Grenzo, Havoc Raiser MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Goblin Rogue
Abilities Goad
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Grenzo excels in chaotic gameplay, turning creature attacks into strategic resource control or goading mayhem.
  2. He adds versatility in red-focused decks but may struggle in environments where fast, low-cost drops are vital.
  3. Grenzo’s abilities make him a key player in meta play, managing attacks, and manipulating opponents’ strategies.

Text of card

Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, choose one — • Goad target creature that player controls. • Exile the top card of that player's library. Until end of turn, you may cast that card and you may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast it.

"You burn. I'll pillage."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Grenzo, Havoc Raiser allows you to potentially exile cards from the top of your opponent’s library and play them, giving you access to additional resources and putting pressure on your opponent’s strategy.

Resource Acceleration: Each time a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, you have the choice to either goad a creature that player controls or exile the top card of their library, playing into both aggressive and resource-denial strategies, effectively speeding up your game plan.

Instant Speed: While Grenzo himself isn’t an instant, the abilities he grants activate during the combat phase, which can catch opponents off guard and disrupt their plans during their own turns. This surprise element can be as valuable as an instant speed interaction by denying your opponents the comfort of a predictable game state.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Grenzo Havoc Raiser doesn’t directly require a discard, his ability hinges on dealing combat damage, which can be a risky endeavor. If your creatures are blocked or removed, you lose the potential to utilize Grenzo’s disruptive abilities.

Specific Mana Cost: Grenzo’s cost includes both red and generic mana, meaning his place is often cemented in red-focused or multicolored decks, potentially reducing his versatility across a broader range of strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite being an impactful two-drop, in fast-paced games or highly competitive environments, there are times when deploying Grenzo may not be as economical, especially when other low-cost creatures could be more immediately beneficial to your board state.


Reasons to Include Grenzo Havoc Raiser in Your Collection

Versatility: Grenzo Havoc Raiser offers unique gameplay experiences, able to turn each successful creature attack into a choice: exile the top card of your opponent’s library and play it, or have the creature deal damage and goad an opposing creature. This allows adaptation to the flow of the game, catering to both aggressive and disruptive play styles.

Combo Potential: Grenzo’s first ability synergizes with decks focused on multiple attackers maximizing value from each hit. His second ability is ideal for creating forced combat scenarios that disrupt opponent strategies. Additionally, Grenzo can feed into combos that exploit opponents’ decks or consistently goad to control the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where creature-based strategies are prevalent, grenzo thrives by turning your army into both a card advantage engine and a means to control opponents’ threats. He is a proactive tool in the current meta that rewards players who can effectively manage both their attack phase and their opponents’.


How to beat

Grenzo, Havoc Raiser is a unique Goblins card that can turn the tides by allowing you to play cards from your opponents’ decks and controlling combat decisions. To successfully counter this menace, focus on controlling the board. This means dealing with Grenzo before they can build a formidable goblin army to trigger its ability.

Removal spells are your best friend against Grenzo. Since it only has two toughness, cost-effective spells like Fatal Push or Lightning Bolt can take care of it easily. Additionally, board wipe effects can reset the field, nullifying the advantage Grenzo provides. Creatures with first strike or deathtouch can also be effective at deterring attacks and limiting the chances for Grenzo to trigger.

In summary, handling Grenzo, Havoc Raiser, involves a mix of early removal to prevent its activation and strategic creature play to block its Goading ability. Keeping Grenzo off the board will preserve your control over the game and inhibit your opponent from leveraging your own cards against you.


BurnMana Recommendations

Enhancing your MTG collection with strategic cards like Grenzo, Havoc Raiser can be a game-changer. Beyond the card’s individual merits and challenges, its role in your deck demands an understanding of both tempo and control. With the right combination of creatures and spells, Grenzo can turn your attacks into a resource-generating machine. Whether you’re contemplating shaking up your current deck or crafting a new one focused on disruption and aggression, consider the implications of cards like Grenzo to outmaneuver your opponents. Elevate your deck-building skills and gameplay strategies with us—your path to MTG mastery awaits.


Cards like Grenzo, Havoc Raiser

Grenzo, Havoc Raiser, is a unique goblin rogue known for stirring up chaos in Magic: The Gathering duels. Its counterparts include other red cards that manipulate or gain control of opponents’ strategies. For example, Robber of the Rich provides a similar function, allowing you to exile cards from an opponent and play them, with the added benefit of having haste and reach. Robber’s condition of attacking with fewer cards in hand than an opponent offers a different kind of challenge.

Another comparison could be made to Kari Zev, Skyship Raider, which also excels at creating disruptive plays. While Kari Zev alone does not possess the same control manipulation abilities, her first strike and the creation of a legendary Monkey token during combat can prove just as unsettling to an opponent’s defensive strategy, albeit in a less direct way than Grenzo’s ability to pilfer cards.

All three of these options can shift the tide of a game, but Grenzo, Havoc Raiser, stands out with its potential to either exile cards from the top of an opponent’s library or to goad their creatures into attacking. Such capabilities can uniquely dictate the pace and flow of gameplay, making Grenzo a distinct choice for players who enjoy a sneaky and strategic assault.

Robber of the Rich - MTG Card versions
Kari Zev, Skyship Raider - MTG Card versions
Robber of the Rich - Throne of Eldraine Promos (PELD)
Kari Zev, Skyship Raider - Aether Revolt (AER)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Grenzo, Havoc Raiser MTG card by a specific set like Conspiracy: Take the Crown and Treasure Chest, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Grenzo, Havoc Raiser and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Grenzo, Havoc Raiser Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-08-26 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-08-26Conspiracy: Take the CrownCN2 542015normalblackSvetlin Velinov
22016-11-16Treasure ChestPZ2 292015normalblackSvetlin Velinov
32023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 2282015normalblackSvetlin Velinov
42023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 5382015normalblackSvetlin Velinov
52023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 6772015normalborderlessTyler Walpole

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Grenzo, Havoc Raiser has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Grenzo, Havoc Raiser card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2016-08-23 Attacking with a goaded creature doesn’t cause it to stop being goaded. If there is an additional combat phase that turn, or if another player gains control of it before it stops being goaded, it must attack again if able.
2016-08-23 Being goaded isn’t an ability the creature has. Once it’s been goaded, it must attack as detailed above even if it loses all abilities.
2016-08-23 Casting the exiled card follows the normal rules for casting that card. You must pay its costs, and you must follow all applicable timing rules. For example, if you exile a creature card this way, you must wait until your main phase to cast it.
2016-08-23 If a creature you control has been goaded by multiple opponents, it must attack one of your opponents that hasn’t goaded it, as that fulfills the maximum number of goad requirements. If a creature you control has been goaded by each of your opponents, you choose which opponent it attacks.
2016-08-23 If the creature doesn’t meet any of the above exceptions and can attack, it must attack a player other than the controller of the spell or ability that goaded it if able. It the creature can’t attack any of those players but could otherwise attack, it must attack an opposing planeswalker (controlled by any opponent) or the player that goaded it.
2016-08-23 If you don’t cast the card, it will remain in exile.
2016-08-23 If you exile a land card this way, you can’t play it.
2016-08-23 If, during a player’s declare attackers step, a creature that player controls that’s been goaded is tapped, is affected by a spell or ability that says it can’t attack, or hasn’t been under that player’s control continuously since the turn began (and doesn’t have haste), then it doesn’t attack. If there’s a cost associated with having a creature attack a player, its controller isn’t forced to pay that cost, so it doesn’t have to attack in that case either.
2016-08-23 The card exiled by the second mode is exiled face up.

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