MTG Guilds: A Guide to the Different Guilds in Magic

MTG Guilds are a fascinating aspect of the Magic: The Gathering game. They are groups of people that represent the different color combinations of mana. Each guild has its own unique characteristics, personalities, and mechanics that make them a crucial part of the game. The ten guilds of Ravnica are the most well-known and are often the focus of MTG gameplay.

The world of Ravnica is a bustling urban plane where the guilds rule supreme. It is a world rich with lore, and each guild has its own unique history and culture. The guilds are an integral part of Ravnican society, and they play a significant role in shaping the world around them. They are responsible for everything from maintaining the law and order to providing entertainment for the masses.

Key Takeaways

MTG Guilds are groups of people that represent the different color combinations of mana in the Magic: The Gathering game.
The ten guilds of Ravnica are the most well-known and are often the focus of MTG gameplay.
Each guild has its own unique characteristics, personalities, and mechanics that make them a crucial part of the game.

The World of Ravnica

Ravnica is a world of cityscapes, where the ten guilds vie for power and influence over the populace. As a planeswalker, I have had the opportunity to explore this world and learn about its rich history and lore.

History and Lore

The history of Ravnica is marked by the Guildpact, an ancient magical contract that bound the guilds together in a fragile peace. The Guildpact was shattered during the events of the Return to Ravnica block, leading to a new era of conflict and chaos.

Despite the upheaval, the guilds remain a central force in Ravnican society. Each guild has its own unique ideology and set of values, which are reflected in their members and the work they do. For example, the Azorius Senate values law and order, while the Golgari Swarm is focused on death and decay.

The Ravnica Blocks

The history of Ravnica has been explored in two Magic: The Gathering blocks: Return to Ravnica and Guilds of Ravnica. Return to Ravnica was released in 2012 and focused on the fallout from the breaking of the Guildpact. It introduced new mechanics like scavenge and unleash, and brought back fan-favorite guilds like the Izzet League and the Rakdos Cult.

Guilds of Ravnica, released in 2018, returned to the world of Ravnica with a new story and new mechanics. It introduced the concept of guild kits, which allowed players to play with preconstructed decks based on their favorite guilds. It also introduced the new mechanic of surveil, which allowed players to manipulate the top cards of their library.

Overall, the world of Ravnica is a fascinating and complex place, full of intrigue, conflict, and wonder. As a planeswalker, I look forward to exploring its many secrets and uncovering its many mysteries.

The Ten Guilds of Ravnica

As an avid Magic: The Gathering player, I have always been fascinated by the ten guilds of Ravnica. Each guild has its own distinct ideology and playstyle, making them unique and interesting to play. In this section, I will provide an overview of each guild and their characteristics.

Azorius Senate

The Azorius Senate is a guild that values law and order above all else. They are the lawmakers and enforcers of Ravnica, and their members are often lawyers, judges, and bureaucrats. The Azorius Senate is known for their control and defensive playstyle, often relying on counterspells and detainment effects to slow down their opponents.

Boros Legion

The Boros Legion is a guild that values honor and justice. They are the protectors of Ravnica, and their members are often soldiers and knights. The Boros Legion is known for their aggressive playstyle, often relying on creatures with haste and combat tricks to overwhelm their opponents.

House Dimir

The House Dimir is a guild that values secrecy and manipulation. They are the spies and assassins of Ravnica, and their members are often rogues and wizards. The House Dimir is known for their control and mill playstyle, often relying on card advantage and graveyard manipulation to outlast their opponents.

Izzet League

The Izzet League is a guild that values innovation and experimentation. They are the inventors and scientists of Ravnica, and their members are often wizards and artificers. The Izzet League is known for their spell-slinging playstyle, often relying on instants and sorceries to deal damage and control the board.

Golgari Swarm

The Golgari Swarm is a guild that values life and death. They are the scavengers and necromancers of Ravnica, and their members are often zombies and elves. The Golgari Swarm is known for their graveyard and sacrifice playstyle, often relying on recursion and attrition to outlast their opponents.

Orzhov Syndicate

The Orzhov Syndicate is a guild that values wealth and power. They are the bankers and extortionists of Ravnica, and their members are often ghosts and clerics. The Orzhov Syndicate is known for their lifegain and taxing playstyle, often relying on enchantments and abilities that drain life and mana from their opponents.

Cult of Rakdos

The Cult of Rakdos is a guild that values chaos and entertainment. They are the performers and sadists of Ravnica, and their members are often demons and goblins. The Cult of Rakdos is known for their aggressive and reckless playstyle, often relying on creatures with unleash and abilities that deal damage to themselves and their opponents.

Selesnya Conclave

The Selesnya Conclave is a guild that values harmony and nature. They are the gardeners and healers of Ravnica, and their members are often elves and centaurs. The Selesnya Conclave is known for their token and lifegain playstyle, often relying on creating an army of creatures and gaining life to overwhelm their opponents.

Simic Combine

The Simic Combine is a guild that values evolution and adaptation. They are the biologists and experimenters of Ravnica, and their members are often merfolk and mutants. The Simic Combine is known for their +1/+1 counter and ramp playstyle, often relying on creatures with evolve and abilities that generate mana and card advantage.

Gruul Clans

The Gruul Clans is a guild that values strength and freedom. They are the barbarians and hunters of Ravnica, and their members are often ogres and beasts. The Gruul Clans is known for their aggressive and ramp playstyle, often relying on creatures with trample and abilities that generate additional mana to deal massive amounts of damage to their opponents.

In summary, the ten guilds of Ravnica offer a diverse and exciting range of playstyles for Magic: The Gathering players. Whether you prefer control, aggression, or something in between, there is a guild for you.

Guild Mechanics and Gameplay

As an avid MTG player, I find the mechanics and gameplay of each guild fascinating. Each guild has its own unique set of abilities and keywords that make them stand out from the rest. In this section, I will discuss some of the most prominent guild-specific keywords and how they affect gameplay.

Guild-Specific Keywords

One of the most exciting aspects of MTG Guilds is the introduction of guild-specific keywords. These keywords are unique to each guild and provide players with a distinct set of abilities that can be used to gain an advantage over their opponents. Here are some of the most notable guild-specific keywords:

Surveil: Introduced in the Dimir guild, Surveil allows players to look at the top cards of their library and put some of them into their graveyard. This ability is particularly useful for decks that rely on graveyard recursion or milling.
Mentor: The Boros guild’s Mentor ability allows players to put a +1/+1 counter on a creature with lesser power when a creature with Mentor attacks. This ability is great for creating a swarm of powerful creatures that can quickly overwhelm an opponent.
Convoke: The Selesnya guild’s Convoke ability allows players to tap creatures to help pay for the mana cost of a spell. This ability is particularly useful for decks that rely on creature tokens or have a lot of creatures on the battlefield.
Riot: Introduced in the Gruul guild, Riot allows players to choose whether a creature enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter or haste. This ability is great for decks that rely on fast, aggressive creatures.
Jump-Start: The Izzet guild’s Jump-Start ability allows players to cast a spell from their graveyard by discarding a card with the same name as the spell. This ability is great for decks that rely on spell recursion or have a lot of instants and sorceries in their graveyard.

Guild Kits and Cards

In addition to the guild-specific keywords, each guild also has its own set of Guild Kits and cards. The Guild Kits were released in late 2018 and early 2019 and contain a preconstructed deck of 60 cards, including a foil guild leader card and a spindown life counter. These kits are a great way to get started with a particular guild and can be customized with additional cards to create a more powerful deck.

Each guild also has its own set of cards that can be used in any deck. Some of the most notable cards include:

Adapt: An ability introduced in the Simic guild, Adapt allows creatures to gain additional +1/+1 counters when they have a certain number of counters already.
Evolve: Another ability introduced in the Simic guild, Evolve allows creatures to gain additional +1/+1 counters when a creature with greater power or toughness enters the battlefield.
Scavenge: Introduced in the Golgari guild, Scavenge allows players to exile a creature card from their graveyard and put a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature equal to the exiled creature’s power.
Undergrowth: Introduced in the Golgari guild, Undergrowth allows players to count the number of creature cards in their graveyard and gain a bonus based on that number.
Afterlife: Introduced in the Orzhov guild, Afterlife allows players to create a number of 1/1 white and black Spirit creature tokens when a creature with Afterlife dies.
Detain: Introduced in the Azorius guild, Detain allows players to tap a creature or prevent it from attacking or blocking for a turn.

Overall, each guild has its own unique set of abilities and cards that make them stand out from the rest. Whether you prefer fast, aggressive creatures or spell recursion, there is a guild that is perfect for you.

Guild Leaders and Iconic Characters

Guildmasters

In the world of Magic: The Gathering, guilds are an essential part of the game’s lore. Each guild has a unique identity, philosophy, and leadership structure. The Guildmasters are the leaders of each guild, and they are the ones who shape the guild’s goals and direction.

One of the most iconic Guildmasters is Teysa Karlov, the leader of the Orzhov Syndicate. She is a shrewd and calculating leader who values power and wealth above all else. Trostani, the leader of the Selesnya Conclave, is another notable Guildmaster. She is a wise and compassionate leader who seeks to promote harmony and balance in the world.

Other notable Guildmasters include Niv-Mizzet, the leader of the Izzet League, Aurelia, the leader of the Boros Legion, and Nicol Bolas, the former leader of the Dimir Guild. Vraska, the leader of the Golgari Swarm, Lazav, the leader of the Dimir Guild, and Ruric Thar, the leader of the Gruul Clans, are also noteworthy Guildmasters.

Legendary Creatures

In addition to the Guildmasters, there are also many legendary creatures that have become iconic characters in the world of Magic: The Gathering. These creatures are often associated with a particular guild or faction and have unique abilities and personalities.

One such creature is Momir Vig, a powerful wizard and the leader of the Simic Combine. He is a master of genetic manipulation and is always seeking to create new and more powerful life forms. Another legendary creature is Prime Speaker Vannifar, a member of the Simic Combine who is known for her ability to evolve creatures quickly and efficiently.

Jace Beleren, a powerful planeswalker and former Guildpact, is another iconic character in the world of Magic: The Gathering. He is a master of mental magic and is often called upon to solve complex problems and puzzles. Dovin Baan, Domri Rade, and Ral Zarek are other notable characters who have played important roles in the game’s lore.

Guild	Guildmaster	Iconic Character
Orzhov Syndicate	Teysa Karlov	–
Selesnya Conclave	Trostani	–
Izzet League	Niv-Mizzet	–
Boros Legion	Aurelia	–
Dimir Guild	Nicol Bolas	Lazav
Golgari Swarm	Vraska	–
Gruul Clans	Ruric Thar	–
Simic Combine	Momir Vig	Prime Speaker Vannifar
Azorius Senate	–	Azor I
Rakdos Cult	–	Rakdos

Ravnican Culture and Society

As someone who has spent a considerable amount of time in Ravnica, I have come to appreciate the unique culture and society that exists within this city-plane. From the complex guild relationships to the vibrant festivals and events that take place throughout the year, Ravnica truly has something for everyone.

Guild Relationships

One of the most fascinating aspects of Ravnican society is the intricate network of guild relationships that exist between the ten different factions. Each guild has its own distinct ideology and purpose, and these ideologies often clash with one another. However, despite their differences, the guilds are all interdependent and rely on one another to keep the city functioning.

For example, the Boros Legion and the Azorius Senate have a complex relationship. The Boros Legion is responsible for maintaining order and security in Ravnica, while the Azorius Senate is responsible for creating and enforcing laws. These two guilds often clash over issues of jurisdiction and authority, but they also work together to maintain the delicate balance of power that keeps Ravnica running smoothly.

Ravnican Festivals and Events

Ravnica is also known for its vibrant festivals and events, which take place throughout the year. These celebrations are an important part of Ravnican culture, and they provide an opportunity for the citizens of Ravnica to come together and celebrate their shared history and traditions.

One of the most popular festivals in Ravnica is Implicit Maze, which takes place every year in the Tenth District. This festival is a celebration of Ravnica’s history and culture, and it features a variety of events and activities for people of all ages. From the traditional Maze Run to the more modern Sparring Matches, Implicit Maze is a truly unique experience that every Ravnican should experience at least once.

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Which guild would you join?

Magic and Mana in Ravnica

As an avid Magic: The Gathering player, I find the world of Ravnica to be one of the most fascinating planes in the game. The city of Ravnica is a sprawling metropolis, home to ten powerful guilds, each with its unique philosophy, colors, and abilities. In this section, I will delve into the magic and mana of Ravnica, exploring the color pie philosophy and the generation and use of mana.

Color Pie Philosophy

The color pie philosophy is central to the game of Magic: The Gathering, and it plays a significant role in Ravnica as well. The five colors of magic – white, blue, black, red, and green – are represented in Ravnica by ten guilds, each with a combination of two colors. These guilds embody the philosophy of their respective colors and combine them in unique ways to achieve their goals.

For example, the Azorius Senate guild combines white’s sense of order and justice with blue’s intellect and manipulation to maintain law and order in Ravnica. The Golgari Swarm, on the other hand, combines black’s ambition and ruthlessness with green’s connection to nature and decay to control the city’s underground and the cycle of life and death.

Mana Generation and Use

Mana is the lifeblood of Magic: The Gathering, and in Ravnica, it is generated and used in unique ways. The ten guilds of Ravnica have their unique ways of generating and using mana, which reflects their philosophy and colors.

Each guild has its basic lands, which produce mana of the guild’s colors. For example, the Boros Legion guild has Mountains and Plains, which produce red and white mana, respectively. In addition to basic lands, Ravnica features guildgates, which produce two colors of mana and can be tapped for either color.

Some guilds have unique ways of generating and using mana. For example, the Izzet League guild uses blue and red mana to power their experiments and inventions, while the Selesnya Conclave guild uses green and white mana to create an army of creatures and heal their allies.

Overall, understanding the color pie philosophy and the generation and use of mana is crucial to mastering the game of Magic: The Gathering in Ravnica. With this knowledge, players can build powerful decks that reflect their preferred playstyle and guild.

Playing MTG with Ravnican Guilds

As an avid MTG player, I find that playing with Ravnican Guilds adds an exciting dimension to the game. In this section, I will discuss some tips and strategies for playing MTG with Ravnican Guilds.

Drafting and Building Decks

When drafting with Ravnican Guilds, it is important to keep in mind the unique strengths and weaknesses of each guild. For example, the Boros Legion is known for its aggressive playstyle, while the Dimir House focuses on control and manipulation. By understanding the strengths of each guild, you can draft cards that complement your guild’s playstyle.

To build a successful deck with Ravnican Guilds, you can use the following table as a reference for the recommended number of cards for each guild:

Guild	Recommended Number of Cards
Azorius Senate	16-18
Boros Legion	15-17
Dimir House	16-18
Golgari Swarm	17-19
Gruul Clans	15-17
Izzet League	16-18
Orzhov Syndicate	16-18
Rakdos Cult	15-17
Selesnya Conclave	17-19
Simic Combine	16-18

Guild-Themed Strategies

Each Ravnican Guild has its own unique strategy and playstyle. By focusing on your guild’s strengths, you can create a powerful deck that is difficult for your opponents to counter.

For example, the Azorius Senate is known for its control-based playstyle. By using cards that detain your opponent’s creatures and spells, you can slow down your opponent’s momentum and gain an advantage. Meanwhile, the Boros Legion is all about aggression. By using cards that have haste and mentor abilities, you can quickly overwhelm your opponent with powerful creatures.

To help you get started, here are some recommended cards for each guild: