Goblin Diplomats MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Goblin
Power 2
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Goblin Diplomats manipulate combat phases, setting the stage for strategic plays and board control.
  2. Instant speed activation creates flexible and disruptive opportunities during your opponent’s turn.
  3. Their abilities pose a risk-reward scenario, potentially impacting both players’ game plans.

Text of card

: Each creature attacks this turn if able.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Goblin Diplomats may not directly allow you to draw cards, but their ability can disrupt your opponent’s strategy. By forcing each creature to attack if able, you clear the way for a more advantageous board state, potentially leading to gaining an edge over your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: While Goblin Diplomats don’t provide traditional resource acceleration like mana ramp, their tactical advantage lies in the tempo they can create. By compelling a swing with all creatures, you may exhaust your opponent’s resources and gain the upper hand in subsequent turns.

Instant Speed: The ability of Goblin Diplomats can be activated at instant speed. This flexibility allows you to wait until the most opportune moment during your opponent’s turn to dictate combat, potentially throwing their plans into disarray and allowing for favorable trades or direct damage to an unsuspecting opponent.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Goblin Diplomats may lead to strategic disadvantages as it compels both players to attack if able, potentially causing you to lose valuable creatures or strategic holds on the board.

Specific Mana Cost: With its specific red mana cost, Goblin Diplomats might not effortlessly slot into multi-color decks that are already tight on mana requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although a 2/1 creature for two mana is on curve, the ability of the Goblin Diplomats is situational, and one might argue that deck space could be used for creatures or spells with a more immediate impact on the game.


Reasons to Include Goblin Diplomats in Your Collection

Versatility: Goblin Diplomats bring a fun twist to gameplay that can adapt to various deck strategies, proving itself to be a valuable utility card in red decks that thrive on disruption and control over the battle phase.

Combo Potential: The ability to force each player to attack if able creates unique opportunities for combos, especially in decks that punish opponents for attacking or manipulate blockers.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where games often hinge on precise combat calculations or the timing of attacks, Goblin Diplomats can turn the tides by disrupting opponent strategies and forcing action where it may be least beneficial for them.


How to beat

Goblin Diplomats is a unique card that can sway the tide of a match in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability forces each creature to attack if able, which can turn the game into a battle of attrition. To overcome this, consider employing control strategies that manage the battlefield. Cards that can exile or tap creatures prevent them from attacking, circumventing the Diplomats’ effect, and keeping your defensive line intact.

Moreover, instant removal spells are valuable assets when facing Goblin Diplomats. Using them before the attack phase can effectively remove troublesome creatures from your opponent’s board, reducing the pressure on your defenses. Additionally, creatures with vigilance or those that can block multiple attackers, such as Guardian of the Gateless, can be a thorn for opponents trying to utilize the chaotic nature of Goblin Diplomats to their advantage.

In essence, while the Goblin Diplomats offer a unique challenge, a balanced MTG deck with control elements, strategic removal, and defensive capabilities can negate much of the havoc they aim to wreak on the battlefield. By staying one step ahead, you can turn their diplomatic trickery into an opportunity to control the pace and flow of the game to your favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

With Goblin Diplomats, the craft of MTG is leveraged into a game of cunning tactics. These cards resonate with players seeking a disruptive edge in their red decks. For those intrigued by the thought of leveraging your opponent’s creatures against them and savoring the dance of controlled chaos, these diplomats might be the wildcard you need. Dig deeper into the strategies that come into play with such intricacies and gather insights on how to make Goblin Diplomats a MVP in your own collection. Embrace the opportunity to dictate the flow of battle and visit us for a deeper dive into strategic deck enhancement.


Cards like Goblin Diplomats

Goblin Diplomats stands out in the realm of red creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. When evaluating cards that underlie the theme of controlled chaos within a player’s turn, Goblin Diplomats draws a direct comparison with Frenzied Goblin. Both are poised to disrupt the battlefield, yet while Frenzied Goblin requires a mana investment to deny a single blocker, Goblin Diplomats can force all creatures to engage in combat with its unique tap ability.

Another card worth comparing is Goblin Spymaster. A bit costlier in terms of mana, the Spymaster, much like Goblin Diplomats, fosters a game state where opponents must attack each turn. However, Goblin Spymaster’s influence is passive, affecting the game as long as it remains on the field and need not tap to create an immediate impact as the Diplomats do.

Assessing these cards, it’s evident that Goblin Diplomats have a unique niche, providing tactical advantages that can be exploited at just the right moment to control the tide of battle within a game of Magic: The Gathering. This tactician approach is relatively rare among the tribe’s usually straightforward aggression, making Goblin Diplomats a quirky yet potent card in the right deck.

Frenzied Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Spymaster - MTG Card versions
Frenzied Goblin - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Goblin Spymaster - Commander 2016 (C16)

Cards similar to Goblin Diplomats by color, type and mana cost

Rock Hydra - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Weaponsmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rock Sled - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Lieutenant - MTG Card versions
Goblin Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Heart Sliver - MTG Card versions
Mogg Flunkies - MTG Card versions
Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions
Fireslinger - MTG Card versions
Skittish Kavu - MTG Card versions
Rage Weaver - MTG Card versions
Minotaur Explorer - MTG Card versions
Sparksmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Lookout - MTG Card versions
Skirk Marauder - MTG Card versions
Hellspark Elemental - MTG Card versions
Storm Entity - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Soldier - MTG Card versions
Mogg War Marshal - MTG Card versions
Stigma Lasher - MTG Card versions
Rock Hydra - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Dwarven Weaponsmith - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Goblin Rock Sled - The Dark (DRK)
Dwarven Lieutenant - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Goblin Recruiter - Visions (VIS)
Heart Sliver - Tempest (TMP)
Mogg Flunkies - Stronghold (STH)
Goblin Elite Infantry - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Fireslinger - Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra (JVC)
Skittish Kavu - Invasion (INV)
Rage Weaver - Invasion (INV)
Minotaur Explorer - Odyssey (ODY)
Sparksmith - Onslaught (ONS)
Goblin Lookout - Legions (LGN)
Skirk Marauder - Legions (LGN)
Hellspark Elemental - DCI Promos (PDCI)
Storm Entity - Future Sight (FUT)
Dwarven Soldier - Masters Edition (ME1)
Mogg War Marshal - Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins (DD1)
Stigma Lasher - Eventide (EVE)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Goblin Diplomats MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic 2014 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 Goblin Diplomats and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Goblin Diplomats Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2013-07-18 and 2017-10-24. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 498322003normalblackJesper Ejsing
22013-07-18Magic 2014 PromosPM14 141★2003normalblackJesper Ejsing
32013-07-19Magic 2014M14 1412003normalblackIzzy
42017-10-24Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. GoblinsDDT 422015normalblackIzzy

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin Diplomats has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2013-07-01 Creatures that enter the battlefield (or noncreature permanents that become creatures) after the ability resolves are affected by the ability and must attack if able.
2013-07-01 If, during a player’s declare attackers step, a creature is tapped, is affected by a spell or ability that says it can’t attack, or hasn’t been under that player’s control continuously since the turn began (and doesn’t have haste), then it doesn’t attack. If there’s a cost associated with having a creature attack, the player isn’t forced to pay that cost, so it doesn’t have to attack in that case either.
2013-07-01 The controller of each creature still decides which player or planeswalker that creature attacks.

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