Goblin Haberdasher MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Goblin Hatificer
Abilities Menace
Power 2
Toughness 2
Un-set :-)This card is part of an Un-set

Key Takeaways

  1. Goblin Haberdasher enhances board presence and can rapidly create a sizeable goblin army.
  2. While it bolsters certain strategies, a mono-red mana base restricts deck diversity.
  3. Its unique hat-based tribal synergy can significantly impact any MTG match’s outcome.

Text of card

Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.) Other creatures you control wearing hats in their art have menace.

An accessory in every sense of the word.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Goblin Haberdasher offers unique interaction with other goblins on your board, potentially creating opportunities to overwhelm your opponent with an army. Its synergistic ability can be a critical component in goblin-themed decks looking to press the advantage with numerous creatures.

Resource Acceleration: This particular card reinforces the goblin strategy of rapid deployment. While it may not directly produce mana or treasures like some cards, its lower cost and tribal benefits encourage a quicker, more efficient board presence, which, in turn, accelerates your resource allocation towards other impactful plays.

Instant Speed: Although Goblin Haberdasher does not operate at instant speed itself, it meshes well within decks that do contain a high number of instant-speed interactions. Its presence on the battlefield bolsters the effectiveness of your instants by sustaining a menacing board state that your opponent must account for, even at the end of their turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Goblin Haberdasher mandates a discard of another card to unlock its full potential. This condition might deplete your hand prematurely, weakening strategies that rely on maintaining a variety of options.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring exclusively red mana can pose a deck-building challenge, as it often can’t be accommodated outside mono-red or heavily red-centric decks without impacting mana consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Goblin Haberdasher’s mana cost can be considered steep, given its abilities. This might detract from its playability, especially when alternatives might offer similar benefits with a lower investment, enabling a quicker or more diverse gameplay.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Goblin Haberdasher’s ability to boost other creatures with the menace ability makes it a flexible pick for aggressive decks seeking to circumvent chump blockers and press an advantage on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies revolving around Goblin tribal or numerous creatures with menace, crafting opportunities for powerful synergies that can overwhelm opponents.

Meta-Relevance: Given the popularity of small creature and aggro strategies, Goblin Haberdasher has the potential to play a significant role in an environment where going wide and fast can lead to victories.


How to beat

Goblin Haberdasher provides a unique advantage in MTG decks that are built around the synergy with Goblins or Headwear-equipped creatures. To tackle this card effectively, players should focus on removing the Haberdasher as soon as it hits the battlefield. Creature removal spells that can targeted, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, work incredibly well. It also pays to manage your opponent’s board presence by keeping their number of Goblins in check, as the menace ability granted by Goblin Haberdasher makes blocking more difficult.

Another strategy is undermining the artifact synergy by using cards that can deal with multiple creatures at once, like board wipe spells including Wrath of God or Damnation. Keep in mind that artifact destruction spells like Shatterstorm can dismantle any Headwear your opponent might have amassed. Additionally, efficient counter spells remain a go-to solution for preventing Goblin Haberdasher from resolving in the first place. Timing and deck knowledge are key — being prepared for this card can ensure it never tips the scales in your opponent’s favor.


Cards like Goblin Haberdasher

Goblin Haberdasher is a unique character in the realm of creature spells, offering more than just aggression on the battlefield. This card stands out for its ability to boost other creatures wearing hats, a quirky and uncommon trait. It shares a category with Goblin King, another lord that empowers its kind, though Goblin King famously grants mountainwalk ability instead of focusing on fashion.

Similarly, adaptive creatures such as Chameleon Colossus also offer tribal benefits, but with a broader scope, affecting all creature types. It lacks the whimsical hat motif of Goblin Haberdasher but compensates with a powerful mana-based pump ability. Another comparable card is Lord of Atlantis, known for its traditional lord effect in boosting Merfolk and granting islandwalk, favoring a very specific creature interaction quite unlike the Haberdasher’s unique hat-based allegiance.

When examining the utility of these creature-boosting cards, Goblin Haberdasher might seem like a niche choice. However, its novel approach to creature enhancement provides deck builders with the opportunity for inventive strategies and could very well secure its place in themed decks within the vast landscape of MTG’s card pool.

Goblin King - MTG Card versions
Chameleon Colossus - MTG Card versions
Lord of Atlantis - MTG Card versions
Goblin King - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Chameleon Colossus - Morningtide (MOR)
Lord of Atlantis - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

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

Dwarven Warriors - MTG Card versions
Raging Bull - MTG Card versions
Goblin Flotilla - MTG Card versions
Wall of Stone - MTG Card versions
Wall of Lava - MTG Card versions
Brassclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Sabretooth Tiger - MTG Card versions
Imperial Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Cavern Crawler - MTG Card versions
Uthden Troll - MTG Card versions
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rabblemaster - MTG Card versions
Windseeker Centaur - MTG Card versions
Nosy Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Sky Raider - MTG Card versions
Skirk Commando - MTG Card versions
Cosmic Larva - MTG Card versions
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions
Cunning Bandit // Azamuki, Treachery Incarnate - MTG Card versions
Ghost-Lit Raider - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Warriors - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Raging Bull - Legends (LEG)
Goblin Flotilla - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Wall of Stone - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Wall of Lava - Ice Age (ICE)
Brassclaw Orcs - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Sabretooth Tiger - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Imperial Recruiter - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Cavern Crawler - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Uthden Troll - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Goblin Rabblemaster - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Windseeker Centaur - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Nosy Goblin - Onslaught (ONS)
Goblin Sky Raider - Onslaught (ONS)
Skirk Commando - Archenemy (ARC)
Cosmic Larva - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Cunning Bandit // Azamuki, Treachery Incarnate - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Ghost-Lit Raider - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Goblin Haberdasher MTG card by a specific set like Unstable and Unsanctioned, 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 Haberdasher and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Goblin Haberdasher Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-12-08 and 2020-02-29. Illustrated by Jesper Ejsing.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12017-12-08UnstableUST 832015normalsilverJesper Ejsing
22020-02-29UnsanctionedUND 512015normalsilverJesper Ejsing

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-02-29 A hat is a garment worn on the head that’s not part of another garment. Hoodies, for example, are not hats. Items that only cover the face and not the top of the head, such as a face mask, are also not hats.
2020-02-29 If the card represents multiple creatures and at least one of them is wearing a hat, the creature will have menace.
2020-02-29 If the creature is a hat, it won’t have menace, unless it itself is wearing a hat.
2020-02-29 The creature that the card represents must be wearing a hat to have menace. A background character or a scale bird wearing a hat wouldn’t count. (But scale birds in hats! Adorable!)

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks