Goblins are among the most popular and famous creature types in all ofMagic: The Gathering. These wacky, amusingly named and generally disposable critters have plenty of flavor and often feature some of the best artwork in the game.
Despite their seeming canonical buffoonery, Goblin creature decks can actually be something of a menace competitively. During the Onslaught block, Goblin typal decks featuring Goblin Piledriver and Goblin Warchief were huge, but neither of those two impactful Gobbos are going to be featured on this list, as only one-mana Goblins are allowed. So, grab your grenades and verify to aim your cannons the right way, and let’s explore the finest Goblin one-drops in MTG history.
13Mogg Fanatic
Defining The Modern Goblin
The list begins with a classic Goblin that debuted all the way back in the Tempest expansion in 1997. While not overly impressive these days, this sacrificial Gobbo saw a decent amount of competitive play in “Sligh” decks of yore.
Even still, being able to sacrifice this Goblin for 1 damage to any target at will is useful. Also, its artwork coupled with its flavor text makes for an incredibly funny design, and it set the stage for many other amusing Goblins.
12Tin Street Dodger
Artful And Usually Unblockable
Printed in the same set asCavalcade of Calamity, this Goblin, along with other cheap one-power creatures, made for a fun budget deck during the (unofficial) Guilds of Ravnica block that was actually fairly competitive due to its sheer speed.
While a 1/1 hasty Goblin is pretty bare bones, it’s activated ability makes it unblockable unless the defending player has a creature with defender, which is highly unlikely and eminently useful in Goblin decks.
11Fanatical Firebrand
“Ping You For One”
Speaking of hasty 1/1 Goblins, Fanatical Firebrand from Ixalan block is a strictly better version of the omnipresent, formative Goblin card:Raging Goblin. Tacking on the ability to “ping” any target for one damage is incredibly impressive on a one-power, one-drop Goblin.
In the old days of MTG, tapping a creature to deal a single point of damage was highly effective, and it used to costthree mana on a 1/1 creature– without haste. (“Back in my day” alert, I know.)
10Goblin Sledder/Mogg Raider
Two Cards, Same Ability, Classic Gobbies
These creatures share the exact same ability, though my preference is for the Sledder due to its terrific Ron Spencer art as well as the (again) extremely funny flavor text. The whole point of Goblin decks (usually) is to produce a ton of Goblins, either through mana acceleration, token generation or any other broken synergies and then swing in for lethal damage immediately thanks to haste-giving Goblin lords (such asGoblin WarchieforGoblin Chieftain).
If your foe has some blockers or has some other combat trick to stop your attack, Goblin Sledder or Mogg Raider can help boost your unblocked creatures. And because you should have many Goblins on the battlefield, this card can truly swing a game if you play it right.
9Fireblade Charger
Pairs Well With Colossus Hammer
A favorite in theColossus Hammer combo deck, this unassuming Gobbo combos beautifully with that undercosted equipment. Simply dropSigarda’s Aidturn one, then this Goblin on turn two along with the Colossus Hammer and you’re swinging for 11 damage out of nowhere.
Even if your foe has a Fatal Push or other kill spell in hand, your consolation prize is a cool 11 damage straight to their head.
8Cacophony Scamp
Pairs Even Better With Colossus Hammer
While Fireblade Charger gets haste when equipped in the Colossus Hammer deck, this Goblin is likely the better option on turn one if you have it. Currently seeing standard play as well inMonored Aggro decks, its best home is alongside the Hammer.
Simply play this on turn one, then drop Sigarda’s Aid and then Colossus Hammer on turn two and you’re once again swinging for 11 damage straight away. However, Cacophony Scamp can actually sacrifice itself for free when it deals combat damage to a player. That means if your foe doesn’t play a creature or have any way of stopping your attack, you may attack and deal 11 damage to your opponent, then sacrifice the Scamp immediately to deal them another 11 damage – ending the game on the spot.
7Foundry Street Denizen
Play More Goblins, Grow Big Denizen
While the power level of those last two cards is staggeringly high, they are reliant on an incredibly high-powered piece of equipment and a gimmicky enchantment. While combos are fun, this Gatecrash-printed one-mana Goblin works far better in “normal” Goblin decks.
Putting tons of Goblins into play as rapidly as possible suits Foundry Street Denizen perfectly, and its ability makes it an important creature that will always requires a blocker. And if you give it trample, watch out!
6Goblin Welder
Trade Your Ornithopter For A Shiny Blightsteel Colossus
When this Gobbo was printed way back in Urza’s Legacy, it helped fuel some utterly broken starts to games and helped to define Urza’s block as one that was chock-full of completely insane artifact synergies.
Even still, the ability to swap any artifact token (be it Treasure, Blood, Clue or Map) for aBlightsteel Colossus,Sundering TitanorInkwell Leviathanon turn two means that the Welder is still a tremendously powerful one-mana Goblin.
5Legion Loyalist
Just What Modern Goblin Decks Are Looking For
Now we’re getting to the cream of the crop. With the baseline of a 1/1 hasty Goblin, this creature’s battalion ability is what makes it an important cog in any notable Goblin deck, and its tremendous power level means that it still sees plenty of play inmodern-format Goblin decks.
When it attacks with at least two other creatures, which, in Goblin decks, should be always, creatures you control gain first strike AND trample until of turn. If you have tons of Goblins on the battlefield due to any number of strategies we’ve talked about, that trigger can be backbreaking for your foe – especially when paired with Foundry Street Denizen.
4Goblin Lackey
This Lackey Certainly Isn’t Lacking Power
This bonkers Goblin was once banned in the legacy format, and it’s easy to see why. The ability to chuck down any Goblin creature from your hand as early as turn two can put the game out of hand fast, as one of the many, many Goblin creatures that either boosts other Goblins or produces Goblin tokens can completely turn the game.
Originally printed in Urza’s Saga, this one-mana critter still fetches quite a sum on the secondary market due to its near-obscene power level as well as its scarcity, having only been printed in one set officially.
