Goblin Lookout MTG Card


Goblin Lookout - Legions
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Goblin
Released2003-02-03
Set symbol
Set nameLegions
Set codeLGN
Power 1
Toughness 2
Number101
Frame1997
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byJim Nelson

Key Takeaways

  1. Goblin Lookout offers a strategic advantage with its ability to instantly create a significant power boost.
  2. The card’s demand for goblin sacrifice can be risky but rewarding in well-prepared goblin decks.
  3. While mono-red and mana-intensive, Goblin Lookout is a compelling choice for aggressive MTG players.

Text of card

, Sacrifice a Goblin: All Goblins get +2/+0 until end of turn.

"Throw rocks at 'em! Throw spears at 'em! Throw Furt at 'em!"


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Goblin Lookout offers strategic depth by potentially expanding your field presence. When used effectively, it can help turn the tide by outnumbering your opponents with goblin tokens.

Resource Acceleration: This card synergizes well with goblin-oriented decks that capitalize on creatures, offering a rally point for overwhelming resource acceleration that can be especially potent during the combat phase.

Instant Speed: Its ability can be triggered at instant speed, giving you flexibility to enhance your forces in response to your opponent’s actions—right before damage is dealt, which can catch adversaries off guard.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of the Goblin Lookout is its activation need, which may require you to sacrifice another Goblin. This demand can lead to a depletion of your board presence, making it a risky play if you’re not prepared to lose a creature.

Specific Mana Cost: Goblin Lookout comes with a mono-red mana requirement, which restricts its flexibility. This limitation means it’s most effective only within Goblin or red-focused decks, potentially excluding it from a wider range of strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including two red, Goblin Lookout’s mana investment might be steep compared to other cards within the same mana range. Considering its ability requires an additional Goblin sacrifice to activate, the overall cost may outweigh the benefits, making it less attractive in fast-paced or mana-efficient decks.


Reasons to Include Goblin Lookout in Your Collection

Versatility: Goblin Lookout adds value to a variety of decks, particularly those that thrive on tribal synergies. Its ability to pump up your goblin army makes it a solid inclusion in any red-based aggressive deck.

Combo Potential: Known for its formidable ability to sacrifice a Goblin and give your creatures +2/+0 until end of turn, Goblin Lookout can be a game-changer. It works well with cards that capitalize on creature sacrifices or when you’re aiming for an unexpected burst of damage.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where goblin decks or aggressive strategies are prevalent, Goblin Lookout can offer the extra push needed to overpower opponents. Its strength lies in its ability to turn a board of seemingly harmless creatures into a threatening force.


How to Beat Goblin Lookout

Goblin Lookout is a unique creature within Magic: The Gathering, offering a powerful strategy for token-based red decks. Its ability to convert your goblin minions into an explosive turn of damage makes it a card that can turn the tides. When facing a deck that utilizes this card, timing and removal are crucial elements in your strategy.

To undermine this little troublemaker, keep removal spells handy. Direct damage spells such as Shock or Lightning Bolt can eliminate the Lookout before its ability becomes lethal. Board wipes are also effective; cards like Sweltering Suns or Wrath of God can clear multiple threats, including the Goblin Lookout, before an opponent utilizes its sacrifice capability. Additionally, utilizing instant-speed removal will allow you to disrupt your opponent’s play during their turn, preventing them from fully capitalising on the Lookout’s ability.

Lastly, countering key goblins or the Lookout itself with spells like Counterspell or Essence Scatter can prevent the formation of a goblin army altogether. Always be prepared to respond to the Lookout’s activation, and practice scenario planning against the red token aggro to have the upper hand.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the array of strategies in MTG is a continuous quest, and Goblin Lookout can be a valuable ally in this journey. With its ability to empower a goblin army, this card is a treasure for red decks seeking to apply pressure and seize victory. Understanding its strengths and potential drawbacks is key to deploying it effectively. Keep your arsenal diverse with removals to ward off opposing Goblin Lookouts, and never stop seeking combinations that unlock this card’s full potential. Curiosity and adaptation will lead to triumph. Enhance your deck-building prowess with us and discover strategies to conquer your next clash.


Cards like Goblin Lookout

Goblin Lookout is an intriguing creature within the expansive roster of Goblin-type cards in Magic: The Gathering. This creature bears semblance to cards like Goblin Chieftain in the sense that both bolster other Goblins. However, Goblin Lookout carries a unique ability that requires sacrificing a Goblin to grant all Goblins you control +2/+0 until end of turn. Unlike Goblin Chieftain, this effect is not constant and necessitates a greater strategic decision during play.

Looking at other similar options, Goblin Warchief is a card that accelerates your Goblin strategy by making them cost less to cast and giving them haste. While this effect is different from the power boost provided by Goblin Lookout, it’s instrumental in a fast-paced Goblin deck. Then there’s Skirk Fire Marshal, which really ups the ante with an ability to deal massive damage if you control enough Goblins, albeit at a higher mana cost and the potential downside of impacting your own life total as well.

These comparisons paint a picture where Goblin Lookout situates itself as a powerful yet risky tactical choice among Goblin-synergistic cards, enabling aggressive plays that can turn the tide of a game in the right situation.

Goblin Chieftain - MTG Card versions
Goblin Warchief - MTG Card versions
Skirk Fire Marshal - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chieftain - Resale Promos (PRES)
Goblin Warchief - Scourge (SCG)
Skirk Fire Marshal - Onslaught (ONS)

Cards similar to Goblin Lookout by color, type and mana cost

Rock Hydra - MTG Card versions
Ironclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Weaponsmith - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rock Sled - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Lieutenant - MTG Card versions
Goblin Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Heart Sliver - MTG Card versions
Mogg Flunkies - MTG Card versions
Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions
Fireslinger - MTG Card versions
Skittish Kavu - MTG Card versions
Rage Weaver - MTG Card versions
Minotaur Explorer - MTG Card versions
Sparksmith - MTG Card versions
Skirk Marauder - MTG Card versions
Goblin Raider - MTG Card versions
Hellspark Elemental - MTG Card versions
Utvara Scalper - MTG Card versions
Storm Entity - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Soldier - MTG Card versions
Rock Hydra - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Ironclaw Orcs - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Dwarven Weaponsmith - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Goblin Rock Sled - The Dark (DRK)
Dwarven Lieutenant - Fallen Empires (FEM)
Goblin Recruiter - Visions (VIS)
Heart Sliver - Tempest (TMP)
Mogg Flunkies - Stronghold (STH)
Goblin Elite Infantry - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Fireslinger - Duel Decks Anthology: Jace vs. Chandra (JVC)
Skittish Kavu - Invasion (INV)
Rage Weaver - Invasion (INV)
Minotaur Explorer - Odyssey (ODY)
Sparksmith - Onslaught (ONS)
Skirk Marauder - Legions (LGN)
Goblin Raider - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Hellspark Elemental - DCI Promos (PDCI)
Utvara Scalper - Dissension (DIS)
Storm Entity - Future Sight (FUT)
Dwarven Soldier - Masters Edition (ME1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Goblin Lookout MTG card by a specific set like Legions, 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 Lookout and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin Lookout has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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