Goblin Brigand MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Goblin Warrior
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Forces opponent trades and boosts card advantage through strategic disruption.
  2. Enables rapid board expansion by synergizing with other goblins.
  3. Complements instant-speed spells to unexpectedly swing games.

Text of card

Goblin Brigand attacks each turn if able.

After the Skirk Ridge collapsed, the goblins erected a system of ropes and pulleys to hold up what was left.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Goblin Brigand card may seem straightforward at first glance, but it harbors the potential to disrupt your opponent’s strategy by forcing unwanted trades or deterring their smaller creatures from attacking, subtly shifting the card advantage in your favor as the match evolves.

Resource Acceleration: This fiery creature often plays a pivotal role within a Goblin deck that thrives on swarming the battlefield. By synergizing with other Goblin cards, it can accelerate your board’s presence, rapidly increasing the threat level and pressuring your opponents to respond sooner than they’re comfortable with.

Instant Speed: While Goblin Brigand operates at sorcery speed, it’s the instant-speed spells often played alongside it that enhance its value. Bolstering your ranks with sudden buffs or removing obstacles at the last second, all while your Brigand is on the attack, can turn the tide of the game in your favor unannounced.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Goblin Brigand necessitates that you discard a card every time it becomes blocked. This can deplete your hand quickly, leaving you in a weak position if you can’t replenish your resources.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both red and colorless mana, Goblin Brigand is tailored to red-centric or color-complementing decks, potentially restricting its adaptability in multi-color deck constructions.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment needed to get Goblin Brigand onto the battlefield is considerable when looking across the spectrum of creatures within its tribe. This may lead players to prefer other options, as there are numerous goblin cards with lower casting costs and comparable, if not superior, effects.


Reasons to Include Goblin Brigand in Your Collection

Versatility: Goblin Brigand makes for a reliable addition to red aggro and tribal decks. Its straightforward attack requirement synergizes well with strategies that focus on overwhelming the opponent early in the game.

Combo Potential: With its consistent pressure and tribal synergy, Goblin Brigand can be used to empower other goblin-focused mechanics and cards, creating formidable combos that benefit from each attacking goblin.

Meta-Relevance: Against slower, control-oriented decks, this quick and aggressive creature is a cost-efficient way to keep the pressure up, maintaining relevance in various competitive environments that favor fast-paced play.


How to beat Goblin Brigand

Goblin Brigand is an aggressive creature that can be quite a nuisance on the battlefield thanks to its ‘must attack each turn if able’ feature. This is typical of goblin cards in Magic the Gathering, where the strategy revolves around overwhelming opponents with relentless attacks. However, to turn the tide against this fiery creature, it’s smart to employ cards that thrive on blocking or cards that can deal damage to creatures without requiring a block.

Look for cards that offer a good defense-to-cost ratio or those that can trade efficiently with the Brigand. Spells that can remove creatures at a low mana cost, like “Shock” or “Fatal Push,” are also highly effective. Alternatively, consider using cards with the ‘reach’ ability or those that can summon tokens, as these can serve as both a deterrent and a means to eliminate the Goblin Brigand without sacrificing valuable creatures from your hand.

Always remember to manage your resources wisely, keeping removals or blockers in hand for when the Brigand hits the board. By staying one step ahead, you can neutralize this threat and maintain control of the game pace.


Cards like Goblin Brigand

Goblin Brigand joins the ranks of attack-oriented creatures within the world of MTG. Its kinship is most evident with cards like Goblin Raider and Raging Goblin. Both share the goblin bloodline and the inability to block, pushing a strategy focused on relentless aggression. Goblin Brigand and Goblin Raider both carry a two-mana cost, but Raging Goblin stands out by being a one-mana play, allowing for an even faster start.

Analogous in spirit to the Brigand, Mogg Conscripts also demands attacking each turn if able, yet it has a caveat that it can’t attack unless you’ve cast a creature spell this turn. Mogg Conscripts offers a slightly stronger body in comparison to our goblin friend, but with a condition that can limit its offensive capabilities if your hand runs dry.

Assessing Goblin Brigand within the vast array of goblin cards, it’s clear that its role is cut for a very specific kind of deck—one that values incessant aggression. Its commitment to attack each turn can be a double-edged sword, but in the right deck, its presence can be relentlessly efficient.

Goblin Raider - MTG Card versions
Raging Goblin - MTG Card versions
Mogg Conscripts - MTG Card versions
Goblin Raider - Portal Second Age (P02)
Raging Goblin - Portal (POR)
Mogg Conscripts - Tempest (TMP)

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

Rock Hydra - MTG Card versions
Ironclaw Orcs - 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
Goblin Raider - MTG Card versions
Hellspark Elemental - MTG Card versions
Utvara Scalper - MTG Card versions
Storm Entity - MTG Card versions
Rock Hydra - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Ironclaw Orcs - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
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)
Goblin Raider - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Hellspark Elemental - DCI Promos (PDCI)
Utvara Scalper - Dissension (DIS)
Storm Entity - Future Sight (FUT)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Goblin Brigand MTG card by a specific set like Scourge and Ninth Edition, 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 Brigand and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Goblin Brigand Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2003-05-26 and 2005-07-29. Illustrated by Arnie Swekel.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12003-05-26ScourgeSCG 941997normalblackArnie Swekel
22005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 1902003normalwhiteArnie Swekel
32005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 190★2003normalblackArnie Swekel

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin Brigand has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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