Goblin Gathering MTG Card
2019-01-25 - Number 104
2020-08-13 - Number 71
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Create a number of 1/1 red Goblin creature tokens equal to two plus the number of cards named Goblin Gathering in your graveyard.
Two's a party. Three's a felony.
Cards like Goblin Gathering
Goblin Gathering is a unique addition to the tribe-focused spells in MTG, inviting comparisons to other goblin-centric cards like Krenko’s Command and Dragon Fodder. Each of these cards specializes in putting two goblin tokens onto the battlefield, bolstering your army with ease. What makes Goblin Gathering stand out is its potential for exponential growth. Each subsequent casting from your graveyard creates an increasing number of goblin tokens, a feature not found in its counterparts.
Another parallel can be drawn with Mogg War Marshal, which not only provides goblin tokens upon entering the battlefield but also upon its death. While this ensures a more immediate impact compared to Goblin Gathering’s cumulative effect, the latter scales better in the longer matches, especially in decks designed to cast it multiple times. Lastly, Hordeling Outburst generates three tokens for just one additional mana, offering a quicker swarm strategy without the setup required by Goblin Gathering.
Goblin Gathering could be a game-changer in goblin-based strategies, particularly in a game’s later stages. It serves as a testament to the strength of synergy and recurring effects within MTG’s diverse array of tribal support cards.
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Goblin Gathering. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mono-red Goblins | Pioneer | Mono-Red Goblins | ReCQ - Pioneer - SCG CON Philadelphia - Friday - 1:30 pm (Bronze) |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Goblin Gathering shines when it comes to swarming the battlefield. With the ability to create a multitude of goblin tokens each time you cast it, this card offers escalating benefits. Casting multiple copies throughout a match leads to a significant increase in your army size, providing a card advantage that can overwhelm opponents.
Resource Acceleration: Even though Goblin Gathering itself doesn’t produce mana, having several goblin tokens at your disposal can lead to potent resource acceleration when combined with other cards. In MTG, goblins often synergize with sacrifice mechanisms or tapping abilities to generate extra mana, propelling you toward casting more powerful spells sooner.
Instant Speed: While Goblin Gathering is cast at sorcery speed, its capacity to amass a critical mass of creatures quickly can alter how your opponent plays their instant-speed removal or combat tricks. By prompting reactions on their turn, you open up strategic plays for your own instants and disrupt their plans—demonstrating that the mere presence of such a card in a game can influence the pace and decision-making process at crucial moments.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Goblin Gathering entails a strategic trade-off as it often requires sacrificing a card, which may not always be beneficial, especially when your hand is already running thin on valuable plays. This can lead to suboptimal game states where you’re forced to let go of cards that could be critical for upcoming turns.
Specific Mana Cost: Goblin Gathering’s casting cost demands a specific color alignment, restricting it fundamentally to red-inclined decks. This requirement can pose a deckbuilding constraint, particularly for players who prefer multicolor combinations or need to maintain a flexible mana base to cater to more diverse strategic preferences.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When it comes to mana efficiency, Goblin Gathering stands on the pricier side of the spectrum. Although it offers the potential for escalating value with each copy that hits the graveyard, its initial investment may be too steep compared to other options that propel your board state forward with less of a mana commitment.
Reasons to Include Goblin Gathering in Your Collection
Versatility: Goblin Gathering can easily slide into a myriad of deck builds, specifically those that thrive on creature swarm tactics or strategies that necessitate a critical mass of tokens for synergistic plays.
Combo Potential: This card excels when combined with effects that amplify the number of creatures in play or utilize creatures to catalyze combo finishes—making it a powerful enabler in goblin-centric decks.
Meta-Relevance: Considering the ebb and flow of the competitive scene, a deck that can generate an army of token creatures at a low cost can disrupt control decks and overrun opponents before they stabilize.
How to beat
Goblin Gathering is a unique spell in Magic: The Gathering that gains strength with each subsequent casting. In essence, it’s a sorcery that creates a number of 1/1 red Goblin creature tokens equal to two plus the number of cards named Goblin Gathering in your graveyard. This can quickly lead to an overwhelming horde on the battlefield if left unchecked.
Defeating this growing tide of Goblins demands preemptive measures. Key strategies include graveyard disruption to limit its escalating effect, board wipes to clear out tokens en masse, and counter spells to prevent Goblin Gathering from being cast in the first place. Utilizing cards like Tormod’s Crypt or Leyline of the Void can be highly effective in disrupting graveyard synergy. Likewise, playing board-clearing spells like Wrath of God or Blasphemous Act can reset the field before the Goblins overrun you. Counter spells like Counterspell or Negate give players the opportunity to stop Goblin Gathering before it starts amassing an army. By deploying these tactics, players can stall or outright halt the growing Goblin threat posed by this unique sorcery.
Understanding and intervening in the strategy this card unfolds is crucial for maintaining control in a match against a deck that uses Goblin Gathering to its full potential.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Goblin Gathering MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance 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 Gathering and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Goblin Gathering Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-01-25 and 2020-08-13. Illustrated by Svetlin Velinov.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-01-25 | Ravnica Allegiance | RNA | 104 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov | |
| 2 | 2020-08-13 | Arena Beginner Set | ANB | 71 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Svetlin Velinov |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin Gathering has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Goblin Gathering card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-01-25 | Goblin Gathering is still on the stack while you count the cards named Goblin Gathering in your graveyard. It doesn’t count itself. |