Goblin Warrens MTG Card
1994-11-01 - Number 59
1997-03-24 - Number 238
1999-04-21 - Number 187
2011-01-10 - Number 123
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
Key Takeaways
- Card advantage is key, Goblin Warrens efficiently expands your goblin army without drawing cards.
- Instant-speed activation allows for strategic flexibility, making your forces unpredictable.
- Versatile in red-based decks, Goblin Warrens enables combos and reflects meta-relevance in creature-focused games.
Text of card
oo R Sacrifice two Goblins to put three Goblin tokens into play. Treat these tokens as 1/1 red creatures.
"Goblins bred underground, their numbers hidden from the enemy until it was too late." —*Sarpadian Empires, vol. IV*
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Goblin Warrens presents a reliable method for multiplying your goblin forces, effectively amassing card advantage without directly drawing cards. This key functionality turns each of your small goblins into potentially game-altering assets, helping you stay ahead of your opponents.
Resource Acceleration: As an enchantment that creates additional creature tokens, Goblin Warrens acts as a form of resource acceleration. By converting existing goblins into even more units, you’re rapidly expanding your board presence and potential mana sources if you’re pairing it with other cards that benefit from numerous creatures.
Instant Speed: While Goblin Warrens itself doesn’t function at instant speed, it provides instant-speed flexibility. This means you can activate its ability at the end of your opponent’s turn or in response to an action, making your army unpredictable and difficult to manage for your adversary.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Playing Goblin Warrens necessitates parting with another card from your hand, which could deplete your hand too quickly if not managed carefully.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both generic and red mana, Goblin Warrens can be a challenging fit in multicolored decks that may have inconsistent mana bases.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Investing three mana might be demanding, especially since it doesn’t impact the board immediately, and might hinder your tempo against faster decks.
Reasons to Include Goblin Warrens in Your Collection
Versatility: Goblin Warrens offers flexibility in various red-based decks, allowing you to create additional Goblin tokens that serve diverse roles, from attackers to blockers or fodder for other abilities.
Combo Potential: This enchantment shines by enabling explosive turns, particularly in combo builds that capitalize on multiplying creatures for either sacrifice mechanics or overwhelming swarm strategies.
Meta-Relevance: In a metagame that favors creature-centric approaches or where token strategies are prevalent, Goblin Warrens proves to be a useful tool to keep pace with or outmaneuver opponents’ strategies.
How to beat
Goblin Warrens is a notorious card that can quickly overwhelm opponents with a swarm of Goblin tokens in Magic: The Gathering. This enchantment thrives by sacrificing two Goblins to create three, essentially offering players a path to multiply their army indefinitely. When stacking up a strategy to keep this card in check, efficient removal spells are key. Cards like Wrath of God, which can clear an entire board of creatures regardless of their size, become invaluable.
Board control is also essential – employing cards with “each creature” effects rather than single-target removal can prevent the exponential growth facilitated by Goblin Warrens. Furthermore, enchantment removal such as Naturalize or Disenchant play a pivotal role in eliminating the Goblin Warrens before it can catalyze a tide of tokens. Lastly, implementing early pressure to keep a Goblin player on the back foot and limit their access to creatures for sacrifice often proves to be an effective tactic. By dismantling the foundations on which Goblin Warrens operates – the Goblins themselves – the enchantment becomes significantly less daunting.
Ultimately, preparing for and promptly addressing the Goblin-spawning enchantment can mean the difference between a manageable board state and an unrelenting Goblin horde in your Magic: The Gathering matchups.
Cards like Goblin Warrens
Goblin Warrens finds its place among the myriad of token-generating assets in the world of Magic: The Gathering. The closest relatives to this enchantment include Krenko, Mob Boss and Siege-Gang Commander, both of which proliferate the battlefield with Goblin tokens. Krenko, Mob Boss, shines in the realm of token generation with its potential for exponential growth based on the number of Goblins you control. However, unlike Krenko’s straightforward ability, Goblin Warrens requires a sacrifice and mana investment to create merely two tokens.
Moving to Siege-Gang Commander, it brings immediate value upon entering the battlefield, adding three Goblin tokens to your army. In addition, it provides a built-in mechanism to fling Goblins at opponents for direct damage. While Goblin Warrens also allows for a steady stream of tokens over time, the Commander’s impact is immediate and offers additional flexibility for using your tokens offensively. Yet, the Warrens offers continuity that can be significant in longer, grindy matches.
Despite the various operational differences, Goblin Warrens maintains a unique niche. Its continuous token generation creates persistent pressure on opponents, especially in decks fine-tuned to capitalize on an ever-increasing Goblin horde.
Cards similar to Goblin Warrens by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Goblin Warrens MTG card by a specific set like Fallen Empires and Fifth Edition, 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 Warrens and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See Magic products
Printings
The Goblin Warrens Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1994-11-01 and 2011-01-10. Illustrated by Dan Frazier.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994-11-01 | Fallen Empires | FEM | 59 | 1993 | normal | black | Dan Frazier | |
| 2 | 1997-03-24 | Fifth Edition | 5ED | 238 | 1997 | normal | white | Dan Frazier | |
| 3 | 1999-04-21 | Classic Sixth Edition | 6ED | 187 | 1997 | normal | white | Dan Frazier | |
| 4 | 2011-01-10 | Masters Edition IV | ME4 | 123 | 1997 | normal | black | Dan Frazier |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin Warrens has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Goblin Warrens card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | The token Goblins can be sacrificed to the Warrens to generate new Goblins. |
