Goblin Shortcutter MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Goblin Shortcutter might not directly draw cards, but its battlefield entry effect can lead to card advantage by reducing the opponent’s blockers. This can allow your other creatures to connect more easily, potentially leading to drawing cards if you have certain synergies or commander abilities in play.

Resource Acceleration: While this card doesn’t provide resource acceleration in the traditional sense of ramping mana, it can effectively accelerate your game plan. By sidelining potential blockers with its entered-the-battlefield ability, the Goblin Shortcutter enables quicker attacks, helping accelerate your overall board presence and damage output.

Instant Speed: Goblin Shortcutter operates at sorcery speed as a creature, but its enter-the-battlefield influence is similar to an instant-speed effect. Upon casting, it can instantly change the state of the board by affecting the opponent’s defensive lineup. This can catch an opponent off guard and disrupt their strategy, especially if they were relying on a specific blocker to maintain their game plan.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Goblin Shortcutter does not require a card to be discarded, it is important to understand that cards with such requirements can deplete your hand and leave you at a disadvantage, compromising your game strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card necessitates red mana to cast, which can potentially restrict its inclusion in multi-colored decks that might not reliably produce red mana each turn

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the Goblin Shortcutter itself does not have a high mana cost, it’s worth considering how mana-efficient it is compared to other utility creatures in your deck, especially if playing in a fast-paced, highly competitive environment where every mana point counts.

Reasons to Include Goblin Shortcutter in Your Collection

Versatility: Goblin Shortcutter shines in decks that thrive on disrupting opponent’s strategies. Its ability to prevent a creature from blocking can be invaluable when paired with aggressive decks, looking to push through damage unimpeded.

Combo Potential: This card works exceptionally well in combos that require attackers to connect with an opponent. It sets the stage for creatures with on-hit effects or for securing a win with a heavy-hitter without the fear of an untimely block.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta populated by creature-heavy or defense-oriented decks, Goblin Shortcutter proves its worth. The simple act of sidelining a potential blocker can turn the tides of a match, making it a strategic addition to your arsenal.

How to beat

Goblin Shortcutter shines in scenarios where quick and strategic creature blocking is essential. This creature’s ability to prevent a potential blocker from being declared during combat not only paves the way for other attackers to sneak through but can swing the momentum of a game. However, there are strategies to mitigate its impact on the battlefield. First, employing instant-speed removal spells can eliminate Goblin Shortcutter before its ability comes into effect, thus keeping your defenses up. Cards like Lightning Bolt or Path to Exile can swiftly deal with the pesky goblin.

Another effective approach entails playing creatures with hexproof or shroud, rendering the Shortcutter’s ability irrelevant since it cannot target them. Alternatively, taking advantage of cards that generate multiple blockers, like Raise the Alarm, can also overwhelm the single-target nature of the Shortcutter’s effect. Keeping a diverse array of defenses in your deck is key to outmaneuvering the disruptive plays Goblin Shortcutter is known for. Adaptability and proactive removal are your best weapons in ensuring its entrance onto the field is nothing more than a minor nuisance.