Crazed Goblin MTG Card


Crazed Goblin - Darksteel
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Goblin Warrior
Released2004-02-06
Set symbol
Set nameDarksteel
Set codeDST
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number56
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byDarrell Riche

Key Takeaways

  1. Crazed Goblin supports aggressive strategies with a minimal mana investment to populate the battlefield.
  2. While restricted to red mana, its low cost helps maintain a flexible mana curve for players.
  3. Hasty alternatives may offer immediate impact, but Crazed Goblin fits well in specific strategies.

Text of card

Crazed Goblin attacks each turn if able.

Because fighting is easier than figuring out what else to do.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Crazed Goblin provides an opportunity for dynamic play interactions, particularly in decks that benefit from having numerous creatures on the battlefield. While it doesn’t directly offer card draw, its low cost makes it an economical way to trigger abilities and effects that might lead to gaining card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Despite not directly accelerating resources, the mere one-mana investment for Crazed Goblin can free up your resources. This allows for a more flexible mana curve, enabling you to deploy other higher-impact cards sooner rather than later. Additionally, if the board state permits, it paves the way for aggressive early plays that force your opponent to respond.

Instant Speed: While the Crazed Goblin itself is not an instant, its low casting cost makes it a suitable companion to instant speed spells. This aspect ensures you can keep mana available for reactive plays, maintaining pressure by fielding a creature while also holding up the threat of instant speed interaction.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: A significant drawback to playing Crazed Goblin is the necessity to possibly discard another card from your hand, which might leave you at a disadvantage in terms of card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Crazed Goblin demands a specific red mana to cast, restricting its versatility to decks that can generate red mana or are red-centric, potentially limiting its playability across various deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering its abilities, Crazed Goblin’s mana cost is on the higher side. Other creatures or spells at a similar cost may provide a higher impact on the game, diminishing the overall value of including Crazed Goblin in your deck.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Crazed Goblin card, while simple, can seamlessly integrate into aggressive red decks, offering a straightforward one-drop creature that can immediately threaten opponents.

Combo Potential: This card excels when paired with equipment or spells that enhance its power, unlocking potential for game-changing plays even from such an unassuming creature.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where fast gameplay rules, the Crazed Goblin can be a cost-effective tool to press the advantage early in the game, making it relevant despite an ever-changing meta.


How to beat

Crazed Goblin is a card that brings its own unique dynamic to MTG gameplay. As a creature that requires mana to attack, its aggressive nature can sometimes pose a challenge to opponents. But taking it head-on is less complicated than one might think. Versus this red minion, your best strategy lies in efficient creature control. Cards like Pacifism render it harmless by preventing it from attacking altogether, cutting the need to spend mana on its ability.

Another angle to consider is creature removal. Quick spells such as Shock or Fatal Push can easily dispatch Crazed Goblin before its attack stipulation becomes a concern. Similarly, larger threats on the board can often outclass it in combat, negating its attack capability and making it an inefficient option for your opponent.

Ultimately, while Crazed Goblin may appear daunting at first with its mandatory attack fee, standard control methods in MTG prove to be quite effective. By considering the card’s inherent limitations and applying basic removal or control techniques, conquering this wild red adversary becomes a straightforward affair.


Cards like Crazed Goblin

The Crazed Goblin card is a member of the red creature pool in Magic: The Gathering, with a distinctive characteristic of being unable to attack unless the player pays its mana cost. This foretaste of goblin zaniness mirrors other creatures like the Norin the Wary, which also avoids combat but through a different ability that exiles itself whenever a spell is cast or a creature attacks. Norin is more elusive, dodging removal spells and blockers.

Another cousin in this erratic family is the Raging Goblin. Deployment-ready with haste, unlike our Crazed Goblin, it charges headlong into battle without the need for an additional mana payment. This slight alteration in playstyle affords the player immediate pressure on the opponent. Conversely, Fanatical Firebrand hails from the same goblin kin, offering both haste and a tap ability to deal damage, granting more flexibility in gameplay and the potential for surprise plays.

Evaluating these options, the Crazed Goblin finds its niche as a red creature suited for decks that can afford its quirky combat tax, or possibly in scenarios where paying mana to attack aligns with a broader strategy in the game.

Norin the Wary - MTG Card versions
Raging Goblin - MTG Card versions
Fanatical Firebrand - MTG Card versions
Norin the Wary - Time Spiral (TSP)
Raging Goblin - Portal (POR)
Fanatical Firebrand - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)

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

Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions
Hurr Jackal - MTG Card versions
Primordial Ooze - MTG Card versions
Gorilla Shaman - MTG Card versions
Goblin Swine-Rider - MTG Card versions
Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions
Orcish Conscripts - MTG Card versions
Mountain Goat - MTG Card versions
Jackal Pup - MTG Card versions
Flailing Soldier - MTG Card versions
Branded Brawlers - MTG Card versions
Scarred Puma - MTG Card versions
Mogg Fanatic - MTG Card versions
Grim Lavamancer - MTG Card versions
Kessig Wolfrider - MTG Card versions
Skirk Prospector - MTG Card versions
Akki Avalanchers - MTG Card versions
Mons's Goblin Waiters - MTG Card versions
Mogg Sentry - MTG Card versions
Goblin Mountaineer - MTG Card versions
Goblin Balloon Brigade - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Hurr Jackal - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Primordial Ooze - Chronicles (CHR)
Gorilla Shaman - Alliances (ALL)
Goblin Swine-Rider - Visions (VIS)
Mons's Goblin Raiders - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Orcish Conscripts - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Mountain Goat - Portal (POR)
Jackal Pup - The List (PLST)
Flailing Soldier - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Branded Brawlers - Prophecy (PCY)
Scarred Puma - Invasion (INV)
Mogg Fanatic - Tenth Edition (10E)
Grim Lavamancer - Torment (TOR)
Kessig Wolfrider - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Skirk Prospector - Vintage Masters (VMA)
Akki Avalanchers - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Mons's Goblin Waiters - Unhinged (UNH)
Mogg Sentry - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Goblin Mountaineer - Ninth Edition (9ED)

Where to buy

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

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Crazed Goblin has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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