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    Krenko, Mob Boss
    Commander Guide

    Krenko, Mob Boss Commander Deck Guide

    R mana

    Krenko, Mob Boss taps to create a 1/1 red Goblin token for each Goblin you control — and he counts himself. Every activation roughly doubles your board, and the new tokens count toward the next one, so two or three untaps turn a handful of Goblins into an army.

    Last updated: October 20262 min read

    What Krenko, Mob Boss does

    Krenko, Mob Boss taps to create a 1/1 red Goblin token for each Goblin you control — and he counts himself. Every activation roughly doubles your board, and the new tokens count toward the next one, so two or three untaps turn a handful of Goblins into an army.

    The catch is getting him to tap. Without haste he has to survive a full turn, so Crashing Drawbridge and Anger do real work here. Once he's going, the deck gives the tokens somewhere to go: attack, turn them into red mana with Skirk Prospector, or let Witty Roastmaster drain the table as they arrive.

    Krenko stays popular because the core loop is simple but the decisions aren't. Sacrifice too many Goblins and your next activation shrinks. Commit the whole board to combat and one wipe sets you back to zero. You're always weighing growth against what you can afford to lose.

    How Krenko, Mob Boss plays

    Early: ramp toward Krenko's four mana with Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, and Mind Stone, and set up haste — Crashing Drawbridge on the battlefield, or Anger in the graveyard with a Mountain in play.

    Mid: land Krenko and start doubling. Name Goblin with Metallic Mimic so every token arrives bigger and counts toward the next activation. Hold a little back — don't lose everything to one board wipe.

    Win: a lethal swing from a doubled board, or Witty Roastmaster turning each new token into damage without attacking at all. Fiery Confluence closes games too — just watch its creature mode, which can burn down your own tokens.

    Build Krenko, Mob Boss from your collection

    The builder starts with Krenko, Mob Boss as your commander and fills the 99 from cards you own.

    Build Krenko, Mob Boss from your collection

    Key staples

    Synergy pieces

    • Anger

      Anger

      In your graveyard with a Mountain under your control, it gives your creatures haste so Krenko and his new tokens can act immediately.

    • Relic of Legends

      Relic of Legends

      Makes mana itself and can tap an untapped Krenko for another mana, though that competes with his token activation.

    • Chain Reaction

      Chain Reaction

      Deals damage to every creature equal to the battlefield's creature count; your tokens increase the damage but are also caught in it.

    • Fire Diamond

      Fire Diamond

      Enters tapped, then provides red mana on later turns to help cast Krenko and your other spells.

    • Rising of the Day

      Rising of the Day

      Gives all your creatures haste and Krenko +1/+0, supporting both immediate token production and attacks with fresh Goblins.

    • Loyal Apprentice

      Loyal Apprentice

      With your commander in play at the beginning of your combat, it makes a flying Thopter with haste; that token isn't a Goblin for Krenko's count.

    • Crashing Drawbridge

      Crashing Drawbridge

      Taps to give your current creatures haste for the turn, letting a newly cast Krenko activate but not covering tokens created afterward.

    Staples in these colors

    • Sol Ring

      Sol Ring

      Produces two colorless mana to cover Krenko's generic cost or help deploy support pieces.

    • Arcane Signet

      Arcane Signet

      Produces red mana in this deck, helping meet Krenko's two-red casting requirement.

    • Fellwar Stone

      Fellwar Stone

      Provides mana based on opponents' lands; don't assume it can make red when planning Krenko's casting cost.

    • Blasphemous Act

      Blasphemous Act

      Your crowded board reduces its casting cost, but its 13 damage to every creature also threatens Krenko and your tokens.

    • Chaos Warp

      Chaos Warp

      Answers any target permanent by shuffling it away, with the risk that its owner reveals a permanent to put onto the battlefield.

    Card images and card data courtesy of Scryfall. Magic: The Gathering is © Wizards of the Coast. ManaBuilder is unaffiliated with Wizards of the Coast.

    The numbers

    • 6 Draw
    • 17 Ramp
    • 37 Lands
    • 24 Theme
    • 3 Wipes
    • 12 Removal
    • 1 Commander

    Draw

    Count
    6

    Ramp

    Count
    17

    Lands

    Count
    37

    Theme

    Count
    24

    Wipes

    Count
    3

    Removal

    Count
    12

    Commander

    Count
    1

    Reference build for Krenko, Mob Boss: 100 cards including the commander.

    Sample decks

    Budget build (~$37)

    For the budget build, start with dependable mana: Sol Ring covers Krenko's generic cost, while Arcane Signet and Fire Diamond provide red. Set up Rising of the Day before Krenko when possible so you get tokens immediately. Crashing Drawbridge offers another route to that first activation, but its haste effect won't apply to tokens created afterward. Loyal Apprentice adds flying attackers without increasing your Goblin count. Grow your board through repeated Krenko activations, then attack when you can keep enough Goblins alive to continue producing tokens. Save Chain Reaction or Blasphemous Act for boards where resetting is better than keeping your own army.

    Decklist · 100 cards

    Commander (1)

    • 1 Krenko, Mob Boss

    Artifacts (14)

    • 1 Sol Ring
    • 1 Arcane Signet
    • 1 Fellwar Stone
    • 1 Mind Stone
    • 1 Wayfarer's Bauble
    • 1 Fire Diamond
    • 1 Worn Powerstone
    • 1 Relic of Legends
    • 1 Hazoret's Monument
    • 1 Hammer of Purphoros
    • 1 Tome of Legends
    • 1 Endless Atlas
    • 1 Mask of Memory
    • 1 Conqueror's Flail

    Creatures (26)

    • 1 Skirk Prospector
    • 1 Iron Myr
    • 1 Goblin Warchief
    • 1 Crashing Drawbridge
    • 1 Anger
    • 1 Mogg War Marshal
    • 1 Goblin Instigator
    • 1 Impulsive Pilferer
    • 1 Beetleback Chief
    • 1 Siege-Gang Commander
    • 1 Legion Warboss
    • 1 Loyal Apprentice
    • 1 Goblin Matron
    • 1 Goblin Ringleader
    • 1 Breeches, Eager Pillager
    • 1 Grenzo, Havoc Raiser
    • 1 Coercive Recruiter
    • 1 Zada, Hedron Grinder
    • 1 Metallic Mimic
    • 1 Adaptive Automaton
    • 1 Universal Automaton
    • 1 Taurean Mauler
    • 1 Ogre Battledriver
    • 1 Witty Roastmaster
    • 1 Molten Gatekeeper
    • 1 Devilish Valet

    Enchantments (6)

    • 1 Rising of the Day
    • 1 Raid Bombardment
    • 1 Mechanized Warfare
    • 1 Warstorm Surge
    • 1 Gratuitous Violence
    • 1 Outpost Siege

    Sorceries (10)

    • 1 Dragon Fodder
    • 1 Krenko's Command
    • 1 Hordeling Outburst
    • 1 Faithless Looting
    • 1 Reckless Impulse
    • 1 Light Up the Stage
    • 1 Mizzium Mortars
    • 1 Fiery Confluence
    • 1 Blasphemous Act
    • 1 Chain Reaction

    Instants (6)

    • 1 Thrill of Possibility
    • 1 Big Score
    • 1 Chaos Warp
    • 1 Abrade
    • 1 Lightning Bolt
    • 1 Return the Favor

    Lands (37)

    • 1 Command Tower
    • 1 Path of Ancestry
    • 1 Secluded Courtyard
    • 1 Unclaimed Territory
    • 1 Castle Embereth
    • 1 Flamekin Village
    • 1 Forgotten Cave
    • 1 Spinerock Knoll
    • 29 Mountain
    Build this from your collection

    Upgraded build (~$440)

    For the upgraded build, keep the same sequencing discipline rather than assuming the extra options replace Krenko's basic needs. Sol Ring and Arcane Signet help deploy him alongside support, while Rising of the Day gives both him and each new batch of Goblins haste. Anger provides that same ongoing haste from your graveyard while you control a Mountain. Relic of Legends gives you a choice between using Krenko for mana and tapping him for tokens; favor tokens once your Goblin count is established. Hold Chaos Warp for a permanent that disrupts your plan, and treat your creature wipes as recovery tools rather than routine plays.

    Decklist · 100 cards

    Commander (1)

    • 1 Krenko, Mob Boss

    Artifacts (23)

    • 1 Sol Ring
    • 1 Arcane Signet
    • 1 Fellwar Stone
    • 1 Mind Stone
    • 1 Thought Vessel
    • 1 Fire Diamond
    • 1 Ruby Medallion
    • 1 Springleaf Drum
    • 1 Relic of Legends
    • 1 Skullclamp
    • 1 Idol of Oblivion
    • 1 Sensei's Divining Top
    • 1 Brass's Tunnel-Grinder // Tecutlan, the Searing Rift
    • 1 Coat of Arms
    • 1 Thousand-Year Elixir
    • 1 Patriar's Seal
    • 1 Sting, the Glinting Dagger
    • 1 Illusionist's Bracers
    • 1 Lightning Greaves
    • 1 Swiftfoot Boots
    • 1 Maskwood Nexus
    • 1 Ashnod's Altar
    • 1 Rings of Brighthearth

    Sorceries (9)

    • 1 Faithless Looting
    • 1 Light Up the Stage
    • 1 Wheel of Misfortune
    • 1 Jeska's Will
    • 1 Gamble
    • 1 Vandalblast
    • 1 Blasphemous Act
    • 1 Chain Reaction
    • 1 Fiery Confluence

    Creatures (18)

    • 1 Goblin Matron
    • 1 Imperial Recruiter
    • 1 Skirk Prospector
    • 1 Impulsive Pilferer
    • 1 Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin
    • 1 Siege-Gang Commander
    • 1 Legion Warboss
    • 1 Agate Instigator
    • 1 Molten Gatekeeper
    • 1 Witty Roastmaster
    • 1 Purphoros, God of the Forge
    • 1 Anger
    • 1 Crashing Drawbridge
    • 1 Harmonic Prodigy
    • 1 Marvin, Murderous Mimic
    • 1 Professional Face-Breaker
    • 1 Magda, Brazen Outlaw
    • 1 Loyal Apprentice

    Enchantments (5)

    • 1 Impact Tremors
    • 1 Goblin Bombardment
    • 1 Shared Animosity
    • 1 Rising of the Day
    • 1 Fable of the Mirror-Breaker // Reflection of Kiki-Jiki

    Instants (8)

    • 1 Chaos Warp
    • 1 Abrade
    • 1 Lightning Bolt
    • 1 Pyroblast
    • 1 Red Elemental Blast
    • 1 Bolt Bend
    • 1 Tibalt's Trickery
    • 1 Battle Hymn

    Lands (36)

    • 26 Mountain
    • 1 Command Tower
    • 1 Path of Ancestry
    • 1 Three Tree City
    • 1 Great Furnace
    • 1 Castle Embereth
    • 1 Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance
    • 1 Mines of Moria
    • 1 Spinerock Knoll
    • 1 Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
    • 1 War Room
    Build this from your collection

    Krenko, Mob Boss FAQ

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Yes, Krenko is a Goblin and counts himself if he's still on the battlefield when the ability resolves. Count your Goblins on resolution, not when you tap him. Changes to your board before resolution change how many tokens you make.
    Normally, no: his ability uses the tap symbol. Haste lets you activate him that turn. Anger provides it while in your graveyard if you control a Mountain, and a Crashing Drawbridge that's able to tap can grant it to him.
    No. It grants haste only to creatures you control when its ability resolves. If you use it to give a newly cast Krenko haste, the tokens he subsequently creates won't get haste from that activation. If Krenko can already tap, you can make tokens first and activate Drawbridge afterward.
    Usually, wait until Krenko's ability resolves. Sacrificing beforehand, or while the ability is waiting to resolve, reduces the number of tokens you'll create. Spend Goblins earlier only when the mana is worth that smaller batch.
    If Krenko creates ten tokens while Witty Roastmaster is on the battlefield, Roastmaster triggers ten times, for a total of 10 damage to each opponent. The tokens don't need haste, and they don't need to attack.

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