Krenko, Mob Boss Commander Deck Guide – Goblin Swarms, Token Chaos, and Red Aggro at Its Best
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If you like explosive turns, overwhelming board states, and unpredictable chaos, Krenko, Mob Boss is the commander for you. As one of the most popular mono-red commanders in Magic: The Gathering, Krenko has built a reputation for flooding the battlefield with goblins faster than any deck in the format.
With a single untap, Krenko can take you from zero to dozens of creatures—perfect for overwhelming your enemies in a sea of red fury. This guide covers the key strategies, deckbuilding choices, and win conditions that make Krenko one of EDH’s most exciting and dangerous commanders.
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Why Play Krenko, Mob Boss?
Krenko’s ability is simple and powerful. Tap him to create a number of 1/1 Goblins equal to the number of Goblins you already control. With just one or two existing tokens, the snowball begins. Combine Krenko with haste enablers and token doublers, and you’re suddenly creating exponential armies in a matter of turns.
He doesn’t require fancy combos or five-color mana bases. Krenko wins with speed, synergy, and sheer volume.
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The Core Goblin Engine
The goblin tribe is loaded with support pieces that make Krenko shine. Many are cheap, hasty, or bring friends to the table. This deck runs a tight suite of aggressive goblins to ensure you’re always growing the mob.
Goblin Instigator and Mogg War Marshal give you multiple bodies for one card
Krenko’s Command and Dragon Fodder are simple but efficient token generators
Legion Loyalist gives your goblins trample and first strike—huge for combat
Goblin Chieftain and Goblin Warchief pump your army and grant haste
Skirk Prospector converts tokens into mana to fuel big turns
Muxus, Goblin Grandee acts as a top-end bomb, refilling your board instantly
Purphoros, God of the Forge turns every token into damage
Every goblin matters. Krenko multiplies whatever you give him—so flood the field.
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Doubling the Goblin Output
When your strategy revolves around making tokens, doubling effects are game-changing. Krenko becomes a true engine of destruction with even one of these on the field.
Doubling Season and Parallel Lives (if budget allows) turn every activation into an army
Goblin King and Coat of Arms turn those tokens into real threats
Impact Tremors and Purphoros provide lethal damage without attacking
Battle Hymn and Brightstone Ritual give explosive mana to chain spells
Fervor and Lightning Greaves let you tap Krenko immediately
Throne of the God-Pharaoh punishes opponents for every tapped creature
The faster you can activate Krenko, the harder it is for your opponents to recover.
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Key Win Conditions
Krenko rarely needs a true combo. Instead, the deck wins with overwhelming numbers and synergy-driven damage.
Massive combat swings with pump effects like Shared Animosity or Eldrazi Monument
Damage through Impact Tremors, Purphoros, or Goblin Bombardment
Skullclamp to draw dozens of cards from disposable tokens
Insurrection or Mob Rule to steal boards and finish the table
Helm of the Host equipped to Krenko for exponential goblin production
This deck excels at overwhelming even pillow fort or stax strategies through sheer numbers and inevitability.
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How to Protect the Mob Boss
Krenko is fragile—just a 3/3 with a giant target on his back. The deck includes multiple ways to protect him so you can keep tapping without fear.
Lightning Greaves and Swiftfoot Boots are essential haste and protection
Darksteel Plate and Whispersilk Cloak help him survive
Goblin Chirurgeon gives instant-speed regeneration for other goblins
Red Elemental Blast and Pyroblast offer interaction in mono-red
Warping Wail and Deflecting Swat (if available) give key responses
Protecting Krenko means protecting your entire win condition.
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Ramp and Utility
Red doesn’t always ramp well, but this deck uses mana-generating goblins and rituals to accelerate into explosive turns.
Skirk Prospector and Dockside Extortionist (if in budget) generate huge value
Battle Hymn and Mana Geyser can generate absurd mana
Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, and Mind Stone provide early ramp
Treasonous Ogre turns life into mana for combo-level plays
Goblin Matron and Goblin Recruiter tutor key creatures to hand and top of deck
Once the mana is flowing, Krenko becomes nearly unstoppable.
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Lands (35–37)
The land base stays fairly simple in mono-red, with some utility thrown in.
Command Tower
Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
Castle Embereth
Great Furnace
Forgotten Cave
Den of the Bugbear
Basic Mountains
Myriad Landscape
Buried Ruin
Tectonic Edge
Hanweir Battlements (for haste)
Rogue’s Passage (for unblockable alpha strikes)
You don’t need fancy duals—just enough red to keep the goblins coming.
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Final Thoughts
Krenko, Mob Boss is one of the most fun and explosive tribal commanders in EDH. He rewards aggressive play, clever sequencing, and token synergy in a way that few other commanders do. Whether you want to play casual chaos or optimized red aggression, Krenko’s got you covered.
Once the mob gets going, nothing can stop it. Long live the Boss.
Here are three Krenko, Mob Boss Commander deck lists, each tailored to a specific player style and power level: flavor-focused, competitive, and budget-friendly. All three decks maximize the strengths of goblin tribal while offering unique angles for gameplay.
1. Flavor-Focused Krenko Deck List
A deck made for goblin lovers who value theme, chaos, and explosive fun over pure efficiency.
Commander
Krenko, Mob Boss
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Goblins Galore
Goblin Instigator
Mogg War Marshal
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
Warren Instigator
Ib Halfheart, Goblin Tactician
Squee, Goblin Nabob
Skirk Fire Marshal
Goblin Rabblemaster
Beetleback Chief
Conspicuous Snoop
Pashalik Mons
Sling-Gang Lieutenant
Krenko’s Enforcer
Goblin King
Goblin Warchief
Goblin Chieftain
Goblin Matron
Goblin Ringleader
Tuktuk the Explorer
Zo-Zu the Punisher
Mogg Fanatic
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Supportive Enchantments & Artifacts
Shared Animosity
Goblin Bombardment
Boggart Shenanigans
Kindred Charge
Fervor
Impact Tremors
Coat of Arms
Vanquisher’s Banner
Skullclamp
Door of Destinies
Lightning Greaves
Swiftfoot Boots
Herald’s Horn
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Instants & Sorceries
Hordeling Outburst
Krenko’s Command
Dragon Fodder
Mogg Infestation
Reckless One
Burn at the Stake
Massive Raid
Warstorm Surge
Brightstone Ritual
Battle Hymn
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Lands (36)
Castle Embereth
Den of the Bugbear
Hanweir Battlements
Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
Forgotten Cave
Myriad Landscape
Buried Ruin
Tectonic Edge
Great Furnace
33x Mountain
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2. Competitive Krenko Deck List
Focused on fast kills, infinite combos, and maximum goblin synergy. A real threat at any table.
Commander
Krenko, Mob Boss
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Efficient Goblins
Skirk Prospector
Dockside Extortionist
Goblin Warchief
Goblin Chieftain
Legion Loyalist
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
Conspicuous Snoop
Goblin Recruiter
Goblin Matron
Fervent Champion
Mogg War Marshal
Sling-Gang Lieutenant
Goblin Bushwhacker
Foundry Street Denizen
Squee, Dubious Monarch
Grenzo, Havoc Raiser
Pashalik Mons
Goblin Sharpshooter
Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin
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Infinite/Combo Engines
Conspicuous Snoop + Kiki-Jiki
Skirk Prospector + Dockside Extortionist + Goblin Sharpshooter
Ashnod’s Altar + Pashalik Mons
Skullclamp + any mass token loop
Fervor or Lightning Greaves to enable immediate tapping
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Key Support & Finishers
Impact Tremors
Purphoros, God of the Forge
Throne of the God-Pharaoh
Shared Animosity
Coat of Arms
Mob Rule
Insurrection
Mana Echoes
Cavalcade of Calamity
Cursed Mirror
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Ramp & Utility
Sol Ring
Mana Crypt
Chrome Mox
Mox Amber
Treasonous Ogre
Jeweled Lotus
Battle Hymn
Brightstone Ritual
Seething Song
Desperate Ritual
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Interaction
Red Elemental Blast
Deflecting Swat
Chaos Warp
Abrade
Blasphemous Act
Fork
Sudden Shock
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Lands (35)
Ancient Tomb
City of Traitors
Den of the Bugbear
Hanweir Battlements
Forgotten Cave
Shinka, the Bloodsoaked Keep
Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
Myriad Landscape
Great Furnace
Snow-Covered Mountain x21
Castle Embereth
Buried Ruin
Tectonic Edge
Reliquary Tower
Scavenger Grounds
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3. Budget-Friendly Krenko Deck List
Built for around $75–$100. Explosive and fun without breaking the bank.
Commander
Krenko, Mob Boss
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Affordable Goblins
Mogg War Marshal
Goblin Instigator
Skirk Prospector
Sling-Gang Lieutenant
Krenko’s Enforcer
Ib Halfheart, Goblin Tactician
Goblin Motivator
Legion Loyalist
Goblin Warchief
Goblin Chieftain
Goblin King
Beetleback Chief
Tuktuk Rubblefort
Bogart Brute
Voldaren Epicure
Mudbutton Torchrunner
Hobgoblin Captain
Pashalik Mons
Gempalm Incinerator
Fervent Champion
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Budget Token Support
Impact Tremors
Cavalcade of Calamity
Shared Animosity
Goblin Bombardment
Boggart Shenanigans
Dragon Fodder
Krenko’s Command
Krenko’s Banner
Raid Bombardment
Mob Justice
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Budget Artifacts & Enablers
Sol Ring
Arcane Signet
Mind Stone
Skullclamp
Swiftfoot Boots
Lightning Greaves
Goblin War Drums
Fire Diamond
Wayfarer’s Bauble
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Budget Instants & Sorceries
Seething Song
Battle Hymn
Brightstone Ritual
Blasphemous Act
Mogg Infestation
Flameshot
Massive Raid
Hijack
Act of Treason
Cathartic Reunion
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Lands (35)
Forgotten Cave
Den of the Bugbear
Myriad Landscape
Evolving Wilds
Terramorphic Expanse
Great Furnace
Hanweir Battlements
Castle Embereth
27x Mountain
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