Straw Golem MTG Card

Provides card advantage via its return-to-hand ability, maintaining board presence without depleting resources. Enables resource acceleration in decks designed around creature casting and draw strategies. Instant-speed interaction potential, using its return ability to advantageously navigate combat scenarios.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact Creature — Golem
Released	1997-06-09
Set symbol
Set name	Weatherlight
Set code	WTH
Power	2
Toughness	3
Number	158
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Bryan Talbot

Text of card

If any opponent successfully casts a summon or artifact creature spell, bury Straw Golem.

"Don't look at me. *I* didn't build it." —Hanna, *Weatherlight* navigator

Cards like Straw Golem

The Straw Golem is a peculiar card in the MTG universe, comparable to other low-cost creatures designed for early board presence. Much like the classic Isamaru, Hound of Konda, the Golem requires a minimal investment of only one mana. However, unlike Isamaru’s steadfastness, the Golem comes with a catch: it returns to your hand at the beginning of the next upkeep, which can be leveraged for recycling enter-the-battlefield effects or dodged with smart play.

Looking towards other similar cards, Wee Dragonauts also echoes a low cost but packs a different punch by encouraging spellcasting to boost its power. In contrast, the Golem’s effect is passive, requiring no further action to return to hand. Moreover, Memnite stands out for its zero mana cost, providing a free artifact creature on the battlefield, yet with no other intrinsic abilities or self-recurring mechanics like our Straw Golem.

Ultimately, Straw Golem occupies a unique niche. While not boasting the raw power or permanence of some alternatives, its quirky return ability can be a double-edged sword, offering both challenges and creative gameplay opportunities in MTG.

Isamaru, Hound of Konda - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Straw Golem by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Straw Golem might seem underwhelming at first glance, but it offers subtle card advantage. By bouncing back to your hand when another creature comes into play, it ensures you are never down a card from the exchange, effectively allowing you to keep a creature presence on the board without losing resources.

Resource Acceleration: When synergized with decks that capitalize on casting spells, Straw Golem can be part of an intricate engine. It doesn’t directly accelerate resources on its own, but when paired with cards that benefit from the casting of creatures or drawing cards, it can indirectly accelerate your game plan.

Instant Speed: While Straw Golem itself isn’t an instant, its automatic bounce back to your hand can be exploited at instant speed. In scenarios where you have instant-speed creature spells, you can cast Straw Golem as a blocker and then follow up with another creature spell during your opponent’s turn, returning the Golem to your hand and ready to be played again on your turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Straw Golem requires you to sacrifice it when targeted by a spell or ability, this can be equated to a discard, especially since the card has a recurring feature. This characteristic can put you at a disadvantage when you’re looking to maintain a strong board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: This card needs a specific color of mana (one colorless and one green) to cast. This can potentially restrict its inclusion to decks that run green mana, reducing its versatility across different deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its effects, Straw Golem’s mana cost may be considered inefficient. There are alternatives within the game that might offer similar or better utility without the drawbacks and for less mana, making it a less desirable option for competitive play.

Reasons to Include Straw Golem in Your Collection

Versatility: Straw Golem may seem niche, but its ability to bounce back to a player’s hand upon a creature’s death gives it a unique edge in decks that capitalize on recurring creatures or sacrifice mechanics.

Combo Potential: This humble artifact creature can become a key component in an engine that exploits returning creatures to the hand. Partnered with effects that generate benefits from casting creatures or using their enter-the-battlefield triggers, Straw Golem can unlock a variety of combo possibilities in the right deck.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where the board is constantly being wiped or creatures are frequently dying, Straw Golem provides recurring value. As a low-cost creature, it easily slots into faster gameplay, making it a subtle but potent choice for staying relevant as games evolve.

How to beat

The quaint Straw Golem beckons with its simplicity in Magic: The Gathering, resonating with the nostalgia of cards like Ornithopter. Both carry the mantle of zero-cost creatures, yet the Straw Golem comes with a recurring cost. Its ability to return to a player’s hand when another creature comes into play reveals its Achilles’ heel. To outmaneuver this card, capitalize on this predictable pattern. Focus on conserving the tempo of your creature plays. Only deploy creatures when it disrupts your opponent’s strategy or when you’re ready to handle the Golem’s return.

Alternatively, one can employ removal spells that exile or force the sacrifice of a creature, never giving the Golem a chance to rebuild its straw-laden form. Direct damage spells are less effective due to the Golem’s potential to return to safety. Hence, strategic planning and smart spell choices are key against this unassuming artifact creature. With thoughtful play, the Straw Golem’s loop can easily be unraveled, making it more of a straw house in the face of a tactical storm.

Mastering the intricacies and knowing when to play or withhold creatures can tip the scales in your favor, transforming the Golem’s potential advantage into a repetitive burden for your opponent.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Straw Golem MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight, 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 Straw Golem and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Straw Golem has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2008-04-01	A “creature spell” is any spell with the type Creature, even if it has other types such as Artifact or Enchantment. Older cards of type Summon are also Creature spells.