Goad in MTG: Rules, History, and Cards

Last updated on August 27, 2024

Disrupt Decorum | Illustration by Sidharth Chaturvedi

It’s time to make the fantastic, not-confusing-at-all rules of Magic a little easier. Today you’ll learn about the goad mechanic. I’ll go over what it is, answer some often-confusing questions regarding the mechanic, and talk about the history of it.

Let’s break it down.

How Does Goad Work?

Shiny Impetus | Illustration by Filipe Pagliuso

Goad is a keyword action that affects creatures. If a creature is affected by goad, it must attack a player other than the one that applied goad, if able. That's it.

If you “goaded” your opponent's creatures, those creatures must attack a player other than you if they can. These “if able” scenarios can get a bit confusing, but we’ll get into those situations in just a second. Goad can be applied to all creatures a player controls and can last as short as a single turn or indefinitely via a permanent aura or equipment.

The History of Goad in MTG

Goad came to Magic with the Conspiracy: Take the Crown set back in 2016. You’ve seen it several times since, but never in a main Standard-legal set. Conspiracy: Take the Crown was a supplemental set and the color distribution of the mechanic remains largely in red and blue.

Most multiplayer sets have some amount of goad printed, including Commander precons, Universes Beyond, and unique products like Ravnica: Clue Edition. It is sort of evergreen in that you should expect to see it in new multiplayer sets, but not to the degree of keywords like trample or vigilance.

How Does Goad Work in 1v1?

Goad creates two attack requirements.

First, it must attack if able. For example, a creature with defender can’t attack so a goaded creature with defender isn’t able to attack. If a creature is tapped, it can’t attack. If it’s not prevented from attacking by an effect like those, it has to attack.

Second, it must attack a player other than the one that controls the goad effect if able. The “if able” is the biggest part of that. If you’re in a 1v1, there is no other player for the goaded creature to attack, so that creature has to attack the player that controls the goad effect (i.e., you).

Can a Creature With Goad Be Blocked?

Yes, a defending player can block a creature that's been goaded. You might say this is the most desired outcome for the player that did the goading.

Can a Creature With Goad Attack If It Has Summoning Sickness?

No, a goaded creature cannot attack if it has summoning sickness. It would need haste to attack that turn.

Can a Creature That’s Goaded Attack a Planeswalker?

Not usually. A goaded creature must attack a player other than the player that goaded it. But if it can't attack an appropriate player for some reason, it could then attack a planeswalker to at least meet its “must attack” requirement.

Does Goad Wear Off After One Turn?

Usually goad wears off at the end of turn, though some goad effects are permanent and take effect each turn indefinitely.

Do Multiple Instances of Goad Have an Additional Effect?

Not from the same player. But if multiple players goad the same creature, then the effect is cumulative and those players can't be attacked.

Can Goad Be Countered Or Prevented?

Goad cannot be directly countered or prevented. The ways to stop goad are to counter the spell that causes the effect, or make the creature unable to attack, possibly by sacrificing or tapping it before combat.

Do Attack Triggers Still Work With A Goaded Creature?

Yes, a goaded creature will trigger effects that care about “whenever this creature attacks”.

If a Creature Is Affected by a Propaganda-Type Card, Does a Goaded Player Have to Pay the Cost for Its Creature to Attack?

No, the player isn’t required to pay that effect. Since Propaganda prevents creatures from attacking unless a cost is paid, the player can choose not to pay it which means the creature can’t attack.

Would a Creature That Comes Into the Battlefield After Disrupt Decorum Was Cast Be Affected by Goad?

No, only creatures that were on the battlefield when Disrupt Decorum was cast are affected by goad.

Gallery and List of Goad Cards

• Acquired Mutation
• Agitator Ant
• Alela, Cunning Conqueror
• Baeloth Barrityl, Entertainer
• Besmirch
• Bhaal, Lord of Murder
• Bjorna, Nightfall Alchemist
• Lucas, the Sharpshooter
• Bloodboil Sorcerer
• Bloodthirsty Blade
• Bothersome Quasit
• Coronation of Chaos
• Coveted Peacock
• Day of the Moon
• Death Kiss
• Disrupt Decorum
• Edgin, Larcenous Lutenist
• Farid, Enterprising Salvager
• Fell Beast's Shriek
• Firkraag, Cunning Instigator
• Frenzied Gorespawn
• Geode Rager
• Ghoulish Impetus
• Glóin, Dwarf Emissary
• Goblin Racketeer
• Grenzo, Havoc Raiser
• Havoc Eater
• Hot Pursuit
• Immortal Obligation
• Incriminating Impetus
• Insufferable Balladeer
• Jeering Homunculus
• Jon Irenicus, Shattered One
• Kaima, the Fractured Calm
• Karazikar, the Eye Tyrant
• Kitt Kanto, Mayhem Diva
• Komainu Battle Armor
• Kros, Defense Contractor
• Laser Screwdriver
• Laurine, the Diversion
• Life of the Party
• Maestros Confluence
• Maeve, Insidious Singer
• Marisi, Breaker of the Coil
• Martial Impetus
• Mocking Doppelganger
• Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser
• Nettling Nuisance
• Oceanus Dragon
• Parasitic Impetus
• Popular Entertainer
• Predatory Impetus
• Psychic Impetus
• Ransom Note
• Red Death, Shipwrecker
• Redemption Arc
• Renegade Silent
• Serene Sleuth
• Shiny Impetus
• Slicer, Hired Muscle // Slicer, High-Speed Antagonist
• Sly Instigator
• Sontaran General
• Spectacular Showdown
• Take the Bait
• Taunt from the Rampart
• Taunting Kobold
• Taunting Sliver
• The Beamtown Bullies
• The Master, Mesmerist
• The Rani
• The Sound of Drums
• The War Games
• Undercity
• Vengeful Ancestor
• Vislor Turlough

Best Goad Cards

Marisi, Breaker of the Coil

Marisi, Breaker of the Coil can potentially goad all the enemy creatures and a Naya commander‘s colors are perfect to support this strategy, which makes Marisi perhaps the best goad commander in the game.

Spectacular Showdown

If your team is ready to go, an overloaded Spectacular Showdown is going to rock your table's world. Give each creature double strike, and make sure they attack your neighbors.

Probably not a bad trade with a Voltron commander if you want to offer it at the cost. It might be worth protecting yourself from the combat-winning creatures by saving a flicker effect for them.

Taunt from the Rampart

Taunt from the Rampart is a card you play when you just want to count life totals and eliminate players because I can put this another way. Aggro player, would you pay five mana for all your creatures to be unblockable for a turn, with the upside of your opponent's creatures also attacking others?

Vengeful Ancestor

I like the opportunity for repeated triggers on Vengeful Ancestor, and though it is less effective if the goaded creature has lifelink, the “quit hitting yourself” moments are strong with this.

Disrupt Decorum

Disrupt Decorum may be one of the most famous goad cards and you have to love the simplicity in the text. This sorcery often wipes away small creatures, makes opponents open to attacks, and causes a great chunk of chaos, completely earning its two pips.

Bloodthirsty Blade

The to equip Bloodthirsty Blade is a really low cost to grow an opponent's threat and throw it toward someone else. Pretty sure the Mirrodin designers didn't realize the whole idea of the equipment falling on the battlefield to be picked up by another creature quite in this way, but it makes a huge impact on combat. It is useless if your opponents ever run out of creatures, but that's kind of your goal with this blade.

Decklist: Upgraded Blame Game in Commander

Spectacular Showdown | illustration by Michal Ivan

Wizards showed us the goad way with Nelly's commander precon, the most aptly named Blame Game. This is a great opportunity to show off the upgrades that keep Blame Game instigating, so the decklist above is the precon with Andrew's upgrades. It is quite the celebration of goad.

That’s Goad

Baffling End | Illustration by Mathias Kollros

That’s the breakdown of the goad mechanic. I think they have a great fit on Commander cards. I personally don’t care to see it more often. But that’s the great thing about Magic, there’s a mechanic for everyone. I’m sure there are goad lovers out there.

Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to check out more content if you’re craving MTG stuff. If you’re an Arena lover, may I suggest Arena Tutor? It's an all-in-one application that uses AI to help you win more at MTGA. What's not to love?