Goblin Game MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Goblin Game offers strategic card advantage and powerful life wagering to disrupt opponents and sway the game.
  2. Its mana specificity and high cost require careful deck inclusion, balancing impact against mana color conflicts.
  3. Unique interaction and meta relevance make Goblin Game a wild card choice, perfect for red-centric strategies.

Text of card

Each player hides at least one object, then all players reveal them simultaneously. Each player loses life equal to the number of objects he or she revealed. The player who revealed the fewest objects then loses half his or her life, rounded up. If two or more players are tied for fewest, each loses half his or her life, rounded up.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Goblin Game presents a unique opportunity to manipulate the board state to create potential card advantage. By compelling all players to hide items and then wager lives based on those hidden items, you can strategically manage the outcome to reduce opponents’ life totals while retaining cards in hand that contribute to your end game strategy.

Resource Acceleration: Incorporating Goblin Game into a strategy that already builds upon life as a resource can turn the tides of a match. In decks designed around life manipulation, this card can function as a powerful accelerator, disrupting your opponents’ strategies and resources while catapulting you towards a commanding position on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: Although Goblin Game is a sorcery, its instantaneous impact in a multiplayer environment cannot be overlooked. It creates a moment in the game where quick decision-making and reading your opponents’ intentions can be more crucial than the fastest instant. Casting Goblin Game with the right timing, in the midst of complex board states, can be as sudden and impactful as any instant, making it a game-changing card when played wisely.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging in the Goblin Game card ritual may leave you at a disadvantage if it depletes the cards in your hand, hindering your ability to react to opponent moves or losing valuable assets in your gameplay strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: The Goblin Game card demands a precise blend of mana, including red, which not only narrows its use to decks that can produce this mana type but could also lead to potential mana color conflicts within multi-colored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With seven mana needed to cast Goblin Game, this card comes with a hefty price compared to other spells available in the game. Players often have to weigh the benefits of this unique card’s effect against other valuable cards that could be played more frequently and with greater immediate impact on the game state.


Reasons to Include Goblin Game in Your Collection

Versatility: Goblin Game, while unique in its playstyle, lends itself well to various red-centric strategies. It’s an excellent choice for decks looking to capitalize on chaotic and unpredictable game states or those that want to experiment with unconventional win conditions.

Combo Potential: This card has an innate ability to disrupt opponents’ strategies by forcing difficult decisions. Pairing it with cards that manipulate life totals or those that reward players for damage dealt, Goblin Game can become a linchpin in a carefully constructed combo.

Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-shifting MTG landscape, Goblin Game finds its place in metas where players least expect it, turning the tides of a match by disrupting well-laid plans and preying upon decks that aren’t prepared for such a surprising element.


How to Beat Goblin Game

Goblin Game stands out in the landscape of unique MTG cards, demanding both strategic play and psychological acumen. The card reads unlike any other, insisting players hide objects and bid life points in a mini-game of risk. Understanding the card’s nuances is the first step to outmaneuver it. A key to winning against Goblin Game is maintaining life advantage, as bids eat away at your vital points. But be cautious, as bluffing with too low a bid can backfire if opponents call your bluff.

Furthermore, remember that Goblin Game affects all players, so it’s not just about outthinking one opponent but the entire table. Cards like Platinum Angel or having effects that prevent damage or life loss can completely negate the challenging aspect of the mini-game, granting you immunity while others sweat over their hidden objects. It is also smart to limit the number of permanents you control as Goblin Game can scale based on that metric, making the game less punishing for you if your board is conservative. Keeping these strategies in mind can help sway the odds in your favor when the goblins decide to play their treacherous games.


Cards like Goblin Game

Goblin Game stands out in MTG as a unique offering that challenges players to engage in a secret bidding war. Its mechanics draw some parallels with cards like Illicit Auction. Both set up a scenario where players must make crucial decisions that influence not just their own standing, but have the potential to impact the entire table. However, what separates Goblin Game from its counterparts is that it allows no player to opt out of its effect, creating a no-holds-barred environment that can dramatically shift the dynamics of a match.

Another comparable card is Thieves’ Auction, which involves rearranging the entire battlefield, pushing players to a complex decision-making process. While Thieves’ Auction affects the game state more directly by redistributing permanents, Goblin Game affects life totals, which could bring the match to an unexpected conclusion. Unlike these analogs which offer more controlled chaos, Goblin Game is unpredictable and can end the game based on the players’ concealed choices.

Cards like Goblin Game exemplify the thrilling strategic depth of MTG, providing not just the ability to alter the life points balance but also enriching the psychological aspect of gameplay, as players attempt to second-guess the bids of their opponents.

Illicit Auction - MTG Card versions
Thieves' Auction - MTG Card versions
Illicit Auction - Mirage (MIR)
Thieves' Auction - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)

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

Devastation - MTG Card versions
Fire Tempest - MTG Card versions
Flame Wave - MTG Card versions
Cinder Storm - MTG Card versions
Thieves' Auction - MTG Card versions
Kamahl's Sledge - MTG Card versions
Over the Top - MTG Card versions
Brass's Bounty - MTG Card versions
Searing Flesh - MTG Card versions
Twist Allegiance - MTG Card versions
Fury of the Horde - MTG Card versions
Disaster Radius - MTG Card versions
Destructive Force - MTG Card versions
Rite of Ruin - MTG Card versions
Volcanic Vision - MTG Card versions
Serpentine Spike - MTG Card versions
Star of Extinction - MTG Card versions
Sundering Stroke - MTG Card versions
Reckless Endeavor - MTG Card versions
Collision of Realms - MTG Card versions
Devastation - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Fire Tempest - Masters Edition IV (ME4)
Flame Wave - Tempest Remastered (TPR)
Cinder Storm - Masters 25 (A25)
Thieves' Auction - The List (PLST)
Kamahl's Sledge - Torment (TOR)
Over the Top - The Brothers' War Promos (PBRO)
Brass's Bounty - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)
Searing Flesh - Onslaught (ONS)
Twist Allegiance - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Fury of the Horde - Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning (DDN)
Disaster Radius - Commander Anthology Volume II (CM2)
Destructive Force - Magic 2011 (M11)
Rite of Ruin - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Volcanic Vision - Commander 2021 (C21)
Serpentine Spike - Battle for Zendikar Promos (PBFZ)
Star of Extinction - Commander Masters (CMM)
Sundering Stroke - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Reckless Endeavor - Forgotten Realms Commander (AFC)
Collision of Realms - Neon Dynasty Commander (NEC)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Goblin Game MTG card by a specific set like Planeshift and Mystery Booster, 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 Game and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Goblin Game Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2001-02-05 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by DiTerlizzi.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12001-02-05PlaneshiftPLS 611997normalblackDiTerlizzi
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 9541997normalblackDiTerlizzi
32020-09-26The ListPLST PLS-611997normalblackDiTerlizzi

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin Game has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2004-10-04 When it comes to choice of items, use common sense. Items should be small enough to hide but large enough to count. Make it clear what kind of object you are hiding beforehand. For example, one player may choose coins and the other may choose dice. If you can’t find something convenient to hide, write numbers on a piece of paper and reveal the numbers. Make sure the numbers are unambiguous (for example, underline a 6 or 9 so it can’t be misread).
2007-02-01 If you attempt to halve a negative life total, you halve 0. This means that the life total stays the same. A life total of -10 would remain -10.

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