Who is the Best Goblin in Magic: The Gathering?
Determining the “best” goblin in Magic: The Gathering (MTG) is a complex question, largely dependent on the context of gameplay. However, if we’re talking about overall impact, versatility, and sheer power, the title has to go to Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker. While other goblins like Krenko, Mob Boss and Muxus, Goblin Grandee are powerful and often considered top contenders in specific formats like Commander, Kiki-Jiki’s ability to copy creatures makes it uniquely impactful across a wide variety of decks and formats from Modern, to Legacy, to even Commander. Kiki-Jiki doesn’t merely generate tokens, it generates copies – letting you abuse enter-the-battlefield triggers, generate infinite loops, and create massive board states out of nothing. This combination of flexibility and power puts Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker above other top tier Goblins when discussing the outright “best”.
Why Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker Reigns Supreme
Kiki-Jiki’s power isn’t just in his creature type. His ability to tap and create a token copy of any creature you control is remarkably powerful. Consider these points:
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Combo Potential: Kiki-Jiki is a combo enabler. By using cards like Pestermite or Village Messenger, you can create infinite copies by repeatedly copying a creature that untaps itself, resulting in infinite attackers. This capability makes it a potent threat in multiple formats.
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Versatility: While typically used for combos, Kiki-Jiki is also valuable for creating value. Copying creatures with useful enter-the-battlefield effects multiple times throughout a game can quickly generate an insurmountable board advantage.
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Format Agnostic: Kiki-Jiki sees play in nearly every format, a testament to his enduring strength. From Modern combo decks to Legacy strategies and Commander where he can duplicate any creature, his utility is unmatched.
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Legendary Status: As a legendary creature, Kiki-Jiki can serve as the commander of a deck, further solidifying his place in the game. While there are other great Goblin Commanders, Kiki-Jiki’s capability isn’t restricted to his tribal synergy.
While Krenko, Mob Boss can overwhelm opponents with sheer numbers and Muxus, Goblin Grandee can tutor out an entire board of goblins, they tend to be more easily disrupted. Kiki-Jiki on the other hand can generate similar threats and also is less reliant on being a goblin and can be incorporated into a variety of archetypes. Thus, his adaptability makes him the best goblin.
Notable Contenders
It’s important to acknowledge other powerful goblins that often appear in the conversation of best goblins. These include:
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Krenko, Mob Boss: He is a force of nature in tribal Goblin decks, rapidly generating a massive goblin army. Krenko, Mob Boss often leads the charge in the discussions of “best” goblin commanders due to his raw power.
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Muxus, Goblin Grandee: He’s a gamble, but when he hits, he hits hard. His ability to flood the board with goblins is explosive and game-winning.
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Dockside Extortionist: This goblin provides a sudden burst of mana, often enough to win games the turn it hits the board. It’s banned in some formats due to its sheer power.
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Goblin Warchief and Goblin Chieftain: Both of these goblins are crucial components of tribal decks due to their static buffs to other goblins.
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Skirk Prospector: This goblin is a powerful enabler, allowing you to sacrifice goblins for mana for quick and explosive plays.
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Siege-Gang Commander: This goblin generates a threat on the board while also dealing direct damage, making it a powerful value card.
While each of these goblins are powerful and can dominate, none have the same versatility and widespread impact as Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker.
Frequently Asked Questions About Goblins in Magic: The Gathering
To delve deeper into the world of MTG goblins, here are some frequently asked questions:
What makes a Goblin King special?
The Goblin King gives a bonus to other Goblins and is now itself considered a Goblin. This means multiple Goblin Kings on the battlefield will buff each other, creating a snowball effect in power. This makes the king a key component to any goblin tribal deck.
Is there a Goblin Planeswalker?
Yes, Daretti is a Goblin planeswalker from the plane of Fiora. He is a powerful artifact-focused planeswalker, representing a deviation from the usual goblins we see, further showing the range of the goblin creature type.
What are the best Goblin Commander payoffs?
Goblins are best used when played in tandem with tribal synergies like Krenko, Mob Boss, and Zada, Hedron Grinder. These cards allow for a large amount of goblins to quickly overwhelm opponents. Being indestructible is also a strong benefit, allowing for an individual Goblin to be a constant threat.
Who is the unluckiest planeswalker?
The unluckiest planeswalker is an unnamed character, cursed with bad luck. While they remain unidentified they have become a popular point of discussion within the community.
Which planeswalkers are considered the weakest?
Some planeswalkers considered weak include Vraska, Scheming Gorgon, Tibalt, The Fiend-Blooded, and Tezzeret, Cruel Machinist. These planeswalkers have underwhelming abilities that make them not as viable in most scenarios.
Who is the most powerful Goblin Commander?
Krenko, Mob Boss is widely considered the most powerful Goblin Commander due to his ability to quickly create a massive board of goblin tokens and thus is often considered to be one of the best goblin cards overall.
How rare is a Goblin Army in Terraria?
In Terraria, a Goblin Army has a 1/3 chance of invading daily after specific spawn criteria are met. However, the chances of a Goblin Army spawning do decrease after the first invasion.
Who is the strongest MTG Commander?
This is a subjective question, but popular choices include Teysa Karlov, The Ur-Dragon, Shirei, Shizo’s Caretaker, and Razaketh, The Foulblooded. These commanders all have powerful abilities and are capable of dominating most games of commander.
Who killed the Goblin King in The Hobbit?
Gandalf killed the Great Goblin in The Hobbit using the famed sword Glamdring. It is not a Magic: The Gathering card, but rather an event from the novel.
Is the Goblin King a goblin himself?
In the film Labyrinth, the Goblin King, Jareth, appears as a handsome human rather than a goblin himself. This shows goblins, in a fantasy context, are not always depicted the same way across the board.
What are half-goblins?
Half-goblins are humanoids born from the pairing of a goblin with another race, typically humans. They tend to be featured in Dungeons and Dragons as a playable race but are not typically seen in Magic the Gathering.
What is stronger than a goblin?
Hobgoblins are stronger than ordinary goblins. They’re larger, more powerful, and act as the brute force of goblin hordes. These creatures often share similar tribal synergies with goblins.
Are goblins intellectually on par with wizards?
In the wizarding world (such as Harry Potter) goblins are equal to wizards and witches intellectually as well as magically. While they are an integral part of that society they aren’t fully given the respect that they deserve.
How is the Goblin Formula related to a goblin’s strength?
The Goblin Formula, used by the Green Goblin in Marvel Comics, is a formula that gives enhanced physical and mental capabilities, such as superhuman strength, healing, and reflexes, all of which are common in typical goblin depictions.
What was the first set of planeswalkers printed?
The first five planeswalkers printed were Ajani, Jace, Liliana, Chandra, and Garruk. They were known as the Lorwyn Five and they are some of the most recognizable planeswalkers to this day.