Goblin War Strike MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Transforms large numbers of goblins into powerful direct damage, quickly ending games.
  2. Demands a strong goblin presence, guiding deck construction and play strategy.
  3. Though sorcery speed, it introduces unexpected damage post-goblin deployment.

Text of card

Goblin War Strike deals to your opponent damage equal to the number of Goblin cards you have in play. (This includes both tapped and untapped Goblin cards.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Goblin War Strike capitalizes on your swarm of goblins, turning your wide board presence into a powerful direct damage source against opponents. This synergy allows for a tactical edge, translating your creature quantity into a potentially game-ending play.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly influencing your mana pool, Goblin War Strike can be a critical finisher. By leveraging your existing board state, it can end games swiftly, effectively accelerating your path to victory without the need for additional turns or resources to build up a conventional attack.

Instant Speed: Although Goblin War Strike operates at sorcery speed, it’s this attribute that can catch opponents off guard during your main phase, potentially right after a substantial goblin deployment. The strategic timing of this card forces opponents to constantly defend against a sudden rush of damage.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Goblin War Strike does not directly require a discard, it does demand a substantial goblin presence on the battlefield, which can deplete your hand as you work to amass your army.

Specific Mana Cost: Goblin War Strike commands a specific red mana requirement, potentially restricting its integration into multi-color decks or strategies that are not heavily red-centric.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the mana cost is relatively low, the card’s effectiveness hinges on a sizable goblin force, which could lead to a higher overall mana investment for the desired impact compared to other direct damage spells.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Goblin War Strike fits snugly into a variety of red decks, particularly those that employ numerous goblins. Its ability scales with your goblin count, making it a flexible choice for either a quick finish or substantial damage at any stage of the game.

Combo Potential: This card’s damage-dealing capability increases with every goblin you play, setting the stage for explosive combos. It dovetails perfectly with cards that multiply goblin tokens, turning a modest board into a devastating one.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where creature-based strategies are popular, Goblin War Strike shines as a way to capitalize on a wide board against slower decks. Its place in aggressive decks keeps opponents on edge and forces them to manage their resources carefully, knowing that one card could deal lethal damage.


How to beat

Goblin War Strike is a potent offensive card that can quickly turn the tides in a Magic: The Gathering match. This direct damage spell counts on having a strong presence of Goblin creatures to maximize its impact. The key to tackling a strategy centered around Goblin War Strike lies in controlling the battlefield and keeping the number of Goblin creatures to a minimum. Efficient removal spells that can handle multiple creatures at once, such as board wipes or spells with damage spread across several targets, are especially effective. Preventative measures like playing cards that restrict creature abilities or those that penalize opponents for summoning creatures can also stifle the momentum needed for a devastating Goblin War Strike. Staying ahead in the race to control the board state will often nullify the strength of this explosive red sorcery.

It’s also wise to monitor your opponents’ mana reserves and the size of their Goblin army. Playing instants or flash spells to remove key Goblin pieces in response to a Goblin War Strike can be a smart move, profoundly reducing the damage inflicted. Anticipate and undermine the opponent’s strategy before they amass an overwhelming force, and the threat of this card diminishes significantly.


Cards like Goblin War Strike

Goblin War Strike stands out in the realm of red direct damage spells in MTG. In a side-by-side examination with Battle Hymn, we discover that while Goblin War Strike deals damage to a player equal to the number of Goblins you control, Battle Hymn provides red mana for each creature you control. Despite serving different purposes, both thrive in a deck with a high creature count.

Moving forward, Goblin Grenade is often held in comparison with Goblin War Strike due to their shared goblin theme. Goblin Grenade demands the sacrifice of a goblin to deal a hefty five damage to any target, illustrating a different strategy than Goblin War Strike, which can result in higher damage output but requires a well-established board presence.

Ultimately, when evaluating cards with a similar goblin synergistic approach, Goblin War Strike claims its unique position. It rewards players for swarming the board with goblins, thus potentially generating massive damage reflective of the player’s army size, differentiating itself from the one-time burst of other goblin-centric spells.

Battle Hymn - MTG Card versions
Goblin Grenade - MTG Card versions
Battle Hymn - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Goblin Grenade - Fallen Empires (FEM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Goblin War Strike MTG card by a specific set like Portal Second Age and Scourge, 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 War Strike and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Goblin War Strike Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-06-24 and 2003-05-26. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-06-24Portal Second AgeP02 1051997normalblackMichael Weaver
22003-05-26ScourgeSCG 961997normalblackPete Venters

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin War Strike has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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