Goblin Guide MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 10 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Goblin Scout
Abilities Haste
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Enables a strong early-game presence, offering tempo and deck synergy in aggressive strategies.
  2. While advantageous, may inadvertently assist the opponent with additional land draws.
  3. Stands as a staple in speedy decks, fostering an essential edge in fast-paced matches.

Text of card

Haste Whenever Goblin Guide attacks, defending player reveals the top card of their library. If it's a land card, that player puts it into their hand.

"I've been all over this world. I even remember some of those places."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Goblin Guide enhances your early-game tempo advantageously. Although it grants the opponent a potential land card, this agile creature connects you swiftly to your deck’s aggressive elements, increasing the odds of a victorious strike.

Resource Acceleration: Swift and menacing, this creature propels your battlefield presence from the first turn. It permits a speedy offensive, forcing opponents to react defensively, effectively accelerating your tactical resource allocation.

Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, the Goblin Guide synergizes well with cards that operate at instant speed. Its ability to deal damage quickly can coax out the opponent’s resources prematurely, which sets up favorable conditions for your instant speed interactions during their turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Goblin Guide does not have a direct discard requirement; however, its ability can indirectly benefit opponents by revealing cards and potentially putting lands into their hands, which can be a setback in strategic play.

Specific Mana Cost: As a red creature, Goblin Guide requires red mana, making it less versatile in decks that aren’t focused on or including red mana in their strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Goblin Guide’s mana cost of one red mana is inexpensive, considering its aggressive potential, some players may find other creatures or spells that can provide different benefits for the same or similar cost without the potential aid to an opponent.


Reasons to Include Goblin Guide in Your Collection

Versatility: Goblin Guide shines across multiple deck archetypes within the Red Aggro family. This small creature with a big punch is particularly adept in formats like Modern, where a fast-paced game is often the key to victory. It can fit snugly into burn decks, providing that crucial early pressure.

Combo Potential: Though not a combo piece in the traditional sense, Goblin Guide synergizes well with decks that benefit from early damage and information about the opponent’s top deck. It lays the groundwork for sequencing your turns effectively, enhancing your strategic plays.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where the tempo is vital and games can be decided within the first few turns, the Guide’s haste and consistent damage output can put opponents on a tight clock. With a shift towards quicker matchups, this card’s inclusion can give you the edge you need to outpace the competition.


How to beat

Goblin Guide is a powerhouse in red aggressive decks, known for its swiftness and the bite it brings to early gameplay. This one-drop red creature from Magic: The Gathering can be a real thorn in the side thanks to its hasty attacks and the considerable pressure it puts on opponents right from the get-go. However, formidable as it may be, Goblin Guide has weaknesses that can be exploited. Players can utilize early creature removal spells such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile to quickly deal with this threat. It’s also worth noting that its ability to give your opponent a land card on attacking can sometimes work in your favor, potentially smoothing out your mana curve or setting up the necessary resources for your own counter-plays.

Another angle to undermine Goblin Guide is through creatures that can block it efficiently. Even though Goblin Guide has a considerable 2/2 body for one mana, deploying creatures with at least two toughness can neutralize its offensive thrust. Wall of Omens is an example of such a creature, capable of halting Goblin Guide’s onslaught while providing card advantage.

Taking these strategies into account, dealing with Goblin Guide requires foresight and a capacity to leverage its downside for your own strategic gain. A well-prepared player can ensure that this quick-footed goblin doesn’t sprint toward victory unchallenged.


Cards like Goblin Guide

Goblin Guide stands out in the Magic: The Gathering arena as a go-to creature for aggro decks, particularly in the Red Deck Wins archetype. Its traits are somewhat mirrored by Monastery Swiftspear, another red creature that promises quick damage with prowess, enhancing its power whenever you cast a noncreature spell. Both are examples of red’s philosophy of early, aggressive board presence and swift damage.

Comparatively, another creature vying for deck slots in similar strategies is Vexing Devil. While it can potentially deal 4 damage for just one red mana, the decision ultimately lies with your opponent, who can choose to take the damage or let you keep the creature, contrasting Goblin Guide’s guarantee of a creature on the board. Eidolon of the Great Revel also interacts interestingly with Goblin Guide by penalizing players for casting low-cost spells, common in the decks that would employ Goblin Guide.

Evaluating these options in Magic: The Gathering, Goblin Guide reliably delivers immediate impact and a consistent threat, retaining its position as a favored creature for players who favor red’s fast-paced, aggressive play style.

Monastery Swiftspear - MTG Card versions
Vexing Devil - MTG Card versions
Eidolon of the Great Revel - MTG Card versions
Monastery Swiftspear - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Vexing Devil - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Eidolon of the Great Revel - Journey into Nyx (JOU)

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

Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions
Hurr Jackal - MTG Card versions
Primordial Ooze - MTG Card versions
Gorilla Shaman - MTG Card versions
Goblin Swine-Rider - MTG Card versions
Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions
Orcish Conscripts - MTG Card versions
Mountain Goat - MTG Card versions
Roc Hatchling - MTG Card versions
Jackal Pup - MTG Card versions
Flailing Soldier - MTG Card versions
Branded Brawlers - MTG Card versions
Scarred Puma - MTG Card versions
Mogg Fanatic - MTG Card versions
Grim Lavamancer - MTG Card versions
Kessig Wolfrider - MTG Card versions
Skirk Prospector - MTG Card versions
Crazed Goblin - MTG Card versions
Akki Avalanchers - MTG Card versions
Mons's Goblin Waiters - MTG Card versions
Goblin Balloon Brigade - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Hurr Jackal - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Primordial Ooze - Chronicles (CHR)
Gorilla Shaman - Alliances (ALL)
Goblin Swine-Rider - Visions (VIS)
Mons's Goblin Raiders - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Orcish Conscripts - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Mountain Goat - Portal (POR)
Roc Hatchling - Weatherlight (WTH)
Jackal Pup - The List (PLST)
Flailing Soldier - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Branded Brawlers - Prophecy (PCY)
Scarred Puma - Invasion (INV)
Mogg Fanatic - Tenth Edition (10E)
Grim Lavamancer - Torment (TOR)
Kessig Wolfrider - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Skirk Prospector - Vintage Masters (VMA)
Crazed Goblin - Darksteel (DST)
Akki Avalanchers - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Mons's Goblin Waiters - Unhinged (UNH)

Where to buy

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

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Printings

The Goblin Guide Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2007-02-24 and 2021-06-22. Illustrated by 4 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 443092003normalblackSteve Prescott
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 828222015normalblackMark Zug
32002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 999771997normalblackWarren Mahy
42007-02-24Grand Prix PromosPGPX 2012a2003normalblackSteve Prescott
52009-10-02ZendikarZEN 1262003normalblackWarren Mahy
62010-11-08Magic Online Theme DecksTD0 B172003normalblackWarren Mahy
72017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 962015normalblackFilip Burburan
82020-08-07Double Masters2XM 1272015normalblackFilip Burburan
92020-08-07Double Masters2XM 3472015normalborderlessMark Zug
102021-06-22Love Your LGS 2021PLG21 41997normalblackWarren Mahy

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin Guide has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-08-07 If Goblin Guide is attacking a planeswalker, that planeswalker's controller is the defending player.
2020-08-07 If the defending player reveals a nonland card, it remains on top of their library.

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