Goblin Gang Leader MTG Card


Board expansion and card advantage make Goblin Gang Leader a powerful inclusion in token-driven strategies. Its demanding mana and discard requirements need careful deck consideration. Effective against it involves removal spells and maintaining card advantage.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Goblin Warrior
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

When Goblin Gang Leader enters the battlefield, create two 1/1 red Goblin creature tokens.


Cards like Goblin Gang Leader

The Goblin Gang Leader finds its niche within the bustling horde of red creature spells in MTG. Its kinship reflects closely with cards like Goblin Chieftain, which also boosts the power and agility of fellow Goblins. Both advocate for an aggressive strategy, but Goblin Gang Leader pushes boundaries by affecting the board upon its entrance, summoning comrades to bolster your swarm. While Goblin Chieftain is a steadfast enabler with its haste granting ability, it lacks the immediate army-building prowess of the Goblin Gang Leader.

Another relative in this goblin rally is the Goblin Rabblemaster, a notorious card for its ability to churn out a new Goblin every turn. Similar to the gang leader, it pivots games towards a goblin-heavy assault. However, while the Rabblemaster’s growing army comes piecemeal, the Gang Leader’s impact is both direct and substantial, creating an impromptu strike force. Moreover, the Rabblemaster demands caution, compelling your goblins to engage, which could pose risks against certain opponents. The Gang Leader’s optional assault gives you the tactical flexibility to hold back or charge forward.

Assessing these goblin-centric options, Goblin Gang Leader can be seen as a formidable choice for players aiming to swarm and overpower their adversaries swiftly, positioning itself distinctly among MTG’s vast array of goblin-engendering spells.

Goblin Chieftain - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rabblemaster - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chieftain - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rabblemaster - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Goblin Gang Leader by color, type and mana cost

Dragon Whelp - MTG Card versions
Keldon Warlord - MTG Card versions
Crimson Manticore - MTG Card versions
Márton Stromgald - MTG Card versions
Reckless Embermage - MTG Card versions
Wildfire Emissary - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Giant - MTG Card versions
Rathi Dragon - MTG Card versions
Mogg Bombers - MTG Card versions
Warmonger - MTG Card versions
Bloodfire Kavu - MTG Card versions
Whipkeeper - MTG Card versions
Anger - MTG Card versions
Nalathni Dragon - MTG Card versions
Everquill Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Goblin Goon - MTG Card versions
Lesser Gargadon - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions
Ogre Taskmaster - MTG Card versions
Dragon Whelp - MTG Card versions
Keldon Warlord - MTG Card versions
Crimson Manticore - MTG Card versions
Márton Stromgald - MTG Card versions
Reckless Embermage - MTG Card versions
Wildfire Emissary - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Giant - MTG Card versions
Rathi Dragon - MTG Card versions
Mogg Bombers - MTG Card versions
Warmonger - MTG Card versions
Bloodfire Kavu - MTG Card versions
Whipkeeper - MTG Card versions
Anger - MTG Card versions
Nalathni Dragon - MTG Card versions
Everquill Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Goblin Goon - MTG Card versions
Lesser Gargadon - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions
Ogre Taskmaster - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When Goblin Gang Leader enters the battlefield, its ability to create a horde of fellow goblins not only populates your board with additional creatures but also propels your card advantage forward. This synergistic action sets you up for multifaceted plays, potentially decimating your opponent’s defense over time.

Resource Acceleration: Leveraging the swarm of goblins can be crucial for strategies revolving around resource acceleration. The tokens can be utilized in various means, such as sacrificing for mana, enhancing the potency of sacrifice outlets, or simply amplifying the effects of goblin-themed synergies within your deck.

Instant Speed: Although the Goblin Gang Leader isn’t cast at instant speed, its impact on the game upon deployment can mirror the strategic benefits of an instant. It enables a significant shift in board presence and potential resource manipulation during your turn, allowing you to rapidly adapt to the evolving game state and pressure your opponent.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Goblin Gang Leader demands players to discard as part of its casting process. This could potentially deplete a player’s hand and strategically handicap their game, particularly if they are already struggling with card availability.

Specific Mana Cost: The strict mana requirement of Goblin Gang Leader makes it a less versatile option. Requiring a particular blend of mana means it is not as easily slotted into multi-colored decks that might be mana-flexible.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating Goblin Gang Leader’s mana cost against its abilities, it may seem excessive. Players must carefully consider if its board impact justifies the investment, especially when other cards could provide similar benefits at a lower cost.


Reasons to Include Goblin Gang Leader in Your Collection

Versatility: Goblin Gang Leader offers flexibility for any deck looking to enhance its creature presence on the battlefield. Its ability to add multiple creatures to the board makes it a strong play in a variety of archetypes.

Combo Potential: The token generation synergizes well with cards that capitalize on having a large number of creatures, making it a keystone in combo strategies that swarm opponents with an army of goblins.

Meta-Relevance: Looking at the current meta, the ability to quickly populate the board with creatures can disrupt opponents and give aggro strategies an edge, making Goblin Gang Leader a card that can adapt and thrive in various competitive environments.


How to beat

Goblin Gang Leader is a card that can be quite impactful on the battlefield, known for its synergy within a goblin deck build and the unique leverage it gives in red aggro strategies. It’s a creature card that, when played effectively, can rapidly fill the board with goblin tokens, enabling overwhelming offensive strategies for players who harness the power of these zesty little red creatures.

To tackle the challenge of a Goblin Gang Leader, removal spells are your best friends. Consider leveraging board wipes like Shatter the Sky or targeted removal such as Fatal Push to keep the goblin horde in check. Moreover, prioritizing removal of the Goblin Gang Leader itself can limit the exponential growth of the opponent’s goblin army. Since goblins normally have a low toughness, spot removal can be quite efficient. Also, don’t overlook the significance of card advantage and tempo. Efficiently managing your resources allows you to deal with multiple threats, which is crucial in outpacing a Goblin Gang Leader’s strategy.

In essence, disrupting the synergy by removing key pieces, maintaining card advantage, and timing your spells judiciously could give you the edge needed when facing this formidable goblin card.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Goblin Gang Leader MTG card by a specific set like Arena New Player Experience Extras and Arena Beginner Set, 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 Gang Leader and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Goblin Gang Leader Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2018-07-14 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Jakub Kasper.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-07-14Arena New Player Experience ExtrasXANA 402015NormalBlackJakub Kasper
22020-08-13Arena Beginner SetANB 702015NormalBlackJakub Kasper