Reckless One MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Goblin Avatar
Abilities Haste
Power *
Toughness *

Key Takeaways

  1. Greatly benefits from Goblin swarm, turning each new Goblin into added might on the battlefield.
  2. Instant speed Goblin spells significantly boost Reckless One’s tactical flexibility in battle.
  3. Demands a goblin-focused strategy for optimal play, reducing standalone effectiveness.

Text of card

Haste Reckless One's power and toughness are each equal to the number of Goblins in play.

"Release chaos with me!"


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Reckless One’s power and toughness are each equal to the number of Goblins on the battlefield, turning every Goblin played into potential card advantage. This can rapidly escalate into an overwhelming force, especially in a dedicated Goblin deck.

Resource Acceleration: Since Reckless One essentially gets stronger with each Goblin played, it accelerates the value of your resources on the board. Each additional Goblin not only increases your board presence but also amplifies Reckless One’s impact, offering tremendous synergy in tribal themes.

Instant Speed: While Reckless One itself might not operate at instant speed, it benefits from the instant speed nature of many common Goblin spells and abilities. This allows for sudden changes in battlefield power dynamics right before damage calculation during combat, potentially turning the tides in your favor.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Harnessing the power of Reckless One in a game demands a strategy built around having a multitude of goblins. Without a sizeable goblin army, its potential significantly diminishes, making it less effective as a standalone threat.

Specific Mana Cost: Reckless One’s casting cost demands both red mana and other generic mana, potentially causing difficulties in multicolored decks where mana fixing is not optimized, thereby restricting its adaptability across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Reckless One’s might is reliant on a swarm strategy, the cost of investing four mana into this single creature might be steep, especially when the board state doesn’t favor a goblin-heavy presence. In instances where the board is clear or facing control strategies that keep goblin numbers low, other cards at a similar cost could provide better standalone value or versatility.


Reasons to Include Reckless One in Your Collection

Versatility: Reckless One’s power and toughness are each equal to the number of Goblins on the battlefield, making it a dynamic fit in any Goblin tribal deck. Its adaptability grows as your board fills with these fervent little creatures.

Combo Potential: This card thrives when combined with other Goblin-synergy cards, such as Krenko, Mob Boss or Goblin Warchief, enabling explosive turns that can swiftly overwhelm opponents.

Meta-Relevance: Given the recurring popularity of aggressive strategies in various formats, Reckless One can serve as a powerful finisher in a meta where speed and creature swarms can clinch the game.


How to beat

Reckless One is a potent force in the realm of MTG due to its power scaling with the number of Goblins on the battlefield. This catch makes it a formidable threat, especially within a tribal Goblin deck where Goblins tend to swarm quickly. To tackle this card, proactively managing the Goblin population is key. Board wipes or spot removal geared towards Goblins can be highly effective in reducing Reckless One’s impact. Cards like Pyroclasm or Doom Blade can help keep the Goblin numbers in check.

Moreover, keeping counter spells ready for when your opponent attempts to play Reckless One is a smart move. In this instance, Essence Scatter or Negate can be impactful, nipping the problem in the bud. Redirecting the focus away from purely offensive strategies to maintaining control of the board state can also sway the game in your favor. Evasive measures like playing creatures with flying or other abilities that make them unblockable by Reckless One will help maintain your life points while you implement your strategy to disarm your opponent’s goblin army.

In essence, managing your opponent’s board, being prepared with the right spells at the right time, and deploying creatures that can dodge Reckless One’s attacks, enable you to keep the upper hand and eventually defeat this powerful avatar of Goblin synergy.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the strategic depths of MTG can transform an ordinary deck into a powerhouse, and cards like Reckless One are the key to such a metamorphosis. This incredible card, central to Goblin tribal strategies, offers players a chance to dominate the battlefield with an ever-growing threat. If building a Goblin horde sounds like your playstyle, consider making Reckless One a cornerstone of your strategy. Curious about creating your own Goblin empire or keen on enhancing your red deck with synergistic might? Dive deeper with us into the world of MTG to discover strategies, combos, and tips that could seal your victory. Your next triumphal match could hinge on this card—learn more and make it happen.


Cards like Reckless One

Reckless One shines as a formidable force in goblin-focused decks within Magic: The Gathering. Its power and toughness are equal to the number of goblins on the battlefield, reminding us of the dynamic nature of Krenko, Mob Boss, who also thrives on the number of goblin creatures in play. Krenko, however, doesn’t directly translate goblin counts into raw power but instead taps to create more goblin tokens, multiplying the army’s size exponentially over time.

Looking at Siege-Gang Commander, there’s another comparison to be drawn. This goblin card also capitalizes on the presence of other goblins by entering the battlefield with additional goblin tokens. Although the Commander has statically defined power and toughness, its ability to sacrifice goblins to deal damage offers a different angle of strategic advantage that the Reckless One lacks.

Conclusively, in the realm of goblin synergy, Reckless One holds its own with the potential for a huge and cost-effective attacker. Other goblin-centric cards offer varied utilities from token generation to direct damage options. It’s these intricacies and synergies with other goblins that make Reckless One a card worth considering in any red aggressive deck focusing on a swarm strategy.

Krenko, Mob Boss - Magic 2013 (M13)
Siege-Gang Commander - Scourge (SCG)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Reckless One MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught and Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins, 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 Reckless One and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Reckless One Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2002-10-07 and 2014-12-05. Illustrated by Ron Spencer.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-10-07OnslaughtONS 2221997normalblackRon Spencer
22007-11-16Duel Decks: Elves vs. GoblinsDD1 482003normalblackRon Spencer
32014-12-05Duel Decks Anthology: Elves vs. GoblinsEVG 482015normalblackRon Spencer

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Reckless One has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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