Do you speak goblin?
Modern Deck Help forum
Posted on Jan. 4, 2018, 5:48 a.m. by WizardOfTheNorthernCoast
Hello dear T/O community!
So I've been considering playing a tribal deck for a while now. Especially Goblins because... well... Goblin Grenade. I've brewed some lists that are influenced from several builds (from Vial Goblins to 8-Whack) since I don't like to copy-paste lists found online (aka Netdecking).
I have 2 main questions for you Golbins lovers out there :
A. What is the best color to splash?
Black has some uses with Mad Auntie and Auntie's Hovel + potentially discard spells in the SB against combo decks?
Green has Atarka's Command instead of lords, essentially + decent SB options with Ancient Grudge and Destructive Revelry
White has, to me, the strongest SB options with Rest in Peace, Stony Silence, Wear and Deflecting Palm for Emrakul/Grishoalbrand/Bogles. Boros Charm can replace Atarka's Command here, by saving our dudes from wrath and being one of the strongest burn spells alongside Lightning Bolt and Goblin Grenade. However, it seems like a pretty unusual splash so I assume it's not the best?
I've seen many lists running a full playset of him. I'd like to know how good he truly is? He seems amazing T1/2 (especially with a T2 Mogg War Marshal) but also the most terrible topdeck mid/late game. I'd be inclined to only play one copy so that if I have him in my starting hand I can T1 him, otherwise I feel like I don't really want to see him. Is it a stupid way to think?
Honestly, dudes like Mogg Fanatic, Frenzied Goblin, the new Fanatical Firebrand or even Goblin Cohort all seem better to me.
If you know any long-time Goblins player who could help too, please tag them! :)
Many thanks to you all!
I think goblins are at their best as 8-whack. Also, don't plan for much of a mid/late game. It shouldn't be there, game should be over really fast, and that is why I wouldn't believe too much in vial goblins either, goblins just aren't merfolk with 2 cmc lords all over the place. What goblins do have, is some decent/great 1-drop creatures, like Foundry Street Denizen and Goblin Guide. And if you play Aether Vial, that one becomes your priority 1 drop, and the others become de facto turn 2 creatures. They are not quite as convincing turn 2 as they are turn 1.
...and that hits a bit on sideboard/splash choices too: If you sit turn 2 to 4 and hold back 2 mana, in a ca. 18 lands deck, in order to respond to a sweeper with a Boros Charm, you don't really get to develop your own way to winning much. The control/midrange deck threatening to sweep, on the other hand, gets a much better game the longer it goes.
January 4, 2018 9:01 a.m.
WizardOfTheNorthernCoast says... #4
Thanks for your feedback, Boza.
Well tbh the game should be over by T4/5, that's true. However, Mogg Fanatic or any hasty Goblin is better than him at that stage in the game. Sure you want to find a Grenade feeder above all, but if you can potentially deal damage with it without a nade, that's still better right?
Actually, since they are so cheap in price, I think imma buy all the cards an try them in various numbers until I find the perfect fit for me.
I'm more 'worried' about which color should be splashed still, because manabases are expensives and the only Shocks I don't have - anymore - are the Stomping Grounds... :)
January 4, 2018 9:03 a.m.
WizardOfTheNorthernCoast says... #5
Thx xyr0s. So you're saying I'd better go with the 8 Bushwhackers and adapt the deck accordingly? Should it be mono red, than? Or do you have some serious advantages in splashing a specific color?
January 4, 2018 9:08 a.m.
Splash green could be ok, but not really necessary. Free cards are important, too, since you need to trigger Reckless Bushwhackers surge (Manamorphose, Gut Shot, whatever else). You end up playing some cards which are like copied from a stock-list, for the simple reason that they are the best at supporting goblin-aggro. A bit in the same way that merfolk players invariably end up playing 4 Aether Vial and 4 Spreading Seas - you just can't find anything better to spend those 8 slots in your deck on.
January 4, 2018 9:46 a.m.
Flooremoji says... #8
I personally like black for goblins because you can use Mad Auntie, Fodder Launch, and Vial Smasher the Fierce.
January 5, 2018 2:27 a.m.
Not much of a modern player, Flooremoji? Vial Smasher the Fierce isn't modern legal, and Fodder Launch... well... you can get a Goblin Grenade at a much better mana cost. Mad Auntie might be ok, but she's missing a rather important keyword that Goblin Chieftain has: haste.
January 5, 2018 2:54 a.m.
antacidbrn says... #10
I honestly could never make a case for splashing colors in goblin decks. I think the biggest problem we run into as Goblin players is running out of gas after T4 and T5. I have recently discovered two useful pieces Sensation Gorger and Pyrite Spellbomb and I use Rogue's Passage in my builds. It has helped immensely.
I love Foundry Street Denzien! He is not the best Goblin, but he does work.
January 5, 2018 3:28 p.m.
Flooremoji says... #11
Sorry didn't check legality. ;). But it is better to have the fodder cannon and grenade in some circumstances, because your more likely to draw.
January 5, 2018 3:31 p.m.
Flooremoji says... #12
P.S. Never played commander in my life! So I actually am a modern player.
January 5, 2018 3:49 p.m.
The real reason to play black in Goblins is Earwig Squad. Playing him uncounterable off of Cavern of Souls says "Fuck your win conditions!" to decks like Scapeshift.
Otherwise, I'd suggest going 8-Whack. It's the most consistent Goblin build in Modern. You can splash green for Atarka's Command, but I'd probably stay mono-red since you can play a lower land count.
January 5, 2018 5:56 p.m.
MancaveMTG says... #16
Not sure what your mainboard consists of, but have you thought about splashing a couple Browbeat in there? I know it's a little slow(being 3 and all), but I have tested it in my own mono red gobs and it works amazingly good. It's either replenish hand or deal damage. It helps when you are in a bind.
January 6, 2018 7:29 a.m.
Browbeat isn't that great, and it's not due to the casting cost. Problem is, you'll never get the result you want on it. Playing against soul sisters? They'll take the 5 point life hit, which is like nothing to them, and move on with the game. Against anything with Ensnaring Bridge? You can have the cards, please, and play aaalllll the creatures you can eat - since they can't get to attack anyway. Like I said: You'll just never get the result you want, and if you pay 3 mana for the worse of those two alternatives, it's a pretty bad card.
January 6, 2018 8:26 a.m.
MancaveMTG says... #18
Every card has it's weaknesses, and every deck has it's weaknesses. That being said, I use that card and for the most part it has always been a positive result. I don't usually use it until I know that they can't afford to pay the life, OR if I'm good either way it comes out. It's just about how it's used. Maybe in your scenario it might not help, but it was just a suggestion. No need for arrogance, as that's not how to go about getting feedback from people. Was just trying to help out was all.
January 7, 2018 9:03 a.m.
Honestly Id stay mono red.Atarka's Command is a hell of a card and every color you mentioned gives you a lot of options but they hurt your mana consistency and potentially make your deck weak against BloodMoon, a card which you could play yourself if youd stay in Mono Red.I agree that 8-Whack seems the best Goblin variant in Modern so I recommend playing something like that.
As for Foundry Street Denizen its a pretty good goblin and you need powerful one drops like him to be as aggressive as possible so you should really play 4 of them.
Boza says... #2
Personally:
A: Green - you get the go-wide of Atarka's command and decent SB, which is the best of both B or W. Mono red is still a good option.
B: Yes, 4. He is especially good in multiples. Every single goblin, are bad in the mid to lategame. But who cares about that anyways? You are a turn 4-5 deck, if the game goes past that, your only relevant cards are your reach cards like bolt and grenade.
January 4, 2018 8:27 a.m.