Krenko, Mob Boss
Krenko, Mob Boss snowballs a Goblin board into overwhelming token swarms and fast, table-threatening damage.
Public decks: 7Bracket: Varies
Overview
- Deploy early Goblins, then tap Krenko to multiply your board based on how many Goblins you already have.
- Leverage token payoffs to turn each new wave into immediate pressure (combat damage or ping effects).
- Protect your momentum by keeping Krenko active and attacking through blockers with evasion-style tools.
- Use red interaction to remove key blockers or problematic permanents long enough to close the game.
- Plan for the table to respect Krenko: expect removal and board wipes once you start doubling.
Common lines
- Play a few cheap Goblins, cast Krenko, then untap and tap to create a large token burst.
- Stick a payoff like Impact Tremors or Goblin Bombardment and turn every Krenko activation into direct damage.
- Use a haste enabler (example: Anger) to activate Krenko sooner and keep tempo.
- Clear a key blocker with a red removal spell (example: Abrade or Chaos Warp) and swing with a wide board.
Strengths
- Explosive scaling: each activation can grow dramatically as your Goblin count rises.
- Strong at converting board presence into damage via token payoffs (example: Impact Tremors, Goblin Bombardment).
- Mono-red game plan is straightforward and consistent: make creatures, multiply, attack.
- Can pressure multiple opponents quickly by going wide.
Weaknesses
- Highly reliant on the commander staying on the battlefield; repeated removal can stall you.
- Vulnerable to board wipes and effects that punish wide boards.
- Can struggle into pillow-fort style defenses or repeated fog effects that blank combat steps.
- Limited access to long-game card advantage compared to multicolor strategies.
Rule zero notes
- This commander can create very large token counts quickly; confirm the table is okay with swarm-style games.
- Games can end abruptly once a payoff is in play (example: Impact Tremors or Goblin Bombardment).
- Clarify whether your build focuses on combat damage, direct damage triggers, or sacrifice-based finishing.
- Mention how much fast mana/acceleration you’re running (example: Arcane Signet, Brightstone Ritual), since it affects speed.
Matchups
Best into
- Creature-light decks that take time to set up and can’t easily answer a growing board
- Pods without frequent sweepers or repeated commander removal
- Midrange tables where combat damage is a primary win condition
Struggles against
- Control-heavy pods packed with board wipes and spot removal for commanders
- Pillow-fort or fog-centric strategies that stall combat indefinitely
- Decks that efficiently punish tokens or wide boards
Recent public decks
Staples
Browse all public decksFAQ
How does Krenko actually scale over a game?
Krenko makes tokens equal to your current Goblin count, so each activation typically makes the next activation even bigger if your board survives.
Do I have to win through combat?
Not necessarily; some builds use direct damage or sacrifice payoffs (example: Impact Tremors, Goblin Bombardment) to win without needing clean attacks.
What should I prioritize when opening a hand?
Early Goblins and a way to keep tempo into Krenko are key; a little acceleration and at least one interaction piece can help force through the first big activation.
What’s the biggest risk to my plan?
Board wipes and repeated commander removal are the most common ways to stop you, since you’re investing heavily in a single, scaling engine.
How do I play around blockers and stalled boards?
Look for ways to push damage through or convert tokens into non-combat damage; even small windows created by removal can be enough to finish.