Goblin War Drums MTG Card


Goblin War Drums boosts board state, making creatures tougher to block and accelerating damage output. Its restrictive mana cost and potential overextension are notable considerations for deck building. With wide-reaching impact and synergy, it’s a valuable addition to red-based aggressive decks.
Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

Each attacking creature you control that opponent chooses to block may not be blocked with fewer than two creatures.

"The Goblins' dreaded War Drums struck terror into the hearts of even their bravest foes." —*Sarpadian Empires, vol. IV*


Cards like Goblin War Drums

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Goblin War Drums serves as a tactical asset for boosting aggression within goblin-themed decks. Its ability to ensure your creatures can only be blocked by two or more creatures has a direct parallel with Menace, a keyword that confers the same combat restrictions. While Menace is typically seen on individual creatures, Goblin War Drums broadcasts this effect across your entire battlefield, thus escalating the threat level of all your offensive units.

There are other cards with similar effects, like Break Through the Line, which also provides a way to make your creatures harder to block, though it requires mana investment and targets only one creature per activation. Intimidation is another enchantment echoing this ethos, giving all your creatures the ability not just to be blockable solely by artifact creatures and/or those that share a color, implementing a wider evasion tactic.

When choosing the perfect card to enhance creature threats, Goblin War Drums stands out with its ability to affect the whole board without recurring costs, a distinct advantage in aggressive strategies within Magic: The Gathering, especially when building a battlefield that overwhelms opponents through sheer numbers and tenacity.

Break Through the Line - MTG Card versions
Intimidation - MTG Card versions
Break Through the Line - MTG Card versions
Intimidation - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Goblin War Drums by color, type and mana cost

Mana Flare - MTG Card versions
Gravity Sphere - MTG Card versions
Aggression - MTG Card versions
Heat Stroke - MTG Card versions
Seismic Assault - MTG Card versions
Torch Song - MTG Card versions
Ghitu War Cry - MTG Card versions
Goblin Warrens - MTG Card versions
Fervor - MTG Card versions
Spellshock - MTG Card versions
Mana Cache - MTG Card versions
Insolence - MTG Card versions
Steam Vines - MTG Card versions
Curse of Hospitality - MTG Card versions
Anax, Hardened in the Forge - MTG Card versions
Draconic Destiny - MTG Card versions
Mechanized Warfare - MTG Card versions
Blood Moon - MTG Card versions
Pyromancer's Swath - MTG Card versions
Fatal Attraction - MTG Card versions
Mana Flare - MTG Card versions
Gravity Sphere - MTG Card versions
Aggression - MTG Card versions
Heat Stroke - MTG Card versions
Seismic Assault - MTG Card versions
Torch Song - MTG Card versions
Ghitu War Cry - MTG Card versions
Goblin Warrens - MTG Card versions
Fervor - MTG Card versions
Spellshock - MTG Card versions
Mana Cache - MTG Card versions
Insolence - MTG Card versions
Steam Vines - MTG Card versions
Curse of Hospitality - MTG Card versions
Anax, Hardened in the Forge - MTG Card versions
Draconic Destiny - MTG Card versions
Mechanized Warfare - MTG Card versions
Blood Moon - MTG Card versions
Pyromancer's Swath - MTG Card versions
Fatal Attraction - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Goblin War Drums enhance your battlefield presence by making all your creatures harder to block. This tactic can lead to overwhelming your opponent and drawing more cards if synergized with cards that reward you for dealing combat damage to a player.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting mana resources, Goblin War Drums can accelerate your game plan by facilitating successful attacks. This leads to quicker damage accumulation and potential triggers for abilities and effects that can turn into resource advantage.

Instant Speed: Although Goblin War Drums is an enchantment played at sorcery speed, its presence immediately alters the board state. Opponents must adapt to its effects, potentially at the cost of their own instant-speed responses, which in turn can open up advantageous plays for the MTG player utilizing the card to control the tempo of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Goblin War Drums requires no discard upon casting, yet the need to field other creatures to maximize its impact could lead to overextension, making you vulnerable to mass removal spells.

Specific Mana Cost: With its cost including two red mana, Goblin War Drums is inherently restrictive, fitting primarily into red or red-based aggro decks, thereby limiting its versatility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The three mana investment can be steep for decks aiming to maintain momentum, particularly when faster, more impactful plays might be favored within the early game stages.


Reasons to Include Goblin War Drums in Your Collection

Versatility: Goblin War Drums is a key card that can slide into various red-based decks to create immediate board impact. This enchantment forces opponents to adjust their defenses, making it harder for them to block your creatures effectively.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with aggressive strategies that want to push through damage. Coupled with cards that create numerous goblin tokens or creatures that benefit from attacking, Goblin War Drums amplifies your battlefield presence significantly.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that favours creature-heavy decks or where combat is crucial, having Goblin War Drums in your deck means your creatures become a more consistent threat, making it a timely addition to stay ahead of the curve.


How to beat

Goblin War Drums is a card that players should handle with care in MTG, as it grants your goblins the ability to be blocked only by two or more creatures, making them a formidable offensive force. To counter this advantage, you might want to skew towards spells or abilities that can remove or neutralize multiple creatures at once. Board clearing spells like Wrath of God or Damnation can sweep the field clean, deterring the goblin onslaught. Another efficient way is to employ spot removals or direct damage spells. These can help pick off key goblins before their numbers grow too large, thereby dismantling the synergistic power of Goblin War Drums.

In addition to creature removal, enchantment destruction can also be a key strategy. Green’s naturalize effects or a catch-all answer like Disenchant are excellent means to directly target and destroy Goblin War Drums, thus negating its effect. Lastly, improving your own creature’s defensiveness through cards that provide indestructible or have high toughness can also be a considerable defense, blunting the edge of any goblin offensive.

Overall, beating Goblin War Drums requires a mix of proactive creature control and specific counters to the enchantment itself. Tactical forethought and timely reaction would be your best bets in handling this card effectively.


BurnMana Recommendations

As you dissect the pros and cons of Goblin War Drums, the enchantment emerges as a tactical game-changer in MTG. Its ability to make your creatures harder to block ramps up your attacking strategy, striking fear in the heart of your opponent’s defense. While crafting your deck, consider the synergy and the ripple effect Goblin War Drums can create within your offense-oriented builds. Whether you’re an avid collector or striving for dominance at your next tournament, this card merits consideration. Dive deeper into its potential and learn more about shaping a formidable MTG deck with Goblin War Drums at its core.


Where to buy

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

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Printings

The Goblin War Drums Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1994-11-01 and 2018-03-16. Illustrated by 6 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11994-11-01Fallen EmpiresFEM 58a1993NormalBlackDan Frazier
21994-11-01Fallen EmpiresFEM 58b1993NormalBlackRichard Kane Ferguson
31994-11-01Fallen EmpiresFEM 58d1993NormalBlackJeff A. Menges
41994-11-01Fallen EmpiresFEM 58c1993NormalBlackHeather Hudson
51997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 2371997NormalWhiteDan Frazier
62001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 1941997NormalWhitePeter Bollinger
72001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 194★1997NormalBlackPeter Bollinger
82018-03-16Masters 25A25 1332015NormalBlackWayne Reynolds

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin War Drums has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Goblin War Drums card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2004-10-04 Multiple War Drums are not cumulative. They are redundant.
2004-10-04 When combined with an effect that reads “Each creature you control can’t be blocked by more than one creature,” none of your creatures can be blocked.