Rise of the Hobgoblins MTG Card


Rise of the Hobgoblins - Eventide
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment
Released2008-07-25
Set symbol
Set nameEventide
Set codeEVE
Number145
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJeff Miracola

Key Takeaways

  1. Generates multiple goblin tokens for a strong board presence, working well with token synergies.
  2. Enables mana-based activation for first strike, giving a combat advantage at instant speed.
  3. The enchantment’s specific mana requirements and high cost can limit its deck compatibility.

Text of card

When Rise of the Hobgoblins comes into play, you may pay . If you do, put X 1/1 red and white Goblin Soldier creature tokens into play. {GU}: Red creatures and white creatures you control gain first strike until end of turn.

A river even the merrow dare not cross.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Rise of the Hobgoblins allows you to potentially create multiple 1/1 red and white Goblin Soldier creature tokens, offering you a substantial increase in battlefield presence. This card can shift the game in your favor by outnumbering your opponent with an ever-growing army of tokens, especially when combined with effects that benefit from token generation.

Resource Acceleration: Once you’ve enacted Rise of the Hobgoblins, each newly spawned Goblin Soldier carries the potential to contribute to your offensive resources significantly. Furthermore, being in the red and white colors, it pairs well with strategies looking to capitalize on token synergies, possibly accelerating your game plan beyond your opponent’s capability to respond.

Instant Speed: While Rise of the Hobgoblins is not an instant itself, the ability to pay red or white mana to endow your creatures with first strike as an instant gives you considerable leverage during combat phases. This feature can catch opponents off guard, turning defensive positions into favorable trades or deterring attacks altogether due to the threat of an enhanced block.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: In some cases, playing Rise of the Hobgoblins might necessitate throwing away another valuable card in your hand. This discard requirement can be a significant drawback, especially when you are trying to maintain card advantage or when each card in your hand is crucial for upcoming strategies.

Specific Mana Cost: Rise of the Hobgoblins demands a specific combination of red and white mana for casting. Such a cost can sometimes restrict the card’s integration into a multi-colored deck, which might not always have the necessary mana types available at the right moment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its potential to create multiple token creatures, the card comes with a high initial mana investment. When considering the speed of the current meta, there might be alternatives that provide a board presence or other advantages at a lower mana cost, making them more flexible and economical to play in a tight match.


Reasons to Include Rise of the Hobgoblins in Your Collection

Versatility: Rise of the Hobgoblins is a flexible card that can easily be integrated into a variety of decks, particularly those that capitalize on red or white synergies. With its ability to create tokens and empower your creatures, it’s multifunctional for both offensive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: The enchantment offers a unique blend of token generation and anthem effects. By investing mana, players can not only flood the board with hobgoblin tokens but also bolster their entire lineup, setting the stage for powerful combos with cards that thrive on creature count or buffs.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where tokens or wide-board strategies are effective, Rise of the Hobgoblins proves to be a significant asset. Its dual-colour identity allows it to fit into various meta-decks, enabling quick adaption to the ever-shifting competitive landscape.


How to beat

Rise of the Hobgoblins is an enchantment card that can impact the game’s landscape significantly by creating numerous red and white Goblin tokens. This MTG card offers versatility, allowing players to enhance their board presence while also providing an opportunity to pump up individual goblins later in the game. However, like any strategy in Magic: The Gathering, there are ways to counteract this seemingly formidable card.

To effectively combat Rise of the Hobgoblins, it is crucial to control the board with sweepers, such as Wrath of God or Supreme Verdict, removing multiple creatures in one go and mitigating the potential army Rise of the Hobgoblins could amass. Direct removal spells, such as Path to Exile or Doom Blade, come in handy to manage the initial Goblin tokens before they can swarm the field. Additionally, focusing on enchantment destruction with Naturalize-oriented spells can quickly dismantle the main threat before it has a chance to escalate. By maintaining board control and keeping the token generation in check, Rise of the Hobgoblins can be kept at bay, securing your path to victory in your next MTG duel.


Cards like Rise of the Hobgoblins

Rise of the Hobgoblins stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a multifaceted enchantment that enables enthusiasts to both create creature tokens and enhance them. Looking at cards akin to it, Hero of Bladehold strikes a resemblance as it also performs the dual role of producing creature tokens while attacking. Nonetheless, Rise of the Hobgoblins presents a more flexible option, allowing players to deploy tokens at will, making it quite valuable for player strategies that require immediate board presence.

Another card to consider is Krenko, Mob Boss, which, like Rise of the Hobgoblins, is centered around generating a multitude of tokens, particularly Goblin tokens. Krenko, however, offers exponential growth potential, albeit being limited to only taking effect during your turn. The enchantment’s capability to double as a combat trick by enabling the red/white multicolor activation for a first strike bonus gives it a versatile edge that is absent in Krenko’s abilities.

Conclusively, although Rise of the Hobgoblins might not provide the same exponential token generation as Krenko, or the immediate token impact of Hero of Bladehold, its unique combination of flexibility, tactical advantage, and synergy with multicolor spells defines its niche within Magic: The Gathering’s array of enchantment options.

Hero of Bladehold - MTG Card versions
Krenko, Mob Boss - MTG Card versions
Hero of Bladehold - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)
Krenko, Mob Boss - Magic 2013 (M13)

Cards similar to Rise of the Hobgoblins by color, type and mana cost

Suleiman's Legacy - MTG Card versions
Squee's Embrace - MTG Card versions
Legion's Initiative - MTG Card versions
Nahiri's Machinations - MTG Card versions
Path of Mettle // Metzali, Tower of Triumph - MTG Card versions
Lorehold Excavation - MTG Card versions
Fighter Class - MTG Card versions
Suleiman's Legacy - Visions (VIS)
Squee's Embrace - Apocalypse (APC)
Legion's Initiative - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Nahiri's Machinations - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)
Path of Mettle // Metzali, Tower of Triumph - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)
Lorehold Excavation - Strixhaven: School of Mages (STX)
Fighter Class - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rise of the Hobgoblins 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 Rise of the Hobgoblins and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rise of the Hobgoblins has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2008-08-01 When the enters-the-battlefield ability resolves, you choose the value of X, pay for it, and put the tokens onto the battlefield. You can activate mana abilities to pay for , but no one can cast spells or activate abilities in response to this choice.

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