Goblins and Being Targeted
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Feb. 14, 2017, 8:47 p.m. by Phaetion
I decided to take elves apart because I couldn't cope with being archenemied every game.
While I was exploring elves though, I wanted to expand my goblin options to include Krenko, Mob Boss. Problem is, he's notorious for the same reason I took elves apart.
Is my fear justified? If I use Krenko, will I experience the same hate as I did with Rhys the Exiled, or were my worries unwarranted? Using Wort, Boggart Auntie allowed me to fly under the radar, but Krenko escalates the problem. Am I right on this?
buildingadeck says... #3
I usually target aggro players when I play EDH because I play Tasigur control and am, thus, one of their early targets due to low creature count and the threat to end their board with ease. I would recommend Sisay if you want to play creatures. Paradox Engine has made her a tier deck, so while she might be targeted, she's powerful and consistent.
February 14, 2017 10:05 p.m.
buildingadeck: I ran Sisay a while ago, and I'm not fond of it. It didn't do much, and the consistency was off-putting.
DrLitebur: Could the same be said if I used Wort, Boggart Auntie instead? My experiences have been more kind than with elves.
February 14, 2017 10:14 p.m.
To me, goblins are goblins are goblins. I know that when I play against someone with a goblins EDH deck, they will multiply and get out of hand very rapidly, and if I do not handle them in an efficient manner they will overrun the board state of everyone else.
February 14, 2017 10:18 p.m.
Then I wonder: What shall I do? I can't cope with the pressure of being 3-1'd, I want to do stuff, but hesitant to attack, nor am I fond of combo/control. I'm a bit of an oddball in terms of what style I want to play.
February 14, 2017 10:23 p.m.
buildingadeck says... #7
You can't hesitate to attack. As goblins you're the aggro deck. Playing Goblins, you must play to win.
February 14, 2017 11:14 p.m.
Steelspike says... #8
Any kind of tribal deck usually draws my attention, along with my aggro.
Certain commanders as well. Like Kaalia of the Vast, Karador, Ghost Chieftain, Brago, King Eternal, Krenko, Mob Boss, Leovold, Emissary of Trest, etc.
Sadly, there are just some commanders that everybody knows are bullshit jank. There's nothing you can do about it except politic or spend the hundreds, or thousands, of dollars to optimize the deck so you don't have to worry about pulling aggro, you just win.
I like to build decks around commanders that not many people play, with some exceptions, of course, just for that reason. Although, as my decks get better, and I get better, folks start getting hip to it.
I guess I'm trying to say any tier 1-3 commander can be built in crazy ways where folks will target them, but there's just those ones that will pull auto-aggro.
February 14, 2017 11:46 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #9
Maybe a pillow fort deck would be right for you then! If you get a bunch of effects like Ghostly Prison down, then players can't attack you as well.
I thought of this since I'm currently enjoying playing Game of Thrones (Marchesa Primer), so it might be something you might like.
Ultimately, I understand where you are coming from, as I'm often the public enemy number one before the game begins or anyone picks their commander decks. I've gotten better with politics, but still, sometimes you have to make yourself unattractive to attack, which may be part of the reason that all three of my irl decks have commanders with deathtouch or a subtle me of deathtouch.
February 15, 2017 1:04 a.m. Edited.
Honestly, if you are playing Goblin tribal and are not playing aggro, then you are playing the wrong kind of deck. Goblins (as well as just about any red deck) is all about aggressive power moves that force others to play a reactive game, while you play an active game. Sitting on your hands just doesn't work with a red deck. That is why red is considered one of, if not the weakest, color in EDH. If you want to play a political game or playing re-actively to what your opponents set out there, white or blue are your colors in EDH.
February 15, 2017 1:11 a.m.
fadelightningmm says... #11
I personally feel if you want to run goblins don't run krenko as the commander. It will paint a target on your head. In my eyes I see krenko as hyper efficient at getting bodies on board that goes wide quick. Wort, Boggart Auntie has a slow ability that is still pretty ok. Grenzo may also be a decent choice as well
February 15, 2017 5:33 a.m.
It's simple man, if your commander is ridiculously gamechanging by itself it'll be instantly targeted and probably you as well. Obviously people will deal with the biggest problem first. They just won't sit idly and allow you to go exponential because that would be basically conceding the game.
Same thing happens to me when I use Slivers or Sheoldred, Whispering One obviously you can't allow slivers to pool up or Sheoldred to gain value.
February 15, 2017 7:15 a.m.
Ok, forgive me for the long post, but I was asleep:
buildingadeck: Alright, I posted that at night, and I suck at typing then. I don't really attack unless I see an opportunity, have a big fat creature, or a army or big 'uns.
Steelspike: That's true, I suppose.
MagicalHacker: Funny enough, Queen Marchesa was on my mind, alongside Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis (and other Ink-Treader options). However, they both require politics and politics is not my strong suit (I'm one of the more quieter types).
DrLitebur: Again, responding at night causes all kinds of mistakes. I wouldn't attack unless they were big enough and/or numerous enough.
Sending in a couple weenies against that 40-life total is oh so scary! /sarcasm
fadelightningmm: Which is why my go-to is Wort, and what you said reflected my gameplay experiences with the deck. Grenzo, Havoc Raiser, though, I might approach the tribe from that angle and see how it goes.
Ixidron: That's what I'm afraid of. I built Nath of the Gilt-Leaf once and that was exactly what happened. Rhys the Exiled was a similar issue but not as harsh.
February 15, 2017 9:53 a.m.
Phaetion: You build your army up...say 10-15 goblin tokens, and honestly that is a pretty big army. You can easily amass that in one or two turns with Krenko. Then you put someone out like Zada, Hedron Grinder, and target him with a Brute Force, or a Titan's Strength, and you have an alpha strike designed to eliminate one player in one turn. Guess what, you are a target. I have done that myself, and I Know what goblins are capable of. If you use the Pyromancer's Goggles to cast the Brute Strength or Titan's Strength or any of a dozen such spells, then you get twice the effects, and you can eliminate a whole table in one turn.
Goblins, built right, are a scary thing to have to face if you allow them even half a chance to grow a board presence.
February 15, 2017 6:17 p.m.
To answer the question. In my meta Krenko gets hated out quick
I agree with fadelightningmm, Grenzo, Havoc Raiser is a fun commander to play with. If you focus on the Goad ability you can play the political game.
It's surprising how mad player A will get at player B when they attack them even though you forced them to. All they see is a 10/10 swung at their face and make plans to remove it.
Here is a look at my Grenzo deck. It has a chaos subtheme to keep things interesting. Cry, Havoc!, and let slip the Gobs of war
February 15, 2017 7:20 p.m. Edited.
Alright, I'll give mono-red Goblins a chance with Grenzo. I'll report back to say how well I did.
DrLitebur: I'm not really a fan of Zada because she forces you to give a considerable amount of deck slots to herself. She's better off in the Command Zone, and even then I wouldn't touch her because she's too build-around for my tastes.
DrLitebur says... #2
It depends on the build. If you do a Krenko build, chances are it will include Purphoros, God of the Forge, or something of that ilk. He will get you auto-targeted as the person to get creamed, because he is a beast on the table. It is hard playing any goblin EDG deck because people know what most of them run, and know that if left alone, they will wreak havoc quickly. I have to admit though, Pyromancer's Goggles on a Goblin Rally with aforementioned Purphoros on the field really really ticked the whole table off once...but it was fun seeing their faces when they realized it worked that way.
February 14, 2017 9:57 p.m.