Back in November of 2018, Wizards of the Coast launched a series of Ravnica Guild Kits including cards from previous sets in their popular Ravnica setting where a plane-spanning city is divided among 10 guilds. Each guild is defined by a pairing of the 5 colors of mana. I went over the blue and red Izzet kit back in 2021. I just recently ran across the Golgari kit in my collection, and based on its card list, there are some staples in it which I need for a Commander deck I am assembling.
The front of the box showcases a foil Legendary Elf Shaman named Izoni, Thousand Eyed. In the stories surrounding the game, she is a leader of the Golgari Swarm, and last I knew, at least its acting guildmaster. Her rule text does a good job of describing the graveyard and sacrifice mechanics in the deck. This isn't the only way to play this color combination, but it is one of the best synergies it offers. I already have decks featuring elfball discard shenanigans and deathtouch/poison/infect mechanics, for example, but "graveyard matters" where the discard pile is still a key part of the game will be the theme I explore next.
These originally retailed for about $20, although like many Magic: The Gathering products re-releasing scarce cards, there is currently a bit of a premium due to the contents. I don't care. Time to unbox!
The back of the box does a decent job of describing the contents, depicting a guild pin, spindown die, sticker, deck box, and a few highlights from the deck. There aren't any real surprises once the nested plastic is discarded and the contents are spread out on my playmat.
There is also a fold-out card with the deck list and some Golgari propaganda.
Practices of the Golgari Swarm
Waste nothing. Seek value in what others discard.
Death is no excuse to abandon your responsibilities.
Take pride in the decay that fills our kingdom.
The gleaming, pointless baubles prized by the surface-dwellers will never nourish new life.
Fear neither death nor darkness, for they can be your greatest allies.
If anyone should overlook or underestimate you... let them. An enemy unaware of your true power is much easier to defeat.
Honor the insects that humbly perpetuate the perfect cycle of life and death.
You are now part of the Swarm, a hand that enacts the will of a greater body. Every action you take should serve the interests of the guild, so that we may all rise together.
This definitely emphasizes both the rules and the lore behind this set of cards. The hive mind of the collective supersedes the individual. Death and life are a cycle, and all play their role in turn for the benefit of the whole. There are ways to fill your graveyard, play cards from the graveyard, draw from the graveyard, gain benefits based on what is in the graveyard... it's perfect for supplementing my nefarious plans!
Deathrite Shaman was so good when it was released that it was considered a one-mana planeswalker-level beast, and it remains banned in the Legacy and Modern formats due to its absurd power. It was a key component of Golgari and Jund (black/red/green) midrange decks which began overturning the old rock/paper/scissors dynamic between control, aggro, and combo archetypes.
The legendary cards in this deck each suggest their own variations on Golgari gameplay, and each could lead a Commander deck on its own or support one of the others. There are also cards with typical black tradeoffs like taking damage in exchange for other benefits or green growth through counters and other buffs. It's thematic, but I'm not convinced this deck would do well as a standalone deck without more focus and consistency. These are all single cards or pairs, not full playsets.
As a last note, this includes double-sided token cards for saprolings and insects, and the basic land cards all have exclusive Golgari patterns in the text box area. This is before full-art lands really took off as a common bonus item, so that would have been the one major change I would have liked to see. This remains a solid introduction to Golgari themes and play patterns. I wouldn't want to be a part of this faction unless I were in a position of leadership, because it looks like the underlings lead a miserable life of decay and disposability.
If you can find it for sale close to MSRP, its value pieces and themes may be worth buying. If you just want one or two of the cards, buy them as singles from your local shop or one of the major online sellers.
