This is a modern goblin tribal aggro deck that manages to be just fast enough to kill before some of the current combo decks, and can even beat down elf tribal. Hope you like it!
Why Two colors?
I'm still considering whether or not this is a good idea, but splashing black gives you some pretty awesome hate options. Against a creature deck you can use Dreadbore (or Ultimate Price, if you want) and Warren Weirding as removal, or you can substitute it for Thoughtseize and Inquisiton of Kozilek against anything else. Given the mana base (especially the awesome Auntie's Hovel) the second color doesn't slow the deck down at all, but it can chip away at your life in a drawn out game.
Beatdown
These are the cards that will do most of the hard work until the wincons come in and end the game.
Buffs
Goblin Bushwhacker: If you're making a big attack, or just want more goblins to feed Goblin Piledriver then this card is a great one turn buff. A cheap, but effective substitute for Goblin Chieftain.
Goblin Chieftain: The best buff card in the deck. The buff is great when you have an army of tokens to swing with, and the haste is incredibly useful in such a quick deck. (Goblin Chieftain + Krenko, Mob Boss
is a truly terrifying combo)
Mad Auntie: The buff is nice, and the regeneration ability is awesome as a combat trick or just to keep those squishy goblin piledrivers alive.
Removal
Dreadbore: Dreadbore is hurt by the fact it's a sorcery, but it's more versatile than Ultimate Price and the isn't hard to come by. Useful Removal for creature deck match-ups.
Warren Weirding: A very versatile card that can be used to force your opponent into sacing a creature, or even to give yourself more goblin tokens if need be.
Awesome
- Warren Instigator: Honestly couldn't think of a category for this one, haha. Really though this card is awesome. It keeps itself alive with the double strike and isn't expensive considering its effect. If you actually manage to hit a player with it then you can get more of your buffs or even a wincon out early which is invaluable.
Wincons
Goblin Grenade: This card can function as either removal or as burn. 5 damage really is a lot for one mana, and the secondary price of sacing a goblin shouldn't be hard to meet given this deck's abundance of tokens and other cheap goblins. If you can do some early damage enough of these cards can finish your opponent off quickly.
Goblin Piledriver: The reprint that prompted this deck! Combos with every other creature card in the deck, and with Legion Loyalist it can become a nigh unstoppable beat-stick. It is squishy, but for 2 mana it isn't hard to replace. Against blue decks it's essentially game over if you have enough other goblins. Removing your opponent's field then playing this with a Goblin Chieftain out is a truly delicious feeling. (You know you've got a good card when protection from blue is the least relevant part of it...)
Krenko, Mob Boss: Doubles the number of goblins you had out. Hell. Yes. If left alive he can quickly make your field into a nightmare for any opponent.
Great Combos:
Goblin Chieftain
+
Krenko, Mob Boss
: Assuming you have Goblin Chieftain in play you can play Krenko, Mob Boss and tap him immediately creating yet more attackers that also have haste and are buffed by the
Goblin Chieftan
!
Goblin Piledriver
+
Goblin Rabblemaster
: If Goblin Piledriver wasn't scary enough on its own now it gets bigger every turn along with the Goblin Rabblemaster.
Turn 4 Kill
Land + Legion Loyalist Swing w/ loyalist for 1.
Land + Warren Instigator Swing w/ loyalist again.
Land + Goblin Chieftain Swing with loyalist, instigator, and chieftain for 9 and put Krenko, Mob Boss onto the field with Instigator's ability. Tap Krenko for another 4 goblins.
Play Goblin Piledriver, Goblin Grenade, or even just swing. The game is likely unwinnable for your opponent at this point.
Not Included
This deck certainly isn't budget, but there are cards that I didn't include for monetary reasons:
- Goblin Guide: A great way to get yet more early damage and board presence for insanely cheap. A really good card overall, but the >$20 price is a huge turn off.
The discard version of the deck may honestly work better as the default (with Dreadbore and Warren Weirding in the sideboard), but Thoughtseize and Inquisition of Kozilek are prohibitively expensive for me. If you already own them or are willing to get them I'd suggest giving the deck a shot with them in it.
It may also work better with more copies of Warren Instigator.
Final Thoughts
I'm very fond of this deck as its the first somewhat good modern deck I've made myself, and I'd like to hear what the rest of you think about it. Thanks!
