Goblin Rabblemaster is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Other Goblin creatures you control attack each combat if able. At the beginning of combat on your turn, create a 1/1 red Goblin creature token with haste. Whenever this creature attacks, it gets +1/+0 until end of turn for each other attacking Goblin.
Complete guide
Goblin Rabblemaster is a quintessential aggressive threat that demands immediate attention. This Goblin Warrior doesn't just bring friends to the party; it forces your entire warband to charge headlong into battle while growing stronger with every companion by its side.
A Forced Charge
The first thing to note is the mandatory attack clause. While Goblin Rabblemaster itself isn't forced to attack by its own ability, every other Goblin you control must attack each combat if able. This includes the token it creates and any other Goblins that were already on your board. If a Goblin is tapped or under a 'cannot attack' effect, it remains safe, but otherwise, they are going into the red zone.
Step-by-Step Combat
The sequencing of Goblin Rabblemaster is crucial for maximizing damage. At the beginning of your combat phase, its triggered ability goes on the stack to create a 1/1 red Goblin creature token with haste. This happens before you declare attackers. Once that token is on the battlefield, you move to the declare attackers step. When you declare Goblin Rabblemaster as an attacker, its final ability triggers, checking the number of other attacking Goblins. The +1/+0 bonus is calculated and locked in only when this ability resolves.
Strategic Considerations
One common mistake is miscounting the power boost. The ability counts all 'other attacking Goblins,' not just the ones created by this specific card. However, keep in mind that if you have a way to remove an attacking Goblin after the ability resolves, the Rabblemaster keeps the bonus it already received. Conversely, if a Goblin enters the battlefield attacking after the trigger has resolved, the Rabblemaster does not get an additional boost.
Interaction examples
GoblinAt the start of combat, Goblin Rabblemaster creates a Goblin token. Because of the Rabblemaster's first ability, that token (and any other Goblins present) must attack if able. When you attack with both, the Rabblemaster's trigger sees one 'other attacking Goblin' and becomes a 3/2 until end of turn.
Roaming ThroneWith Roaming Throne on the battlefield naming 'Goblin', the Rabblemaster's triggers happen twice. At the start of combat, you create two tokens. When you attack with everyone, the Rabblemaster's power-boost ability triggers twice. Each trigger will count all other attacking Goblins (the two tokens and the Throne itself, since it is a Goblin), potentially giving the Rabblemaster +6/+0 total.
Solemn SimulacrumIf you control both creatures, the Rabblemaster forces your Goblins to attack, but Solemn Simulacrum is a Golem. The Simulacrum is not affected by the forced attack requirement and can stay back to block, even while the Rabblemaster and its tokens charge forward.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Goblin Rabblemaster
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Although Goblin Rabblemaster doesn't force itself to attack, if you control two of them, they'll force each other to attack if able.
Card named in this ruling
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If, during your declare attackers step, a creature that must attack if able is tapped, is affected by a spell or ability that says it can't attack, or hasn't been under your control continuously since the turn began (and doesn't have haste), then it doesn't attack. If there's a cost associated with having a creature attack, you're not forced to pay that cost, so it doesn't have to attack in that case either.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
The number of attacking Goblins is counted as the last ability resolves, and the bonus is locked in at that time.
Card named in this ruling
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Breath of Fury + Goblin Rabblemaster
- 1At the beginning of your combat phase, Goblin Rabblemaster triggers, creating a creature token.
- 2Deal combat damage using the creature that has Breath of Fury attached. Breath of Fury triggers, causing you to sacrifice the creature it is attached to, then attach Breath of Fury to the creature token, then causing you to untap all creatures you control and to get an additional combat phase after this one.
- 3Repeat each combat phase.
Esix, Fractal Bloom + Timestream Navigator + Goblin Rabblemaster
- 1At the beginning of your combat step, Goblin Rabblemaster triggers, creating a copy of Timestream Navigator with haste.
- 2Activate any Timestream Navigator, paying
and putting Timestream Navigator on the bottom of your library to take an extra turn after this one. - 3Pass the turn.
- 4Repeat.
Related cards and tokens
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Meta decks with Goblin Rabblemaster
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.