Goblin Lore MTG Card
1998-06-24 - Number 99
1999-07-01 - Number 104
2007-07-13 - Number 208
2020-07-17 - Number 328
2020-09-26 - Number P02-99
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Sorcery |
Text of card
Draw four cards and put them into your hand. Then discard three cards at random from your hand.
"I done forgot more than you'll ever know, pipsqueak." "Yeah—that's your problem."
Cards like Goblin Lore
Goblin Lore holds a unique place in the pantheon of red draw spells in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relatives include cards like Faithless Looting, which also provides a discard-then-draw mechanic. Though Faithless Looting requires less mana, Goblin Lore allows players to draw more cards, making it a potent option for fueling graveyard strategies.
Cathartic Reunion is another spell that shares similarities, permitting the discard of two cards to then draw three. The mana cost is identical to Goblin Lore, but the player has more control over the number of cards discarded. Dangerous Wager presents yet another alternative, granting the ability to draw two cards at a lower mana cost, yet it comes with the condition that the player must have no cards in hand, which can be restrictive.
While each of these cards provides a different balance between risk and reward, Goblin Lore’s indiscriminate discard can be an advantage in decks that thrive on graveyard synergies. In Magic: The Gathering, having the right mixture of unpredictability and power can often be the key to victory, and Goblin Lore embodies this with its capacity to alter the flow of the game.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The real strength of Goblin Lore comes from its ability to cycle through your deck quickly. When you play Goblin Lore, you get to draw four cards, giving you immediate access to a wider array of options to fuel your strategy. This can turn the tides in a game, especially when you’re searching for key pieces of your deck.
Resource Acceleration: Although Goblin Lore does not directly generate mana or tokens, it effectively accelerates your resources by helping sift through your deck to find the lands or ramp spells you need. This indirect acceleration can be just as valuable, ensuring you’re not caught without necessary mana in crucial moments.
Instant Speed: Goblin Lore’s sorcery-speed does require strategic play, but the upside here is that the significant card draw occurs in your main phase, setting you up for powerful plays. It allows you to make informed decisions about your next steps with a fuller hand of options before committing to your battle phase or ending your turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Goblin Lore demands players to discard at random, which could lead to losing key pieces in your strategy, making it risky in tight game situations where control over your hand is crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires red mana exclusively, which might restrict its inclusion to monored or red-centric decks, potentially excluding it from more varied or color-flexible strategies.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For the randomness it introduces to your hand, the cost of three mana might seem steep, especially when compared to other cards that provide a more controlled draw or deck manipulation at a similar or lesser mana investment.
Reasons to Include Goblin Lore in Your Collection
Versatility: Goblin Lore holds a place in a range of red-based decks, from aggressive builds to those looking for unconventional card advantage. Its ability to churn through your deck can quickly dig for the pieces you need.
Combo Potential: The random discard effect pairs well with decks designed to capitalize on graveyard strategies or those that want to trigger madness costs, turning a potential downside into an asset.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where games are won by outpacing your opponent’s resources, Goblin Lore can give you an unexpected edge by refilling your hand and fueling high-impact plays.
How to beat
Goblin Lore is an iconic card within the world of Magic: The Gathering that brings both unpredictability and power to the table. This card’s strength lies in drawing four cards at random, then discarding three at random, which can significantly change the dynamics of the game. Strategizing to overcome this card involves a careful approach that balances risk and restraint.
Playing against Goblin Lore requires an understanding of your opponent’s likely strategy. Since the card is commonly used in decks that benefit from having cards in the graveyard, graveyard hate cards like Relic of Progenitus or Leyline of the Void can disrupt the benefit that your opponent gains from self-discard. Another effective approach is to limit card draw abilities by employing cards like Narset, Parter of Veils, which restricts the number of cards your opponent can draw. Patience and timing your control spells efficiently can turn your opponent’s potential advantage into a liability. Controlling the board state and keeping pressure with creatures or other threats can also prevent your opponent from comfortably setting up the powerful, and sometimes chaotic, plays that Goblin Lore can enable.
Ultimately, the key to defeating a strategy that includes Goblin Lore is to anticipate the unpredictable nature of the card and use disruption to destabilize your opponent’s game plan.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Goblin Lore MTG card by a specific set like Portal Second Age and Starter 1999, 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 Lore 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Goblin Lore Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 1998-06-24 and 2020-07-17. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-06-24 | Portal Second Age | P02 | 99 | 1997 | Normal | Black | D. Alexander Gregory | |
| 2 | 1999-07-01 | Starter 1999 | S99 | 104 | 1997 | Normal | White | D. Alexander Gregory | |
| 3 | 2007-07-13 | Tenth Edition | 10E | 208 | 2003 | Normal | Black | D. Alexander Gregory | |
| 4 | 2020-07-17 | Jumpstart | JMP | 328 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Kev Walker | |
| 5 | The List | PLST | P02-99 | 1997 | Normal | Black | D. Alexander Gregory |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin Lore has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |