Goblin Berserker MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Goblin Berserker
Abilities	First strike,Haste
Released	1999-06-07
Set symbol
Set name	Urza's Destiny
Set code	UDS
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	82
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Christopher Rush

Key Takeaways

Goblin Berserker enhances card advantage, synergizing with red deck strategies for an aggressive edge.
Its low casting cost enables rapid board presence, indirectly accelerating your resource management.
Presence on the board encourages instant speed interaction, influencing opponents’ play decisions.

Text of card

First strike; haste (This creature may attack and oc T the turn it comes under your control.)

Goblins don't know the meaning of the word "tactics" —or the word "meaning," for that matter.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Goblin Berserker is pivotal in orchestrating card advantage by forcefully eroding opponent defenses and paving the way for card draw synergies often found in red decks. Its aggressive nature can shift the course of the game, pressuring opponents to deal with it and potentially leading to beneficial exchanges for the player.

Resource Acceleration: By nature, this card embodies the red strategy of fast-paced resource acceleration. Although not directly providing mana or tokens, its low casting cost complements a strategy that seeks to outpace opponents by flooding the board with threats. This efficiently converts your mana investment into board presence, which is a form of indirect resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: While the Goblin Berserker itself may not be cast at instant speed, its mere presence in the archetype encourages a playstyle that benefits from instant speed interactions. The threat of activating its abilities or the potential to cast buffs to support it in combat can impact how opponents play their turns, granting a psychological edge in the pace of the match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Goblin Berserker’s playability can falter when you’re required to discard cards to activate its abilities. Forced discard can put you at a disadvantage if your hand size is already dwindling, denying you the vital resources needed to maintain pressure on your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: This card needs a particular blend of mana to cast, which means your deck must be tuned to accommodate red mana sources. For players running multi-colored decks without ample red mana, deploying Goblin Berserker swiftly and efficiently could prove challenging.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Goblin Berserker can be a powerhouse, its mana cost is on the higher side when compared to other creatures in its class. With a market full of lower-cost options offering similar or greater impact, its mana requirement could be seen as a hindrance to seamless deck building and strategic pacing of the game.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Goblin Berserker brings flexibility to the battlefield, slotting into a multitude of red-based aggressive decks. Its haste feature ensures immediate impact on the game, offering players a chance to press the advantage early on.

Combo Potential: Its abilities synergize well with cards that capitalize on dealing direct damage or boosting fellow goblin kin. This can lead to explosive turns that overwhelm opponents with a surge of power.

Meta-Relevance: In a playing environment where speedy tactics are key, Goblin Berserker’s swift playstyle makes it a pertinent choice. It can challenge slower, control-based strategies effectively, fitting into the ever-evolving competitive scene.

How to Beat

The Goblin Berserker is a card that unleashes chaos on the battlefield with its aggressive nature in Magic: The Gathering. Dealing with such a character takes strategic planning and the right countermeasures. To begin with, spot removal spells are a player’s best partner in this scenario. Swatting this creature down with spells like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can stop it in its tracks before it can wreak havoc. Keeping block-friendly creatures on hand to absorb the Berserker’s onslaught also provides an advantage.

Paying attention to board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation can also be invaluable. Playing these at the optimal moment can not only clear out the Goblin Berserker but also reset the board, allowing you to regain control of the game. Moreover, implementing enchantments that deter attacks, such as Ghostly Prison or Propaganda, can make the cost of attacking with the Goblin Berserker too steep for your opponent.

In essence, while Goblin Berserker can present a formidable and fast-paced threat, its impact is very much manageable. It’s all about prioritizing removal, using blockers effectively, and knowing when to reset the board. With these tactics, keeping the Goblin Berserker’s aggression at bay can secure your path to victory.

Cards like Goblin Berserker

The Goblin Berserker archetype in MTG has always been a favorite for players who adore aggressive strategies. If we look into other cards with kindred spirits, we find the likes of Goblin Grenade, which perfectly captures the goblin’s sacrifice-for-greater-good philosophy by offering substantial damage at the cost of a single goblin. Goblin Berserker holds the line with its menace ability, making it a threat that’s hard to block, simulating the ‘all-in’ strategy that goblins embody.

Another card that echoes the raw aggression of Goblin Berserker is Raging Goblin, a lightweight yet hasty combatant ready to strike swiftly. Though it lacks the sheer power of the Goblin Berserker, Raging Goblin compensates with its one-mana cost efficiency. On the sturdier side, we have Goblin Chieftain, providing a tribal boost to power and speed, a stark contrast to Goblin Berserker’s lone wolf approach.

When analyzing the raw aggression and the board impact of Goblin Berserker, one can appreciate its place in MTG. It offers solid pressure that can influence the battlefield, sustaining the goblin tribe’s reputation for relentless offense.

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

Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions

Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Goblin Berserker MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Destiny, 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 Berserker and other MTG cards: