Goblin Assault Team MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Goblin Warrior
Abilities	Haste
Released	2019-05-03
Set symbol
Set name	War of the Spark
Set code	WAR
Power	4
Toughness	1
Number	129
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Zoltan Boros

Key Takeaways

Strengthens board presence by granting a +1/+1 counter post-mortem, enhancing battlefield tactics.
Aggressive stats for cost make for a cost-effective addition to creature-based strategies.
Synergizes well with instant speed spells, maximizing impact during pivotal turns.

Text of card

Haste When Goblin Assault Team dies, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control.

Under the veneer of the various guilds, each goblin has the same basic need: to run screaming at the enemy and hit a bunch of stuff.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Goblin Assault Team can be a key player in strategies aiming to overrun the opponent with numerous creatures. While it doesn’t directly result in drawing cards, the death-trigger it possesses can be quite pivotal. Upon its death, you get to bolster another creature’s strength, thereby preserving your board presence and sustaining offensive pressure, a subtle yet effective form of card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Although Goblin Assault Team doesn’t offer direct mana ramp, this creature contributes to resource acceleration by offering aggressive stats for its mana cost. A 4/1 creature for four mana leans into an aggressive strategy that aims to deplete the opponent’s resources quickly, forcing them to react and potentially hindering their own development.

Instant Speed: Goblin Assault Team operates at sorcery speed as a creature, but its benefit to strategies is in its synergistic play with instant speed spells and effects. With a robust assault leading to its inevitable demise, instant speed spells and abilities can be lined up to exploit its death-trigger effect, bolstering your field and maintaining momentum during a crucial turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One major drawback of Goblin Assault Team is that there’s no discard effect tied to this card, limiting interaction strategies within a game where card advantage is significant.

Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a specific mana combination to cast, demanding three generic and one red mana, potentially restricting its inclusion in multicolored or flexible decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Goblin Assault Team may arrive on the battlefield slightly later compared to other creatures. This timing can be critical, especially when faster paced decks could leverage their board presence earlier on.

Reasons to Include Goblin Assault Team in Your Collection

Versatility: Goblin Assault Team provides a solid addition to red-based aggressive decks. Its role as a 4-power creature for four mana enables it to consistently apply pressure while threatening your opponent’s life total.

Combo Potential: Upon the demise of this battalion, a +1/+1 counter can be tactically placed on another creature you control, potentially magnifying your board’s threat level or enhancing synergy with other counter-based mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where creature-based aggression is viable, Goblin Assault Team can play a crucial part in maintaining momentum against control decks while being a formidable force against other creature-focused opponents.

How to beat

The Goblin Assault Team is a notable force in MTG, embodying the aggressive and synergistic nature of Goblin decks. This card is particularly challenging due to its ability to beef up another creature with a +1/+1 counter upon death. When facing this kind of pressure, it’s crucial to manage the battlefield efficiently.

To tackle the Goblin Assault Team, consider employing removal spells that can handle multiple creatures at once, like board wipes, to prevent the counter from ever being a problem. Spot removal works, but timing is everything; use it before the Assault Team can bolster another attacker. Ensnaring creatures with Pacifism-like effects or utilizing deathtouch creatures to deter attacks are also effective strategies.

Successful defense against the Goblin Assault Team often involves anticipating your opponent’s moves and disrupting their battle plan. Control the pace of the game, and don’t let the goblin’s sacrificial nature turn the tides against you.

Cards like Goblin Assault Team

Within the realm of creature cards in MTG, Goblin Assault Team offers a unique blend of aggression and utility. This card bears some resemblance to functional allies like the Ember Hauler, which also carries a damage-dealing capability. Yet, Goblin Assault Team distinguishes itself with a focused role on empowering another creature post its own demise, granting a notable +1/+1 counter.

Another card in the conversation is the Goblin Chieftain, who, rather than focusing on a singular event, provides a constant buff to all other Goblin creatures you control, also granting them haste. While the Chieftain requires a higher investment up front, it doesn’t share the Assault Team’s trait of enhancing another creature directly. Conversely, the Tuktuk the Explorer shares a kindred spirit with the Goblin Assault Team by leaving behind a larger Golem token upon death, offering a similarly recurring value when it exits the battlefield.

In analyzing the qualities and strategic applications of each card, Goblin Assault Team holds a commendable position among creatures that offer continued value after being targeted, challenging opponents to consider the repercussions of removing this card from play.

Cards similar to Goblin Assault Team by color, type and mana cost

Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions

Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Goblin Assault Team MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark, 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 Assault Team and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin Assault Team has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2019-05-03	If Goblin Assault Team and another creature you control die simultaneously (perhaps because they were both dealt lethal damage in combat), the other creature won’t be on the battlefield when you choose a target for Goblin Assault Team’s ability. That creature can’t be saved by the +1/+1 counter that Goblin Assault Team gives.