Golgari Guildmage MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Elf Shaman
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides card advantage by retrieving resources from the graveyard, enhancing both strategy and staying power.
  2. Facilitates resource acceleration, swiftly translating graveyard creatures into valuable assets for gameplay.
  3. Allows for instant-speed actions, giving players the edge to respond and control the game dynamics effectively.

Text of card

, Sacrifice a creature: Return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand. : Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Golgari Guildmage’s ability to dredge up cards from the graveyard keeps your hand fueled with options, enhancing your strategic depth and resilience during the game.

Resource Acceleration: This adept mage’s skill to seamlessly convert creatures in the graveyard into essential resources exemplifies efficient resource acceleration, thus enabling faster execution of your game plan.

Instant Speed: The versatile Golgari Guildmage grants you the agility to strategically exploit instant-speed interactions, ensuring you’re always a step ahead, reacting to and dictating the pace of the match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Golgari Guildmage’s abilities often require you to discard a card, which might strain your hand especially when your resources are already dwindling.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a specific blend of black and green mana, which can be challenging if your mana base isn’t perfectly tuned to accommodate these colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the Guildmage’s abilities offer versatility, they come at a steep price. Having to pay multiple mana for each use can slow down your game plan when facing decks that execute faster strategies.


Reasons to Include Golgari Guildmage Mtg Card in Your Collection

Versatility: Golgari Guildmage offers a dual-ability option that can be crucial in various scenarios. Whether it’s returning creatures from the graveyard or distributing -1/-1 counters, this guildmage can easily adapt to the changing tide of the game, making it a fit for numerous deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: This card weaves well with other graveyard mechanics. Its first ability complements strategies that rely on creature recurrence, while the second can be pivotal for counter-based synergies, unlocking creative play combinations that can turn the game in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: Considering the frequent presence of graveyard and counter strategies in the current metagame, Golgari Guildmage’s abilities can interact effectively against common deck types, potentially disrupting opponent plays while strengthening your board position.


How to beat

The Golgari Guildmage is a versatile creature card in MTG that can present challenges to opponents due to its ability to interact with the graveyard. To effectively counteract this card, it’s important to disrupt its synergy with graveyard mechanics. Employing graveyard hate cards, such as Rest in Peace or Leyline of the Void, can neutralize the advantages that the Golgari Guildmage provides, essentially rendering its abilities useless.

Removing the creature quickly is also a viable strategy. Targeted removal spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can take the Guildmage out before it has a chance to impact the board. Similarly, employing counter spells when the Guildmage is cast is an efficient way to prevent it from reaching the battlefield altogether.

Lastly, focusing on an aggressive early game can pressure a Golgari Guildmage player before they can establish their graveyard-based strategies. By prioritizing a swift and powerful board presence, you can divert their resources to defense rather than utilizing the Guildmage’s abilities, helping you maintain the upper hand.


Cards like Golgari Guildmage

The Golgari Guildmage presents a dynamic presence on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. It shows a strong resemblance to other creature cards that offer flexible abilities such as Deathrite Shaman. What sets the Golgari Guildmage apart is its two distinct abilities that can either wreak havoc on your opponents’ graveyard or create an imposing army of Saproling tokens.

Another card worth comparing is the Zameck Guildmage which, like our Golgari counterpart, offers adaptability with two different abilities. However, instead of interacting with the graveyard or token generation, it focuses on manipulating +1/+1 counters and card draw. While Zameck Guildmage leans towards boosting the strength of individual creatures, Golgari Guildmage’s utilities play a significant role in graveyard strategies and board presence.

Evaluating these comparable options, the Golgari Guildmage stands out when it comes to its synergy with graveyard-centric decks and token strategies. Its versatility in controlling the pace of resource utilization and battlefield advantage positions it as a card of notable prowess, ideal for decks that capitalize on the duality of life and death which the Golgari Swarm embodies.

Deathrite Shaman - MTG Card versions
Zameck Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Deathrite Shaman - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Zameck Guildmage - Gatecrash Promos (PGTC)

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

Llanowar Dead - MTG Card versions
Chevill, Bane of Monsters - MTG Card versions
Belbe, Corrupted Observer - MTG Card versions
Grim Flayer - MTG Card versions
Thelon of Havenwood - MTG Card versions
Blightsoil Druid - MTG Card versions
Woodlurker Mimic - MTG Card versions
Putrid Leech - MTG Card versions
Skullbriar, the Walking Grave - MTG Card versions
Korozda Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Lotleth Troll - MTG Card versions
Rakshasa Deathdealer - MTG Card versions
Archers' Parapet - MTG Card versions
Deathcap Cultivator - MTG Card versions
Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons - MTG Card versions
Swarm Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Winding Constrictor - MTG Card versions
Fiend Artisan - MTG Card versions
Skull Prophet - MTG Card versions
A-Moss-Pit Skeleton - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Dead - Apocalypse (APC)
Chevill, Bane of Monsters - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)
Belbe, Corrupted Observer - Commander Legends (CMR)
Grim Flayer - Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)
Thelon of Havenwood - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)
Blightsoil Druid - The List (PLST)
Woodlurker Mimic - Eventide (EVE)
Putrid Leech - Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari (DDJ)
Skullbriar, the Walking Grave - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Korozda Guildmage - GRN Guild Kit (GK1)
Lotleth Troll - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Rakshasa Deathdealer - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Archers' Parapet - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Deathcap Cultivator - Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)
Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons - Amonkhet Remastered (AKR)
Swarm Guildmage - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)
Winding Constrictor - Fallout (PIP)
Fiend Artisan - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths Promos (PIKO)
Skull Prophet - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)
A-Moss-Pit Skeleton - Zendikar Rising (ZNR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Golgari Guildmage MTG card by a specific set like Salvat 2005 and Salvat 2005, 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 Guildmage and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Golgari Guildmage Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2005-08-22 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by 8 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL B502003normalwhiteZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
22005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL F392003normalwhiteZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
32005-10-07Ravnica: City of GuildsRAV 2482003normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
42011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 2012003normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
52013-11-01Commander 2013C13 2292003normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
62024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 1882015normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
72024-02-23Ravnica: Clue EditionCLU 1942015normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Golgari Guildmage has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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