Hobgoblin Bandit Lord MTG Card
2021-07-23 - Number 147s
2021-07-23 - Number 147p
2021-07-23 - Number 379
2021-07-23 - Number 147a
2021-07-23 - Number 147
2002-06-24 - Number 92734
| Card sets | Released in 6 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Goblin Rogue |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Text of card
Other Goblins you control get +1/+1. , : Hobgoblin Bandit Lord deals damage equal to the number of Goblins that entered the battlefield under your control this turn to any target.
In a hobgoblin's view of the world, the weak owe tribute and fealty to the strong.
Cards like Hobgoblin Bandit Lord
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord is an intriguing option for those looking to strengthen their red and goblin-focused decks in Magic: The Gathering. Its comparison naturally leads us to Goblin Chieftain, another card that buffs goblins and grants them haste. Bandit Lord, however, stands out with its ability to deal direct damage to opponents, leveraging the number of Goblins under your control for a forceful impact in the late game.
Goblin Warchief is another notable card that shares similarities in cost reduction for Goblin spells and swifter deployment via haste. Although Warchief does not directly damage opponents, its ability to reduce mana costs can be invaluable for a swift goblin deck build-out. Krenko, Mob Boss takes a different approach, excelling in spawning multiple goblin tokens that can quickly overwhelm opponents. While Krenko lacks the direct damage trait of Hobgoblin Bandit Lord, its exponential token generation potential makes it a formidable card in any Goblin deck.
Assessing options like Bandit Lord within the Goblin archetype reveals a wealth of strategic depth. Hobgoblin Bandit Lord indeed carves a niche for itself by offering direct damage utility, an aspect that can be the deciding factor in close matchups.
Cards similar to Hobgoblin Bandit Lord by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Hobgoblin Bandit Lord. 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 | Pioneer League 2023-12-09 |
 | Raging Goblins Q1 2024 | Free form | Canadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed | |
| Rakdos Goblins | Pioneer | Rakdos Goblins | Pioneer League 2024-03-17 |
| Mono-red Goblins | Pioneer | Mono-Red Goblins | Sat. 9:30 AM U.S. Regional Championship - Dreamhack Atlanta 2023 |
 | Gruul Aggro | Pioneer | Gruul Goblins | Peasant Pioneer Showdown - A Josh and Pat's MTG Bazaar Sponsored Event |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Hobgoblin Bandit Lord card is designed to bolster your board presence by giving you the ability to swarm the battlefield with Goblin tokens. This can lead to overwhelming your opponent with a relentless army, especially beneficial when you’re aiming to maintain the upper hand in the numbers game.
Resource Acceleration: Beyond merely populating the field, Hobgoblin Bandit Lord can also be a source of resource acceleration. It empowers your other Goblins, turning even the smallest tokens into significant threats. This increase in creature power can accelerate your victory condition by enabling faster, more impactful damage against your adversary.
Instant Speed: While Hobgoblin Bandit Lord operates at sorcery speed, its influence on the board can free up mana for instant-speed interactions. With a powerful commander leading your Goblin troops, you can allocate resources more effectively, ensuring you have the mana available for reactive spells and abilities during critical moments in the duel.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Hobgoblin Bandit Lord might put you in a tough spot if it forces you to toss another valuable card from your hand. Being asked to get rid of a card is always tricky, especially when you’re trying to maintain a full grip to answer your opponent’s moves.
Specific Mana Cost: Locked into red mana demands, Hobgoblin Bandit Lord could be a no-go for multi-colored decks where mana flexibility is key. If you can’t consistently conjure up the right mana, it’ll just be dead weight in your hand.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that’s a bit on the hefty side, the Bandit Lord’s abilities might not seem worth the investment when you look at other creatures you could be casting instead. You’ll want to weigh its impact on the battlefield against the cost it takes to play it.
Reasons to Include Hobgoblin Bandit Lord in Your Collection
Versatility: Hobgoblin Bandit Lord holds a position in decks that favor aggressive strategies and tribal synergies. This card can empower your red Goblin tribal deck and works organically with other creatures that share its type to increase damage output significantly.
Combo Potential: The ability of Hobgoblin Bandit Lord to boost other Goblins’ power opens up avenues for explosive plays. It can be combined with cards that generate Goblin tokens or those that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield to create a formidable board presence.
Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-evolving MTG meta, Hobgoblin Bandit Lord remains relevant in a game dominated by creature-based tactics. Its ability to rally and buff an army of Goblins makes it a significant threat in games that stretch into the mid to late phases, as well as in tournaments where Goblins are a popular archetype.
How to beat
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord is a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield, boasting the ability to bolster other Goblins and deal direct damage to opponents. The key to overcoming this formidable MTG card lies in preemptive measures and strategic removal. Managing the swarm of Goblins it empowers should be the priority, targeting this creature before its effect can turn the tides of battle.
Effective removal spells, such as Murder or Doom Blade, can quickly deal with the Hobgoblin Bandit Lord before its ability becomes a recurrent nuisance. Additionally, cards with sweep effects, such as Wrath of God or Blasphemous Act, prove to be highly effective at clearing a board populated with Goblins, significantly minimizing the impact of Hobgoblin Bandit Lord’s synergistic strengths.
Considering its ability to activate only as long as it is on the field, keeping the board clear of Hobgoblin Bandit Lord is crucial. By handling it swiftly and denying its combo potential, you can strip the card of its power and retain control of the game, ensuring the Hobgoblin Bandit Lord’s plans of domination remain nothing but a failed scheme.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Hobgoblin Bandit Lord MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos, 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 Hobgoblin Bandit Lord 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 Hobgoblin Bandit Lord Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-07-23 and 2021-07-23. Illustrated by Mark Zug.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 92734 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | ||
| 2 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos | PAFR | 147s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | |
| 3 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos | PAFR | 147p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | |
| 4 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | AFR | 379 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | |
| 5 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos | PAFR | 147a | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug | |
| 6 | 2021-07-23 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | AFR | 147 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mark Zug |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Hobgoblin Bandit Lord has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Hobgoblin Bandit Lord card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-07-23 | Hobgoblin Bandit Lord's activated ability only counts the number of Goblins that entered the battlefield this turn. It doesn't matter if those Goblins are still on the battlefield as it resolves. |
| 2021-07-23 | If no Goblins have entered the battlefield this turn, no damage will be dealt. Abilities that trigger whenever damage is dealt won't trigger. |