Goblin Deathraiders MTG Card
2008-10-03 - Number 169
2014-09-05 - Number 6
2019-11-07 - Number 1431
2020-09-26 - Number DDN-6
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Goblin Warrior |
| Abilities | Trample |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Trades well in combat, bolstering board presence and consuming opponent’s resources.
- Represents significant pressure with its cost-effective early damage output.
- Requires precise mana management and lacks inherent card recovery.
Text of card
Trample
Every once in a while, when they aren't getting incinerated in lava, crushed under rock slides, or devoured by dragons, goblins experience moments of unmitigated glory in battle.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Goblin Deathraiders may not directly allow you to draw cards, but its aggressive stats mean that it often trades favorably in combat, allowing you to maintain board presence while diminishing your opponent’s resources.
Resource Acceleration: As a 3/1 creature for only two mana, the card represents significant early-game pressure. This efficiency can accelerate your game plan by applying early damage and forcing the opponent to respond, effectively keeping them on the back foot while you deploy further threats.
Instant Speed: While Goblin Deathraiders doesn’t have an ability that operates at instant speed, its mere presence influences the pace. Opponents must always consider the potential impacts of instant-speed removal or combat tricks you may play in tandem with this hasty attacker, often leading to a psychological resource advantage.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Goblin Deathraiders brings a menacing presence to the battlefield, players must be aware of its rigidity. The card lacks any in-built mechanism to recuperate or mitigate card loss, potentially leading to unfavorable trade-offs during intense battles. This fixed cost could deplete your hand when you need options the most.
Specific Mana Cost: Deploying Goblin Deathraiders demands a precise mix of red and black mana. This requirement can sometimes prove restrictive, confining it to a narrower range of decks and reducing its versatility. Players without a balanced mana base might struggle to cast it on curve, stifling its aggressive potential.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Clocking in at three mana for a 3/1 creature, Goblin Deathraiders challenges deckbuilders to assess its cost-effectiveness. In a metagame where efficiency is king, other creatures at similar mana points could overshadow this card by offering additional utility or a more resilient body, increasing their strategic value in a match.
Reasons to Include Goblin Deathraiders in Your Collection
Versatility: Goblin Deathraiders is a robust addition to any aggressive deck, grazed with both the goblin and warrior tribes, increasing its synergy with a plethora of tribal-focused spells and abilities.
Combo Potential: Its trample ability ensures that excess damage can spill over to your opponents, pairing admirably with equipment and auras that boost its power to capitalize on the aggressive pressure it can apply from early turns.
Meta-Relevance: In a metagame dense with creature-based strategies, Goblin Deathraiders stands out as a cost-effective threat that demands an answer and can swiftly reduce an opponent’s life total, maintaining relevance in various competitive formats.
How to beat
Goblin Deathraiders is a potent force in MTG, known for its aggressive stance in the early game. This card combines trample with a formidable 3/1 body, making it a significant obstacle for any player. Its strength is its simplicity; a mere two mana for a swift and harsh hit to your opponent’s life total. However, this aggressiveness comes with a downside: a single point of toughness makes it vulnerable.
To effectively counter Goblin Deathraiders, it’s crucial to exploit its fragility. Cheap removal spells, such as Shock or Fatal Push, can dispatch it effortlessly before it becomes a threat. Alternatively, consider playing creatures with at least one toughness that can survive a trample hit, ensuring you can block and eliminate the Goblin without losing your creature. Engaging in direct combat is ill-advised due to its trample ability, so controlling the field with removal or sturdier creatures is key.
In essence, while Goblin Deathraiders can be a formidable adversary, its deficiency in toughness presents an opportunity. By preparing with the right spells or creatures, you can navigate around its trampling charge and maintain your ground in the game.
Cards like Goblin Deathraiders
Goblin Deathraiders serves as a robust choice for aggro decks in Magic: The Gathering, joining the ranks of other two-mana aggressive creatures. Comparable to Rakdos Cackler, another two-mana creature that also flaunts a 2/2 stat line and can come down as early as the first turn, Goblin Deathraiders offers the added advantage of built-in trample. This makes it more potent at forcing through damage than the Cackler.
Swiftblade Vindicator is another creature sharing similarities, boasting double strike that can deal a potential of four damage if unblocked. While the vindicator has the potential for higher damage output, Goblin Deathraiders’ trample allows it to remain a constant threat against decks with numerous blockers. Additionally, the Deathraiders benefits from being part of the widely-supported goblin tribe, providing synergy with other goblin-themed cards that can enhance its battlefield presence.
Ultimately, when considering two-mana creatures for a fast-paced attack strategy, Goblin Deathraiders proves to be a solid inclusion. Its combination of trample and tribal synergy make it a fearsome contender on the battlefield, especially in decks that aim to deal damage quickly and efficiently.
Cards similar to Goblin Deathraiders by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Goblin Deathraiders MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara and Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning, 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 Deathraiders and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See Magic products
Printings
The Goblin Deathraiders Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2008-10-03 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Raymond Swanland.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2008-10-03 | Shards of Alara | ALA | 169 | 2003 | normal | black | Raymond Swanland | |
| 2 | 2014-09-05 | Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning | DDN | 6 | 2015 | normal | black | Raymond Swanland | |
| 3 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1431 | 2015 | normal | black | Raymond Swanland | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | DDN-6 | 2015 | normal | black | Raymond Swanland |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin Deathraiders has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
