Goblin Test Pilot MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Goblin Pilot Wizard |
| Abilities | Flying |
| Released | 2013-05-03 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Dragon's Maze |
| Set code | DGM |
| Power | 0 |
| Toughness | 2 |
| Number | 74 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Svetlin Velinov |
Key Takeaways
- Offers card advantage through random threat elimination, bolstering strategic board control.
- Pilot’s low casting cost and instant speed activation enhance early-game flexibility.
- Best countered by savvy board control and versatile, instant-speed removal options.
Text of card
Flying : Goblin Test Pilot deals 2 damage to target creature or player chosen at random.
"All pilots and prototypes destroyed. Extensive collateral damage inflicted. Conclusion: flawless design." —*Manual of Melek*
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Goblin Test Pilot offers an unconventional method for potential card advantage. In a situation where the board is populated with multiple creatures, activating the Pilot could eliminate a key threat, indirectly contributing to your card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: Although the Goblin Test Pilot itself doesn’t accelerate resources, its low casting cost allows for early-game presence without detracting from your mana pool, paving the way for playing other cards that could ramp up your resources.
Instant Speed: The ability to activate the test pilot’s ability at instant speed provides strategic flexibility. You can end your opponent’s turn or respond to actions, ensuring you make the most informed decision on where the Pilot’s random blast will be directed.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Goblin Test Pilot obliges you to potentially discard valuable cards from your hand due to its random destructive ability. This unpredictability could force you to lose key pieces of your strategy without guaranteeing significant benefits for your position on the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both red and blue mana to cast, Goblin Test Pilot can be cumbersome in multicolored decks that may not always have the right mana available. This reduces its flexibility and can result in it being a dead card in your hand at critical moments.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, including two that are color specific, Goblin Test Pilot has a demanding mana requirement for an effect that lacks control and precision. For the same or lesser mana investment, players could summon creatures or activate abilities that offer more reliable and targeted outcomes, thereby making it a less optimized choice for decks focused on efficiency and control.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Goblin Test Pilot fits snugly into a variety of builds, particularly those looking for an element of surprise or needing a random target damage dealer.
Combo Potential: With the right setup, this card can be a key piece in a combo that controls the board by eliminating key threats unpredictably.
Meta-Relevance: Given its peculiar ability to target any creature or player at random, Goblin Test Pilot has a niche role, especially in metas where strategies can afford an element of chaos to disrupt the opponent’s plans.
How to beat
The Goblin Test Pilot is a unique card that brings a quirky and random element to Magic: The Gathering games. This card is known for its ability to deal damage randomly, which can sometimes be as much of a liability as an asset. When facing this unpredictable flyer, one must keep in mind that its ability can target any creature or player, including its controller’s own. Therefore, it presents an opportunity to upend the game for an unprepared player.
To strategically surpass an opponent wielding the Goblin Test Pilot, ensure you have a lineup of creatures with toughness greater than two to mitigate potential self-inflicted damage they may incur. Deploying creatures that can easily regenerate or have indestructible attributes can nullify the Test Pilot’s damage. Additionally, having instant-speed removals or spells that specifically inhibit the activation of abilities can ensure that the pilot never takes off. It’s also advisable to keep pressure on the board so that the activation of Test Pilot’s ability becomes a risky gamble for your opponent.
Ultimately, maintaining board control and keeping versatile responses in hand are your best tactics against the Goblin Test Pilot. Its random nature can sometimes work in your favor, and with the right strategy, you can turn its chaotic tendencies into a calculated advantage.
Cards like Goblin Test Pilot
The Goblin Test Pilot takes a unique spot in red and blue spellcaster decks, drawing parallels to cards like Goblin Arsonist in the creature segment. Both share the goblin subtype, important for tribal synergies. However, the Test Pilot stands out with its random target ability, offering a high-risk, high-reward strategy that the Arsonist doesn’t. The Goblin Arsonist, on the flip side, guarantees damage to a player or creature upon its demise, providing a more controlled form of disruption.
Delving into the whims of chance, we find the capricious nature of Krark, the Thumbless. This legendary goblin mirrors the unpredictability of the Goblin Test Pilot, with a coin flip determining the fate of spells. Unlike the Pilot’s targeted ability, Krark can potentially duplicate spells or return them to hand, which ups the ante on strategic planning. Another cohort in this gamble is the Mogg Assassin, another creature that uses randomness, letting players engage in a creature-targeted game of chance to decide removals.
In summary, the Goblin Test Pilot provides a distinct blend of chaos and potential card synergy for goblin-based decks, marking its own territory of volatility within the vast array of creature cards found in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Goblin Test Pilot by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Goblin Test Pilot MTG card by a specific set like Dragon's Maze, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Goblin Test Pilot and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin Test Pilot has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Goblin Test Pilot card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-04-15 | Goblin Test Pilot is a legal target of its own ability. |
| 2013-04-15 | The target is chosen at random as part of activating the ability. Players can respond to the ability knowing what the target of the ability is. |
| 2013-04-15 | To choose a target at random, all possible legal targets (including creatures and players) must have an equal chance of being chosen. There are many ways to do this, including assigning each possible legal target a number and rolling a die. |
