Hobgoblin Bandit Lord MTG Card


Capable of escalating a Goblin army’s power, it’s crucial in decks centered on Goblin synergies. Flexibility is limited due to high mana costs and specific color requirements, potentially hindering play. Stands apart in Goblins archetype for offering direct damage, elevating its strategic value.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Goblin Rogue
Power 2
Toughness 3

Text of card

Other Goblins you control get +1/+1. , : Hobgoblin Bandit Lord deals damage equal to the number of Goblins that entered the battlefield under your control this turn to any target.

In a hobgoblin's view of the world, the weak owe tribute and fealty to the strong.


Cards like Hobgoblin Bandit Lord

Hobgoblin Bandit Lord is an intriguing option for those looking to strengthen their red and goblin-focused decks in Magic: The Gathering. Its comparison naturally leads us to Goblin Chieftain, another card that buffs goblins and grants them haste. Bandit Lord, however, stands out with its ability to deal direct damage to opponents, leveraging the number of Goblins under your control for a forceful impact in the late game.

Goblin Warchief is another notable card that shares similarities in cost reduction for Goblin spells and swifter deployment via haste. Although Warchief does not directly damage opponents, its ability to reduce mana costs can be invaluable for a swift goblin deck build-out. Krenko, Mob Boss takes a different approach, excelling in spawning multiple goblin tokens that can quickly overwhelm opponents. While Krenko lacks the direct damage trait of Hobgoblin Bandit Lord, its exponential token generation potential makes it a formidable card in any Goblin deck.

Assessing options like Bandit Lord within the Goblin archetype reveals a wealth of strategic depth. Hobgoblin Bandit Lord indeed carves a niche for itself by offering direct damage utility, an aspect that can be the deciding factor in close matchups.

Goblin Chieftain - MTG Card versions
Goblin Warchief - MTG Card versions
Krenko, Mob Boss - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chieftain - MTG Card versions
Goblin Warchief - MTG Card versions
Krenko, Mob Boss - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Hobgoblin Bandit Lord by color, type and mana cost

Dwarven Warriors - MTG Card versions
Raging Bull - MTG Card versions
Wall of Lava - MTG Card versions
Brassclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Imperial Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Uthden Troll - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rabblemaster - MTG Card versions
Nosy Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Sky Raider - MTG Card versions
Cosmic Larva - MTG Card versions
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions
Ghost-Lit Raider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chariot - MTG Card versions
Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions
Basalt Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Orcish Artillery - MTG Card versions
Stinkdrinker Daredevil - MTG Card versions
Blind-Spot Giant - MTG Card versions
Mudbutton Torchrunner - MTG Card versions
Rage Forger - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Warriors - MTG Card versions
Raging Bull - MTG Card versions
Wall of Lava - MTG Card versions
Brassclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Imperial Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Uthden Troll - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rabblemaster - MTG Card versions
Nosy Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Sky Raider - MTG Card versions
Cosmic Larva - MTG Card versions
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions
Ghost-Lit Raider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chariot - MTG Card versions
Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions
Basalt Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Orcish Artillery - MTG Card versions
Stinkdrinker Daredevil - MTG Card versions
Blind-Spot Giant - MTG Card versions
Mudbutton Torchrunner - MTG Card versions
Rage Forger - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Hobgoblin Bandit Lord. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-Red GoblinsMono-Red Goblins PioneerMono-Red GoblinsPioneer League 2023-12-09
Raging Goblins Q1 2024Raging Goblins Q1 2024 Free formCanadian Highlander for Duals - Underground Sea Guaranteed - Proxies Allowed
Rakdos GoblinsRakdos Goblins PioneerRakdos GoblinsPioneer League 2024-03-17
Mono-red GoblinsMono-red Goblins PioneerMono-Red GoblinsSat. 9:30 AM U.S. Regional Championship - Dreamhack Atlanta 2023
Gruul AggroGruul Aggro PioneerGruul GoblinsPeasant Pioneer Showdown - A Josh and Pat's MTG Bazaar Sponsored Event

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Hobgoblin Bandit Lord card is designed to bolster your board presence by giving you the ability to swarm the battlefield with Goblin tokens. This can lead to overwhelming your opponent with a relentless army, especially beneficial when you’re aiming to maintain the upper hand in the numbers game.

Resource Acceleration: Beyond merely populating the field, Hobgoblin Bandit Lord can also be a source of resource acceleration. It empowers your other Goblins, turning even the smallest tokens into significant threats. This increase in creature power can accelerate your victory condition by enabling faster, more impactful damage against your adversary.

Instant Speed: While Hobgoblin Bandit Lord operates at sorcery speed, its influence on the board can free up mana for instant-speed interactions. With a powerful commander leading your Goblin troops, you can allocate resources more effectively, ensuring you have the mana available for reactive spells and abilities during critical moments in the duel.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hobgoblin Bandit Lord might put you in a tough spot if it forces you to toss another valuable card from your hand. Being asked to get rid of a card is always tricky, especially when you’re trying to maintain a full grip to answer your opponent’s moves.

Specific Mana Cost: Locked into red mana demands, Hobgoblin Bandit Lord could be a no-go for multi-colored decks where mana flexibility is key. If you can’t consistently conjure up the right mana, it’ll just be dead weight in your hand.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that’s a bit on the hefty side, the Bandit Lord’s abilities might not seem worth the investment when you look at other creatures you could be casting instead. You’ll want to weigh its impact on the battlefield against the cost it takes to play it.


Reasons to Include Hobgoblin Bandit Lord in Your Collection

Versatility: Hobgoblin Bandit Lord holds a position in decks that favor aggressive strategies and tribal synergies. This card can empower your red Goblin tribal deck and works organically with other creatures that share its type to increase damage output significantly.

Combo Potential: The ability of Hobgoblin Bandit Lord to boost other Goblins’ power opens up avenues for explosive plays. It can be combined with cards that generate Goblin tokens or those that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield to create a formidable board presence.

Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-evolving MTG meta, Hobgoblin Bandit Lord remains relevant in a game dominated by creature-based tactics. Its ability to rally and buff an army of Goblins makes it a significant threat in games that stretch into the mid to late phases, as well as in tournaments where Goblins are a popular archetype.


How to beat

Hobgoblin Bandit Lord is a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield, boasting the ability to bolster other Goblins and deal direct damage to opponents. The key to overcoming this formidable MTG card lies in preemptive measures and strategic removal. Managing the swarm of Goblins it empowers should be the priority, targeting this creature before its effect can turn the tides of battle.

Effective removal spells, such as Murder or Doom Blade, can quickly deal with the Hobgoblin Bandit Lord before its ability becomes a recurrent nuisance. Additionally, cards with sweep effects, such as Wrath of God or Blasphemous Act, prove to be highly effective at clearing a board populated with Goblins, significantly minimizing the impact of Hobgoblin Bandit Lord’s synergistic strengths.

Considering its ability to activate only as long as it is on the field, keeping the board clear of Hobgoblin Bandit Lord is crucial. By handling it swiftly and denying its combo potential, you can strip the card of its power and retain control of the game, ensuring the Hobgoblin Bandit Lord’s plans of domination remain nothing but a failed scheme.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hobgoblin Bandit Lord MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Hobgoblin Bandit Lord and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hobgoblin Bandit Lord Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2021-07-23 and 2021-07-23. Illustrated by Mark Zug.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 927342015NormalBlackMark Zug
22021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten Realms PromosPAFR 147s2015NormalBlackMark Zug
32021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten Realms PromosPAFR 147p2015NormalBlackMark Zug
42021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten RealmsAFR 3792015NormalBlackMark Zug
52021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten Realms PromosPAFR 147a2015NormalBlackMark Zug
62021-07-23Adventures in the Forgotten RealmsAFR 1472015NormalBlackMark Zug

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hobgoblin Bandit Lord has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Hobgoblin Bandit Lord card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2021-07-23 Hobgoblin Bandit Lord's activated ability only counts the number of Goblins that entered the battlefield this turn. It doesn't matter if those Goblins are still on the battlefield as it resolves.
2021-07-23 If no Goblins have entered the battlefield this turn, no damage will be dealt. Abilities that trigger whenever damage is dealt won't trigger.