Goblin War Buggy MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Goblin
Abilities	Echo,Haste
Released	1998-10-12
Set symbol
Set name	Urza's Saga
Set code	USG
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	196
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	DiTerlizzi

Key Takeaways

Offers card advantage and fits well in goblin tribal decks without depleting your hand.
Low mana-cost accelerates board state in aggressive red and goblin strategies.
Supports instant-speed play, forcing opponents to make difficult decisions.

Text of card

Echo (During your next upkeep after this permanent comes under your control, pay its casting cost or sacrifice it.) Goblin War Buggy is unaffected by summoning sickness.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Goblin War Buggy in your deck, you reap the benefits of adding a hard-hitting creature to the battlefield while retaining cards in hand. A key advantage of this card is its knack for synergizing well in decks built around goblin tribal themes, where each goblin played can contribute to an overwhelming board presence, pushing you further along the winning path without losing card momentum.

Resource Acceleration: Resource acceleration is paramount in the fast-paced world of MTG, and Goblin War Buggy doesn’t disappoint. Its relatively low mana cost augments your battlefield presence swiftly, ensuring you can expend mana on other crucial spells or abilities. Deploying this goblin quickly can overwhelm opponents and accelerate your board state immensely, especially in aggressive strategies that capitalize on cheap creatures.

Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, the inclusion of Goblin War Buggy prompts consideration for support cards within that speed. It enhances strategies where playing at instant speed is pivotal by maintaining pressure on the opponent whilst still being able to react to their moves. Having the Buggy on board means any instant-speed buffs or interaction becomes more threatening, nudging your opponent into difficult decisions and keeping them on their toes.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Goblin War Buggy card demands that you discard another card to activate certain abilities. This could be a significant downside when your hand is already depleted, as it forces you to sacrifice more resources to leverage the Buggy’s potential.

Specific Mana Cost: Deploying Goblin War Buggy requires a precise blend of mana types, making it less flexible. If your deck isn’t specifically tailored to generate the exact mana needed, you may find the Buggy stuck in your hand with no way to play it.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluated against other options available within the same mana range, Goblin War Buggy may not be the most mana-efficient creature for its power level. This might lead players to opt for alternative creatures or spells that provide greater value or impact on the game for the same or lower mana investment.

Reasons to Include Goblin War Buggy in Your Collection

Versatility: Goblin War Buggy’s haste ability enables it to impact the game immediately, making it a fine addition to fast-paced aggro decks. Its adaptability in various Red or Goblin-themed strategies can also provide early pressure on opponents.

Combo Potential: Within a Goblin deck, the War Buggy can synergize with other cards that capitalize on creatures entering and leaving the battlefield. Additionally, its speed complements strategies aiming to overwhelm opponents quickly or to unlock synergies with attack-triggered abilities.

Meta-Relevance: As the metagame frequently adapts, cards that offer an immediate presence, like Goblin War Buggy, maintain their importance. Its role in applying early game pressure aligns well with meta environments that are vulnerable to quick, aggressive tactics.

How to beat

Goblin War Buggy enters the battlefield with a burst of speed and aggression, synonymous with the rush and fervor of Goblin-style play in Magic: The Gathering. Attacking as soon as it enters the battlefield thanks to its haste ability, this Goblin vehicle forces opponents to quickly find answers or risk early damage to their life total.

To effectively counter this threat, it’s important to prioritize removal spells that can target artifacts or creatures at instant speed. Consider cards like Abrade, which offer versatility in dealing with creatures or artifacts, or Naturalize and its various iterations for more specific artifact destruction. Managing your blockers to ensure they are untapped before the Buggy revs up is also key. This may mean adjusting your play strategy to leave mana open during your opponent’s turn or ensuring that creatures with summoning sickness from your last turn are ready to block. Remember, the Buggy’s impact tends to wane as the game progresses, so surviving its initial onslaught often tilts the game in your favor as you stabilize the board and establish a more commanding presence.

In essence, with a vigilant defense and a well-timed removal, the rush of the Goblin War Buggy can be effectively contained, helping you maintain control of the game and eventually drive towards victory.

Cards like Goblin War Buggy

Goblin War Buggy enters the vast array of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering with a blend of speed and aggression. It bears resemblance to cards like Raging Goblin, which also serves as a quick offensive threat ready to do damage right away courtesy of haste. However, Goblin War Buggy has an upper hand with a bit more resilience due to its higher toughness.

Another card within the same sphere is Goblin Chariot, echoing the haste attribute yet again, but it’s sturdier with one additional point in both power and toughness. Despite its advantages in stats, Goblin Chariot doesn’t have the echo cost feature that Goblin War Buggy has, which requires a duplicate mana payment in the next turn for those wanting to maintain the pressure on the battlefield.

Examining these cards side by side illustrates the nuanced balance between cost, power, and ongoing mana investment. Goblin War Buggy, while not the strongest, provides players with a tactical decision on whether to sustain its presence on the board or allow it to serve its purpose in an explosive, albeit temporary, manner.

Cards similar to Goblin War Buggy by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Goblin War Buggy MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga, 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 War Buggy and other MTG cards: