Goblin Bomb MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Rare
Type	Enchantment
Released	1997-06-09
Set symbol
Set name	Weatherlight
Set code	WTH
Number	103
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ron Spencer

Key Takeaways

Delivers virtual card advantage by threatening opponents without additional card expenditure.
Enables interesting synergies with decks that utilize artifacts or enchantments.
Flexible activation timing offers strategic adaptability during upkeep phases.

Text of card

During your upkeep, you may choose to flip a coin. Target opponent calls heads or tails while the coin is in the air. If the flip ends up in your favor, put a fuse counter on Goblin Bomb. Otherwise, remove a fuse counter from Goblin Bomb. Remove 5 fuse counters from Goblin Bomb, Sacrifice Goblin Bomb: Goblin Bomb deals 20 damage to target player.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Goblin Bomb, the repeated chance to deal damage increases your virtual card advantage by continually threatening your opponent’s life total without spending additional cards.

Resource Acceleration: Goblin Bomb doesn’t directly accelerate your resources. However, it can synergize with cards that benefit from having multiple artifacts or enchantments in play, potentially ramping up your game plan.

Instant Speed: While Goblin Bomb operates on upkeep triggers, the ability to decide whether to flip a coin at each upkeep gives you flexibility similar to instant speed interactions, allowing you to adapt to the evolving game state.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Goblin Bomb necessitates the sacrifice of another Goblin, which might be a costly play. If your board is short on these creatures, activating its potential could weaken your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: This explosive artifact requires a particular combination of mana, including red, to initiate its countdown. This can restrict its usefulness to decks that are heavily, or solely, red-oriented.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing five mana, Goblin Bomb may be considered a steep investment. For such an amount, players could deploy multiple creatures or other impactful spells, potentially offering immediate benefits as opposed to a delayed, uncertain payoff.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Goblin Bomb adds a unique ticking clock dynamic to any deck, suitable for aggressive strategies that favor quick games as well as slower, control-oriented tactics that buy time for the bomb to tick down.

Combo Potential: This card thrives in a deck that can manipulate counters, potentially leading to explosive turns when combined with proliferation effects or doubling season mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: In a metagame where long games are common, Goblin Bomb can serve as an alternative win condition, forcing opponents to handle it or face inevitable defeat.

How to beat Goblin Bomb

Goblin Bomb is a unique card in the realm of MTG, praised for its potential to deliver a game-ending blow once it accumulates enough fuse counters. Essentially, Goblin Bomb represents a ticking timebomb, one that can explode with devastating effect. For players on the receiving end, this card poses a serious threat; however, it also involves a chance element, relying on winning coin tosses to add those crucial counters.

Defeating this card calls for a proactive strategy. The key is to address Goblin Bomb directly, deploying artifact removal or countermeasures before your opponent’s luck turns in their favor. Consider incorporating cards like Naturalize or Disenchant in your deck, which can efficiently dispose of troublesome artifacts the moment they land on the battlefield. Cards with similar effects can be found across various sets, giving players a plethora of options to dismantle their opponent’s strategies. Additionally, always be vigilant for new additions to MTG that could disrupt Goblin Bomb’s fuse-lit path to victory.

Remember, Goblin Bomb’s reliance on chance can be its undoing. By maintaining pressure and removing it before it fully activates, you’ll keep your game safe from an explosive defeat.

Cards like Goblin Bomb

Goblin Bomb is a unique enchantment card in Magic: The Gathering, noted for its delayed, yet potentially game-ending, impact. When looking at parallels, the card shares a conceptual similarity with Desperate Gambit, where the factor of chance can dramatically alter the game’s state. Both Goblin Bomb and Desperate Gambit depend on winning coin flips, injecting an element of unpredictability and excitement into the match.

Meanwhile, Goblin Bombardment offers a different approach to leveraging goblins. Unlike Goblin Bomb, which needs time to accumulate counters, Goblin Bombardment allows for an immediate effect by sacrificing creatures to deal damage. Chance Encounter is another card that benefits from winning coin tosses, but it serves as a win condition itself without the need for damage accumulation.

Overall, while there are similarities in themes and mechanics, Goblin Bomb stands out with its high-risk, high-reward explosive potential, making it a memorable card for players who relish the thrill of chance and strategic planning. Its distinct slow-burn strategy sets it apart in the universe of MTG goblin-themed cards.

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

Where to buy

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

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin Bomb has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

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