Hobgoblin Dragoon MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Goblin Knight
Abilities	First strike,Flying
Released	2008-07-25
Set symbol
Set name	Eventide
Set code	EVE
Power	1
Toughness	2
Number	142
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Matt Cavotta

Key Takeaways

Potential card advantage from damaging multiple targets enhances board control and strategic depth.
Instant speed use provides tactical flexibility, surprising opponents and dictating combat terms.
Demands careful mana planning and hand management due to specific costs and discard requirement.

Text of card

Flying, first strike

The faeries snickered at first. A common hob in Oona's skies? But his lance ended their mockery, and now the sound of a cicada's wings brings a shudder to the faerie heart.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Hobgoblin Dragoon, the ability to potentially deal damage to multiple targets can translate into card advantage by weakening your opponent’s board presence.

Resource Acceleration: While Hobgoblin Dragoon itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it can encourage strategies that capitalize on quickly developed boards, aiding in resource superiority.

Instant Speed: The ability to employ Hobgoblin Dragoon’s skills at instant speed offers flexibility in gameplay, allowing you to strategically surprise an opponent during combat or at the end of their turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hobgoblin Dragoon compels players to discard a card to activate its ability. This might deplete your hand, leaving you at a disadvantage, especially in tight situations where every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: The card’s casting cost includes red mana, which may not be readily available in multicolor decks that don’t focus heavily on red mana sources. This restricts the card’s versatility across various deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Hobgoblin Dragoon comes with a mana cost that some players may find steep for its offered abilities. When considering other creatures in the same cost bracket, you might come across options that provide greater value or impact on the game.

Reasons to Include Hobgoblin Dragoon in Your Collection

Versatility: This fiery creature offers agility across multiple deck themes with its flying ability, allowing it to leap over ground defenses and strike from the skies, making it a universally threatening presence on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: Hobgoblin Dragoon’s synergistic nature with other goblin or warrior cards amplifies its impact, enabling intricate combinations that can swiftly turn the tide of play to your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where small and efficient creatures dominate, Hobgoblin Dragoon stands out as a cost-effective option. Its relevant creature types and evasive power make it a solid choice in the evolving competitive scene.

How to beat

Overcoming Hobgoblin Dragoon in MTG can be a tactical affair. This creature card is known for its flying ability which allows it to bypass ground troops and go straight for a player’s life points. As with any flying creature, the key to beating it lies in ensuring you have ample aerial defense or removal spells at your disposal.

Cards with reach or any other flying creatures serve as a straightforward defense against the Dragoon. Moreover, instant speed removal spells like ‘Murder’ or ‘Doom Blade’ can efficiently deal with it before damage is dealt. For red decks, ‘Lightning Bolt’ offers a quick and cost-effective solution. Enchantment-based removal such as ‘Pacifism’ or ‘Arrest’ can neutralize the Dragoon without resorting to destruction, effectively grounding the threat.

Utilizing spells that can deal damage to multiple creatures can be especially effective if Hobgoblin Dragoon is part of a wider flying offensive. In this scenario, cards like ‘Blazing Volley’ could serve a dual purpose by removing the Dragoon while also trimming down the opposing aerial battalion. Handling Hobgoblin Dragoon thus becomes a matter of prepared defenses and maintaining card parity through efficient removal strategies.

Cards like Hobgoblin Dragoon

Hobgoblin Dragoon steps onto the battlefield with a distinct presence among the red creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. Its flying ability and prowess in battle make it a spirited choice for players looking to dominate the skies. In its echelon, we can examine Ember Weaver, a red creature that also offers an aerial advantage, but Hobgoblin Dragoon excels with its potential to swerve past enemy lines without the dependency on a green mana source.

Comparatively, we look to Ghitu Lavarunner, a creature that hustles onto the field with a potential for quick damage, although its lack of flying makes it susceptible to ground defenses. Hobgoblin Dragoon, with its ability to soar, bypasses such obstacles. Furthermore, Kiln Fiend stands out for its ability to swell in power with every instant or sorcery cast, yet it trades the consistent evasive capability of Hobgoblin Dragoon for explosive power growth, a strategic difference to weigh.

While assessing the role and utility of similar red creatures, the Hobgoblin Dragoon emerges as a reliable combatant with steadfast evasion. It offers a balanced mix of offense and defense, making it a card worth considering for players looking to bolster their aerial assaults in Magic: The Gathering.

Cards similar to Hobgoblin Dragoon by color, type and mana cost

Mila, Crafty Companion // Lukka, Wayward Bonder - MTG Card versions

Queen Kayla bin-Kroog - MTG Card versions

Plargg, Dean of Chaos // Augusta, Dean of Order - MTG Card versions

Skyknight Legionnaire - MTG Card versions

Hearthfire Hobgoblin - MTG Card versions

Depala, Pilot Exemplar - MTG Card versions

Tajic, Legion's Edge - MTG Card versions

Feather, the Redeemed - MTG Card versions

Vikya, Scorching Stalwart - MTG Card versions

Zirda, the Dawnwaker - MTG Card versions

Akiri, Fearless Voyager - MTG Card versions

General Ferrous Rokiric - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hobgoblin Dragoon MTG card by a specific set like Eventide, 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 Hobgoblin Dragoon and other MTG cards: