Goblins

Muxus, Goblin Grandee

Yesterday was Elves; today, I look at mono-red Modern Goblins.

In traditional fantasy, goblins are generally swarming, mischievious mobs of expendable lackeys. Can we make a deck that reflects this?

Goblins (1)

4 Fireblade Charger (ZNR) 139

4 Fissure Wizard (ZNR) 140

4 Grotag Bug-Catcher (ZNR) 142

4 Frost Bite (KHM) 138

4 Battle Cry Goblin (AFR) 132

4 Goblin Javelineer (AFR) 144

3 Goblin Morningstar (AFR) 145

4 Hobgoblin Bandit Lord (AFR) 147

4 Hulking Bugbear (AFR) 149

4 You See a Pair of Goblins (AFR) 170

21 Snow-Covered Mountain (KHM) 283

This first iteration was standard-legal at one point. It was decent for standard but would not cut it in modern. Still, Adventures in the Forgotten Realms gave us two great goblin cards we can build off of: Battle Cry Goblin and Hobgoblin Bandit Lord:

We will return to these shortly. 

Goblins (2)

3 Conspicuous Snoop (M21) 139

3 Tin Street Dodger (RNA) 120

4 Torch Courier (GRN) 119

4 Ember Hauler (M20) 137

2 Goblin Instigator (M19) 142

2 Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin (WAR) 137

1 Goblin Trashmaster (ANB) 72

4 Goblin Ringleader (M20) 143

1 Beetleback Chief (JMP) 294

2 Goblin Cratermaker (GRN) 103

3 Goblin Banneret (GRN) 102

1 Muxus, Goblin Grandee (JMP) 24

1 Krenko, Mob Boss (JMP) 339

1 Goblin Trashmaster (M19) 144

3 Volley Veteran (M19) 168

1 Outnumber (JMP) 354

1 Goblin Chieftain (JMP) 324

21 Mountain (IKO) 271

2 Castle Embereth (ELD) 239

My second take at a Goblin deck was not standard-legal. Leveraging Jumpstart cards, the goal was to amass an army of goblins, get Muxu, Goblin Grandee out, and hope his enter the battlefield ability created an overwhelming board state. Krenko, Mob Boss could help get that army.

Goblins (3)

3 Conspicuous Snoop (M21) 139

3 Tin Street Dodger (RNA) 120

4 Torch Courier (GRN) 119

4 Ember Hauler (M20) 137

3 Icon of Ancestry (M20) 229

2 Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin (WAR) 137

2 Legion Warboss (GRN) 109

4 Goblin Ringleader (M20) 143

1 Soul Sear (M21) 160

2 Goblin Cratermaker (GRN) 103

4 Goblin Banneret (GRN) 102

1 Muxus, Goblin Grandee (JMP) 24

4 Shock (M19) 156

21 Mountain (IKO) 271

2 Castle Embereth (ELD) 239

My next iteration added Icon of Ancestry and Legion Warboss. I'm not sure why. Well, of course they are to create goblin tokens or search for goblin cards, but I think there are better ways . . .

Goblins (4)

4 Battle Cry Goblin (AFR) 132

4 Skirk Prospector (DAR) 144

4 Conspicuous Snoop (M21) 139

4 Goblin Instigator (M19) 142

3 Goblin Chieftain (JMP) 324

4 Hobgoblin Bandit Lord (AFR) 147

2 Goblin Warchief (DAR) 130

2 Goblin Banneret (GRN) 102

2 You See a Pair of Goblins (AFR) 170

2 Krenko, Mob Boss (JMP) 339

4 Goblin Ringleader (M20) 143

2 Muxus, Goblin Grandee (JMP) 24

23 Mountain (ONE) 275

Fourth up, I added Skirk Prospector, whose sacrifice ability can help ramp up to Muxus sooner. Paired with Krenko, this can be a potent combo. Conspicuous Snoop helps get out cards, too.

Goblins (5)

4 Battle Cry Goblin (AFR) 132

4 Skirk Prospector (DAR) 144

4 Conspicuous Snoop (M21) 139

4 Goblin Instigator (M19) 142

3 Goblin Chieftain (JMP) 324

4 Hobgoblin Bandit Lord (AFR) 147

4 Goblin Matron (MH1) 129

4 Goblin Banneret (GRN) 102

2 Rundvelt Hordemaster (DMU) 142

2 Krenko, Mob Boss (JMP) 339

2 Muxus, Goblin Grandee (JMP) 24

23 Mountain (ONE) 275

In this fifth iteration, I dropped Goblin Ringleader and added Goblin Matron for deck searching. I included Rundvelt Hordemaster, too, to see how that would pan out.

Other Cards

Arena doesn't have some 'staple' goblin cards yet, to include Goblin Grenade, or more goblin token options like Krenko's Command, Siege-Gang Commander, and Mogg War Marshal:

Lorwyn has some nice goblin cards, too, to include Boggart Shenanigans and Mudbutton Torchrunner:

In short, I haven't settled on my preferred goblin deck yet. I think iteration 5 above is getting close, but we're not there yet.