An Iconic Magic: The Gathering Deck is Suddenly Stronger With Spider-Man Cards

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Not every fan of the card game Magic: The Gathering has been thrilled about the increasing number of Universes Beyond sets entering the release schedule and being part of the Standard format. However, these expansions have certain advantages that extend beyond just attracting new players. If a set or card doesn’t appeal to you, it’s advisable to simply avoid them in your gameplay. Yet, this strategy is feasible only in some formats, and due to how the current rotation operates and the way Magic: The Gathering combos are utilized, it’s rare to see a lot of one set in any given deck. It’s unusual but possible that the introduction of Spider-Man might alter the composition of an iconic deck.

Despite being smaller than other sets in the MTG series, the Spider-Man set aims to delve into many of the Intellectual Property’s popular stories featuring well-known characters and settings. Wizards of the Coast has begun providing sneak peeks at what’s to be expected when this Spider-Man set drops on September 26, such as alternative art cards showcasing notable comic book moments or even the renowned “With great power comes great responsibility” phrase incorporated into the new With Great Power… enchantment card. In addition to these new cards, several iterations of the notorious Green Goblin are included, potentially adding an exciting twist to iconic goblin decks within MTG.

Magic: The Gathering’s Green Goblin Cards Explained

To date, we have identified four Spider-Man related cards that incorporate the Green Goblin character in some fashion, along with another goblin entity. Here they are:

1. Card Name: Green Goblin (Marvel Comics #1)
2. Card Name: Norman Osborn (Green Goblin) (Marvel Legends)
3. Card Name: Hobgoblin (Marvel Comics)
4. Card Name: Phantom Goblin (Marvel Comics)

  • Green Goblin, Nemesis: Spider-Man Eternal set, Black and Red color identity, goblin human villain creature
  • Green Goblin, Revenant: Spider-Man main set, Black and Red color identity, goblin human villain creature
  • Norman Osborn // Green Goblin: Spider-Man main set, Blue, Black, and Red color identity, goblin human villain creature (when transformed)
  • Raging Goblinoids: Spider-Man main set, Red color identity, goblin berserker villain creature
  • Ultimate Green Goblin: Spider-Man main set, Black and Red color identity, goblin villain creature

Among the options presented, Green Goblin, Nemesis stands out as an excellent potential choice for a tribal Commander deck focused on goblin creatures, similar to the widely recognized Krenko, Mob Boss deck that is currently the most preferred mono-Red deck in Commander format. Green Goblin, Nemesis is presently the third most eagerly anticipated commander in the upcoming SPE set, with 432 decks built around it on EDHREC, and its abilities align perfectly with the goblin archetype since it adds +1/+1 counters to goblin creatures whenever a card is discarded, which can be done effortlessly within Rakdos colors.

It’s noteworthy to mention that due to Krenko, Mob Boss, the goblin subtype has become extremely popular within the game, boasting a staggering 31,111 different deck builds recorded on EDHREC.

The Green Goblin, Specter could potentially be a popular choice in Commander games due to its potential as a draw engine. It’s already paired with powerful combos such as Bone Miser, Glint-Horn Buccaneer, Underworld Breach, and even MTG’s Wheel of Fortune. If not used as the commander itself, it can greatly enhance any goblin deck that accommodates its Rakdos colors, like one led by Green Goblin, Nemesis as the commander.

In any case, the recently introduced Norman Osborn // Green Goblin card harmonizes flawlessly with Raging Goblinoids and Ultimate Green Goblin. This is due to Norman Osborn’s reverse side, Green Goblin, which lowers the mana cost of spells cast from the graveyard by 2 generic mana, and both Raging Goblinoids and Ultimate Green Goblin possess the ‘mayhem’ ability, enabling them to be played from the graveyard at their mayhem cost. This characteristic makes Norman Osborn // Green Goblin an excellent choice for gameplay in the Standard format of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), as it can bestow ‘mayhem’ to all cards in the graveyard and subsequently reduce their mayhem cost.

It’s expected that the release of Magic: The Gathering’s Lorwyn Eclipsed will likely provide fresh reinforcements for goblin decks. This might lead to a comeback of goblin decks across all game formats, starting from January 2026.

Norman Osborn and Green Goblin Could Reshape MTG Commander’s Goblin Decks

In essence, Norman Osborn (Green Goblin) has a great chance to excel as an outstanding goblin commander within the game, for he offers recursion capabilities not only for all goblins in the deck but also for every nonland card. This means that playing cards such as Goblin Surprise and Goblin Rally from the graveyard is possible when combined with discard mechanics. A trusted staple like Faithless Looting is ideal for this role, and the latest Green Goblin cards are equally suitable.

Transforming a goblin deck from mono-red to Grixis (blue, black, and red) opens up opportunities to include more diverse cards, such as counterspells like Swan Song, Fierce Guardianship, and An Offer You Can’t Refuse. Cards with a focus on discarding, like Big Score, Burning Inquiry, Careful Study, and Gamble, would complement the chaotic nature of Green Goblin and fit well in this deck. Although this change may not completely revolutionize goblin decks, it could inject some excitement into multiplayer Magic: The Gathering games that typically feature mainly mono-red goblin archetypes.

Why Goblin Decks’ Future is Bright in MTG

Over the course of time, we can expect to see more Spider-Man-themed cards in the popular game Magic: The Gathering, with a strong possibility that goblin decks will continue to receive support. This might include additional Green Goblin cards and goblin creatures, but even seemingly unrelated cards could be beneficial if they boost creature power, provide more mana, or aid in drawing more cards. As for the future, goblin deck enthusiasts can look forward to an increasingly bright outlook following both Spider-Man and Lorwyn expansions.

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2025-08-31 22:56