Goblin Lyre MTG Card


Goblin Lyre - Ice Age
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeArtifact
Released1995-06-03
Set symbol
Set nameIce Age
Set codeICE
Number319
Frame1993
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byMike Kimble

Key Takeaways

  1. Goblin Lyre can yield card advantage by transforming your library’s top cards into unexpected threats.
  2. It allows instant-speed activation, adding complexity and surprise to red-tier gameplay tactics.
  3. Despite its potential for resource acceleration, the randomness and cost may deter some players.

Text of card

: Sacrifice Goblin Lyre. Flip a coin; target opponent calls heads or tails while coin is in the air. If the flip ends up in your favor, Goblin Lyre deals * damage to that opponent, where * is equal to the number of creatures you control. Otherwise, Goblin Lyre deals * damage to you, where * is equal to the number of creatures the opponent controls.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Goblin Lyre can potentially provide card advantage by converting the top cards of your library into a surprise element, contributing to outmaneuvering opponents when they least expect it.

Resource Acceleration: Despite being a gamble, Goblin Lyre has the capacity to accelerate your resources. By sacrificing it, you have a chance to convert all the top cards of your deck until you reveal a nonland card into sheer battlefield presence, potentially culminating in an explosive turn.

Instant Speed: The option to activate Goblin Lyre does not tie to sorcery speed constraints, allowing for strategic depth. You can choose the optimal moment during any turn to unveil the potential of your deck, reacting to the state of the game as it unfolds.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Goblin Lyre necessitates the discarding of a card from your hand to initiate its random coin flip ability. For MTG players who are managing a hand with few cards, this can be a significant drawback, as it forces a choice between keeping strategic plays for later turns and activating the lyre’s uncertain outcome.

Specific Mana Cost: With a requirement of red mana to cast, Goblin Lyre’s utility is inherently limited to red-inclined or multicolored decks. This can restrict its inclusion in a deck builder’s strategy, making it a less flexible choice compared to more color-agnostic artifacts.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Priced at three mana, the Goblin Lyre’s activation cost can be seen as steep considering the unpredictability of its coin-flip outcome. While it does have the potent capacity to generate substantial mana, the high cost and randomness may deter players from including it over alternatives that offer more control and consistency for a similar, if not lower, mana investment.


Reasons to Include Goblin Lyre in Your Collection

Versatility: Goblin Lyre offers a unique addition to decks that thrive on randomness and the chaos factor. This artifact can be a fun and unpredictable way to potentially provide a significant boost to your board presence.

Combo Potential: The Lyre works well with strategies revolving around sacrifice triggers and coin flips. This can lead to some exciting combos, especially in a deck that manipulates or benefits from these mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: In a game scene that honors the unexpected, Goblin Lyre can shine by disrupting opponent strategies that rely on certainty. Its ability to potentially flood the field with creatures can turn the tide in metas where board state is key.


How to beat

Goblin Lyre is an intriguing artifact in Magic: The Gathering, known for its element of chance and potential for drastic board impact. To counter this card effectively, it’s essential to have strategies that mitigate randomness or remove the artifact before its effect becomes a threat. Artifact removal spells such as Disenchant or Nature’s Claim allow players to proactively dismantle Goblin Lyre, preventing any opportunity for their opponent to tip the scales in their favor.

Moreover, incorporating counter spells like Negate or strategic hand disruption via Duress can disrupt your opponent’s plans, leaving Goblin Lyre as a dead card in their hand or untriggered on the field. Planning ahead and maintaining control over the game’s tempo can ensure that the chaos Goblin Lyre aims to create never comes to pass. In games where it does trigger, having a robust defensive setup, such as creatures with high toughness or instant-speed interaction, can help you survive the unpredictable damage. Overall, the key to overcoming Goblin Lyre lies in preparedness and maintaining board control.


Cards like Goblin Lyre

Goblin Lyre is a unique artifact in the world of Magic: The Gathering. It slots into a niche where it turns the randomness of the top deck into potential damage output. It hints at the whimsy of cards like Fiery Gambit, which also toy with chance to inflict damage, though Fiery Gambit offers the intriguing possibility of multiple hits if luck is on the player’s side. Both accentuate the unpredictable nature of red’s playstyle.

In the realm of artifacts, we find comparisons with Krark’s Thumb, a card that directly influences the outcomes of coin flips, thereby synergizing well with Goblin Lyre’s mechanics. Yet, Krark’s Thumb serves a more focused role, whereas Goblin Lyre is a standalone card that doesn’t rely on other elements to work. Grafted Skullcap is another artifact that leverages the risk-reward scenario by offering an abundance of draws at the price of your hand. However, unlike Goblin Lyre, it doesn’t deal with the top of the library or direct damage but rather with resources in hand.

Overall, Goblin Lyre exemplifies red’s risk-taking and spontaneous damage potential, providing an exciting, if unpredictable, avenue for victory in Magic: The Gathering.

Fiery Gambit - MTG Card versions
Krark's Thumb - MTG Card versions
Grafted Skullcap - MTG Card versions
Fiery Gambit - MTG Card versions
Krark's Thumb - MTG Card versions
Grafted Skullcap - MTG Card versions

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Captain's Hook - MTG Card versions
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Pristine Talisman - MTG Card versions
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Guardians of Meletis - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Shackles - MTG Card versions
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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Goblin Lyre MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age, 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 Lyre and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin Lyre has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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