Scarwood Goblins MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Goblin
Released	1994-08-01
Set symbol
Set name	The Dark
Set code	DRK
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	94
Frame	1993
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ron Spencer

Key Takeaways

Provides card advantage through consistent board presence and pressure on the opponent.
Allows for quicker play by lowering costs of related spells, enhancing tempo.
Combines well with instant spells, enabling strategic reactions during opponent’s turn.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Scarwood Goblins is notable for providing consistent board presence, which in turn can translate to card advantage in the long run. With each attack, you might find yourself outpacing your opponent by applying pressure and forcing them to deal with multiple threats.

Resource Acceleration: This dynamic card offers a unique form of resource acceleration. By potentially lowering the cost of your future goblin spells or red spells, it can allow you to deploy multiple threats in a single turn, thereby increasing your tempo and overall board impact.

Instant Speed: While Scarwood Goblins itself isn’t an instant, it synergizes well with spells you may cast at instant speed. By building a board of goblin allies quickly, you prime your strategy to respond to opponents’ actions on their turn with your now-available goblin tribe, enhancing both your offensive and reactive capabilities.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Scarwood Goblins demand a card to be discarded as part of their casting which may not always align well with your hand, particularly in the late game when hand size tends to be smaller.

Specific Mana Cost: This tribal creature requires a mix of red and green mana, making it less versatile in decks that aren’t dedicated to those colors or that struggle with mana fixing.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost that might be considered steep for its overall impact on the game, Scarwood Goblins may not offer the best value for the mana invested when compared to other cards at similar mana points.

Reasons to Include Scarwood Goblins in Your Collection

Versatility: Scarwood Goblins are flexible enough to slot into numerous deck strategies, excelling in builds that prefer creatures able to serve multiple roles on the battlefield.

Combo Potential: These Goblins synergize well with effects that reward you for casting creature spells or having multiple creatures of the same type, paving the way for potential explosive plays.

Meta-Relevance: As creature-based strategies frequently dominate the gameplay, Scarwood Goblins can be surprisingly effective in the right meta, specifically where their speed and tribal benefits can be maximized.

How to beat

Scarwood Goblins holds a unique position in the realm of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering. These creatures carry the potential to enhance their power, but tapping into this ability requires a cost. This aspect of resource management is where a strategic player can gain an advantage. The key to triumphing over Scarwood Goblins lies in controlling when and how your opponent can utilize their resources.

Efficient use of removal spells at crucial moments can dismantle an opponent’s strategy around Scarwood Goblins. By waiting for your opponent to invest in pumping their goblins’ strength, then responding with targeted removal, the value they lose is twofold – the mana spent and the creature itself. Additionally, since these goblins do not have haste, planning your moves to disrupt them before they can be used offensively is essential.

Ultimately, dealing with Scarwood Goblins is a matter of smart timing and resource manipulation. Aim to exploit the moments when your adversary commits their mana to empowering their goblins. By doing so, you’ll not only nullify their immediate threat but also keep them on the back foot, managing their resources more carefully and possibly hesitating to invest fully in their Scarwood Goblins in future turns.

Cards like Scarwood Goblins

Scarwood Goblins offers adventurers of the MTG realm a unique take on the classic Goblin creature. Its kinship with cards like Goblin Piker is evident as both share the same mana cost and power/toughness ratio. However, Scarwood Goblins steps out from the Goblin Piker’s shadow with its potentially game-altering forestwalk ability. This ability allows it to be unblockable as long as the opponent controls a forest, offering strategic advantages in certain matchups.

Moving along the spectrum, we come across Mogg Conscripts, another Goblin card that lends itself to aggressive strategies but requires a different approach due to its attack-restriction condition. Mogg Conscripts can’t attack unless you’ve played a creature spell this turn, which necessitates a more creature-heavy deck build. Scarwood Goblins, meanwhile, offers a more straightforward and consistent attack option.

Examining these and other Goblin cards can help MTG players appreciate the nuances of deck building. Each card reflects a balance of strengths and limitations, pushing players to consider broader synergy within their deck’s theme. While the forestwalk ability of Scarwood Goblins might not always be relevant, when it is, it can be a game-changer, paving the path for an unanticipated victory.

Cards similar to Scarwood Goblins by color, type and mana cost

Gallia of the Endless Dance - MTG Card versions

Disciple of the Old Ways - MTG Card versions

Burning-Tree Emissary - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Scarwood Goblins MTG card by a specific set like The Dark, 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 Scarwood Goblins and other MTG cards: