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Top 15 Best Cards for Krenko, Mob Boss (2025)

Joe DiMangio••10 min read
commanderedhkrenkogoblinstribalmono-red

Krenko, Mob Boss is the definitive goblin commander. His tap ability to create goblin tokens equal to the number of goblins you control can quickly spiral out of control—one activation creates a few goblins, the next creates an army, and by the third you're overrunning the table.

The key to Krenko success? Haste enablers to activate immediately, untap effects for multiple activations, and payoffs that convert your goblin horde into damage. These 15 cards will turn your mono-red deck into a terrifying token machine.

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1. Skirk Prospector

Skirk Prospector
Skirk Prospector

Mana Cost:

{R}
Type: Creature — Goblin

Sacrifice a Goblin: Add

{R}
. This unassuming one-drop is the engine that powers Krenko's most explosive turns and infinite combos. With Thornbite Staff equipped to Krenko, every goblin you sacrifice untaps Krenko—leading to infinite goblins and infinite mana.

Why it's essential:

  • Enables infinite combo with Thornbite Staff
  • Converts tokens into mana for big plays
  • One mana for maximum flexibility

2. Goblin Warchief

Goblin Warchief
Goblin Warchief

Mana Cost:

{1}
{R}
{R}
Type: Creature — Goblin Warrior

Goblin spells cost

{1}
less to cast, and your goblins have haste. This means Krenko can tap the turn he comes down—critical for racing before opponents can remove him.

Why it's essential:

  • Haste for immediate Krenko activation
  • Mana discount accelerates your curve
  • Makes every goblin faster

3. Goblin Chieftain

Goblin Chieftain
Goblin Chieftain

Mana Cost:

{1}
{R}
{R}
Type: Creature — Goblin

All other Goblins get +1/+1 and haste. The anthem effect means your token army hits harder, and the haste ensures every new goblin created by Krenko can immediately attack or be sacrificed.

Why it's essential:

  • Haste for entire goblin army
  • +1/+1 anthem turns 1/1s into 2/2s
  • Stacks with other lords

4. Thornbite Staff

Thornbite Staff
Thornbite Staff

Mana Cost:

{2}
Type: Tribal Artifact — Shaman Equipment

Whenever a creature dies, untap equipped creature. With Krenko equipped and any sacrifice outlet (like Skirk Prospector), you create infinite goblins—sacrifice one to untap Krenko, tap for more goblins, repeat forever.

Why it's essential:

  • Infinite combo enabler
  • Works with any sacrifice outlet
  • Cheap to cast and equip to Shamans

5. Purphoros, God of the Forge

Purphoros, God of the Forge
Purphoros, God of the Forge

Mana Cost:

{3}
{R}
Type: Legendary Enchantment Creature — God

Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, deal 2 damage to each opponent. With Krenko creating 10+ goblins per activation, that's 20+ damage to the entire table—often lethal.

Why it's essential:

  • Direct damage win condition
  • Indestructible enchantment
  • Doesn't require combat

6. Impact Tremors

Impact Tremors
Impact Tremors

Mana Cost:

{1}
{R}
Type: Enchantment

Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, deal 1 damage to each opponent. A budget-friendly Purphoros that still ends games when you're creating dozens of goblins per turn.

Why it's essential:

  • Only 2 mana
  • Scales with token creation
  • Redundancy for Purphoros effect

7. Goblin Bombardment

Goblin Bombardment
Goblin Bombardment

Mana Cost:

{1}
{R}
Type: Enchantment

Sacrifice a creature: Deal 1 damage to any target. This is both a sacrifice outlet for combos AND a finisher that converts your goblin army into direct damage, bypassing blockers entirely.

Why it's essential:

  • Free sacrifice outlet
  • Direct damage finisher
  • Combo piece with Thornbite Staff

8. Muxus, Goblin Grandee

Muxus, Goblin Grandee
Muxus, Goblin Grandee

Mana Cost:

{4}
{R}
{R}
Type: Legendary Creature — Goblin Noble

When Muxus enters, reveal the top six cards and put all Goblins with mana value 5 or less onto the battlefield. This can dump multiple lords, combo pieces, and bodies—often immediately doubling your goblin count.

Why it's essential:

  • Massive board development
  • Cheats mana costs
  • Can be tutored with Goblin Matron

9. Goblin Recruiter

Goblin Recruiter
Goblin Recruiter

Mana Cost:

{1}
{R}
Type: Creature — Goblin

Search your library for any number of Goblin cards and put them on top in any order. Stack Muxus targets, line up Conspicuous Snoop combos, or ensure you draw exactly what you need.

Why it's essential:

  • Tutors your entire game plan
  • Perfect Muxus setup
  • Conspicuous Snoop synergy

10. Conspicuous Snoop

Conspicuous Snoop
Conspicuous Snoop

Mana Cost:

{R}
{R}
Type: Creature — Goblin Rogue

You may cast Goblin spells from the top of your library, and Snoop has all activated abilities of Goblin cards on top of your library. Combined with Goblin Recruiter, this enables powerful sequences and even infinite combos.

Why it's essential:

  • Card advantage engine
  • Combo potential
  • Works with Goblin Recruiter

11. Lightning Greaves

Lightning Greaves
Lightning Greaves

Mana Cost:

{2}
Type: Artifact — Equipment

Equipped creature has haste and shroud. Drop Krenko, equip for free, and immediately start creating goblins while protecting him from targeted removal.

Why it's essential:

  • Haste + protection
  • Free equip cost
  • Essential Krenko protection

12. Thousand-Year Elixir

Thousand-Year Elixir
Thousand-Year Elixir

Mana Cost:

{3}
Type: Artifact

Creatures can tap for activated abilities the turn they enter (essentially haste for tap abilities), and you can pay

{1}
{T}
to untap a creature. This enables immediate Krenko activation AND an extra activation each turn.

Why it's essential:

  • Functional haste for Krenko
  • Paid untap effect
  • Multiple activations per turn

13. Shared Animosity

Shared Animosity
Shared Animosity

Mana Cost:

{2}
{R}
Type: Enchantment

Whenever a creature you control attacks, it gets +1/+0 for each other attacking creature that shares a creature type with it. With 15 goblins attacking, each one gets +14/+0—that's 225 combat damage.

Why it's essential:

  • Massive damage multiplier
  • Ends games in one attack
  • Works with any goblin count

14. Skullclamp

Skullclamp
Skullclamp

Mana Cost:

{1}
Type: Artifact — Equipment

Equipped creature gets +1/-1. When equipped creature dies, draw two cards. Your 1/1 goblin tokens become "pay

{1}
: Draw two cards"—the best card draw available in mono-red.

Why it's essential:

  • Insane card advantage
  • Converts spare tokens to cards
  • Only 1 mana to cast

15. Mana Echoes

Mana Echoes
Mana Echoes

Mana Cost:

{2}
{R}
{R}
Type: Enchantment

Whenever a creature enters the battlefield, add

{C}
for each creature you control that shares a creature type with it. Creating 10 goblin tokens when you have 10 goblins = 100 colorless mana. This powers out your entire hand.

Why it's essential:

  • Generates absurd mana
  • Scales exponentially
  • Enables huge turns

Bonus: Haste Enablers

Beyond the cards above, consider these haste enablers to ensure Krenko can tap immediately:

  • Fervor (
    {2}
    {R}
    ) — All creatures have haste
  • Hammer of Purphoros (
    {1}
    {R}
    {R}
    ) — Haste + makes golems
  • Goblin Motivator (
    {R}
    ) — Tap to give haste
  • Rising of the Day (
    {2}
    {R}
    ) — Legendary creatures have haste, +1/+0

Win Conditions Summary

Krenko wins through three main paths:

  1. Infinite Combo: Thornbite Staff + Skirk Prospector = infinite goblins → infinite damage with Purphoros/Impact Tremors/Goblin Bombardment

  2. Combat Damage: Shared Animosity or Coat of Arms turns 20 goblins into 400+ damage

  3. ETB Damage: Purphoros/Impact Tremors deal damage for every goblin created without needing to attack

Build Your Krenko Deck

Krenko is perfect for players who love explosive, all-in strategies. The deck can be built on almost any budget—the core engine is cheap, and expensive upgrades just make it faster.

Want to design custom goblin tokens for your deck? Use our Card Editor to create unique tokens that match your deck's personality. Ready to print your entire decklist? Our Proxy Printer has you covered.

Check out our Gallery for custom goblin designs from the community!

Now go forth and multiply. The mob is waiting.

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