Goblin Traprunner MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Goblin
Released	2021-06-18
Set symbol
Set name	Modern Horizons 2
Set code	MH2
Power	4
Toughness	2
Number	130
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Craig J Spearing

Key Takeaways

Boosts card advantage by facilitating top library sifting for strategic draws.
Allows for ramped mana acceleration, aiding in outpacing your opponents.
Offers synergy with instant speed spells to maximize turn efficiency.

Text of card

Whenever Goblin Traprunner attacks, flip three coins. For each flip you win, create a 1/1 red Goblin creature token that's tapped and attacking.

The best traprunners know exactly where to step. The others . . . do their best.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Goblin Traprunner lends strategic depth to your deck by providing potential card advantage through its ability to sift through the top cards of your library. This can help secure the right draws to maintain the upper hand in your matches.

Resource Acceleration: With the inclusion of Goblin Traprunner, players can experience an uptick in resource acceleration, which is pivotal for curving out threats ahead of schedule. By potentially giving access to extra mana, players can deploy more cards ahead of time and outpace their opponents.

Instant Speed: The utility of Goblin Traprunner often comes from its synergy with instant speed spells and abilities. While the card itself is not played at instant speed, it interacts favorably with other instant-speed strategies by potentially maximizing the value gained in each of your turns, making your gameplay more responsive and dynamic.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of Goblin Traprunner is the need to discard a card to activate one of its key abilities. This condition can be particularly taxing on your hand, especially when playing a strategy that doesn’t naturally cycle or replenish its resources quickly.

Specific Mana Cost: While the inclusion of this card can enhance Goblin-themed decks, its specific mana cost demands red mana, which might not always align with multicolored deck strategies. The need for red mana restricts the card’s flexibility and places a heavier weight on your mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that’s on the higher side for its stat line and abilities, Goblin Traprunner can be a bit of an investment. There are alternatives available that may allow you to deploy more goblins or create direct impact on the board sooner, potentially giving your opponents less time to draw into answers or to outpace you with their own creatures or strategies.

Reasons to Include Goblin Traprunner in Your Collection

Versatility: Goblin Traprunner can be an asset in a variety of deck types, providing both offensive and defensive capabilities. Its ability to create token creatures enhances swarm strategies, making it a flexible option for different play styles.

Combo Potential: The card’s ability to create and potentially flip coins to upgrade tokens offers intriguing synergy with effects that manipulate or benefit from token generation and randomness in games, thereby opening up combo avenues to explore.

Meta-Relevance: Understanding the current competitive environment is crucial, and Goblin Traprunner’s role in game dynamics can be significant. It serves as a valuable piece in decks that seek to outmaneuver control elements with unexpected token swarms and capitalize on the current use of creature-based strategies.

How to beat

Goblin Traprunner is a card that demands attention in the MTG arena due to its ability to create an unpredictable battlefield scenario. Much like the tension-filled flips of a coin deciding the fate within a duel, Goblin Traprunner can swing the game by potentially bringing in multiple Goblin tokens into play. This mechanic can quickly turn the tide by overwhelming opponents with a horde of creatures.

To counteract the chaos Goblin Traprunner can unleash, one effective strategy lies in removal spells. Cards like Fatal Push or Shock can take out the Goblin Traprunner before its coin-flip ability can be utilized. Spot removal ensures that the card won’t create additional value for your opponent. Moreover, board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation can clean up any Goblins that have slipped through, resetting the playing field. It’s crucial to disrupt the Traprunner’s rhythm and keep the board clear of the additional threats it’s capable of generating.

Consequently, managing threats and smart removal timings are paramount when facing a card like Goblin Traprunner. By judiciously dealing with it before it activates or by clearing the tokens it creates, you can maintain control over the game.

BurnMana Recommendations

Enhancing your MTG expertise encompasses both leveraging formidable cards like Goblin Traprunner and understanding the intricacies of gameplay they introduce. Delve into strategic deck building where Goblin Traprunner’s token generation and mana acceleration abilities can be key components. Discover how to integrate this card into a goblin-themed deck or utilize its unique mechanics in various strategies to outsmart opponents. Navigate the MTG realm with us, enhance your playstyle, and uncover how Goblin Traprunner could become a cornerstone in your collection. For in-depth insights and advanced tactics, continue your journey with BurnMana, where mastery meets the magic of the game.

Cards like Goblin Traprunner

Goblin Traprunner has swiftly made its mark among the plethora of red creatures within Magic: The Gathering. It’s often compared to Skirk Prospector, a card emblematic for converting goblins into precious mana, yet the Traprunner brings a different dynamic to the battlefield. Unlike Skirk Prospector, Goblin Traprunner’s ability lies in potentially producing numerous Treasure tokens when attacking, which is an asset in strategies that benefit from large swathes of artifacts or extra mana.

Another peer in the goblin family is the renowned Goblin Warchief, known for its ability to reduce the cost of goblin spells and increase their swiftness. While the Warchief caters to a faster and more explosive goblin strategy, Goblin Traprunner can carve a path for a more midrange approach by accumulating resources over several turns. Then there’s the noteworthy Goblin Rabblemaster, which excels at creating a growing army of goblin tokens every turn. While Rabblemaster focuses on swarming the opponent, Traprunner offers a more controlled advantage with its potential treasure creation.

In weighing the pros and cons of goblin-focused cards in Magic: The Gathering, Goblin Traprunner certainly stands out with its unique combination of combat phase abilities and economical benefits.

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

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Goblin Traprunner MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons 2, 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 Traprunner and other MTG cards: