Goblin Offensive MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. This card can drastically tip the game’s balance by creating multiple goblin threats simultaneously.
  2. It provides unexpected flexibility via instant speed, setting up surprise plays and combos.
  3. Despite a high mana cost, its scalability makes it a formidable force in the late game.

Text of card

Put X Goblin tokens into play. Treat these tokens as 1/1 red creatures.

They certainly are.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Goblin Offensive brings a potential swarm of creatures onto the battlefield. Each Goblin it creates can be considered an individual card in terms of presence and threat, increasing the number of options and board presence for a player. This can quickly swing the momentum of the game, providing not just one, but multiple threats that the opponent has to answer.

Resource Acceleration: While the card itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, the added Goblins can ramp up pressure, forcing an opponent to deal with the multiplying creatures. In decks designed to capitalize on creatures entering the battlefield, each Goblin can be a catalyst for additional effects, indirectly accelerating your gameplay through various synergies.

Instant Speed: Goblin Offensive’s strength is amplified by its flexibility in play. As an instant, you can summon a horde of Goblins at the end of your opponent’s turn, keeping your mana available for counterspells or other interaction during their turn. This surprise factor allows you to commit to a powerful move only when you know it’s the most opportunistic time, making it harder for the opponent to predict and counter your strategies.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Activating the ability of Goblin Offensive requires deselecting your own goblins, which can deplete your battlefield presence and reduce the effectiveness of synergistic goblin strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: Goblin Offensive demands a mana base heavily invested in red, potentially limiting deck diversity and necessitating a commitment to red mana sources that may not be as flexible for splashing additional colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The initial investment of four mana to begin producing goblins is steep, and additional mana is required to capitalize on its X cost ability. This can make the card less competitive when benchmarked against lower-cost goblins or tokens generators that are quicker to impact the game state.


Reasons to Include Goblin Offensive in Your Collection

Versatility: Goblin Offensive is not just a card, it’s a force multiplier that seamlessly integrates into various red deck builds. Summon an army with haste to overwhelm your opponents or block incoming threats.

Combo Potential: The goblins this card produces can work wonders with sacrifice outlets or effects that trigger upon creatures entering the battlefield or dying, setting the stage for explosive combo plays.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where swarming the board is a viable path to victory, Goblin Offensive provides the numbers to support such strategies, making it a timely inclusion in your arsenal.


How to beat

Goblin Offensive is a card that poses a unique challenge on the battlefield, capable of flooding the board with an army of Goblin tokens. Players often leverage it to create a wide board presence, overwhelming opponents with sheer numbers. To effectively counter this strategy, control of the board state is essential.

Board wipes are a reliable answer to the swarm approach that Goblin Offensive employs. Spells like Wrath of God or Damnation clear the board irrespective of the number of tokens present, nullifying the advantage the card grants. Single-target removal spells won’t suffice against the horde of tokens. Pivoting to spells that can target multiple creatures at once or that effect the entire board becomes a key tactic against a goblin tide.

Preventing Goblin Offensive from resolving in the first place is also a solid strategy. Counterspells aimed at disrupting the casting of this sorcery can be incredibly effective. If the card does hit the table, swift action to address the tokens it produces will help maintain a manageable board state. In summary, a combination of preemptive counterspells and reactive board-clearing measures is critical for dealing with the potential onslaught that Goblin Offensive can churn out.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the engaging dynamics of MTG involves understanding each card’s capabilities and how it fits into the broad spectrum of game strategies. Goblin Offensive can be a cornerstone in red aggro or token-based decks, transforming the battlefield with a burst of creatures. Astute players realize the necessity of having versatile cards like this to adapt to ever-evolving metas. We encourage you to deepen your knowledge and grow your collection with such potent options. Dive deeper into token strategies and learn how to optimize your deck with our insights. Enhance your gameplay today and clash with confidence in your next duel.


Cards like Goblin Offensive

Goblin Offensive stands out in the realm of creature-generating spells in Magic: The Gathering. It bears likeness to cards like Krenko’s Command, noted for creating two Goblin tokens. While Krenko’s Command is a low-cost option for swiftly populating the board, Goblin Offensive has a unique flexibility—the option to spend any amount of mana to create as many Goblins as you can afford. This scalability makes it potent in the late game.

Another card that echoes this Goblin-making theme is Dragon Fodder, a staple for the cost-effective production of two Goblin tokens. Similar in effect to Krenko’s Command but distinct in name and set origin, it provides a reliable and recurrent theme across different decks. Goblin Rally increases the stakes with the creation of four Goblin tokens, yet it lacks the scalability of Goblin Offensive, which can sometimes be critical during the multitude mana phase of a game.

Ultimately, Goblin Offensive’s versatility allows it to accommodate varying strategies and stages of play, positioning it as a uniquely adaptive option for players looking to amass an army of Goblin tokens.

Krenko's Command - MTG Card versions
Dragon Fodder - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rally - MTG Card versions
Krenko's Command - Magic 2013 (M13)
Dragon Fodder - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Goblin Rally - Return to Ravnica (RTR)

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

Stone Rain - MTG Card versions
Game of Chaos - MTG Card versions
Evaporate - MTG Card versions
Pillage - MTG Card versions
Goblin War Cry - MTG Card versions
Steam Blast - MTG Card versions
Desert Sandstorm - MTG Card versions
Arc Lightning - MTG Card versions
Search for Survivors - MTG Card versions
Panic Attack - MTG Card versions
Searing Rays - MTG Card versions
Rupture - MTG Card versions
Tundra Fumarole - MTG Card versions
Browbeat - MTG Card versions
Anger of the Gods - MTG Card versions
Erratic Explosion - MTG Card versions
Threaten - MTG Card versions
Sizzle - MTG Card versions
Hammer of Bogardan - MTG Card versions
Fiery Gambit - MTG Card versions
Stone Rain - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Game of Chaos - Ice Age (ICE)
Evaporate - Homelands (HML)
Pillage - Arena League 2000 (PAL00)
Goblin War Cry - Portal Second Age (P02)
Steam Blast - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Desert Sandstorm - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Arc Lightning - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Search for Survivors - Prophecy (PCY)
Panic Attack - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Searing Rays - Invasion (INV)
Rupture - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Tundra Fumarole - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Browbeat - Masters 25 (A25)
Anger of the Gods - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Erratic Explosion - Planechase 2012 (PC2)
Threaten - Tenth Edition (10E)
Sizzle - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Hammer of Bogardan - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Fiery Gambit - Mirrodin (MRD)

Where to buy

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

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Printings

The Goblin Offensive Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2009-09-04. Illustrated by Carl Critchlow.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-10-12Urza's SagaUSG 1921997normalblackCarl Critchlow
22009-09-04PlanechaseHOP 562003normalblackCarl Critchlow

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin Offensive has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Goblin Offensive 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 tokens are named “Goblin” and are of creature type “Goblin”.

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