MTG Salvation

Looks a strong list, although I’m still not convinced with Warchief. However, someone recorded a good result with a list not to dissimilar to yours.... https://www.mtgtop8.com/event?e=22261&f=MO

Quote from Wesste »

Looks a strong list, although I’m still not convinced with Warchief. However, someone recorded a good result with a list not to dissimilar to yours.... https://www.mtgtop8.com/event?e=22261&f=MO

I agree about Warchief. I’ve honestly never been too high on him. If I’m making my creatures cheaper, I don’t want to wait ‘til turn 3 to do it. Frogtosser is a much better value. And as far as the Haste that Warchief provides, I’d rather get that from Goblin Chieftain and get the +1/+1 pump as well.

I just think there’s better things we can be doing at 3cmc than Warchief. Mad Auntie is one example. As I mentioned before, I think she’s one of our best lords. That Regenerate is no bull****, especially now that we’re playing better, higher costed Gobbos that are less disposable and worth protecting. That can make things really awkward for the opponent. The casting cost is super easy too and has the possibility of costing only B with two Frogtossers out. That may seem like a small bonus, but it’s huge when it does happen.

Edit: Also, speaking of 3cmc cards I don’t think are worth it, why are some people still playing Boggart Harbinger? That card has just always been a poor excuse for a Matron. Surely we could do better things with those slots??

I like Goblin Warchief
I've been testing this decklist and imo it works

• 4 Aether Vial
  
• 1 Goblin Chainwhirler
  
• 4 Goblin Chieftain
  
• 2 Goblin Piledriver
  
• 4 Goblin Matron
  
• 4 Goblin Ringleader
  
• 1 Goblin Trashmaster
  
• 3 Goblin Warchief
  
• 1 Krenko, Mob Boss
  
• 2 Mog War Marshall
  
• 2 Munition Expert
  
• 1 Pashalik Mons
  
• 1 Siege-Gang Commander
  
• 1 Skirk Prospector
  
• 1 Sling-Gang Lieutenant
  
• 1 Stingscourger
  
• 3 Warren Instigator
  
• 3 Lightning Bolt
  
• 1 Tarfire
  
• 4 Auntie's Hovel
  
• 4 Bloodstained Mire
  
• 4 Cavern of Souls
  
• 4 Mountain
  
• 2 Mutavault
  
• 2 Swamp

I love the interaction between Pashalik and Slig-Gang

Today i played a 8-player swiss with the list below:



Im gonna replace 4 slots with goblin Ringleader as soon as possible, but my thoughts:

Match 1: Me 1 Vs 2 Saheeli Combo
> 1: Warren instigator + Piledriver destroyed
> 2: Saheli combo on late game. Munitions Expert cleaned Finks and the cat, but lack of removal.
> 3: Again matron tutoring munitions, but lot of filtered draws on his side and combo.
Match 2: Me 1 Vs 2 Zoo-Death Shadow
> 1: Sling-gang finished on a balanced game. O his side, prowess lady and nacat.
> 2: Nacat 3/3 t1. Mulligan to 5. Nothing i can do.
> 3: 2 Tarmogoyf on start game beating me to death + removals.
Match 3: Me 1 Vs 2 Spirits
> 1: Counters + removals + spirits lords. Cant defend
> 2: Sling-gang pushed life to 28 vs 2, then finished with rakdos charm dealing 7 damage
> 3: Bunch of lords and spell queller. Cant handle

Specifics:
**--- Mogg Fanatic: Doesnt kill creatures anymore. Waiting for a better drop 1 to replace.
****- Frogtosser Banneret: Im splitting slots with warchief. They both are nice, but banneret works better with matron than warchief. The 1 damage difference on attack doesnt matter on most matches.
**--- Goblin Piledriver: Its great on some matches i think 2 is the limit for him
***-- Stingscourger: Change battlefields for finishers and delay the adversary game. Its good
****- Munitions Expert: Most of time 3 damage. Its my lightning bolt tutorable. Shines!
****- Warren Instigator: Eats removal or make trouble. 4 is too much.
***-- Goblin Cratermaker:
***-- Goblin Chieftain: Split slot with chieftain.
***-- Goblin Warchief: Split slot with chieftain. Maybe replace for one more frogtosser.
***** Goblin Matron: entered as a star in all matches. Most of time i was tutoring Munitions Expert.
****- Goblin Chainwhirler:
***-- Pashalik Mons: I liked, but never used the 3R abilite. To much to invest
***-- Legion Warboss: Work nice with Sling-gang. testing
**--- Mad Auntie: Testing, but i prefer other lords. (ringleader slot)
**--- Earwig Squad: sideboard (ringleader slot)
****- Sling-Gang Lieutenant: Thinking about that Vs Siege-gang. Most time i prefer her
****- Goblin Trashmaster: Big lord with removal. Worked better than i expected
****- Krenko, Mob Boss: If taps, is win
****- Siege-Gang Commander: If enter soon, is win
***** Cavern of Souls: Dont have the 4th, but not a problem
***** Unclaimed Territory: Cavern with no counter protection
***** Auntie's Hovel: Dual with no drawback
***-- Bloodstained Mire: dont needed. a problem against burn
****- Mountain:
****- Mutavault: Working great
- SB
***** Grafdigger's Cage: against graveyard decks
****- Relic of Progenitus: against graveyard decks
****- Goblin King: against any red deck
***-- Tin Street Hooligan: cavern and territory pay G
***-- Goblin Cratermaker: heavy creature deck, tron or artifacts
***-- Lightning Bolt: against fast decks
***-- Rakdos Charm: against graveyard or heavy creatures
****- Warping Wail: secret weapon against mass removal. 9 lands colorless
***-- Goblin Grenade: against fast decks
**--- Warren Weirding: im having problem to cast. just 4 B lands. need rethnk manabase

Ringleader and the Horizon cards make me incredibly excited for goblins

The gameplan I was thinking of myself was playing the full playset of Sling-Gang Lieutenant, together with Legion Loyalist for a very likely turn 4 goldfish kill: swing with everything, deal first strike damage, then sac your entire board.

Dudes, I've been doing a ton of goldfishing with Gobbos, and they're super consistent now (I know, I know, it's different when the opponent isn't interacting, but still!). Turn-4 kills very often like @Bearscape observed (and when it's not turn-4 it's turn-5), though I've been using a Pashalik Mons/Sling-Gang Lieutenant combo to do it instead of Loyalist. I'm 100% convinced 4x Frogtosser Banneret is the optimum choice instead of Warren Instigator or whatever else you would use alternatively. In fact, I'm going to have to retract my previous statement about Goblin Warchief, because I've really enjoyed running a 4/1 split of Frogtosser and Warchief. I think that 1 cost reduction is incredibly strong right now with Goblin Matron, Goblin Ringleader, Pashalik Mons, and Sling-Gang Lieutenant (not to mention Mad Auntie). Two Frogtossers and you can churn out chains of goblins like nobody's business.

I'll post my list maybe this evening if I remember. I have it on my other computer. It seems surprisingly consistent and decently tuned for being so new. Most of the time they don't run that smoothly so quickly.

Edit: Oh, and I've been running a singleton Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker at my top end with really great results. Coyping a Ringleader of Matron is the tits. And it's nice to have Mad Auntie to protect important cards like Kiki.

I playtested a bunch yesterday and the main issues for me is a. the lack of a good one drop and b. an abundance of powerful high cost cards. You want 4 ringleaders guaranteed, and then add 4 sling gang on top of that.. 8 4-drops is in the same ballpark as UW control plays! The 3-drop slot has the same issue, with Warchief, Chieftain, Matron and Pashalik Mons; currently I don't run any Pashalik Mons because of this, even though I really love the slinggang suicidebomb plan. And on top of that, you have to find room for bullet targets like Chainwhirler, Earwig Squad and Trashmaster which I do think validate a 1-of.

For my cmc1s I currently have 4 vials, 3 legion loyalis, 2 tarfire and 1 skirk prospector to tutor. I'm fairly satisfied with that, but it is definitely the weakest part of this deck's curve.

Yeah I’ve been noticing the same thing as far as the 1-drops are concerned. It’s definitely the weakest part of my build right now. Gotta figure out how to get better use out of those first 1-2 turns. *cough* Goblin Lackey *cough*

As far as the 4-drops go, I don’t agree that we need that many Ringleaders and Lieutenants. I’m running 3x Goblin Ringleader and 2x Sling-Gang Lieutenant and it feels like plenty alongside the 4x Goblin Matron. She fetches up whatever I need. So that’s 5x 4-drops instead of 8x, though I guess I am running a Kiki, so it’s really more like 6x.

I’m also not convinced I want my tutorable silver bullets in my MB. I could be wrong and maybe I’ll change my mind, it’s certainly not made up, but for now I’ve been doing well with my bullets in the SB.

I’ve been unimpressed with Tarfire... I’ve been trying to let extra Munitions Experts fill that role. A singleton Unearth has really proven its worth to me though.

Just a few thoughts and observations, albeit from limited anecdotal info.

I do think you want 4 ringleaders because the card is absurd, at least in the 75 (I could see sideboarding one for grindy matchups). I probably do end up cutting down to fewer sling-gangs just out of necessity.

Tarfire is in there because as said, you just want something on turn 1. 10 cmc1 spells seems good, and tarfire kills manadorks quite well.

As for silver bullets, I am always of the opinion you want to not overdo it and be sparse with how many you run. but nevertheless with both ringleader and matron to churn through the deck it seems like a waste to not run some of them at the least. I currently run 4 bullets: Skirk Prospector, Chainwhirler, Trashmaster and Earwig Squad.

i know what you people are gonna say , but outside of vial and maybe prospector the best one mana spell i think is thoughtseize, ye its not a goblin and ringleader can show the awkward non goblin spell sometimes but its something decent to do on turn one and maybe slow the oponent, we just need like three turns before we put a lot of stuff on the field and discard spell works(srry for my english , i learn watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S....)

Unfortunately I still haven’t managed to build or test the deck, but are alternative one drops either mogg fanatic or fanatical firebrand. Both deal with mana dorks and can be cast off Vial if needed.

In regards to the silver bullets, aren’t we forgetting that we are still an Aggro deck. We have elements of a midrange deck, but we still want to close out the game early, but have some cards to aid the mid-to-late game. Therefore, should we still be playing the likes of goblin guide and goblin piledriver to apply as much early pressure as possible?

Also, I think thoughtseize is a brilliant sideboard card. Not convinced on its use in the main, as think there are better options.

I think we need to trust on Warren Instigator. For that, I will start testing Mogg Fanaticand Munitions Expertto open the path to the damage. I really believe in this way to make our little boys tier 1: Value is our word guys.
I dont know if this is the only way we have to face tier 1 decks right now,but I will bet for it. It works in Legacy, why not in modern?. We have the tools to take advantage, so lets go.
In a few days I will test the deck and I will post the list.

BTW: Thoughtseize on the Sideboard is a must have card IMO (3 copies)

EDIT: Also I will test 1x o 2x copies of Stingscourger

Quote from Nottorious »

i know what you people are gonna say , but outside of vial and maybe prospector the best one mana spell i think is thoughtseize, ye its not a goblin and ringleader can show the awkward non goblin spell sometimes but its something decent to do on turn one and maybe slow the oponent, we just need like three turns before we put a lot of stuff on the field and discard spell works(srry for my english , i learn watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S....)

I currently have Thoughtseize as a sideboard card. I could see it as a mainboard inclusion, but it does have a lot of anti-synergy with cards like Aether Vial and Ringleader as well as being anti-tempo.

Quote from Wesste »

Unfortunately I still haven’t managed to build or test the deck, but are alternative one drops either mogg fanatic or fanatical firebrand. Both deal with mana dorks and can be cast off Vial if needed.

In regards to the silver bullets, aren’t we forgetting that we are still an Aggro deck. We have elements of a midrange deck, but we still want to close out the game early, but have some cards to aid the mid-to-late game. Therefore, should we still be playing the likes of goblin guide and goblin piledriver to apply as much early pressure as possible?

Also, I think thoughtseize is a brilliant sideboard card. Not convinced on its use in the main, as think there are better options.

The additions of Matron and Ringleader completely change what this deck was previously; pre-horizons Goblins was an aggro rushdown deck, whilst the new goblins I imagine will be much more midrange, comparable to Legacy goblins. Frankly, the old rushdown godlin lists do not interest me at all as it was just a worse humans/burn hybrid, whereas Ringleader and Matron give this deck a new angle that actually give them a reason to be played over humans. Because of this, I do see Piledriver to still have a role in the deck, but card disadvantage machines like Goblin Guide are definitely out.

Quote from Dirty Rat »

I think we need to trust on Warren Instigator. For that, I will start testing Mogg Fanaticand Munitions Expertto open the path to the damage. I really believe in this way to make our little boys tier 1: Value is our word guys.
I dont know if this is the only way we have to face tier 1 decks right now,but I will bet for it. It works in Legacy, why not in modern?. We have the tools to take advantage, so lets go.
In a few days I will test the deck and I will post the list.

BTW: Thoughtseize on the Sideboard is a must have card IMO (3 copies)

EDIT: Also I will test 1x o 2x copies of Stingscourger

The discussion above was briefly about Frogtosser Banneret vs Warren Instigator, and Piney_Tinecones and I at least agree on that Frogtosser played out much better. Instigator dies too early and is blocked too easily, whilst off a vial Frogtosser can provide acceleration the same turn as you play him.

Great discussion!

I had the same thought about Thoughtseize as something to do on turn-1, but I think it just has too much anti-synergy with Ringleader and Vial to make sense as a MB inclusion. It is absolutely a 4-of in my sideboard though and it would be very difficult to convince me that it should be otherwise. I think it’s one of the very few cards that can save us from the combo MU’s. In fact, right now 8x of my SB slots are taken up by Thoughtseize and Leyline of the Void. I could probably be convinced to change LotV to a few Nihil Spellbomb and a Grafdigger’s Cage though to give me less durdly turn-1’s.

I tried both Frogtosser Banneret and Warren Instigator, and Frogtosser just seemed to give me way better value, and with more consistency. I will say that Instigator hitting into Matron and then hitting again into whatever you fetched with Matron is a cool synergy. Also, if I’m playing Instigator, there’s definitely going to be at least one Claim // Fame in my sixty. But at the end of the day, I think Frogtosser is clearly the better choice. At least in my mind.

As far as having MB bullets goes, I think there are some that are very reasonable and I’ll probably end up including them. I like a single Earwig Squad because every deck has three good cards you wouldn’t mind getting rid of. Also, they hit like a train at 5/3. Not to mention Frogtosser can activate their Prowl cost the same turn he comes down AND reduce it by 1 (yes, it works for Prowl). Goblin Chainwhirler is sweet and is probably worth a MB slot, but I hate that my Frogtossers don’t make him cheaper. I would feel much better about him in the MB in an Instigator build. I personally don’t like Goblin Trashmaster in the MB. There’s other stuff I want to be doing at 4cmc against non-artifact decks. I think Munitions Expert is a MB card all the way.

And as for 1-drops creature options are concerned, I’m still struggling with that. For me I think I’ll probably end up going the Fanatical Firebrand/Mogg Fanatic route (most likely the former because I value Haste highly) because of the added utility they provide. And Skirk Prospector is at least a 2-of for me and probably most likely a 3-of. Sometimes that little bit of extra mana he can get you is super crucial. He also plays really well with Mogg War Marshal. There are a couple of really good creature options at 1cmc that can help your Instigator get damage through unblocked and that other one that taps to give Haste if that’s the route you’re going. I don’t remember their names but they’re not hard to find.

That’s just where I am right now. I know there’s a lot still up in the air. I’m just going off my own anecdotal experience.

Edit: Oh, and if y’all haven’t tried the Pashalik Mons/Sling-Gang Lieutenant suicide-bomber-alpha-strike, give it a whirl. It’s very efficient, easy to pay for if you have a Frogtosser or two, and doesn’t require the combat step. It’s almost impossible to stop once those two are on the battlefield. In fact, with just a little bit of chip damage in the first few turns, it really doesn’t require very many bodies at all. Especially if the opponent has been self-inflicting a few points of damage with shocklands. I’m serious though. Try it out if y’all haven’t. I’m certainly a believer in it.

Hey I'm a long time goblins player coming from legacy. I'm looking to build this in modern as well. I'm currently thinking for 1 drops
4 vial
2 legion loyalist
2 skirk prospector
2 tarfire

With the Lord effects loyalist's first strike makes alpha strikes less risky. And I haven't done any testing in modern but in legacy I always liked that. Prospector and vial are pretty self explanatory. But I like tarfire over the fanatic variants because I personally love instant speed removal and the 2 damage is better reach/removal.

But I'm super excited to be sleeving up my little green gobos again.
(Sorry no tags for cards still getting this site down on mobile)

I think this deck can be competitively viable only if we can make it so:
1. It can put on enough preasure to, undisrupted, kill on t4 most of the time (Tron, Storm)
2. Outgrind or outmanuever other midrangy decks (Humans, Rock) or rebuild after sweepers (Control decks)
3. Have enough disruption in 75 to not die to heavy graveyard decks (dredge, hogaak) or faster linear decks (Phoenix, 8 whack, Burn,...)

According to these lines i tried to come up with a deck that can with some consistancy do just that.
1. Goblin Piledriver, while not stellar in fair mu's, is almost surely lethal on t4 if unchecked; Goblin Chieftain giving haste and buff makes it so you can dish the last big swing on t4 before you get Oblivion Stoned or Gifts Ungiven into lose
2. New toys work here Goblin Ringleader, Goblin Matron, also my 1-drop of choice being Knucklebone Witch which allows you to swing into not so profitable blocks and come up with good attack next turn, keeps building up board power while chumping.
3. This is mostly about interaction, mainboard it is Munitions Expert and/or Goblin Cratermaker, sideboard we prolly need at least 4-5 gy hate of our choice (Tormod's crypt, Relic of Progenitus, Leyline of the Void,...), some more removal/reach (Goblin Grenade), and than spell interaction (Thoughtseize, Earwig Squad, Cabal Therapist??,...), Burn seems like terrible mu - some lifegain or just forfeit it.

My maindeck looks something like this

• 4 Aether Vial
  
• 4 Knucklebone Witch
  
• 4 Mogg War Marshal
  
• 4 Frogtosser Banneret
  
• 3 Goblin Piledriver
  
• 4 Goblin Matron
  
• 4 Goblin Ringleader
  
• 4 Goblin Chieftain
  
• 3 Munitions Expert
  
• 1 Goblin Cratermaker
  
• 1 Sling-Gang Lieutenant
  
• 1 Siege-Gang Commander
  
• 1 Wort, Boggart Auntie
  
• 1 Pashalik Mons
  

Points of Interest:
I keep swaping Pashalik Mons for Mad Auntie back and forth. Knucklebone witch+Mogg War Marshal cute interaction. Vial on 4, eot flash in Wort, Boggart Auntie, profit. Frogtosser Banneret gluing stuff together, haste for Piledriver attacks. I want to add some number of Tarfire, 1-of Legion Loyalist and 4th Munitions Expert dunno what to swap, be back after testing.

In manabase i've been toying with some cards to make it useful, my lines were:
1. Cavern of Souls, Unclaimed Territory, Sulfurous Springs + Sea Gate Wreckage
2. Use lack of t1 plays to add some manland, or some number of Mutavault
3. Solid color manabase with some number of land disruption Ghost quarter, or permanent disruption Blast Zone
4. Add some nubmer of Sunbaked Canyon

On other note, please don't play 2-ofs, it's imho total nonsense. Either you play 1-of to tutor it, 3-of to see it +- once per game, or 4-of if you want multiple. Go for consistency not "this might be useful when..." type thinking and hoping to draw the right half of your deck.

Please, let me know what you think!

Hi! i'm new to this archetype but recent additions made me want to try out this deck.
I like krarzan's deck and i also think knucklebone witch is a decent one drop (until we get better stuff maybe at some point). Doing things turn one seems pretty important and a more conditional champion of the parish may be good enough.
I'm still missing a couple of lands to play this in an fnm but i'll try to get them by the time ringleader becomes legal.
My current list:


So the deck is 100% goblins. I did the 3/1 split with ringleader and sling gang because i feel we need the gang as a finisher. It is also probably our only chance of winning vs burn because of the lifegain part. Ringleader seems like a minimum of 3x in this deck.Chaining them into matrons into more ringleader seems like a pretty busted card advantage engine.

I'm also trying out new krenko as a cheap way of generating board presence. Also cratermaker seems fine as a one of for artifact hate. I feel like we need a minimum of 4 interactive goblins. Cratermaker at worst kills 2 thoughness stuff. I feel good about expert, the fact that it can hit planeswalkers too at flash seems great vs control, and with cavern of souls it seems even better.

Quote from Ace1 »

Hi! i'm new to this archetype but recent additions made me want to try out this deck.

I'm also trying out new krenko as a cheap way of generating board presence. Also cratermaker seems fine as a one of for artifact hate. I feel like we need a minimum of 4 interactive goblins. Cratermaker at worst kills 2 thoughness stuff. I feel good about expert, the fact that it can hit planeswalkers too at flash seems great vs control, and with cavern of souls it seems even better.

You have a very high creature count, and a lot of 3/4 cc creatures. Without vial or Instigator, you might run into a logjam in your hand, especially with 20 lands. I would remove one chieftain and Krenko for 2 Goblin Warchief. I think I would dump one Auntie, to add Krenko, Mob Boss or Legion Warboss. I think you should lean more into the dying of your goblins more to maximize it.

Do you think warchief is still necessary even with the full playset of frogtosser banneret? I'm not high on warren instigator, seems slow at 2 mana and no evasion makes me wonder why its played. Prospector is another source of mana so maybe i could play more of those.
The curve is kind of high with 12 3 drops and 4x 4 drops... I'm not against more haste enablers so maybe warchief is worth it.

I really like Knucklebone Witch and have toyed around with it but could never get it dialed in. I may give it another chance though.

I think it’s a missed opportunity to be running 4x KW and 4x Mogg War Marshal but not any Skirk Prospector. Combat tricks, ramp, utility.

I like where your head’s at with most everything else, but I can’t get onboard with the ‘no two-ofs ever’ line of thought. And that explanation as to why is just way too facile. It’s just really not that simple. What if I want to be able to fetch two of something? What if a piece is important enough that I want to have access to another in case one gets destroyed or discarded? What if I want the option of having two of the same thing on the board simultaneously? What if I want two of something in my deck and not zero, one, three, or four? There’s a spectrum of necessity. Some cards warrant three-ofs. Some don’t. I increase my chances of drawing something by running one more than one. I decrease my chances of drawing something if I’m running one less than three. That’s just way too simplistic, man.

Other than that I really dig the brainstorming. I’m interested to see if Wort is worth it. I just don’t like a 4-drop that does to bolt like that and doesn’t do something as soon as she comes down. There’s a lot of competition in that 4-drop slot. I’m curious how the anecdotal evidence turns out and if you end up netting some value with her enough to warrant her inclusion. There’s a lot of bolts running around right now though...