Mons's Goblin Raiders MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 17 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Goblin
Power 1
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. At one mana, this card swiftly crowds the board, challenging opponents to respond to growing threats.
  2. Being a red mana-specific creature, it naturally complements fast-paced, aggressive Red Deck strategies.
  3. Though limited by simple abilities, it holds potential within Goblin synergies and casual playstyles.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Mons’s Goblin Raiders may not directly offer card draw, its low casting cost allows for a rapid deployment of creatures, boosting your board presence and forcing your opponent to deal with multiple threats simultaneously.

Resource Acceleration: This card’s affordable one red mana cost complements strategies that aim to outpace the opponent through resource acceleration. By efficiently using mana resources, players can quickly pivot to more impactful plays in subsequent turns.

Instant Speed: Although Mons’s Goblin Raiders is not an instant, its simplistic and straightforward role in a deck lends itself to a game plan that saves critical mana for instant speed interactions while steadily building a formidable goblin army.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Mons’s Goblin Raiders comes with a mana cost that requires red mana. This restriction means that the card fits primarily into red-themed decks, limiting its versatility in decks that run a multitude of colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While this card might seem cost-effective being a 1/1 for one red mana, in the grand scheme of the game, there are more impactful cards you could be playing at the same cost. The card’s effectiveness is diminished when weighed against other one-mana creatures that bring additional abilities to the battlefield.

Discard Requirement: While there’s no direct discard requirement associated with Mons’s Goblin Raiders, in competitive play, every card choice counts toward your overall strategy. Including this simple creature could mean forgoing another, potentially more synergetic card, ultimately feeling like a discard in deck optimization.


Reasons to Include Mons’s Goblin Raiders in Your Collection

Versatility: Mons’s Goblin Raiders seamlessly integrates into Red-based aggro decks, providing a solid one-drop and early pressure on the opponent.

Combo Potential: This card efficiently synergizes with Goblin tribal themes and can help to activate various Goblin-focused mechanics, such as those found in the Krenko, Mob Boss or Goblin Warchief cards.

Meta-Relevance: Though not a staple in every format, Mons’s Goblin Raiders holds historical significance and can be an affordable addition for players exploring the Pauper format or assembling a deck tailored to casual playgroups.


How to beat

Mons’s Goblin Raiders is a simple yet classic creature card in Magic: The Gathering, often considered a staple in goblin decks for its basic functionality. Representing the goblin creature type, it carries the inherent weaknesses that come with such straightforward, low-cost cards. Key to overcoming Mons’s Goblin Raiders is understanding its utility—usually as an early aggression tool or fodder for larger goblin synergies.

To effectively counteract Mons’s Goblin Raiders, control strategies are particularly effective. Utilizing cost-efficient removal spells, such as Shock or Fatal Push, can quickly dispel these creatures from the battlefield without expending significant resources. Board wipes, like Wrath of God or Damnation, are also reliable ways to clear multiple goblins at once, neutralizing the threat they present when amassed in numbers. When facing goblin decks, it’s crucial to keep their battlefield presence in check to prevent them from leveraging cards that amplify the power of goblins collectively.

Moreover, cards that deter attackers or punish the opponent for fielding creatures, like Propaganda or Ghostly Prison, can thwart the offensive plan that Mons’s Goblin Raiders contribute to. By incorporating these strategies, you’ll mitigate the impact of Mons’s Goblin Raiders and handle the challenges it may pose within the larger scope of goblin-themed decks.


Cards like Mons's Goblin Raiders

Mons’s Goblin Raiders holds a nostalgic place in Magic: The Gathering as one of the original creatures from the early sets. As a straightforward 1/1 for one red mana, it is directly comparable to cards like Raging Goblin. Unlike Mons’s Goblin Raiders, Raging Goblin has the advantage of haste, allowing it to attack the turn it comes into play, giving it an immediate impact on the game.

Mudbutton Torchrunner is another Goblin creature that offers more strategic depth. With its three mana cost, when it dies, it deals 3 damage to any target. This makes it a more flexible choice in decks looking for both board presence and potential damage output. Similarly, Goblin Arsonist presents an interesting trade-off; while it’s a 1/1 like Mons’s Goblin Raiders, its death triggers 1 damage to any target, providing additional utility.

Comparing these cards showcases the evolution of creature designs in MTG. While Mons’s Goblin Raiders may be outclassed in terms of abilities and impact, for those who appreciate the basics or the sentimental value of early MTG cards, it remains a classic choice.

Raging Goblin - MTG Card versions
Mudbutton Torchrunner - MTG Card versions
Goblin Arsonist - MTG Card versions
Raging Goblin - Portal (POR)
Mudbutton Torchrunner - Lorwyn (LRW)
Goblin Arsonist - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)

Cards similar to Mons's Goblin Raiders by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions
Hurr Jackal - MTG Card versions
Goblin Digging Team - MTG Card versions
Primordial Ooze - MTG Card versions
Goblin Artisans - MTG Card versions
Gorilla Shaman - MTG Card versions
Goblin Swine-Rider - MTG Card versions
Orcish Conscripts - MTG Card versions
Mountain Goat - MTG Card versions
Roc Hatchling - MTG Card versions
Jackal Pup - MTG Card versions
Mogg Fanatic - MTG Card versions
Flailing Soldier - MTG Card versions
Branded Brawlers - MTG Card versions
Scarred Puma - MTG Card versions
Grim Lavamancer - MTG Card versions
Enslaved Dwarf - MTG Card versions
Kessig Wolfrider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Guide - MTG Card versions
Frenzied Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Balloon Brigade - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Hurr Jackal - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Goblin Digging Team - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Primordial Ooze - Chronicles (CHR)
Goblin Artisans - Rinascimento (RIN)
Gorilla Shaman - Coldsnap Theme Decks (CST)
Goblin Swine-Rider - Visions (VIS)
Orcish Conscripts - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Mountain Goat - Portal (POR)
Roc Hatchling - Weatherlight (WTH)
Jackal Pup - The List (PLST)
Mogg Fanatic - Tenth Edition (10E)
Flailing Soldier - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Branded Brawlers - Prophecy (PCY)
Scarred Puma - Invasion (INV)
Grim Lavamancer - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Enslaved Dwarf - Torment (TOR)
Kessig Wolfrider - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Goblin Guide - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Frenzied Goblin - Magic 2015 (M15)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mons's Goblin Raiders MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Mons's Goblin Raiders and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Mons's Goblin Raiders Magic the Gathering card was released in 16 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11993-08-05Limited Edition AlphaLEA 1641993normalblackJeff A. Menges
21993-10-04Limited Edition BetaLEB 1651993normalblackJeff A. Menges
31993-12-01Unlimited Edition2ED 1651993normalwhiteJeff A. Menges
41993-12-10Collectors' EditionCED 1651993normalblackJeff A. Menges
51993-12-10Intl. Collectors' EditionCEI 1651993normalblackJeff A. Menges
61994-04-01Foreign Black BorderFBB 1671993normalblackJeff A. Menges
71994-04-01Revised Edition3ED 1671993normalwhiteJeff A. Menges
81994-06-21Summer Magic / EdgarSUM 1671993normalwhiteJeff A. Menges
91995-04-01Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border4BB 2131993normalblackJeff A. Menges
101995-04-01Fourth Edition4ED 2131993normalwhiteJeff A. Menges
111996-07-01Rivals Quick Start SetRQS 341993normalwhiteJeff A. Menges
121996-12-31Introductory Two-Player SetITP 351993normalwhiteJeff A. Menges
131997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 2511997normalwhitePete Venters
141999-07-01Starter 1999S99 1121997normalwhitePete Venters
152000-04-01Starter 2000S00 321997normalwhitePete Venters
162022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 4571997normalblackJeff A. Menges
172022-11-2830th Anniversary Edition30A 1602015normalblackJeff A. Menges

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Mons's Goblin Raiders has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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