Goblins


Quick gameplay tips

  • If you're preparing to make a huge play, try and make sure you've got 'Make Your Own Luck' or a Diviner on the board, as these will allow you to change the result of a coin flip and the Goblins' main strength comes from coin flips going their way.
  • Chaos Lord is one of those minions that you want to get out as soon as possible and have chill out on a forgotten base. Every time you flip a coin you'll get some benefit, either power on ANY of your minions or cycling through your deck by drawing and discarding cards.
  • Think about whether changing the result of a coin flip is worth it, changing the result costs cards and isn't worth sacrificing a future play for if you don't urgently need the effect. Considering what you actually need in the moment is a vital skill for all factions, particularly one as random as the Goblins

Gameplay

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The Goblins have an entirely unique mechanic in Smash Up - coin flips. If you don't like RNG, this is not the faction for you. Lots of the Goblins' cards allow them to flip a coin, and do something different depending on the outcome. Heads will typically provide power counters, while tails will provide utility. In the case of cards like 'Magic Helmet', an unfavourable coin flip can end disastrously for the Goblins. Magic Helmet gives one of their minions +4 power, but they must flip a coin before its base scores. If it's tails, then that minion gets destroyed. The Goblins are a real boom or bust faction, their plans can go perfectly if the coins are compliant, or can crash and burn if they don't feel like cooperating. They've got a few ways to change the results of coin flips, to provide them with some agency to prevent the very worst outcomes from happening. The Goblins are unique in that their main strength is also their main weakness - their unpredictability. Even the Goblins aren't entirely sure what their next turn will look like, making them difficult to play but also difficult to play around. How can you outsmart someone who isn't thinking at all?