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Guilds of Ravnica Standard Set Review: Multicolor

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White | Blue | Black and Red | Green, Artifacts, Lands

We're finally here! It's the last day and we'll be going over the multicolored cards from Guilds of Ravnica. We have a lot to cover so let us go ahead and begin but before we do, a review of my grading process.

I will not be going over cards that I believe will not see play in Standard. For example, cards like Flight of Equenauts and Tenth District Guard will be omitted since they are just Limited cards and saying, "This is just a Limited card" repeatedly gets old rather fast. Don't worry though, I will be covering all the rare and mythic cards in the set. So, if you like a certain rare or mythic, it will be mentioned in the review.

Keep in mind I'm rating all these cards for Standard playability. I will mention Modern applications if I believe the card has some.

Each card will be listed by color, then alphabetically by name.

Each card will given a rating of 1-5. If a card would receive a 0, meaning it will see no play in that format ever, it's rating is left off the list.

Rating - Explanation - Standard - Examples

0 - Will never see play in this format (0 ratings are not listed).

1 - Unlikely to see play. (Light of the Legion)

2 - Could see fringe play, or occasional sideboard card. (Drowned Secrets)

3 - Commonly played, staple in a single deck, or frequent play in several decks. (Cast Down, Disdainful Stroke)

4 - Format staples. Sees play in multiple decks, one of the best cards in the format. ( Seal Away, Settle the Wreckage, Legion Warboss)

5 - Format warping. If you're in these colors, you play that card. (Teferi, Hero of Dominaria, Goblin Chainwhirler)

Assassin's Trophy
4 - Assassin's Trophy won't see play in multiple decks, but it is a premium removal spell for decks that can afford to play it. It will be good in Standard but excellent in older formats, especially since people usually play fewer basic lands in older formats.
Aurelia, Exemplar of Justice
4 - This card reminds me of The Scarab God in that it just has a ton of text and infinite abilities. On top of all that, it's 4 mana and can be fetched up by Militia Bugler. Aurelia is going to be wrecking a lot of face in Boros aggressive decks, it even has 5 toughness, so it doesn't die to Lava Coil. Why? Because aggressive decks are the best apparently.
Beacon Bolt
2 - I see Beacon Bolt as a singleton in ur control or spell decks to kill giant Green creatures mid to late game. Most decks will just splash White though and be playing Justice Strike.
Boros Challenger
3.5 - A really pushed 2-drop. Again, it is one of those cards you look at it and wonder, "did it really need 3 toughness and/or the pump ability?" Boros Challenger beats all the 2/2 creatures with First Strike and also doesn't die to Shock, Golden Demise, or Goblin Cratermaker. It can even beat Goblin Chainwhirler in combat if you have the extra mana laying around.
Camaraderie
2.5 - I want to just cast Camaraderie after a March of the Multitudes for a super Sphinx's Revelation. This buries midrange / control opponents in card advantage and aggressive opponents with life gain.
Chance for Glory
2.5 - I'm currently already playing this card alongside Lich's Mastery. It's a great card in that deck and it is solid as a singleton in aggressive decks to get that last bit of damage to end the game. I like it in Sideboards for that reason. Also, if you do manage to not die somehow, your creatures in play will remain indestructible for the remainder of the game.
Charnel Troll
2.5 - Charnel Troll is a big boy but he most continuously be fed. The problem I have with Charnel Troll is it doesn't synergize with Izoni, Thousand-Eyed and I prefer Izoni in my Golgari decks.
Conclave Cavalier
3 - I really like Conclave Cavalier against aggressive strategies since it has vigilance and if it is killed, it provides more bodies, which also makes it great against battlefield wipes. Cavalier just seems like a solid card for some form of Selesyna deck.
Crackling Drake
2.5 - Draws you a card, has evasion, and most likely has four or more power when it attacks if you've built your deck correctly? Crackling Drake is a house in Limited but I can also see it making in a splash in some sort of Izzet burn/tempo deck.
Deafening Clarion
3 - This is our go to Sweltering Suns. It's too bad that it is in two colors but this will be a staple in the format. It is kind of ironic that it doesn't kill Auriella and Boros Challenger can just grow out of range from it if the opponent has enough mana laying around or if it has been mentored.
Disinformation Campaign
2.5 - This card is slow but shines in grindy matchups where you will be able to two-for-one your opponent over and over until they have no cards left in their hand. I'm a fan of this card but I'm weary of playing it because of aggressive decks and Nullhide Ferox.
Emmara, Soul of the Accord
3 - Cheap legendary creatures always make me look at Mox Amber and Selesnya now has two cheap legendary creatures. Emmara is a great card for gw midrange decks, just make sure to attack and convoke her often!
Etrata, the Silencer
2 - Etrata, the Silencer seems like a fun Commander, but she does not seem good enough to see Standard play. 4 mana for a very slow removal spell is not where you want to be. Even if you build a deck around her and play four, she just doesn't do anything against combo or control decks. I like the flavor of this card, but I just can't see it being good for Standard.
Firemind's Research
2.5 - Research is slow and competes with Search for Azcanta. I do not think this card is a four off in any deck, but it is a decent grindy card, even if it is slow. You just need to somehow not die to milk the value out of Firemind's Research.
Glowspore Shaman
2.5 - Chainwhirler hinders Glowspore Shaman, but it is still a fine card in the self mill Golgari deck, especially if you can re-buy utility lands like Memorial to Folly.
Goblin Electromancer
2.5 - Reduces the cost of your spells and is a wizard! Goblin Electromancer will see play in ur Wizard burn decks and people will try him in combo decks or out of the Sideboard against control like they did with Baral, Chief of Compliance.
Golgari Findbroker
3 - Findbroker is no Eternal Witness but it does have a great body and will see play a lot of play in Standard. She does buy back some important cards like Planeswalkers or The Eldest Reborn.
Ionize
3 - Literal counterburn, Countersquall but for any spell. A fantastic card for an Izzet Tempo deck and an okay card for a control deck. Ionize will shine in decks that can really abuse the two damage it is dealing.
Izoni, Thousand-Eyed
3 - Izoni is the payoff card for Golgari decks and a good one. It's a little upsetting that she gets counteraed by Goblin Chainwhirler, but hopefully if you are at the stage of the game where you are casting Izoni then you're in a good place.
Justice Strike
3.5 - Super solid removal spell for rw decks and Jeskai Control decks. This thing kill almost every big creature for 2 mana except for Boros Challenger and Aurelia. That extra toughness reallllly matters.
Knight of Autumn
4 - Such a versatile card and I love it, especially in older formats in your Sideboard since it can be used for so many different things. Loxodon Smiter was played in Standard and while this comes into play with only 3 toughness, having the option of the other modes makes it so much better.
Lazav, the Multifarious
2 - Lazav is kind of bad for Standard but sweet for Commander. It kind of sucks that Dimir got shafted with both their guild masters/leaders. Lazav just doesn't really do anything in Standard.
March of the Multitudes
3 - March gives you creatures to convoke with or attack with. Obviously great alongside Divine Visitation, Trostani Discordant, or Camaraderie. Does also get hit by Chainwhirler.
Mnemonic Betrayal
2 - I like that this spell exists but like the other Dimir Mythics, it doesn't really do anything in Standard and is a better Commander card.
Molderhulk
2 - If you're playing Molderhulk you better be regrowing Memorial to Folly. That's all I gotta say.
Niv-Mizzet, Parun
3 - Super hard to cast but so worth it. I love that he triggers off both players, so you can storm off with him or get value out of your opponent's trying to kill him. This is the best Niv-Mizzet we've had for Standard.
Notion Rain
3 - Read the Bones was criminally underplayed, and Notion Rain is just better if you are in those colors. It is a great way to hit lands drops, find your bombs, or even setting up The Eldest Reborn.
Ral, Izzet Viceroy
2.5 - So much worse than Teferi, but that is to be expected. The real problem is that you probably won't be able to use his minus ability to kill any creature if you play him on curve and that's a huge deal. Not being able to reliably protect himself is not where planeswalkers want to be.
Sonic Assault
2 - If you're playing a tempo / burn Izzet deck maybe you'll want to play this over Beacon Bolt against the big creatures. It's niche but an option.
Swiftblade Vindicator
3 - This little soldier will kill you out of nowhere. Overall, worse than Boros Challenger but it is also way more explosive.
Tajic, Legion's Edge
3.5 - The other Boros legend following in the footsteps of Aurelia also has infinite text and could do with one less ability. Tajic is a fantastic creature in your aggressive deck and grows your creatures while protecting them from spell damage.
Thief of Sanity
2.5 - Thief of Sanity is a better Nightveil Specter and easier to cast. It's extremely fragile, but if you can protect it, it will generate you a card advantage and give you information. An excellent Sideboard card.
Thought Erasure
3 - If you thought Transgress the Mind was good, then you are loving Thought Erasure. This card is excellent in control decks but is even better in midrange decks. The automatic home from this card is a ub Midrange deck or Grixis Nicol Bolas, the Ravager.
Thousand-Year Storm
2.5 - Fun card like Sunbird's Invocation, but I do believe it is better. It's competing with Primal Amulet and, more importantly, The Mirari Conjecture. In my opinion, it falls short when compared to The Mirari Conjecture, especially since The Mirari Conjecture becomes almost like a Demonic Tutor late in the game and combats Assassin's Trophy better than Thousand-Year Storm.
Trostani Discordant
3 - Trostani Discordant, protector of tokens against Chainyboi! Even though she's legendary, Trostani is a better Regal Caracal in that it pumps all your creatures. Also, make sure to grab your Trostani back if your opponent somehow plays her of something like Thief of Sanity... Value!
Underrealm Lich
2.5 - I like this card, but it competes with Doom Whisperer and Doom Whisperer is just the better card. Also, my 5-drop not being able to do anything against Goblin Chainwhirler really sucks.
Unmoored Ego
2 - Excellent for older formats and a good Sideboard tool against combo decks if they become really good. I don't expect Ego to see any main deck play though.
Vraska, Golgari Queen
2.5 - Vraska goes to six loyalty which is a lot but she's just so hard to set up. Outside of tokens we don't have that many things that generate value when they die outside of like Stitcher's Supplier. The idea is to sacrifice creatures that do things when they come into play like Elvish Rejuvenator but at that point why not just play Vraska, Relic Seeker since you're ramping and play Karn, Scion of Urza as your 4-drop planeswalker?
Wee Dragonauts
2 - Possible Sideboard card for Izzet Burn/tempo. That deck has a lot of good Sideboard alternate win conditions. Maybe you just jam them all in the same deck and threaten to kill your opponent in one or two turns.
Assure // Assemble
3 - Assure is an excellent combat trick or a way to save a creature from Cleansing Nova while Assemble lets you reload late game. What's not to like?
Connive // Concoct
3 - I really like Concoct. It's one of the best five-mana reanimation spells we've had access to, we just need something good to reanimate. Connive is also nice in that it can steal creatures like Aurelia.
Discovery // Dispersal
3 - Huge fan of this card as well. Discovery is an excellent way to find what you want and/or fuel or graveyard. Dispersal is a wonderful way to deal with problem creatures like Carnage Tyrant or Ghalta if you can't kill her.
Expansion // Explosion
3 - Playbale Twincast with Invoke the Firemind on the over half. Expansion can act as a counterspell in a counter war or as a removal spell when your opponent uses Assassin's Trophy for example. Then when you can cast Explosion you can really start taking over the game.
Find // Finality
3 - Double Raise Dead is excellent, especially since Golgari has so many creatures with good enter the battlefield abilities. Finality is just gravy when you get to the late game and need a board wipe. Find is really what you want to be taking advantage of though.
Flower // Flourish
2.5 - Insures you hit your land drops early and then pumps your tokens late game. Not super exciting but very reliable.
Integrity // Intervention
3.5 - Both halves of this card are overcosted but they are both so good together. Integrity lets you save a creature from dying to damage or pumps your Swiftblade Vindicator to push through more damage. You can also grow your Mentor guy then mentor onto a creature basically turning it into a better Giant Growth. Intervention then gives you reach, swinging things against other red decks.
Response // Resurgence
3 - Response isn't as reliable as Justice Strike but honestly it is not that fair off and Resurgence will just kill you with Mentor creatures, Legion Warboss, Aurelia, or Swiftblade Vindicator.
Status // Statue
2.5 - While you can't really Mentor off Status, you can pump your Stitcher's Supplier or even Ravenous Chupacabra to kill another creature in combat and 4 mana Putrefy + Mortify is solid and versatile.

Top 5 Multicolored Cards

  1. Assassin's Trophy
  2. Aurelia, Exemplar of Justice
  3. Tajic, Legion's Edge
  4. Boros Challenger
  5. Integrity // Intervention

Boros is the clear winner here but we still have a TON of 3's across the board for the rest of the guilds. So, while Boros has the most cards in the top five, it doesn't mean the other guilds won't compete. I am a little disappointed that aggressive decks got most of the best cards but I'm glad we're still in Ravnica. Here's to hoping that aggressive decks are good strategies but not the end all be all strategy that br was in past Standard.

I'd just like to say thank you everyone for reading my set review. I hope I was able to help you in some way. I'll be in Columbus this weekend playing in a team event, so if you're there and see me, say hi!

I'll see you all next week with some more Guilds of Ravnica brews, have a great weekend!

Thanks for reading,

Ali Aintrazi

Follow me @AliEldrazi

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