OK, so I built a new deck that I REALLY like. It plays real well. I also feel it might be actually competitive at something like a grand prix. I know you are probably like, "Yeah, right. The best decks are in the meta and that's it. Hands down." And, I would be the same if I saw this thread. But, we all know there can always be better. I am not a pro player, but I am hoping to be one eventually. But that's why I need some help. I don't entirely want to show it to you guys, but I really need some help with the deck. I currently have it built and plays nicely. Ok, so, without any further ado, here it is:
Goblin Chieftain: This is probably the MOST important in the deck. While it is never what you start with, the haste ability is the main reason you want it. If you can Collected Company by turn 4, 5, or, 6, the Chieftain can actually end it with someone else such as Goblin Guide, Goblin Rabblemaster, another Goblin Chieftain, or one of my favorites, Goblin King. He's very powerful.
Goblin King: The +1/+1 ability is real cool about this guy, but thats not why he's mainboarded. That mountainwalk ability is GREAT. He is just great. Even though this isn't as game-ending as Goblin Chieftain, it can make some of your attacks much more worthy. Instead of hitting them unsure if they'll block, you can swing as free as you want, unless they are not playing red. But, Stomping Ground and Lightning Bolt are the most played cards in modern, so most of the people you'll go up against are playing red. Plus, because he buffs your goblins, he can actually make you swing lethal unblockable. Pretty great.
Goblin Guide: Probably your best 1-drop. You guys know why. Only thing I need to say is because he has 2 power, your lords can buff him to be REALLY powerful.
Legion Loyalist: This can really help against other aggro-based creature decks. Trample, first strike, and can't be blocked by tokens. It pretty much makes him and every other attacking creature to have a some kind of "failsafe", and the trample can push the rest of the damage through the creature blocking it.
Goblin Rabblemaster: This card actually adds a LOT of tempo to the game. If 100% unanswered, it can win in three turns. A REALLY great card, but it does have a rather small drawback. Forcing every goblin to attack each combat isn't the most helpful, but paired up with either Goblin Grenade or Goblin Chieftain (or even both for greatest effect) it can end the game very abruptly.
Shared Animosity: Probably the least explosive out of these cards but really helpful. It's pretty straightforward after you read the card. It has led me to swing for a lot from very little before. If they have no blockers and you have a couple of unkicked Goblin Bushwhacker and 2 Legion Loyalist to swing for a LOT.
So, After looking at this, the deck is very explosive. The main point is to have a smaller force that gets a sudden lethal buff. If you read through the above cards and why they are in the deck, in every entry there is something about how I all of a sudden swing lethal. Even the smallest force can get double buffs and actually just win the game. I really like the way the deck plays. Now, for the sideboard, I added:
4 Kataki, War's Wage: Affinity. Enough said.
4 Selfless Spirit: When the boardwipes hit, I can sack this and keep my very valuable force alive. Boros Charm is mainboarded just in case and it deals 4 damage if needed
3 Blood Moon: Does this one even need a description?
3 Dragon's Claw Against burn. If we are both playing red, it is real helpful. And, all my spells are red. (Except Collected Company
1 Goblin King: Usually goes in, but I don't want to draw this if I don't need it, so there is only 3 mainboarded.
I do want to add Pithing needle, but it doesn't seem effective enough. Wudda you think I should add.
What do you guys think? It is very original compared to the all the decks in the meta (except for Merfolk, I guess) and looks like it'll work really well. Please tell me, your help will be highly appreciated. Heck, proxy the deck and test it out at your LGS. (I can't because mine is not competitive at ALL)
I like the Second Sunrise idea, except I'd be playing it in eggs. But as Eggs got the card banned, we can't have that. Sad day.
Izzetmage did bring up a good point. In some decks added defensive cards will detract from your game plan. If you are aiming to be faster than your opponent, then adding these sort of cards will slow you down. At that point you have to learn to bait the wrath, play around it, and understand what it means to over and under extend. If you aren't playing a lot of token makers you can splash for Collected Company which helps you recover. There is some math on CoCo as to what sort of creature density you should aim for when running it here.
Thanks! I have been thinking about adding Collected Company for some time now, as I already have green in the mana base. The deck is more mid-range goblins (well, "mid-range" for a goblin deck), so I have a good amount of the 3-drops that will be played well by company. My deck is not meant to be the fastest, because it would be crippled if we go to turn 6. As it stands, I am playing RWG. So, the deck isn't meant to be that fast
Should you even be playing defensive cards against board wipes in the first place? Instinctively, you'll think "my opponent is going to board in board wipes, of course I need an answer for that!", but from my experience playing Goblins, you can fight through board wipes pretty easily without SBing anything special for them. Three reasons:
1) You have creatures with haste, or that grant haste. Board wipes are sorcery speed, so if you manage to do something like Mogg War Marshal + Goblin Bushwhacker and your opponent wipes the board next turn, the damage is already done. Second, when your opponent wipes the board, he kills his own creatures as well. You can take advantage of the empty board, play some creatures with haste and get in for free damage.
2) Goblin Grenade gives you a lot of reach. Of course, you need a Goblin in hand to cast it after a wipe, but it kills them from higher life totals than Lightning Bolt. Two hasted team attacks leaves them low enough to be burned out by Grenade.
3) You have 2-for-1s (Mogg War Marshal, Krenko's Command, Dragon Fodder). A board wipes that kills two tokens and a third Goblin is actually only a 2-for-1, not 3-for-1, since those two tokens came into play from 1 card.
I would advise playing something like Hordeling Outburst instead of defensive cards like Heroic Intervention. The idea is it's still card that helps your deck do its thing, a little slower, but lets you recover when you're down resources, as you can expect against an opponent playing removal. If you play a Goblin on turn one, two Goblins on turn two and your opponent wipes the board, a turn 3 Hordeling Outburst refreshes your board presence and presses your opponent into finding answers again.
I like this idea, BUT when they have the mana for the boardwipe or find a useful time for the boardwipe, I usually have already dumped my hand onto the battlefield. Then, I'll most likely draw too many bricks to re-establish the great board presence I recently had. But, I did edit the deck a bit to really make it consistent enough to play a couple other spells. I have 3-4 Boros Charms mainboarded so I can make my army indestructible if needed, but also burn something/someone out just in case. I honestly probably will never use the double strike ability unless it lets me swing lethal. Blood Moon is also in the deck to wreck their mana base, not allowing for them to cast their boardwipes.
Just so everyone knows, this is NOT a 100% swing all aggro deck. It has a bit higher of a curve than the normal modern goblin deck. The boardwipes are more common when the game takes longer, so I need to keep my creatures alive and not burn out too quickly.
In order to help you I need more information:
1)What color/colors are you running? Most colors have answers but they are often different. I want to cater to your deck, not make it mine or some we-deck-wins copy,
2)What colors or board wipes are you facing? There are a lot, even just in modern. Also Upheaval is not Worldfire and not Terminus, nor In Garruk's Wake. Yes they clear your creatures, but in very different ways which often leads to different strategies of resistance.
3)What creatures are you running? Are you running plane old indestructibles like Darksteel Gargoyle? Undying creatures like Nearheath Stalker? Creatures with haste like Raging Goblin? Tokens galore with Krenko, Mob Boss? I sadly can't think of a hexproof red creature off the top of my head, but you get the idea: a decklist of what you currently got or are planning would go a long way for us getting you the help you want for wipes.
The easiest advice I can tell you from just reading context is if you kill them before they can cast board wipes (typically at LEAST turn four), there isn't an issue. The problem with that is that you would build a deck that is all early game with no mid-to-late game strategy and absolute rubbish in multiplayer without EXTENTSIVE planning.
Let us know what you got so far and what kind of wipes you are facing!
Ok, so it is a goblin deck, but more of aggro-midrange goblins. I am expecting Anger of the Gods and Damnation, so indestructible seems to be the way to go. I am probably planning on running Selfless Spirits and Boros Charms, as these are only white/red and seem to be the best options for me. Now, should I have Heroic Intervention sideboarded, because there are the exile all creature effects that I don't plan on running into, but there is always the possibility. I DO care about my creatures, so I do not entirely want to clear the board on myself, because I do not have enough card draw power to re-establish my board presence. Also, giving all my creatures hexproof/shroud would be nice as this protects them from just about everything.
So, I'm making a new tribal deck that is pretty creature heavy, but these creatures aren't big at all. Boardwipes are scary and I need something to combat them. I prefer red, but any color would work. I know I could just use negate, but I'm trying to make it a little more flexible, like the new aether revolt card that is one green mana and one of any. This makes all creatures you control hexproof and indestructible. I'd also like it if has a cheap casting cost, like 4 mana max, but as I said, ANYTHING is helpful, even just knowing about nine mana ones. Thanks!
What about Goblin Guide? Burn and zoo has because a big part of the metagame, and this can fit in both (Well, some zoo . . .). Also, Monastery Swiftspear and, some fetchlands maybe?
How about mono-red burn-goblins? Or, as I like to call it, goburns? I have never seen why they can't reach real high in the meta. They do suffer a bit of SB hate, such as Anger of the Gods. But, so does abzan and jund.
This is the one I am thinking about using. It could have a bit more burn. You do want the rabblemaster down turn one, I am thinking of adding the Eiodolon of the great Revel, but it isn't burny enough yet. Suggestions are welcome and recommended. I was thinking about adding Shared Animosity, but that one is three mana. I was still working on a sideboard, mainly for artifact hate as affinity is annoying and one of, if not the, biggest meta in modern. And, Goblin King for help against red decks. He would replace the chieftain. Also, Dolmen Gate is a definate sideboard choice against Anger of the Gods, or Pyroclasm
How about mono-red burn-goblins? Or, as I like to call it, goburns? I have never seen why they can't reach real high in the meta. They do suffer a bit of SB hate, such as Anger of the Gods. But, so does abzan and jund.
This is the one I am thinking about using. It could have a bit more burn. You do want the rabblemaster down turn one, I am thinking of adding the Eiodolon of the great Revel, but it isn't burny enough yet. Suggestions are welcome and recommended. I was thinking about adding Shared Animosity, but that one is three mana. I was still working on a sideboard, mainly for artifact hate as affinity is annoying and one of, if not the, biggest meta in modern. And, Goblin King for help against red decks. He would replace the chieftain.
Edit: Sorry, I guess you guys are right. It had burn, but it still wasnt a burn deck.
4 Mountain
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Bloodstained Mire
4 Arid Mesa
2 Sacred Foundry
1 Stomping Ground
Non-Creature Spells:
4 Collected Company
4 Boros Charm
3 Goblin Grenade
3 Shared Animosity
4 Goblin Chieftain
4 Goblin Rabblemaster
4 Goblin Guide
4 Legion Loyalist
4 Goblin Bushwhacker
3 Goblin King
2 Foundry Street Denizen
2 Goblin Piledriver
4 Kataki, War's Wage
4 Selfless Spirit
3 Blood Moon
3 Dragon's Claw
1 Goblin King
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
OK, so, it is clearly a goblin deck. But, unlike most others, it is more of a Lords Company deck. The most important cards are:
Collected Company: You all know this card and what it does. In this case, it grabs your lords for crazy cheap. Best combos are probably Goblin Chieftain with either: Goblin King, Goblin Rabblemaster, or another Goblin Chieftain.
Goblin Chieftain: This is probably the MOST important in the deck. While it is never what you start with, the haste ability is the main reason you want it. If you can Collected Company by turn 4, 5, or, 6, the Chieftain can actually end it with someone else such as Goblin Guide, Goblin Rabblemaster, another Goblin Chieftain, or one of my favorites, Goblin King. He's very powerful.
Goblin King: The +1/+1 ability is real cool about this guy, but thats not why he's mainboarded. That mountainwalk ability is GREAT. He is just great. Even though this isn't as game-ending as Goblin Chieftain, it can make some of your attacks much more worthy. Instead of hitting them unsure if they'll block, you can swing as free as you want, unless they are not playing red. But, Stomping Ground and Lightning Bolt are the most played cards in modern, so most of the people you'll go up against are playing red. Plus, because he buffs your goblins, he can actually make you swing lethal unblockable. Pretty great.
Goblin Guide: Probably your best 1-drop. You guys know why. Only thing I need to say is because he has 2 power, your lords can buff him to be REALLY powerful.
Legion Loyalist: This can really help against other aggro-based creature decks. Trample, first strike, and can't be blocked by tokens. It pretty much makes him and every other attacking creature to have a some kind of "failsafe", and the trample can push the rest of the damage through the creature blocking it.
Goblin Rabblemaster: This card actually adds a LOT of tempo to the game. If 100% unanswered, it can win in three turns. A REALLY great card, but it does have a rather small drawback. Forcing every goblin to attack each combat isn't the most helpful, but paired up with either Goblin Grenade or Goblin Chieftain (or even both for greatest effect) it can end the game very abruptly.
Shared Animosity: Probably the least explosive out of these cards but really helpful. It's pretty straightforward after you read the card. It has led me to swing for a lot from very little before. If they have no blockers and you have a couple of unkicked Goblin Bushwhacker and 2 Legion Loyalist to swing for a LOT.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
So, After looking at this, the deck is very explosive. The main point is to have a smaller force that gets a sudden lethal buff. If you read through the above cards and why they are in the deck, in every entry there is something about how I all of a sudden swing lethal. Even the smallest force can get double buffs and actually just win the game. I really like the way the deck plays. Now, for the sideboard, I added:
4 Kataki, War's Wage: Affinity. Enough said.
4 Selfless Spirit: When the boardwipes hit, I can sack this and keep my very valuable force alive. Boros Charm is mainboarded just in case and it deals 4 damage if needed
3 Blood Moon: Does this one even need a description?
3 Dragon's Claw Against burn. If we are both playing red, it is real helpful. And, all my spells are red. (Except Collected Company
1 Goblin King: Usually goes in, but I don't want to draw this if I don't need it, so there is only 3 mainboarded.
I do want to add Pithing needle, but it doesn't seem effective enough. Wudda you think I should add.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What do you guys think? It is very original compared to the all the decks in the meta (except for Merfolk, I guess) and looks like it'll work really well. Please tell me, your help will be highly appreciated. Heck, proxy the deck and test it out at your LGS. (I can't because mine is not competitive at ALL)
Thanks!!!
Thanks! I have been thinking about adding Collected Company for some time now, as I already have green in the mana base. The deck is more mid-range goblins (well, "mid-range" for a goblin deck), so I have a good amount of the 3-drops that will be played well by company. My deck is not meant to be the fastest, because it would be crippled if we go to turn 6. As it stands, I am playing RWG. So, the deck isn't meant to be that fast
I like this idea, BUT when they have the mana for the boardwipe or find a useful time for the boardwipe, I usually have already dumped my hand onto the battlefield. Then, I'll most likely draw too many bricks to re-establish the great board presence I recently had. But, I did edit the deck a bit to really make it consistent enough to play a couple other spells. I have 3-4 Boros Charms mainboarded so I can make my army indestructible if needed, but also burn something/someone out just in case. I honestly probably will never use the double strike ability unless it lets me swing lethal. Blood Moon is also in the deck to wreck their mana base, not allowing for them to cast their boardwipes.
Just so everyone knows, this is NOT a 100% swing all aggro deck. It has a bit higher of a curve than the normal modern goblin deck. The boardwipes are more common when the game takes longer, so I need to keep my creatures alive and not burn out too quickly.
Ok, so it is a goblin deck, but more of aggro-midrange goblins. I am expecting Anger of the Gods and Damnation, so indestructible seems to be the way to go. I am probably planning on running Selfless Spirits and Boros Charms, as these are only white/red and seem to be the best options for me. Now, should I have Heroic Intervention sideboarded, because there are the exile all creature effects that I don't plan on running into, but there is always the possibility. I DO care about my creatures, so I do not entirely want to clear the board on myself, because I do not have enough card draw power to re-establish my board presence. Also, giving all my creatures hexproof/shroud would be nice as this protects them from just about everything.
Any more suggestions would be nice, Thanks!
4x Goblin Guide
2x Foundry Street Denizen
4x Goblin Bushwhacker
2x Goblin Chieftain
4x Goblin Piledriver
4x Goblin Rabblemaster
4x Simian Spirit Guide
4x Goblin Grenade
4x Lava Spike
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Pyretic Ritual
2x Quest for the Goblin Lord
12x Mountain
This is the one I am thinking about using. It could have a bit more burn. You do want the rabblemaster down turn one, I am thinking of adding the Eiodolon of the great Revel, but it isn't burny enough yet. Suggestions are welcome and recommended. I was thinking about adding Shared Animosity, but that one is three mana. I was still working on a sideboard, mainly for artifact hate as affinity is annoying and one of, if not the, biggest meta in modern. And, Goblin King for help against red decks. He would replace the chieftain. Also, Dolmen Gate is a definate sideboard choice against Anger of the Gods, or Pyroclasm
4x Goblin Guide
2x Foundry Street Denizen
4x Goblin Bushwhacker
2x Goblin Chieftain
4x Goblin Piledriver
4x Goblin Rabblemaster
4x Simian Spirit Guide
4x Goblin Grenade
4x Lava Spike
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Pyretic Ritual
2x Quest for the Goblin Lord
12x Mountain
This is the one I am thinking about using. It could have a bit more burn. You do want the rabblemaster down turn one, I am thinking of adding the Eiodolon of the great Revel, but it isn't burny enough yet. Suggestions are welcome and recommended. I was thinking about adding Shared Animosity, but that one is three mana. I was still working on a sideboard, mainly for artifact hate as affinity is annoying and one of, if not the, biggest meta in modern. And, Goblin King for help against red decks. He would replace the chieftain.
Edit: Sorry, I guess you guys are right. It had burn, but it still wasnt a burn deck.