Magic: The Gathering's Goblin tribe has evolved from minor nuisances into a powerful force in the Commander format. With recent expansions introducing new goblin leaders and synergistic abilities, now is an opportune time to explore some of the most effective Goblin commanders available. While the tribe's history is rooted in overwhelming opponents with sheer numbers and aggressive token generation, modern Commander play rewards synergistic systems, airtight combos, and commanders capable of turning seemingly small advantages into decisive win conditions.
Multi-Color Strategies
Gut, True Soul Zealot
Gut, True Soul Zealot, benefits from the "Choose a Background" mechanic, allowing it to be paired with Enchantments that have the Background subtype. This pairing opens up color combinations beyond mono-red, such as Rakdos (black and red). Gut excels at sacrificing cheap artifacts or redundant goblins to create 4/1 Skeletons with menace, applying consistent aggressive pressure. Cards like Skullclamp can further enhance this strategy by providing card draw alongside combat damage.
Shattergang Brothers
In Jund colors (black, red, and green), the Shattergang Brothers enable a control-oriented attrition strategy. This commander forces opponents to sacrifice cheap Goblin tokens, disposable artifacts, or redundant enchantments, mirroring the effect of cards like Braids, Arisen Nightmare. Combining this with Grave Pact and Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest can effectively lock opponents out of maintaining a board presence.
Wort, Boggart Auntie
Wort, Boggart Auntie, offers a resilient, midrange experience in Rakdos colors, providing access to tutors and removal. Wort acts as a recursion engine, returning Goblins from the graveyard to hand each upkeep, ensuring a consistent flow of resources. This allows for repeated use of cards like Tarfire for removal or Goblin Matron and Goblin Ringleader for hand advantage.
Mono-Color and Combo Powerhouses
Pashalik Mons
Pashalik Mons provides a different approach to aggro, focusing on a slow-burn strategy that deals damage whenever Pashalik or another Goblin controlled by the player dies. Its mana ability allows for the creation of two 1/1 Goblin tokens by sacrificing a Goblin, which also triggers its damage ability. This can lead to powerful loops with cards like Skirk Prospector and Mana Echoes, enabling table-wide damage without direct combat.
General Kreat, the Boltbringer
As a Jumpstart addition, General Kreat, the Boltbringer, functions similarly to Purphoros, God of the Forge, within a Goblin strategy. Kreat creates a 1/1 token whenever one or more Goblins attack and pings each opponent for one damage when a creature enters the battlefield. Combining Kreat with cards like Impact Tremors and standard token generators can result in significant passive damage.
Azog, Moria's Ruin
Drawing from The Hobbit set, Azog, Moria's Ruin, enables a mono-black Goblin strategy. Upon entering the battlefield, Azog destroys a target creature and creates a creature token with +1/+1 counters equal to the destroyed creature's power. The "Amass" ability, typically associated with Orcs, makes sense here and can be combined with recursion effects common in black to build a large Goblin army while drawing cards. Dictate of Erebos can help clear opposing threats simultaneously.
Goro-Goro, Disciple of Ryusei
Goro-Goro, Disciple of Ryusei, provides all creatures with haste for a single red mana, accelerating the board state significantly. Its secondary ability allows players to spend five mana to create a 5/5 flying Dragon spirit, offering aerial support when ground combat is stalled. This can be particularly effective when combined with mana ramp cards like Dockside Extortionist or Battle Hymn to fund these aerial assaults.
Squee, the Immortal
Squee, the Immortal, is a unique combo piece due to its ability to be cast from the graveyard or exile. While not a direct combat threat, Squee enables infinite combos when paired with a mana-generating sacrifice outlet such as Skirk Prospector or Thermopod, a mana engine like Birgi, God of Storytelling, and a cost reducer like Ruby Medallion. This loop generates infinite enter-the-battlefield and death triggers, which can secure a win with cards like Purphoros, God of the Forge or Impact Tremors.
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
While not always leading a tribal deck, Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker, is a premier combo enabler for Goblins. Its ability to create a hasty token copy of a nonlegendary creature has been the foundation for numerous infinite loops, including those with Zealous Conscripts and Lightning Crafter. Commanders choosing Kiki-Jiki should anticipate being a primary target from the start of the game.
Zada, Hedron Grinder
Zada, Hedron Grinder, transforms a standard Goblin deck into a potent spellslinger storm archetype. Zada's ability copies any instant or sorcery targeting only her, applying the effect to all creatures controlled by the player. This allows for massive card draw with cards like Expedite and granting haste to the entire army with Crimson Wisps, setting up devastating turns with copied damage spells like Fists of the Anvil.
