Goblin Spelunkers MTG Card
1998-10-12 - Number 195
2001-04-11 - Number 193★
2001-04-11 - Number 193
2005-10-07 - Number 128
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Goblin Warrior |
| Abilities | Mountainwalk |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
Mountainwalk (If defending player controls a mountain, this creature is unblockable.)
"It only short jump. You go first." "AIIIEEEE!" "Hmm . . . we go different way now."
Cards like Goblin Spelunkers
Goblin Spelunkers, with its ability to tread unblocked with mountainwalk as long as the opponent controls a Mountain, can be a useful asset in the right deck. It bears resemblance to other creatures that bypass defenses with landwalk abilities. For example, consider the card Zodiac Rooster, which has plainswalk and can do what the Spelunkers do when facing decks running Plains.
Another peer in this category is Goblin Mountaineer, offering the same mountainwalk skill but at a lower mana cost, which allows for earlier board presence and faster pressure. Although it lacks the solid 2/2 body that the Spelunkers boast, the Mountaineer’s early game potential is undeniable. Then there’s the Sea Serpent, which has islandwalk, placing itself in a similar strategic position by potentially being unblockable against decks containing Islands.
The ability to slip past defenses unhindered can tip the scales in a close game. Goblin Spelunkers can certainly hold their own within the mountainwalk subset of creatures, providing a balance of cost to power and tactical advantage on the battlefield when conditions are favorable.
Cards similar to Goblin Spelunkers by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Goblin Spelunkers may not directly draw you cards, but its presence can be advantageous in decks that thrive on having a multitude of goblin creatures. In the right setup, it contributes to the synergy that can lead to powerful card draw mechanisms within goblin-themed decks, indirectly offering you greater card advantage as the game progresses.
Resource Acceleration: While Goblin Spelunkers itself doesn’t accelerate your resources, it fits well with goblin strategies that often include rituals and other means of rapidly generating mana. This common creature can be summoned early in the match, building up your board presence and paving the way for more substantial threats.
Instant Speed: Goblin Spelunkers operates at sorcery speed, yet it seamlessly incorporates into strategies that rely on instant-speed interactions. As a low-cost creature, it allows you to develop your board while keeping mana open, ensuring you can respond to your opponent’s moves with instants and abilities, thus maintaining the pace and pressure in the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One drawback of Goblin Spelunkers is its discard requirement. Players must be willing to part with another card from their hand, which can be a hefty price, especially when hand size is running low or each card is crucial to maintaining board presence.
Specific Mana Cost: The specific mana cost of Goblin Spelunkers may pose a restriction for some decks. Requiring two red mana means that it’s best suited for mono-red or heavily red-based decks, potentially limiting its inclusion in multicolored decks where mana flexibility is key.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including two red, Goblin Spelunkers can be considered high for what it offers. When evaluating the card’s potential, players often notice that there are more impactful creatures or spells to be played at this cost, leaving Goblin Spelunkers outclassed in terms of efficiency and impact on the game.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Goblin Spelunkers offers widespread utility in various red-based decks that could benefit from a straightforward, reliable creature on the battlefield. The card’s ability to gain mountainwalk can make it unblockable in the right circumstances, making it a versatile addition.
Combo Potential: As a Goblin, these Spelunkers synergize with other Goblin-themed cards, enabling various combo opportunities in a tribal deck setup. This could potentially unlock powerful chains of play when paired with lords and other Goblin enhancers.
Meta-Relevance: In a game setting where control and land-type manipulation are at play, the mountainwalk ability of the Goblin Spelunkers can be incredibly valuable. It can easily slip past fortified defenses, making it a tactical asset in the right meta.
How to beat
Goblin Spelunkers, a red creature card from Magic: The Gathering, brings an interesting dynamic to the battlefield with its combination of the R mountainwalk ability – allowing it to be unblockable as long as the opponent controls a mountain. Despite this innate evasion, overcoming this card is entirely possible with strategic gameplay. Merely controlling no mountains in your land layout nullifies its ability, making it an ordinary creature that can be blocked and defeated with ease.
Moreover, employing cards that change land types can be quite effective. Transform the opponent’s mountains into another basic land type, thus preventing Goblin Spelunkers from being unblockable. In addition, utilizing spells that can handle creatures irrespective of their abilities, such as targeted removal like “Doom Blade” or “Path to Exile,” renders the Spelunkers’ advantage moot. Board wipes also serve as a clean answer to the board, irrespective of any landwalk abilities.
Ultimately, the key to triumphing over Goblin Spelunkers lies in controlling the field and managing your resources wisely. With the right deck and tactics, this creature’s apparent advantage can be easily mitigated, ensuring that your opponent’s sneaky Goblins won’t spelunk their way to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Goblin Spelunkers MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and Seventh Edition, 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 Spelunkers and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
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Printings
The Goblin Spelunkers Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 2005-10-07. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-10-12 | Urza's Saga | USG | 195 | 1997 | Normal | Black | DiTerlizzi | |
| 2 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 193★ | 1997 | Normal | Black | Matt Cavotta | |
| 3 | 2001-04-11 | Seventh Edition | 7ED | 193 | 1997 | Normal | White | Matt Cavotta | |
| 4 | 2005-10-07 | Ravnica: City of Guilds | RAV | 128 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Glenn Fabry |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin Spelunkers has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |