Goblin Flotilla MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Goblin
Abilities	Islandwalk,Landwalk
Released	1994-11-01
Set symbol
Set name	Fallen Empires
Set code	FEM
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	55
Frame	1993
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Tom Wänerstrand

Key Takeaways

Offers card and resource advantage by enhancing Goblin assault capabilities, crucial for MTG gameplay.
Compatibility with Goblin-themed decks makes it a valuable asset, though it’s limited to red mana decks.
Rewards creative play with indirect control and combat versatility, making it a tactical choice in MTG.

Text of card

Islandwalk At the beginning of the attack, pay o R or any creatures blocking or blocked by Goblin Flotilla gain first strike until end of turn.

Exceptionally poor sailors, Goblins usually arrived at their destination retching and in no condition to fight.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Goblin Flotilla offers indirect card advantage by forcing opponents to either block and lose a creature or allow for potentially increased damage output. Additionally, the trample ability ensures that combat damage can carry over even when blocked by smaller creatures, maximizing damage and retaining pressure on the opponent.

Resource Acceleration: This card can complement Goblin-themed decks that often include cards that generate additional mana or resources when Goblins enter the battlefield or attack. Goblin Flotilla helps maintain the pace of such aggressive strategies, indirectly contributing to resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: Although Goblin Flotilla is not an instant itself, its ability to give all attacking Goblins trample until end of turn can be paired with spells of instant speed. This synergy allows for tactical combat decisions during the attack phase, keeping the opponent guessing and potentially unprepared for the enhanced assault.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When deploying Goblin Flotilla, players must contend with the necessity to discard another card, a demand that may prove detrimental during pivotal moments where card advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Goblin Flotilla’s casting requirements are restricted to red mana, confining its synergy to decks that are either mono-red or which have a substantial red component, thereby limiting its overall utility and adaptability.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that might be considered steep for its provided benefits, Goblin Flotilla contends against a broad array of alternative cards that could potentially execute comparable roles at a decreased resource investment.

Reasons to Include Goblin Flotilla in Your Collection

Versatility: Goblin Flotilla offers a unique edge in red creature decks looking to go toe-to-toe with defenders. Its ability to force creatures it damages to become walls adds a strategic layer to combat, acting as a form of indirect creature control.

Combo Potential: This card’s unique ability pairs well with strategies that seek to neutralize opponent’s threats while swinging the game in your favor. It can be used in conjunction with cards that punish or exploit the wall type for creative and unexpected win conditions.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s heavy on creature-based combat, Goblin Flotilla provides an interesting twist, disrupting opponent’s tactics and board presence. It’s the kind of card that thrives in a dynamic environment where flexibility and surprise attacks can turn the tide of a match.

How to beat

Goblin Flotilla is an older card that comes with the unique islandwalk ability, allowing it to be unblockable as long as the opponent controls an Island. However, for those facing this card, it’s by no means unbeatable. One straightforward strategy to combat Goblin Flotilla lies in land control. By limiting the number of Islands in play or using cards to change land types, you minimize the chances of Goblin Flotilla becoming unblockable. Land type manipulation can ensure that the islandwalk ability becomes irrelevant.

Another effective tactic is to employ removal spells that can bypass the islandwalk ability, targeting Goblin Flotilla regardless of the land in play. From classic removal spells such as Doom Blade to board wipes like Wrath of God, having the right cards in your deck to deal with creatures directly can turn the tide of battle in your favor. Lastly, blocking isn’t always necessary to win. Instead, focus on controlling the overall pace of the game, and prioritize threats to remove based on your strategy.

Despite its potential strength in the right deck, the Goblin Flotilla card can be mitigated and overcome with clever play and a strategic deck build that accommodates countermeasures for various abilities and threats within the wide spectrum of MTG gameplay scenarios.

Cards like Goblin Flotilla

Goblin Flotilla, a distinctive creature in MTG’s menagerie, shares traits with certain other cards while holding its own unique abilities. A comparison can be made with Goblin King, which also offers a boost to fellow goblins; however, Goblin Flotilla’s requirement for islandwalk sets it apart. Unlike Goblin King, whose aura affects the battlefield universally, Goblin Flotilla’s evasion is conditional on the opponent controlling islands, creating strategic play scenarios.

Moreso, it finds similarity with the likes of Tidal Warrior, which has the power to turn lands into islands, thereby activating islandwalk abilities. Tidal Warrior is more direct in enabling islandwalk, while Goblin Flotilla comes with the built-in evasion trait. Another related card is Water Wurm, which also becomes more potent when opposing islands. Its power increases in such environments, but it lacks the tribal synergies inherent to Goblin Flotilla’s goblin type, which can be significant in deck building.

In examining these cards, Goblin Flotilla can be seen to have a unique niche due to its duality of contributing to goblin tribal strategies and possessing an evasion ability dependent on the opponent’s land base, making it a card worth considering for certain MTG decks.

Cards similar to Goblin Flotilla by color, type and mana cost

Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions

Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions

Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions

Stinkdrinker Daredevil - MTG Card versions

Mudbutton Torchrunner - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Goblin Flotilla MTG card by a specific set like Fallen Empires, 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 Goblin Flotilla and other MTG cards: