Goblins
The format-defining tribal aggro deck. Goblin Lackey on turn one cheats Siege-Gang Commander or Goblin Piledriver into play, and Goblin Ringleader keeps the gas flowing.
Game plan
Pure red tribal aggression built around the most powerful one-drop in the format: Goblin Lackey. If Lackey connects on turn one, you can put Siege-Gang Commander or Goblin Piledriver directly into play — skipping their mana costs entirely. This tempo swing is often insurmountable.
Goblin Warchief reduces the cost of all your goblins by one and grants haste, turning Siege-Gang from a 6-drop into a 4-drop that attacks immediately. Goblin Matron tutors for the exact goblin you need — Piledriver when you need power, Lackey when you need the cheat engine, or Siege-Gang for the kill.
Goblin Ringleader is the engine against control: it’s a 4-drop that reveals the top four cards and puts all goblins among them into your hand. In a 30+-goblin deck, you often draw 3–4 cards off a Ringleader. This makes the deck almost impossible to grind out.
Mogg Fanatic pings for one damage and can sacrifice itself to kill a 1-toughness creature or deal the last point. Gempalm Incinerator cycles for a lightning bolt while keeping your creature count high.
The mana base is refined: Wooded Foothills and Karplusan Forest enable the green splash for sideboard Naturalize, while Wasteland and Rishadan Port lock opponents off colored mana during the combo turns.
Goblins is the best deck to learn Premodern on — straightforward lines, high ceiling for sequencing decisions, and rewards knowing the goblin package deeply.