Golgari Locket MTG Card


Golgari Locket - Guilds of Ravnica
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact
Released2018-10-05
Set symbol
Set nameGuilds of Ravnica
Set codeGRN
Number237
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byMilivoj Ćeran

Key Takeaways

  1. Golgari Locket offers critical card advantage with its draw ability, crucial in extended gameplay scenarios.
  2. Its mana ramp capabilities are key, providing black or green mana, essential for efficient mana curves.
  3. Instant speed activation gives players ample flexibility, making the locket a versatile addition to any deck.

Text of card

: Add or . {BG}{BG}{BG}{BG}, , Sacrifice Golgari Locket: Draw two cards.

"Wear it at all times. It will guide our reanimators to your corpse." —Mazirek, kraul death priest


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Golgari Locket offers an ability to draw cards, which is critical for staying ahead in longer matches. By paying a small cost, you refill your hand, keeping the pressure on your opponent and sustaining your resources.

Resource Acceleration: This locket isn’t just for late-game card draw; it provides mana ramp by tapping for either black or green. This dual functionality helps smooth out your mana curve, allowing for more efficient gameplay.

Instant Speed: Designed for flexibility, the draw ability of the Golgari Locket can be activated at instant speed. This lets you wait until the end of your opponent’s turn to decide the best course of action, ensuring you’re never caught off guard and always have the mana available for crucial moments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Golgari Locket demands that players tap and sacrifice it, effectively discarding the artifact from the field to draw cards. This could be less than ideal in a situation where field presence is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Activating the mana ability of Golgari Locket requires specific colors, black and green. This constraint can restrict its inclusion to only those decks that run these colors, leaving it out of monocolored or differently aligned deck strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial casting cost and an additional cost to access card draw, Golgari Locket might be less efficient than other options. Deck builders could find other mana artifacts or card draw mechanisms that offer more bang for their buck earlier in the game.


Reasons to Include Golgari Locket in Your Collection

Versatility: Golgari Locket serves multiple purposes in a deck, offering both mana fixing and card draw. Those playing in the Golgari color combination appreciate the ease with which it can slot into various deck archetypes, from aggressive to control strategies.

Combo Potential: This artifact merges well with strategies that maximize the use of the graveyard or benefit from the cycling of resources. Its ability to be sacrificed for card draw complements decks that capitalize on recurring permanents or utilize sacrifice mechanics for strategic advantage.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where the right mana at the right time is crucial, Golgari Locket ensures consistent mana availability. As metas evolve and graveyard interaction becomes more prevalent, having access to both a mana source and a card draw mechanism in the latter stages of the game can be a game-changer.


How to beat

Golgari Locket is a versatile mana accessory in Magic: The Gathering. Much like other lockets in the Ravnica set, it serves both as a mana generator and a card-draw engine. Typically positioned in decks that leverage the graveyard, it provides a late-game advantage by converting into a card draw source for a moderate cost. Facing off against a Golgari Locket, the simplest strategy is countering its card draw ability. Disenchant effects or artifact removal cards like Naturalize or Abrade can prevent an opponent from cashing in on the cards they would draw from the locket’s sacrifice.

Timing is another vital aspect. Sweeping it off the battlefield before your opponent reaps its benefits demands a strategic sense of when they are likely to crack it open for extra cards. A keen eye on their mana pool and potential need for a hand refresh are clear indicators. The locket can also be seen as a telltale of a potentially powerful graveyard strategy, so grave hate cards like Rest in Peace can impede their broader game plan, indirectly diminishing the locket’s value in the match. Being proactive and stalling their graveyard setup will lead you a step closer to victory.

At its core, overcoming a Golgari Locket mandates disruption and strategic timing. Addressing it promptly ensures it remains a simple stone rather than a key opening to a tidal wave of graveyard-fueled plays.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the Golgari archetype in MTG is a blend of tactics, patience, and adaptability. Embracing cards like the Golgari Locket can tip the scales of a match through its unique mana and card drawing capabilities. Adaptation to any deck environment is crucial, whether it be aggressive onslaughts or controlled endgames. Understand when to unleash its potential and when to preserve it for the most opportune moment. For players keen to refine their Golgari strategy and bolster their collection with multifaceted cards, dive deeper with us. Enhance your gameplay and enrich your deck’s dynamics with insights from BurnMana.


Cards like Golgari Locket

When delving into the realm of mana acceleration and card drawing in Magic: The Gathering, the Golgari Locket stands out among its peers. Its parallels with other lockets, such as the Boros Locket, are clear in their dual functions: both provide mana of their respective guild colors and convert into card draws later in the game. Nonetheless, the Golgari Locket’s synergy with the graveyard-focused strategies of its guild provides unique advantages in certain deck archetypes.

Comparing to similar mana artifacts, such as the Dimir Locket, we see a shared capacity for mana filtering and end-game card draw. However, what sets Golgari Locket apart is its affinity with decks that capitalize on the graveyard for creature recursion, enhancing its utility beyond its on-the-surface function. Additionally, the Cultivator’s Caravan offers immediate mana of any color and can become a creature, albeit without the card draw late game and at a higher casting cost.

In sum, within the context of mana-fixing and card-drawing artifacts, the Golgari Locket can be a strategic addition, particularly for Golgari guild decks that benefit from its seamless integration into their natural playstyle and emphasis on graveyard interaction.

Boros Locket - MTG Card versions
Dimir Locket - MTG Card versions
Cultivator's Caravan - MTG Card versions
Boros Locket - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)
Dimir Locket - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)
Cultivator's Caravan - Kaladesh Promos (PKLD)

Cards similar to Golgari Locket by color, type and mana cost

Pestilent Cauldron // Restorative Burst - MTG Card versions
Plague Boiler - MTG Card versions
Golgari Keyrune - MTG Card versions
Golgari Cluestone - MTG Card versions
Pestilent Cauldron // Restorative Burst - Strixhaven: School of Mages (STX)
Plague Boiler - Commander 2013 (C13)
Golgari Keyrune - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Golgari Cluestone - Dragon's Maze (DGM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Golgari Locket MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of 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 Locket and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Golgari Locket has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

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