Goblin Arsonist MTG Card

Enables advantageous board trades and can damage any target upon its destruction. Complements sacrifice mechanics, aiding in resource acceleration and combo synergies. Instant-speed sacrifice outlets offer strategic flexibility, disrupting opponents’ plans.
Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Goblin Shaman
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

When Goblin Arsonist is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, you may have it deal 1 damage to target creature or player.

With great power comes great risk of getting yourself killed.

Cards like Goblin Arsonist

Goblin Arsonist is a simple yet strategically flexible card in the vast landscape of red creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to deal one damage upon death makes it akin to creatures like Mogg Fanatic. Mogg Fanatic can also sacrifice itself to deal one damage to any target, offering a slight edge in control over where the damage goes but requiring an active choice rather than a triggered ability.

Comparatively, Fanatical Firebrand offers a similar sacrifice mechanic to deal one damage but comes with haste, enabling an immediate board impact that Goblin Arsonist lacks. However, the Arsonist’s death-triggered damage can be more unexpectedly disruptive. Another related card, Forge Devil, enters the battlefield dealing one damage to a creature and one damage to you, providing immediate interaction at a cost to your own life total.

Analyzing these options, Goblin Arsonist holds its position as a versatile card in red creature decks that can subtly turn the tides of battle. Its ability to damage upon death without any mana investment can make it a preferred choice in decks that capitalize on creature sacrifice and death triggers.

Mogg Fanatic - MTG Card versions
Fanatical Firebrand - MTG Card versions
Forge Devil - MTG Card versions
Mogg Fanatic - MTG Card versions
Fanatical Firebrand - MTG Card versions
Forge Devil - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Goblin Arsonist. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
DecklistDecklist Free formSet Roulette Feburary 2024
Gruul AggroGruul Aggro PioneerGruul GoblinsPeasant Pioneer Showdown - A Josh and Pat's MTG Bazaar Sponsored Event

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Goblin Arsonist enables strategic trades on the battlefield, effectively dealing with opponent’s early creatures. Upon its demise, it can ping any target for 1 damage, easily removing an opposing x/1 creature or finishing off a weakened opponent, helping maintain board control.

Resource Acceleration: While it doesn’t directly ramp your mana, the inclusion of Goblin Arsonist in decks focused on sacrifice and combo mechanics often leads to a swift acceleration of resources. By utilizing its death-triggered ability, it interacts well in decks that capitalize on such effects, indirectly speeding up your game plan.

Instant Speed: Although Goblin Arsonist operates at sorcery speed, the ability to sacrifice it at instant speed through various in-game actions, such as using a sacrifice outlet, allows you to trigger its damage-dealing effect precisely when needed. This flexibility can disrupt your opponent’s strategies, giving you the edge during critical phases of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Goblin Arsonist doesn’t have a discard requirement itself, it is worth noting that when factoring it into a deck strategy, discard mechanisms can affect the card’s utility. Discarding valuable cards to leverage other effects might leave you at a disadvantage if Goblin Arsonist is your remaining play.

Specific Mana Cost: Goblin Arsonist requires red mana to play. This mana specificity means it will primarily fit into red or red-inclusive multicolor decks, potentially restricting its versatility in a player’s broader strategy where a broader color palette is desired.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that’s often seen as fair for a 1/1 creature, Goblin Arsonist’s ability might not always justify its inclusion in a deck over other one-drops, especially as the game evolves into turns where higher impact cards are expected.

Reasons to Include Goblin Arsonist in Your Collection

Versatility: Goblin Arsonist slips seamlessly into various red-themed decks, bringing value both as an early aggressive play and a strategic sacrificial piece for later game interactions.

Combo Potential: This creature’s ability to deal damage upon death makes it a prime candidate for combos with cards that capitalize on creature deaths or direct damage, amplifying its potential impact on the board.

Meta-Relevance: Against decks that rely on small utility creatures, Goblin Arsonist maintains relevancy by threatening to trade and apply pressure with its death-triggered damage, shaping its own niche in certain metagame conditions.

How to beat

Among the array of red creatures in Magic: The Gathering, the Goblin Arsonist is notable for its ability to implement incremental damage while offering a strong early game board presence. This one-drop creature can exert pressure on opponents, particularly in goblin-themed decks known for aggressive playstyles. However, despite its efficiency in dealing damage when it dies, the key to circumventing the Goblin Arsonist’s impact lies in its fragility.

Employing removal spells that exile it rather than destroying it, such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, can effectively neutralize it without triggering its ability. Another tactic is to minimize interactions with the creature, using cards that bypass it or strategies that focus less on creature combat. Additionally, leveraging life gain can mitigate the impact of its death-triggered damage, helping to ensure that the Goblin Arsonist’s ability does not become a game-deciding factor. In essence, with its limited toughness, the Goblin Arsonist can be effectively managed through strategic removal or evasion, keeping its fiery potential in check.

Therefore, understanding the dynamics of MTG creatures, and countering them with appropriate spells or strategies, can turn the tables on Goblin Arsonist’s seemingly advantageous death effect, making it a manageable component of an opponent’s arsenal.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Goblin Arsonist MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi and Magic 2012, 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 Arsonist and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Goblin Arsonist Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2010-04-23 and 2020-07-03. Illustrated by Wayne Reynolds.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12010-04-23Rise of the EldraziROE 1472003NormalBlackWayne Reynolds
22011-07-15Magic 2012M12 1362003NormalBlackWayne Reynolds
32012-07-13Magic 2013M13 1342003NormalBlackWayne Reynolds
42013-03-15Duel Decks: Sorin vs. TibaltDDK 422003NormalBlackWayne Reynolds
52020-07-03Core Set 2021M21 1472015NormalBlackWayne Reynolds

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin Arsonist has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal