[SCD] Warren Instigator

[Happy Gilmore]

Warren Instigator

http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/images/smilies/manar.gifhttp://forums.mtgsalvation.com/images/smilies/manar.gif
Creature - Goblin Berserker http://mtgsalvation.com/images/spoiler/zendikar-mythic.gif

Double Strike
Whenever Warren Instigator deals damage to an opponent, you may put a Goblin creature card from your hand onto the battlefield.
1/1

[Jeff Kruchkow]

Holf fuck wizards. We want good cards yeah...but this? This is just retarded.
I cant believe they would print something like this.
Guess its time to buy some goblins...

[TOGITwill]

It doesn't even have to be combat damage? For shame, Wizards. For shame.

[Otter]

Seems like a good replacement for Piledriver -- it's a 2 cmc guy that wins the game if it connects. Instead of requiring other goblins on the field to not be a 1/2, it's instead a 2/1 that goes fucking crazy if you have a Matron or a Ringleader (First strike you, get my Matron out, fetch Seige-Gang, normal strike you and play it?). Neat.

Of course a large part of Lackey's appeal is that he hits turn one, but there's no denying that this guy wrecks face if he connects. I could definitely see a build with a bunch of Weirdings and Stingscourgers used to force him through.

[P.S.]

My stance right now is good in Standard, bad in Legacy.

[whienot]

Omfg....if this connects I drop 2 gobs right? So first trigger I drop Matron, second I drop a giant pair of testicles.

Wow. This makes ne want to run Pyrokinesis main.

[TOGITwill]

Seems like a good replacement for Piledriver -- it's a 2 cmc guy that wins the game if it connects. Instead of requiring other goblins on the field to be not a 1/2, it's instead a 2/1 that goes fucking crazy if you have a Matron or a Ringleader (First strike you, get my Matron out, fetch Seige-Gang, normal strike you and play it?). Neat.

But... why would you replace Piledriver...

[Aggro_zombies]

But... why would you replace Piledriver...
Because you're retarded.

If anything, this replaces Mogg War Marshall, which some builds are running.

[Otter]

But... why would you replace Piledriver...

I generally find him to be win-more. By himself he's a useless 1/2. If you had a couple of guys out with him and they didn't have a Goyf/Goose/whatever out to trade with the Piledriver then they were probably dead to the other random goblins anyways. This new dude has two power on his own, is a serious threat on his own, and still reads "block me or you lose." I feel like the Instigator probably fills a very similar function and does it much better.

[P.S.]

A "useless" 1/2 that's pro-blue with Merfolk being one of the top decks in the metagame?

[MMogg]

My stance right now is good in Standard, bad in Legacy.

And he'll bring life to an Extended goblin deck, I imagine.

[Otter]

A "useless" 1/2 that's pro-blue with Merfolk being one of the top decks in the metagame?

Okay, so against Merfolk he an excellent wall when he's alone, happy?

[P.S.]

Okay, so against Merfolk he an excellent wall when he's alone, happy?

No, because that's not the point. The point is they can't block him. You attack with dudes and he gets big and they can't block him. If you only ever have one Goblin out the entire game, it doesn't matter what the goblin is, you're going to lose. You're creating a fantasy scenario that isn't going to happen. The deck is half creatures.

[TheInfamousBearAssassin]

Isn't this exactly the type of card they said they wouldn't make Mythic Rare?

[Aggro_zombies]

No, because that's not the point. The point is they can't block him. You attack with dudes and he gets big and they can't block him. If you only ever have one Goblin out the entire game, it doesn't matter what the goblin is, you're going to lose. You're creating a fantasy scenario that isn't going to happen. The deck is half creatures.
This. Someone doesn't seem to know how Goblins works, or hasn't played against it.

And I'm not so sure this will spawn an Extended deck. Goblins loses Warchief and Piledriver when Onslaught rotates, and there aren't really equivalent replacements right now in the "on-color cost reducer" and "fuckton of damage" departments. This on top of no Matrons or Ringleaders...I'm not sure it would be clearly better as fast aggro than Affinity.

EDIT: @IBA: Isn't this exactly the type of card that's rare enough but valuable enough to drive sales?

[Fossil4182]

I don't see what niche roll this fills for Goblins. Lackey is faster and in Legacy that seems to be what counts. Additionally, what would Goblins cut in order to make room for this guy? Piledriver hits so hard that I don't foresee him getting cut. The Double Strike seems cute, but somewhat useless. What is it going to trade with in Legacy? No one's going to attack with Dark Confidants and most everything else survives its attacks.

This guy would be good, but a few things need to happen or be developed. If there is a way to exploit the deals damage (as opposed to combat damage) then it might be able to break out. Additionally, Goblins good borrow a few things Merfolk by pushing for more of the lords route. This would allow Goblins to exploit one of the more broken abilities out there which really hasn't had a chance to break out due to it being so over priced in the past. Furthermore, fatter creatures would be able to compete with Goyf and ... Goyf.

[Aggro_zombies]

Additionally, Goblins good borrow a few things Merfolk by pushing for more of the lords route. This would allow Goblins to exploit one of the more broken abilities out there which really hasn't had a chance to break out due to it being so over priced in the past. Furthermore, fatter creatures would be able to compete with Goyf and ... Goyf.
This seems bad. Goblin Chieftain is defensible as a lord, but Goblin King is weak and Mad Auntie is awful - in stark contrast with merfolk, where pretty much all of the lords are playable. In order for this to work, there'd have to be some Goblin printed with "All Goblins gain, 'Tap this creature: This creature deals damage equal to its power to target creature or player.'" or something.

[Patrunkenphat7]

I think Legacy players are accustomed to shooting down new cards. In this case everyone just needs to slow down and realize that this is definitely a powerful and extremely playable card for goblins. And the double strike is definitely not just cute and useless, it makes this guy amazing.

[ThatGuyThere]

Isn't this exactly the type of card they said they wouldn't make Mythic Rare?

Nope. This card couldn't be more niche if you tried.

Granted, every *Goblin* deck wants four. But not every red deck, or every aggro deck in the format, and so forth, expanding outward.

Within it's niche - absolutely amazing must-have. Outside it's niche? Does nothing. "Perfect" Mythic Rare, according to their criteria.

[TOGITwill]

Because you're retarded.


What exactly warranted that?

[Aggro_zombies]

What exactly warranted that?
That wasn't directed at you, but at the guy suggesting Goblins drop Piledriver. You're right.

[TOGITwill]

That makes more sense lol.

[lordofthepit]

Good card, but overrated.

[Aggro_zombies]

Well, it's not entirely overrated.

In the wake of the nerfing of Fanatic, a lot of Goblin decks have branched out into options in the two-drop slot: stuff like Banneret, Mogg War Marshall, etc (Note that Stingscourger probably won't be replaced, but some lists I've seen run other cards alongside him and Piledriver in this slot). This would probably be worth testing as a replacement for some or all of those cards, although it does different things than they do.

The problem is that War Marshall and Banneret both unconditionally enhance your development by getting more guys on the field. This gives your opponent control over your development, which might not necessarily be bad if it keeps Tarmogoyf from blocking Piledriver. Take seven or more damage or watch the number of Goblins double seems like a lose-lose situation.

[Koby]

I think Legacy players are accustomed to shooting down new cards. In this case everyone just needs to slow down and realize that this is definitely a powerful and extremely playable card for goblins. And the double strike is definitely not just cute and useless, it makes this guy amazing.

Perhaps because we are well aware of which cards will specifically help existing archetypes. We usually go through an adjusting period where we have to come with grips that the cards printed aren't the cards that we wish they printed, and modify the decks in some minor way to take advantage of it.

The better among us do this much quickier than others, and profit by building rock solid awesome decks that come from left field.

[MMogg]

Isn't this exactly the type of card they said they wouldn't make Mythic Rare?

It's funny you mention that. Almost everyone agrees Lackey is better and yet he was printed as UC and this guy is Mythic Rare. What the hell has happened to this game? :confused:

[HAVE HEART]

My stance right now is good in Standard, bad in Legacy.

It is probably even worse in Standard. Even if the Goblins player is on the play and connects with the Instigator, then drops double Siege-Gang Commander or whatever, then the opposing player will drop his third land of the turn, tap three lands, and three-for-one the Goblins player with Volcanic Fallout. Goblins loses.

Probably a better scenario for the Goblins player would be to first strike, drop the new lord, regular strike, drop a second lord. Yet, if the opposing player is playing Volcanic Fallout, then he is probably playing some other type of removal (Lightning Bolt maybe?). End of turn, kill one lord, untap, two-for-one the Goblins player, assuming he did not play any more Goblins. Goblins still loses because there is no Matron or Ringleader in Standard. Without any card advantage engine, Goblins is going to lose to sweepers.

[Jak]

I think Legacy players are accustomed to shooting down new cards. In this case everyone just needs to slow down and realize that this is definitely a powerful and extremely playable card for goblins. And the double strike is definitely not just cute and useless, it makes this guy amazing.

Legacy players go crazy over new cards! See Lorescale Coatl, Ad Nauseum, Extirpate, etc, etc.

The card is pretty meh to me. I mean, Lakcey was good because it was fast. Trying to find an answer by turn 2 is what made the card so powerful. This gets hit by so much more stuff and the extremely broken play of tapping forests for a Tarmogoyf.

[Fossil4182]

It's funny you mention that. Almost everyone agrees Lackey is better and yet he was printed as UC and this guy is Mythic Rare. What the hell has happened to this game? :confused:

To be fair, its a relative question because the block that Lackey came out of was one of, if not arguably the most powerful block printed in MtG.

[Otter]

To be fair, its a relative question because the block that Lackey came out of was one of, if not arguably the most powerful block printed in MtG.

Not to mention that most of the relevant Goblins were printed after Lackey.

[Skeggi]

Would running 4 Lackeys and 4 Instigators make running 4 SCG's Viable?

[P.S.]

I think people are just looking at the card, alone, too much. It's not just the card itself that matters, but the metagame the card has to be played in. Right now, you see a lot of Daze, Force of Will, Swords to Plowshares, Spell Snare, Counterbalance, etc.

That is why he's not so good in Legacy, in my opinion. Plus, even with double strike, the mana efficient critters he'll run into are just better than him, really. At least cards like Tarmogoyf are.

[cheezyhead]

Though he looks good with jitte :smile: . Too bad goblin deck doesn't run equipments.

[Shimster]

Right now, you see a lot of Daze, Force of Will, Swords to Plowshares, Spell Snare, Counterbalance, etc.
So, because there are counterspells running around, you don't want to put creatures onto the battlefield instead of casting them?

So, because there's removal running around, you don't want to play more than 4 fu*** Goblin Lackeys?

Nevermind. You're American, right? You know how to deal with red folks.

/Edit: Playing 4 Siege-Gang Commanders has nothing to do with playing 8 Lackeys, but with playing 25 lands. You should give it a try.

[Infinitium]

I find the above comment amusing coming from a German. Nevertheless, this will see play in Goblin decks seeing as they currently have spots open in the 2cc department and this is yet another I win button for the deck. The mana cost might be prohibitive what with Waste/Port, but then again this is better off the Vial than most other options early-game.

[spirit of the wretch]

My stance right now is good in Standard, bad in Legacy.


Good card, but overrated.

Don't buy the hype! This might see play as a one- or two-off, but it's pretty much strictly inferior to the lackey and our format can handle that one pretty well, can't it? This card has "danger of cool things" written all over it (due to the double strike). Won't have a lot of impact, if any at all, I think.

It IS pretty good in my mono red Highlander though!

[Nihil Credo]

1) There was a recent high placement by a list packing Goblin Chieftain, if I'm not mistaken. This guy gives one more incentive to pack Lords (and perhaps Goblin Burrows could make a comeback too).

2) I like that it's 2cc - that's a pretty shallow curve slot for Goblins. The RR cost, however, is extra pain with Wasteland. I wonder if Goblins can afford to replace that card with more duals without completely wrecking their control matchup.

[Maveric78f]

Nowadays, Gobs play 4 vials, 4 lackeys, 4 warchiefs and 23 lands (15 red-producers + 8 mana denial) as mana base. With 4 of this, it may want to forget the mana denial plan and play 18-20 red producers.

[Nihil Credo]

Actually, I believe most recent lists have been (correctly, IMO) cutting the Rishadan Ports in part or completely; I think that for a classic RBg list, the current best mana base is 24-25 lands with 4 Wastes and 0-2 Mutavaults, but that's greedy with the RR cost of Instigator and possibly Chieftain.

[Elfrago]

Good but over-hyped.
Casting cost 2 means that this comes into play one turn later than lackey. Sometimes your opponent will do nothing on turn 1 allowing you to swing unopposed with lackey but it's very unlikely that your opponent will do nothing on turn 1 and turn 2.

Also, on it's own, it's terrible in combat.

Good enough to see play in Gobs? Yeah, sure. Format warping? Definitely not.

[Nihil Credo]

One thing that some people seem to oversee is that this guy's role, if any, will not be to replace Lackey but to backup Lackey. He's a full turn easier to answer, yes, but now your opponents needs to get rid of both your 4 Lackeys and your 1-4 Instigators, or he's in for a lot of pain and tempo loss.

Potentially doubling the number of "KILL ME BEFORE I CONNECT" guys you run is not an insignificant benefit.

[Barook]

It's a good card, but certainly not the next coming of Jesus for Goblins.

Also, with a Vial for 2 and Goblin Chieftain, it could catch some players off guard on turn 3.

Edit: It's noteworthy that it's also very good with Ringleader/Matron because you can put them into play first, get new Goblins and then choose the most fitting Goblin to put into play in the normal damage segment.

[GreenOne]

I just had a couple matches with Istigator against Piceli playing Quinn.

I start with lackey, he swords.
I play Istigator. He doesn't have a second sword. I drop a Ringleader (revealing ringleader) and Ringleader (revealing Warchief+Pile). I drop a Chieftain.

He has to Wrath in order to not take at least 12 next turn (double strike+lord effect).
In my turn I drop Warchief+pile and continue swinging. The next turn I win with a matron.

Turn 5 win through a sword and a wrath.
This guy is indeed good.

[socialite]

One thing that some people seem to oversee is that this guy's role, if any, will not be to replace Lackey but to backup Lackey. He's a full turn easier to answer, yes, but now your opponents needs to get rid of both your 4 Lackeys and your 1-4 Instigators, or he's in for a lot of pain and tempo loss.

Potentially doubling the number of "KILL ME BEFORE I CONNECT" guys you run is not an insignificant benefit.

Thank you.

@ GreenOne: I have had a similar experience.

Card is nuts.

[Manhattan]

One thing that some people seem to oversee is that this guy's role, if any, will not be to replace Lackey but to backup Lackey. He's a full turn easier to answer, yes, but now your opponents needs to get rid of both your 4 Lackeys and your 1-4 Instigators, or he's in for a lot of pain and tempo loss.

Potentially doubling the number of "KILL ME BEFORE I CONNECT" guys you run is not an insignificant benefit.

I definetly second that. Goblins has enough staples on the 3-mana upwards slots. This guy fits into the curve just beautifully. Turn one Lackey, turn two put in dude and cast Piledriver is the most scary opening Goblins currently has. And now Goblins has a new superscary twodropp.
People who are dismissing this card seem to underestimate the fact that opponents won't always be able to pay Instigator their full attention since Goblins has a lot more nasty stuff to keep them busy. It's one more card that makes an opponent think "Ok, what should I do about this guy?". It turns the game more into a situation like trying to squeeze a ballon. "Can you force my Vial? Yes? Then how about Instigator?"

I also wouldn't worry that much about the pricetag. Legacy-Goblins is currently the only real deck in any format that wants this guy. Sure maybe something can assemble in standard and the card is likely going to be worth a lot in peoples minds but in the long run the market is going to be the determining factor. It will be worth something but not as much as fetchlands.

[Finn]

Fucking mythic bullshit. Has anyone else noticed how many more chase rares are being printed as mythic? Does anyone remember that Wizards said the mythics would not be chase rares? This card just put construction of Goblins out of reach for a hell of a lot of people. I said it at first and I repeat it now.

Fuck Mythics

[Manhattan]

Fucking mythic bullshit. Has anyone else noticed how many more chase rares are being printed as mythic? Does anyone remember that Wizards said the mythics would not be chase rares? This card just put construction of Goblins out of reach for a hell of a lot of people. I said it at first and I repeat it now.

Fuck Mythics

Let's just wait and see what it's going to settle for, shall we?

[Barook]

Fucking mythic bullshit. Has anyone else noticed how many more chase rares are being printed as mythic? Does anyone remember that Wizards said the mythics would not be chase rares? This card just put construction of Goblins out of reach for a hell of a lot of people. I said it at first and I repeat it now.

Fuck Mythics

Because it wasn't obvious that Wizards will print chase mythic rares to make more money sooner or later?

[Finn]

Honestly, it is not about this card, Manhattan. It is about the invention of this rarity that clearly causes players to have to spend more money to get the same product. And the fact that the company lied about it to us rather than coming clean. And we knew it. And we are still powerless to do anything since they have the monopoly.

I will tell you what though. I used to HATE playing proxies as I am sure most of us do. But since mythic bullshit began, I have found myself less willing to rummage through my cards or buy new ones. I have been perfectly content to print them. After seeing this card, I am making it my policy to do so. Wizards can kiss my ass.

[yankeedave]

Ahhh, Nerdrage - how do I love thee?!?! Hasbro want to make money and chase rares will make people open boosters. Now, how do they do that? Why do people continue to be surprised by these things?

Dave

[socialite]

Pre-sale on Ebay already hitting 100.00 USD for a playset. Sigh.

[BreathWeapon]

Warren Instigator is the best wall ever vs Tarmogoyf, it'd be impossible to trade blows with Warren Instigator with out flooding the board full of little green men.

[Gluemy]

Pre-sale on Ebay already hitting 100.00 USD for a playset. Sigh.

This is not Tarmogoyf people, this guy goes to only one deck in 2, maybe 3 formats. The price will propably settle 8-10 USD at max, depending on how playable it'll be in Standart.

[Elfrago]

Pre-sale on Ebay already hitting 100.00 USD for a playset. Sigh.

Only idiots can't wait for the price to stabilize.

[rufus]

Instigator -> Matron -> Kiki-Jiki/Crafter/Pyromancer...?
Instigator -> Ringleader -> Kiki-Jiki/Lightning Crafter/Matron...?

This seems like the sort of thing that can go boom to me.

WotC is also slowly accruing a library of smaller creatures with double strike. Boros Swiftblade, Viashino Slaughtermaster, Warren Instigator, springjack knight, hearthfire hobgoblins. Doublestrike.dec seems like it could be fun on casual night.

[kicks_422]

Just when everyone thought Goblins was on a decline, they go ahead and print this little bugger. Now I'm regretting selling off my Goblin deck.

[santeria]

I seem to be one of few who like the idea of lackey 5-8.

yes, I understand he costs RR, not R. 1st turn lackey/vial followed by a 2nd turn instigator seems like a good plan to me.

what are you going to do, daze/force both ? swords/path both ?

as for piledriver. I won a game against merfolk the other night because of him. I was down to 1 life and I kept grabbing them off ringleaders/matrons. I held off attackers until I could swarm the field and swing for unblockable lethal.

[MattH]

Fucking mythic bullshit. Has anyone else noticed how many more chase rares are being printed as mythic? Does anyone remember that Wizards said the mythics would not be chase rares?

Except that Wizards never said that. They said (http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/daily/mr334) they wouldn't put BASIC UTILITY cards that everyone needs (like Maelstrom Pulse or a cycle of dual lands) at Mythic, and they haven't done so.:


We've also decided that there are certain things we specifically do not want to be mythic rares. The largest category is utility cards, what I'll define as cards that fill a universal function. Some examples of this category would be cycles of dual lands and cards like Mutavault or Char. That also addresses a long-standing issue that some players have had with certain rares like dual lands.

[Tacosnape]

The bright side to this guy's price is I can probably sell my Badlands and Mires to afford him. There's becoming less and less reason to ever run a splash color lately. This guy's just icing on the cake.

[socialite]

The bright side to this guy's price is I can probably sell my Badlands and Mires to afford him. There's becoming less and less reason to ever run a splash color lately. This guy's just icing on the cake.

I was thinking the exact same thing. Earwigg Squad will be missed. :(

[Tacosnape]

I was thinking the exact same thing. Earwigg Squad will be missed. :(

Ditto for Frogtosser. Though I admit I'm tinkering with builds faster than the speed of light right now trying to keep both.

EDIT: And Cover of Darkness is oddly looking better than ever.

[Manhattan]

Also I remember this article (http://www.gatheringmagic.com/?p=4233). People complain about crapmythics, saying "who's gonna play this garbage?" and then they complain about good mythics, saying "that's a moneygrab!". Just who should Wizards listen to?

[rufus]

The bright side to this guy's price is I can probably sell my Badlands and Mires to afford him. There's becoming less and less reason to ever run a splash color lately. This guy's just icing on the cake.

Dunno, he looks like he'd play well with the Food Chain side of goblins and stuff like Matron->Changeling Titan.

[santeria]

The bright side to this guy's price is I can probably sell my Badlands and Mires to afford him. There's becoming less and less reason to ever run a splash color lately. This guy's just icing on the cake.


yeah, but what about weirding.

[socialite]

yeah, but what about weirding.

Pyrokinesis son. Pyrokinesis.

[Genericcactus]

Pyrokinesis son. Pyrokinesis.

I see how Pyrokinesis is great in the Zoo matchup, but is really better than Weirding anywhere else? Pyro is also not a Goblin, which seems much worse.

[socialite]

I see how Pyrokinesis is great in the Zoo matchup, but is really better than Weirding anywhere else? Pyro is also not a Goblin, which seems much worse.

Excellent in the Mirror.

Also allows Gator to knock out 5/6 Goyfs and live to tell the tale.

Good? I think so.

[Manhattan]

Excellent in the Mirror.

Also allows Gator to knock out 5/6 Goyfs and live to tell the tale.

Good? I think so.

How that? Pyrokinesis deals 4 and Instigator 1 first strike damage. He only kills the goyf with his regular combat damage, dying in the process. 1/1 doublestrike =/= 2/1 first strike.

[santeria]

Pyrokinesis son. Pyrokinesis.


non-tutorable son. non-tutorable.

[socialite]

How that? Pyrokinesis deals 4 and Instigator 1 first strike damage. He only kills the goyf with his regular combat damage, dying in the process. 1/1 doublestrike =/= 2/1 first strike.

Ok lets nitpick.

4/5 Goyfs and Tombstalker.

Next?

Edit:

non-tutorable son. non-tutorable.

So? Yes it is a drawback.

Have you ever played Pyrokinesis in Legacy? It's busted.

Double Edit:

Also you would and should run some form of Gempalm with Pyrokinesis which is tutorable.

[frogboy]

If there was any possible way to go short on Instigators I would back up the truck. When was the last time your two drop went the distance?

[ClearSkies]

If there was any possible way to go short on Instigators I would back up the truck. When was the last time your two drop went the distance?

I suppose Piledriver don't count? It cost 2 mana. :laugh:
Or Tarmogoryf... or Counterbalance...

Or Chalice of the Void for 1.

[Ectoplasm]

I dont know about you guys but I'm looking forward to building a list with 9 lords, war marshals, siegegangs, instigators and if I can find the room for it a couple of magus of the moons :)

[GreenOne]

Pyrokinesis son. Pyrokinesis.
Why not just stay oncolor and play Stingscourger? It clears the path, it's tutorable, can chump, and it's quite good with 6+ hastemen in the deck.

[Amber VII]

I believe this card will be played and Goblin decks will see a resurgence.

When you can go:

Instigator -> Goblin Matron -> Siege Gang Commander
Instigator -> Goblin Ringleader -> Good Stuff

You've busted the game wide open. Either your opponent has a board sweeper or he gets hosed. Very few cards – red cards, especially – have that effect at 2 mana cost.

The best part about Warren Instigator is that it makes a terrific decoy and a even better deterrent. Having your Goblin Piledriver attack alongside your Instigator is good times. Similarly, no opponent will attack you if all he has is 1 creature and you have cards in hand. The fact that can bluff your opponent is reason enough to play this card.

Instigator was meant to supplement Goblin Lackey, not replace it. What happens after your opponent uses up his removal on Lackey/Vial? You follow up with Instigator and your opponent has to respond.

Imagine I gave you a test:

Test

1. Which Goblin would you play at 2 mana or less?

a. Mogg Fanatic
b. Mogg War Marshall
c. Vexing Shusher
d. Warren Instigator

If anything the major drawback of Instigator is not that he's a 1/1 or comes after Lackey, but that he cost RR.

[socialite]

Why not just stay oncolor and play Stingscourger? It clears the path, it's tutorable, can chump, and it's quite good with 6+ hastemen in the deck.

Pyrokinesis is on color.

Stingscourger does nothing. Yes it is tutorable, woo hoo?

I run one in the main as a tutor target for Dreadstill.

You really think Stingscourger is a viable replacement for actual removal? I don't.

[Malchar]

Looks like they printed this card just in time for them to ban Goblin Lackey...

[Tacosnape]

Looks like they printed this card just in time for them to ban Goblin Lackey...

You're dreaming. Goblin Lackey isn't even close to being a format-defining card anymore. If they didn't ban it then, they have no reason to do so now.

[(nameless one)]

the question now is:

should it take 4 slots?

ive been tinkering with my mono-red goblins and so far, ive reduced the number of rishadan ports to 2 just to accomodate him.

early game, he is deadly but late game he sucks (pretty much like goblin lackey)

the bright side however (like lots of people here mentioned) is that its a decoy. your opponent might target him over piledriver or warchief

[AngryTroll]

the bright side however (like lots of people here mentioned) is that its a decoy. your opponent might target him over piledriver or warchief

I'm not sure Decoy is the right word. The bright side is that he's an engine (albeit, one that costs RR instead of R or 1) that opponents need to deal with. There's only so much countermagic and removal to go around, and when you have to deal with 4 Lackey, 4 Vial, 2 or 3 Instigators, AND 4 Warchiefs, you can probably start slipping a lot of must counters into play. When you back those up with Warren Weirding and Ringleader, and then back those up with Siegegang Commander and Matron, the deck has a lot of cards that all need answers right away.

Warren Instigator brings the number of "Must Be Dealt With Immediately or I probably can't recover" cards up from 8 to...well, something larger than 8. It's probably worth some number of slots.

[MattH]

I'm not sure Decoy is the right word. The bright side is that he's an engine (albeit, one that costs RR instead of R or 1) that opponents need to deal with. There's only so much countermagic and removal to go around, and when you have to deal with 4 Lackey, 4 Vial, 2 or 3 Instigators, AND 4 Warchiefs, you can probably start slipping a lot of must counters into play. When you back those up with Warren Weirding and Ringleader, and then back those up with Siegegang Commander and Matron, the deck has a lot of cards that all need answers right away.

Warren Instigator brings the number of "Must Be Dealt With Immediately or I probably can't recover" cards up from 8 to...well, something larger than 8. It's probably worth some number of slots.

It probably just means a renewed commitment to sweepers instead of 1-for-1 removal. If your answer to the goblin deck was STP, BEB, Daze, and FOW buying time for Goyf beats, then yeah, he's a problem. If it was Moat, Plague, or a Clasm variant, you're probably just gonna shrug this guy off.