MTGNexus

This is the placeholder thread for the Legacy Goblins Primer on MTG Nexus. If you would like to take over the primer for this particular deck, please message a Legacy staff member.

Goblins is an adaptable creature-based deck that can take on different roles dependent on its matchup. Against control decks, it plays a long game, utilizing Cavern of Souls and Aether Vial to drop in a long stream of self-replacing creatures like Goblin Ringleader and Goblin Matron, overwhelming them with value. Against combo decks, it plays a faster game, utilizing Goblin Lackey to cheat in early threats, with Goblin Warchief and Goblin Piledriver setting up a fast clock, while attacking their lands with Wasteland and Rishadan Port. A black splash allows Goblins to utilize Earwig Squad and Munitions Expert to attack combo and aggro decks, respectively, as well as cards like Sling-Gang Lieutenant and Grenzo, Dungeon Warden. Matron allows the deck to run a large toolbox of different goblins including Goblin Trashmaster and Krenko, Mob Boss.

Here is my current list. It's completely untested and also my first legacy deck. I am splashing r/g for a couple of obvious black card (Stronghold) as well as a couple of less obvious green cards (Once Upon a Time, Veil of Summer and Grumgully).

I enjoy the Grumgully/Redcap combo in modern but I can see how it may not be powerful enough for Legacy. It's also not really necessary to win but it is lots of fun. I don't like having Piledriver in the sideboard but I don't know how to support the combo and Piledriver simultaneously. I often board Piledriver in against slower decks or when the opponent has strong combo disruption.

Played at a $2k this weekend, 120 players. This is the list I want to play now instead of what I brought.

The major changes were to dump the Leyline of the Voids and move Chainwhirler to the main. My best matchups were (surprisingly) against Storm. I accidentally misplayed and forgot to play my turn 0 Leyline and still managed to win with a turn 2 Earwig Squad off of a Skirk Prospector attack and sac. I decided to mainboard 1 because every time I landed a Squad I won the game on the spot. A turn 2 5/3 for 3 cmc is also a reasonable clock even against decks without good extraction targets. I'm lieu of sideboard Surgical Extractions, I am going to try a second Squad.

Main deck Chainwhirler is very good against Elk. We don't have access to anything which can trade with an Elk and come out alive. The 1 damage etb ping to an Oko can also bring it into range of Gempalm/Munitions Expert. I'm reticent to remove the mainboard Tarfire but idk what else to trade for Chainwhirler.

Sling-Gang should be a two of mainboard. There is really no reason not to. It does everything this deck wants and gives us access to lifegain which can buy us valuable time against Depths.