or Path to Exile can swiftly deal with the Decoy before it becomes a nuisance. If you’re handling a board presence without suitable removal, turn to utilities like enchantments, which can neutralize it without triggering a lure. Pacifism or Frogify are impeccable examples, as they maintain the decoy on the battlefield but strip it of its menace. Additionally, having creatures with reach or abilities that prevent one-for-one blocks can nullify the Decoy’s advantage, allowing you to maintain a strategic defense.

In the grand scheme, Golgari Decoy’s power lays not in its strength but in its tactical board disruption. Hence, a well-timed removal, a clever use of modifying spells, or robust blockers with key abilities can effectively dismantle the luring strategy, keeping your opponent’s plans at bay.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Golgari Decoy MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica, 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 Golgari Decoy and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Golgari Decoy has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-04-15	Exiling the creature card with scavenge is part of the cost of activating the scavenge ability. Once the ability is activated and the cost is paid, it’s too late to stop the ability from being activated by trying to remove the creature card from the graveyard.