Return to Ravnica: A Guide to the Guilds and What to Expect

What is Ravnica?

Magic: The Gathering, or MTG, has captivated players worldwide for three decades, weaving compelling narratives within a multiverse of fantastical planes. Planeswalkers, powerful individuals capable of traversing these realms, become embroiled in epic conflicts and forge alliances with unique characters and forces. And among the myriad of breathtaking locales, few evoke as much passion and excitement as Ravnica, a sprawling cityscape where ten distinct guilds clash and cooperate in a constant struggle for dominance. The anticipation surrounding the return to Ravnica is palpable, promising a fresh wave of strategic depth, captivating lore, and unforgettable gameplay experiences.

This article serves as your comprehensive guide to the captivating plane of Ravnica. We’ll delve into the essence of this unique setting, explore the intricate philosophies and playstyles of the iconic guilds, and offer a glimpse into what awaits us with the upcoming return to Ravnica. Whether you’re a seasoned planeswalker or a newcomer eager to explore, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to navigate the labyrinthine streets of Ravnica and master the art of guild warfare.

Ravnica isn’t just a plane; it’s a city. It’s a planet-spanning urban landscape, a colossal metropolis where buildings scrape the clouds, hidden alleyways conceal secret societies, and the very air hums with the energy of magic. The planet is almost entirely covered by the city, a testament to its history and the dominance of its inhabitants. The heart of Ravnica’s unique character lies in its ten guilds, each a faction dedicated to a specific philosophy and a particular approach to the world.

These guilds represent more than just factions; they embody distinct strategic approaches to gameplay within Magic: The Gathering. When you choose a guild, you choose a playstyle, a philosophy, and a color identity, which will shape the way you build your decks and engage in battle. This allows for incredible variety and encourages players to experiment and adapt their strategies. Ravnica’s appeal comes from these layers of depth, making each game, and each choice, a strategic exploration.

Ravnica’s history within MTG lore is rich and multifaceted. The original Ravnica block of expansions, released years ago, introduced the plane and its guilds, setting the stage for countless stories, memorable characters, and iconic cards. Subsequent returns have revisited Ravnica, deepening its mythology and offering players new perspectives on the ongoing struggles between the guilds. This consistent return is a testament to its popularity and the rich tapestry of stories woven within its urban expanse. Ravnica is a fan-favorite for a reason: its unique blend of urban fantasy, political intrigue, and diverse gameplay options keeps players coming back for more.

The Ten Guilds of Ravnica: A Detailed Look

Understanding the guilds of Ravnica is crucial to mastering the plane. Each guild brings its unique flavor, strategic style, and color combination to the table.

Introduction to Guilds

When you play Magic: The Gathering, choosing a guild is about more than just picking your favorite color combination; it’s about aligning yourself with a specific philosophy and strategic approach. Each guild offers a distinct identity that shapes your deck-building choices and gameplay tactics. Selecting a guild is making a fundamental decision about how you want to approach the game – whether you prefer aggressive strategies, controlling your opponent, or a strategic balance.

Guild Overviews

The Azorius Senate: Law and Order

The Azorius Senate embodies the principles of law, order, and meticulous bureaucracy. Represented by the colors white and blue, this guild values control and structure above all else. Their primary goals are to uphold the law and maintain the balance of power within Ravnica. Their philosophy centers around the belief that stability and order are paramount to a thriving society.

Gameplay style: The Azorius Senate favors a control-oriented playstyle. They use counterspells, board wipes, and stax effects to keep their opponents from gaining a foothold. They aim to control the battlefield and dictate the pace of the game, slowly grinding out victories through attrition.

Key cards and mechanics: Think of cards that counter spells, exile creatures, and prevent your opponent from acting. Cards with the “detain” mechanic – which temporarily prevents an opponent’s creature or permanent from activating or attacking – are a hallmark of Azorius.

Guild’s color identity: White/Blue

Notable Characters: Characters such as Augustin IV, a key figure within the Azorius Senate, highlight the guild’s focus on order and legal manipulation.

The Orzhov Syndicate: Wealth and Power

The Orzhov Syndicate operates on the principles of wealth, power, and a twisted form of religion. This white and black guild utilizes the currency of both power and debt, controlling a vast network of influence throughout Ravnica. They pursue their objectives by exploiting financial leverage and manipulating the souls of their followers.

Gameplay style: Orzhov decks specialize in life drain, using their abilities to gain life while simultaneously damaging their opponents. They also excel at control, using removal spells and persistent threats to weaken their rivals. Sacrifice is another strategic tool, allowing them to generate value from their creatures.

Key cards and mechanics: Cards that generate debt, drain life, and punish opponents for actions. The extort mechanic, which allows you to pay one mana to drain life from each opponent, is a signature Orzhov ability.

Guild’s color identity: White/Black

Notable Characters: Ghost Council of Orzhova is a famous character representing the guild’s focus on wealth and the afterlife.

The Rakdos Cult: Chaos and Destruction

The Rakdos Cult is all about chaos, destruction, and revelry. This guild, representing the colors black and red, embraces a philosophy of hedonism, seeking pleasure and excitement above all else. They delight in anarchy and destruction, engaging in wild performances and brutal acts for entertainment.

Gameplay style: Rakdos decks are aggressive and fast-paced. They aim to overwhelm opponents with powerful creatures and direct damage spells. Sacrifice is frequently utilized to trigger abilities and generate advantages.

Key cards and mechanics: Cards that deal direct damage, punish opponents for their actions, and generate sacrifice effects. The unleash mechanic, which allows a creature to enter the battlefield with a counter to make it more powerful but unable to block, reflects their chaotic nature.

Guild’s color identity: Black/Red

Notable Characters: Rakdos himself, the demon who leads the cult, embodies the guild’s focus on revelry and destruction.

The Gruul Clans: Nature and Anarchy

The Gruul Clans are a wild, untamed guild that embodies the raw power of nature and a rejection of civilization. Combining red and green, they champion anarchy and believe that the only true freedom is found in a return to primal instincts. Their goals center around dismantling the structures of society and restoring balance to the natural world.

Gameplay style: Gruul decks are known for their aggressive strategies, utilizing large, powerful creatures and ramping up their mana quickly. They aim to overrun their opponents with overwhelming force.

Key cards and mechanics: Cards that ramp mana, provide direct damage, and feature powerful creatures with trample. The bloodrush mechanic allows creatures to discard themselves to give their creature a boost.

Guild’s color identity: Red/Green

Notable Characters: Borborygmos, a renowned Gruul leader, embodies their ferocious and chaotic nature.

The Selesnya Conclave: Harmony and Growth

The Selesnya Conclave embodies harmony, growth, and a deep connection to nature. Representing the colors green and white, they believe in communal living and seek to create a unified society where all beings can thrive. They place a strong emphasis on growth, both in terms of nature and the well-being of the community.

Gameplay style: Selesnya decks are known for their token-generating abilities, swarming the battlefield with multiple creatures. They also focus on life gain and value, using their resources to create a strong and resilient board presence.

Key cards and mechanics: Cards that create creature tokens, generate life, and give bonuses to creatures. Convoke, allowing players to tap creatures to help cast spells, is a signature mechanic.

Guild’s color identity: Green/White

Notable Characters: Trostani, the dryad leader, represents the guild’s focus on harmony and growth.

The Simic Combine: Evolution and Experimentation

The Simic Combine, composed of the colors green and blue, prioritizes evolution, adaptation, and the relentless pursuit of scientific experimentation. They believe in constant improvement and pushing the boundaries of life through genetic manipulation.

Gameplay style: Simic decks favor ramp strategies, accelerating their mana production to cast powerful creatures. They also utilize counterspells, value generation, and large, powerful creatures.

Key cards and mechanics: Cards that ramp mana, manipulate the board, and feature evolving creatures. Graft, allowing you to move counters to other creatures, reflects the guild’s focus on evolution.

Guild’s color identity: Green/Blue

Notable Characters: Momir Vig, the former Simic guildmaster, is famous for his experiments and obsession with evolution.

The Golgari Swarm: Life and Death

The Golgari Swarm is defined by the cycle of life and death, decay and rebirth. This guild, using the colors black and green, sees death as a natural part of the cycle and utilizes it as a resource. They control the undercity, and their goals center around manipulating the flow of life and death for their benefit.

Gameplay style: Golgari decks thrive in the graveyard. They reanimate creatures, create value by sacrificing their own creatures, and utilize graveyard-based strategies to gain advantages.

Key cards and mechanics: Cards that use the graveyard, sacrifice effects, and dredge. Dredge allows players to use their graveyard as a strategic advantage by shuffling cards.

Guild’s color identity: Black/Green

Notable Characters: Jarad Vod Savo, the former Golgari leader, is known for his mastery over death and decay.

The Izzet League: Innovation and Experimentation

The Izzet League represents the colors blue and red, with a passion for innovation, experimentation, and the pursuit of knowledge. They are renowned for their groundbreaking inventions, though their chaotic nature often leads to unpredictable results. Their primary goals are to advance the boundaries of science and unleash powerful magical forces.

Gameplay style: Izzet decks are known for their spell-slinging strategies, casting numerous instants and sorceries to trigger powerful abilities. They often utilize burn spells to deal direct damage and combo elements for explosive turns.

Key cards and mechanics: Cards that utilize spells, deal direct damage, and provide value based on the number of spells cast. The overload mechanic, which allows a spell to affect all targets, reflects their power.

Guild’s color identity: Blue/Red

Notable Characters: Niv-Mizzet, the dragon leader, is a genius and an embodiment of Izzet’s intellect and destructive power.

The Dimir: Secrets and Manipulation

The Dimir, representing the colors blue and black, is a guild of shadows and secrets. They operate in stealth, manipulating events from the shadows to gain control. Their goals remain shrouded in mystery, but their influence extends across Ravnica.

Gameplay style: Dimir decks utilize control strategies, mill, and manipulation. They aim to control the flow of information and gradually deplete their opponents’ resources.

Key cards and mechanics: Cards that mill your opponents’ libraries, control information, and manipulate the battlefield. Surveil, letting you look at the top cards of your library and either put them into your graveyard or back on top of your library, is one of Dimir’s signature mechanics.

Guild’s color identity: Blue/Black

Notable Characters: Lazav, the guild leader, embodies Dimir’s enigmatic nature.

The Boros Legion: Justice and War

The Boros Legion stands for justice, order, and the glory of war. Combining the colors red and white, they are a militant force dedicated to protecting Ravnica and maintaining peace. Their goal is to eradicate crime and uphold the laws of the city.

Gameplay style: Boros decks are aggressive and combat-focused. They utilize creatures with powerful combat abilities and burn spells to deal damage quickly and efficiently.

Key cards and mechanics: Cards that give bonuses to creatures, deal direct damage, and feature combat-focused abilities. Battalion, which grants creatures bonuses for attacking with multiple creatures, reflects their combat focus.

Guild’s color identity: Red/White

Notable Characters: Aurelia, the angelic leader, embodies Boros’ dedication to justice and order.

What to Expect with the Return to Ravnica

The excitement surrounding the return to Ravnica stems from the anticipation of new cards, mechanics, and narrative developments. The new set will likely delve deeper into the existing guilds, offering players new ways to play their favorite factions while also revisiting beloved characters and locations. The potential for exciting new mechanics and card designs will undoubtedly breathe fresh life into the world of Ravnica.

We can anticipate the introduction of new strategies and deck-building options. The guilds themselves might evolve, adapting to the changing landscape of Ravnica or undergoing shifts in leadership. Perhaps we will see cards that interact with the new setting in innovative ways, or perhaps old favorites will be brought back. The new set will surely impact the game in a variety of formats.

Tips for New and Returning Players

For newer players who are intrigued by the prospect of a return to Ravnica, choosing a guild can seem daunting. The best way to select a guild is to consider your preferred playstyle. Do you enjoy aggressive tactics, a controlling approach, or perhaps something more strategic? Research the different guilds’ playstyles. Explore their color identities and signature mechanics. Websites like MTGGoldfish, and MTGTop8 offer invaluable resources for discovering various deck archetypes, and card prices. Reading online articles, and checking out gameplay videos will also help you in making your decision.

For returning players, the return to Ravnica offers a fresh opportunity to revisit a beloved plane. You can start by reviewing your existing collections. Consider which cards from the previous Ravnica sets might be valuable. Stay informed about the upcoming set by following official announcements from Wizards of the Coast and following MTG news outlets.

Conclusion

The return to Ravnica promises a thrilling experience for Magic: The Gathering players. By understanding the guilds, their philosophies, and their distinct gameplay styles, players can prepare for a deeper dive into the world of Ravnica. Whether you’re new to the plane or a seasoned planeswalker, this guide provides a comprehensive foundation for navigating the complex world of the guilds.

The upcoming release is set to provide new strategies, unforgettable experiences, and endless hours of strategic exploration. Are you ready to choose your guild and fight for Ravnica? Let the anticipation build, refine your strategies, and embrace the exciting new opportunities that await. Prepare for your return to Ravnica!