Goblin Psychopath MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Goblin Mutant
Power 5
Toughness 5

Key Takeaways

  1. Enables card advantage by forcing opponents to discard, crucial in long games.
  2. Possesses instant speed abilities for reactionary and flexible gameplay options.
  3. Demands careful deck construction due to specific mana costs and discard conditions.

Text of card

Whenever Goblin Psychopath attacks or blocks, flip a coin. If you lose the flip, the next time it would deal combat damage this turn, it deals that damage to you instead.

The destruction he causes is nothing next to the chaos in his mind.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Goblin Psychopath excels at disrupting your opponent’s strategy by forcing them to discard, effectively putting you ahead in the drawn-out battles of attrition.

Resource Acceleration: With an ability to sacrifice Goblins for mana, it accelerates your resources, allowing for quicker plays and a more aggressive game plan.

Instant Speed: Its activated abilities can be used at instant speed, providing flexibility to react during your opponent’s turn and making it a versatile threat in any match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of the Goblin Psychopath is its need for you to discard a card to activate certain abilities. This cost can put you at a disadvantage, especially when your hand is already depleted or each card is crucial for your strategic gameplay.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s dependence on a specific color combination for mana can be limiting. Considering that it requires both red and other mana types, incorporating the Goblin Psychopath into your deck necessitates a commitment to those colors, potentially reducing the flexibility of your deck construction.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that is on the higher side for its effects, the Goblin Psychopath may cause some hesitation when deck building. This is because there are alternative creatures or spells available that might provide a similar or better impact on the game for a lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Goblin Psychopath finds a place in a variety of red-centered decks. Its unpredictability can swing games in your favor and serves well against decks that struggle with random effects.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes with strategies amplifying its chance to win flips, or with cards that modify or benefit from coin tosses, creating opportunities for interesting and potentially game-winning combos.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment dense with creature-based strategies, the Goblin Psychopath’s ability to potentially take down larger threats can be unexpectedly useful, disrupting your opponents’ plans.


How to beat

Goblin Psychopath is known for its unpredictability on the battlefield, becoming a double-edged sword in MTG games. Unlike straightforward attackers, this whimsical creature’s power and toughness shift with each spin of the wheel, creating a complex challenge for both the user and their opponent. Players looking to mitigate the risks posed by this capricious goblin need to focus on control elements that can subdue or bypass these erratic power swings.

One strategy is to utilize removal spells that can target creatures irrespective of their power levels. By employing instant-speed removal like Path to Exile or Fatal Push, players can eliminate the Psychopath before it has the chance to wreak havoc. Additionally, deploying counterspells such as Counterspell or Mana Leak when the goblin is cast can nip the potential problem in the bud, ensuring it never hits the field.

Overall, dealing with Goblin Psychopath requires a mix of pre-emptive control and on-the-fly adaptability. It’s best to handle it swiftly before its chaotic nature can dominate the game, making timing and choice of removal crucial. As with many MTG tactics, knowing when and how to play your answers can be the difference between victory and defeat.


Cards like Goblin Psychopath

Goblin Psychopath stands as an intriguing option among MTG’s red creatures, particularly for its flavor and ability to impact the battlefield unpredictably. It can be juxtaposed with Goblin Rabblemaster, another goblin that excels at generating tokens and amplifies attack power. However, the Psychopath’s coin flip mechanic for power fluctuation introduces a wild card element that Rabblemaster does not, creating variable attack power each turn.

Then there’s Grenzo, Havoc Raiser, who also interacts interestingly within games. While Goblin Psychopath flips for power, Grenzo diverts attention by exiling the top card of an opponent’s library and offering the choice to cast it. This provides a more controlled strategy compared to the erratic nature of Goblin Psychopath’s ability.

Assessing gameplay impact, the Psychopath adds an element of chance that can swing games, a factor enthusiast players appreciate for its ability to liven up the turn of events. Despite the inconsistency, Goblin Psychopath can be a formidable threat that aligns with the spirited chaos characteristic of red deck strategies in MTG.

Goblin Rabblemaster - MTG Card versions
Grenzo, Havoc Raiser - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rabblemaster - Magic 2015 Promos (PM15)
Grenzo, Havoc Raiser - Conspiracy: Take the Crown (CN2)

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

Dragon Whelp - MTG Card versions
Keldon Warlord - MTG Card versions
Crimson Manticore - MTG Card versions
Márton Stromgald - MTG Card versions
Reckless Embermage - MTG Card versions
Wildfire Emissary - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Giant - MTG Card versions
Rathi Dragon - MTG Card versions
Mogg Bombers - MTG Card versions
Warmonger - MTG Card versions
Bloodfire Kavu - MTG Card versions
Whipkeeper - MTG Card versions
Anger - MTG Card versions
Nalathni Dragon - MTG Card versions
Everquill Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Goblin Goon - MTG Card versions
Lesser Gargadon - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions
Ogre Taskmaster - MTG Card versions
Dragon Whelp - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Keldon Warlord - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Crimson Manticore - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Márton Stromgald - Ice Age (ICE)
Reckless Embermage - Mirage (MIR)
Wildfire Emissary - Mirage (MIR)
Flowstone Giant - Tempest (TMP)
Rathi Dragon - Tempest (TMP)
Mogg Bombers - Stronghold (STH)
Warmonger - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Bloodfire Kavu - Apocalypse (APC)
Whipkeeper - Odyssey (ODY)
Anger - Judgment (JUD)
Nalathni Dragon - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Everquill Phoenix - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)
Goblin Goon - Legions (LGN)
Lesser Gargadon - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Krark-Clan Engineers - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Ogre Taskmaster - Ninth Edition (9ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Goblin Psychopath MTG card by a specific set like Scourge and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Psychopath and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Goblin Psychopath Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2003-05-26 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Pete Venters.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12003-05-26ScourgeSCG 951997normalblackPete Venters
22022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 5442015normalblackPete Venters

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin Psychopath has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Goblin Psychopath 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 The ability triggers when it attacks or block and resolves before combat damage is assigned. This gives you a chance to possibly get rid of it before it hurts you.

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