Golgari Grave-Troll — ruling 1

If you're drawing multiple cards, each draw is performed one at a time. For example, if you're instructed to draw two cards and you replace the first draw with a dredge ability, another card with a dredge ability (including one that was milled by the first dredge ability) may be used to replace the second draw.

Golgari Grave-Troll — ruling 2

You can't attempt to use a dredge ability if you don't have enough cards in your library.

Golgari Grave-Troll — ruling 3

Once you've announced that you're applying a card's dredge ability to replace a draw, players can't take any actions until you've put that card into your hand and milled cards.

Golgari Grave-Troll — ruling 4

Dredge can replace any card draw, not only the one during your draw step.

Golgari Grave-Troll — ruling 5

If an effect puts a card into your hand without specifically using the word "draw," you're not drawing a card. Dredge can't replace this event.

Golgari Grave-Troll — ruling 6

One card draw can't be replaced by multiple dredge abilities.

Golgari Grave-Troll — ruling 7

Because damage remains marked on a creature until it's removed as the turn ends, nonlethal damage dealt to Golgari Grave-Troll may become lethal if you remove +1/+1 counters from it during that turn. In this case, it dies before you can resolve the activated ability that will regenerate it.

Golgari Grave-Troll — ruling 8

If you return Golgari Grave-Troll from your graveyard directly to the battlefield, its first ability counts itself.

Golgari Grave-Troll : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Golgari Grave-Troll is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

This creature enters with a +1/+1 counter on it for each creature card in your graveyard. , Remove a +1/+1 counter from this creature: Regenerate this creature. Dredge 6 (If you would draw a card, you may mill six cards instead. If you do, return this card from your graveyard to your hand.)

Complete guide

Golgari Grave-Troll is a powerhouse of the Golgari Swarm, serving as both a massive threat and an engine for graveyard recursion. Its ability to grow based on your fallen creatures makes it a late-game titan, while its Dredge keyword ensures it never stays gone for long. Understanding how to manage its counters and its replacement effect is key to mastering graveyard-based strategies.

Scaling Power and Survival

Golgari Grave-Troll enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter for every creature card in your graveyard. This is a replacement effect that happens as it enters, meaning it is never a 0/0 on the battlefield if you have creatures in your bin. Additionally, it features an activated ability: for one mana and the removal of a +1/+1 counter, you can create a regeneration shield. This shield prevents the next time it would be destroyed this turn, tapping it and removing it from combat instead.

The Mechanics of Dredge 6

Dredge is a replacement effect that functions specifically when you would draw a card. If Golgari Grave-Troll is in your graveyard, you may choose to mill six cards instead of drawing. If you do, the Troll returns to your hand. You can only do this if you have at least six cards in your library. Once you decide to dredge, the process happens immediately—no player can cast spells or activate abilities to stop the Troll from returning to your hand once the draw is being replaced.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake involves the timing of removing counters for regeneration. Damage remains marked on the Troll until the end of the turn. If the Troll has four +1/+1 counters and has taken 3 damage, removing a counter to regenerate it will leave it as a 3/3 with 3 damage marked, causing it to die due to state-based actions before the regeneration ability even resolves. Furthermore, remember that Dredge only replaces the keyword 'draw'; effects that 'put a card into your hand' cannot be replaced by Dredge.

When to Play the Troll

You should play Golgari Grave-Troll when your graveyard is sufficiently stocked to make it a high-toughness blocker or a lethal attacker. However, its most common use is actually staying in the graveyard. By using its Dredge 6 ability, you intentionally fill your graveyard with even more resources, setting up larger Trolls or other graveyard synergies while ensuring you always have a creature to cast next turn.

Interaction examples

Dredging from a Death Trigger

Solemn Simulacrum

If your Solemn Simulacrum dies while Golgari Grave-Troll is in your graveyard, its triggered ability goes on the stack. When it resolves, instead of drawing a card, you may choose to mill six cards and return Golgari Grave-Troll to your hand. This is a great way to turn a simple card draw into massive graveyard setup.

Entering from the Graveyard

If a spell or ability returns Golgari Grave-Troll directly from your graveyard to the battlefield, its first ability checks how many creature cards are in your graveyard as it enters. In this specific case, the Troll counts itself because it is still in the graveyard at the moment the replacement effect determines how many counters it gets.

Doubling Counters with Types

Roaming Throne

If you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield with 'Troll' or 'Skeleton' chosen, it is important to note that Golgari Grave-Troll's counter ability is a static replacement effect, not a triggered ability. Therefore, Roaming Throne will not double the number of counters the Troll enters with. However, if the Troll had a triggered ability that triggered when it entered, the Throne would then apply.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Golgari Grave-Troll

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1January 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
If you're drawing multiple cards, each draw is performed one at a time. For example, if you're instructed to draw two cards and you replace the first draw with a dredge ability, another card with a dredge ability (including one that was milled by the first dredge ability) may be used to replace the second draw.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2January 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
You can't attempt to use a dredge ability if you don't have enough cards in your library.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3January 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
Once you've announced that you're applying a card's dredge ability to replace a draw, players can't take any actions until you've put that card into your hand and milled cards.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4January 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
Dredge can replace any card draw, not only the one during your draw step.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5January 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect puts a card into your hand without specifically using the word "draw," you're not drawing a card. Dredge can't replace this event.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6January 12, 2024· Wizards of the Coast
One card draw can't be replaced by multiple dredge abilities.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7December 7, 2018· Wizards of the Coast
Because damage remains marked on a creature until it's removed as the turn ends, nonlethal damage dealt to Golgari Grave-Troll may become lethal if you remove +1/+1 counters from it during that turn. In this case, it dies before you can resolve the activated ability that will regenerate it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8December 7, 2018· Wizards of the Coast
If you return Golgari Grave-Troll from your graveyard directly to the battlefield, its first ability counts itself.
No other card is named in this ruling.