Goblin Balloon Brigade MTG Card
1993-08-05 - Number 153
1993-10-04 - Number 154
1993-12-01 - Number 154
1993-12-10 - Number 154
1993-12-10 - Number 154
1994-04-01 - Number 154
1994-04-01 - Number 154
1994-06-21 - Number 154
1995-04-01 - Number 197
1995-04-01 - Number 197
2005-07-29 - Number 189★
2005-07-29 - Number 189
2010-07-16 - Number 140
2016-08-26 - Number 159
2019-11-07 - Number 951
2022-11-28 - Number 149
2022-11-28 - Number 446
2020-09-26 - Number CN2-159
| Card sets | Released in 18 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Goblin Warrior |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
oo R Goblins gain flying ability until end of turn. Controller may not choose to make Goblins fly after they have been blocked.
"From up here we can drop rocks and arrows and more rocks!" "Uh, yeah boss, but how do we get down?"
Cards like Goblin Balloon Brigade
The Goblin Balloon Brigade is a nimble member of the red creature arsenal in Magic: The Gathering. This card shares its goblin tribe with many others, but what sets it apart is its straightforward flight ability. For a single red mana, the brigade can take to the skies, unlike other ground-bound goblins such as the Raging Goblin. While the Raging Goblin also costs one red mana, it offers haste instead of flight, providing a different kind of tactical advantage in term of immediate board impact.
Looking at another comrade, the Goblin Guide, it’s evident that the focus shifts to quick damage with its haste ability and consistent 2/2 hitting power right out of the gate. The Goblin Balloon Brigade sacrifices some of that punch for aerial versatility. Then there’s Mogg Fanatic, offering sacrifice for direct damage, which the Balloon Brigade cannot. Despite lacking the versatility of damage distribution, the Brigade stands out with its potential for an unblockable aerial attack.
Ultimately, Goblin Balloon Brigade has its unique place in the roster of red goblin cards, providing strategic elevation that, while not powerful on its own, can be a game-changer in the right deck focused on evading ground defenses.
Cards similar to Goblin Balloon Brigade by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Goblin Balloon Brigade is known for its nifty ability to gain aerial superiority. While it doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its flying ability adds qualitative advantage on the battlefield letting you bypass ground-based defenses and swing in for consistent damage.
Resource Acceleration: This unit doesn’t inherently accelerate your resources but its low casting cost means you can deploy it early in the game. The quick deployment of the Brigade allows you to allocate resources elsewhere sooner, potentially ramping up your board presence while others are still setting up.
Instant Speed: Goblin Balloon Brigade’s key feature is the ability to grant itself flying until the end of the turn at instant speed. This versatility can catch an opponent off guard, allowing you to block flying creatures unexpectedly or suddenly evade blockers when it’s time to attack.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While the Goblin Balloon Brigade provides a nifty ability to grant flying, it doesn’t come with any built-in way to protect itself or generate card advantage, a feature you might ideally want for a card that’s taking up space in your hand and your mana base.
Specific Mana Cost: The Goblin Balloon Brigade’s mana cost is entirely red, which means it’s best suited to mono-red decks or those with a heavy focus on red mana. This can restrict its flexibility and inclusion in decks with a broader mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a single red mana, you get a 1/1 creature that can attain flying. The mana investment needed to activate its flying ability each turn can add up, especially when you consider that other cards in the same mana range may offer more impactful effects or stat lines without the recurring investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Goblin Balloon Brigade can adapt to various situations on the battlefield. Whether you need an early game blocker or a swift attacker, this card’s ability to gain flying until end of turn makes it a flexible choice for red decks.
Combo Potential: This card has synergy with effects that benefit from creatures with flying. It can also be a key piece in a goblin tribal deck, enhancing the impact of lords and other goblin synergies.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where agile board presence can be decisive, Goblin Balloon Brigade’s inexpensive cost and flying capability keep it relevant. It can quickly become a threat that’s hard to block, pressuring opponents in a meta where early game board control can determine the outcome of the match.
How to beat
The Goblin Balloon Brigade is a quirky and agile group in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, known for their ability to gain flying until the end of the turn with some mana investment. This can make them elusive targets on the battlefield, able to soar over ground-based defenders. However, slipping past this airborne assault is not out of reach. Your arsenal to counteract these high-flying hooligans includes options such as instant-speed removals, like Shock or Lightning Bolt, to clip their wings swiftly before they can take to the skies.
Another effective strategy involves employing creatures with reach or those that can be flashed in as blockers to surprise the Goblin Balloon Brigade mid-flight. Cards like Giant Spider or the ever-ready Ambush Viper can ensure that these goblins never complete their aerial trek. Lastly, board wipes such as Pyroclasm can clear multiple threats at once, grounding the brigade along with other non-flying creatures. By staying vigilant and having the right countermeasures ready, one can keep these mischievous goblins firmly on the terra firma where they’re far less threatening.
Understanding the key moments to disrupt their maneuverability or simply outpacing them with a faster aggro plan can deflate the Goblin Balloon Brigade’s ambitions, ensuring they don’t carry your opponent to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Goblin Balloon Brigade MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Balloon Brigade and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Goblin Balloon Brigade Magic the Gathering card was released in 16 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
Show/hide all sets| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-08-05 | Limited Edition Alpha | LEA | 153 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Andi Rusu | |
| 2 | 1993-10-04 | Limited Edition Beta | LEB | 154 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Andi Rusu | |
| 3 | 1993-12-01 | Unlimited Edition | 2ED | 154 | 1993 | Normal | White | Andi Rusu | |
| 4 | 1993-12-10 | Collectors' Edition | CED | 154 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Andi Rusu | |
| 5 | 1993-12-10 | Intl. Collectors' Edition | CEI | 154 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Andi Rusu | |
| 6 | 1994-04-01 | Revised Edition | 3ED | 154 | 1993 | Normal | White | Andi Rusu | |
| 7 | 1994-04-01 | Foreign Black Border | FBB | 154 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Andi Rusu | |
| 8 | 1994-06-21 | Summer Magic / Edgar | SUM | 154 | 1993 | Normal | White | Andi Rusu | |
| 9 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition | 4ED | 197 | 1993 | Normal | White | Andi Rusu | |
| 10 | 1995-04-01 | Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border | 4BB | 197 | 1993 | Normal | Black | Andi Rusu | |
| 11 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 189★ | 2003 | Normal | Black | Lars Grant-West | |
| 12 | 2005-07-29 | Ninth Edition | 9ED | 189 | 2003 | Normal | White | Lars Grant-West | |
| 13 | 2010-07-16 | Magic 2011 | M11 | 140 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Lars Grant-West | |
| 14 | 2016-08-26 | Conspiracy: Take the Crown | CN2 | 159 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lars Grant-West | |
| 15 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 951 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lars Grant-West | |
| 16 | The List | PLST | CN2-159 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Lars Grant-West | ||
| 17 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 149 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Andi Rusu | |
| 18 | 2022-11-28 | 30th Anniversary Edition | 30A | 446 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Andi Rusu |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin Balloon Brigade has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Goblin Balloon Brigade card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2008-08-01 | You can activate the ability repeatedly during a turn. This generally has no additional effect, unless some other effect (like that from Adarkar Windform has caused it to lose flying since the last time the ability resolved. |
| 2010-08-15 | For flying to work as an evasion ability, an attacking Goblin Balloon Brigade’s ability must be activated before the declare blockers step begins. Once Goblin Balloon Brigade has become blocked, giving it flying won’t change that. |