Goblin Electromancer MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Goblin Wizard
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. This card optimizes spell-casting by lowering instant and sorcery costs, enhancing gameplay efficiency.
  2. Its specific mana requirements guide deck construction towards red-blue synergies.
  3. Despite its cost, the Goblin Electromancer’s ability remains competitively relevant across formats.

Text of card

Instant and sorcery spells you cast cost less to cast.

When asked how much power is required, Izzet mages always answer "more."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Goblin Electromancer is a staple in decks that seek to benefit from spell-slinging strategies. As it reduces the cost of your instant and sorcery spells, it effectively increases your capability to execute more actions and options, thereby potentially gaining an edge over your opponent through an expanded access to your arsenal.

Resource Acceleration: Offering a cost reduction for your spells, the Goblin Electromancer acts as a form of resource acceleration. This advantage translates into faster and more efficient gameplay, allowing you to cast more powerful spells earlier than usual or multiple lower-cost spells in a single turn, overwhelming opponents with a rapid and diverse spell deployment.

Instant Speed: While the card itself may not be an instant, the resource acceleration it provides lends itself superbly to instant-speed interaction. With the cost of instants and sorceries lowered, you maintain the ability to react swiftly during any phase of the game, keeping your opponents on their toes and your strategies flexible and responsive.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Goblin Electromancer’s ability makes spells cost less to cast, players must remain aware that this does not affect additional costs such as discarding, which some spells require. This can be particularly cumbersome when your hand is already depleted.

Specific Mana Cost: Goblin Electromancer demands both red and blue mana to play, necessitating a commitment to a guild-specific or multicolor deck. This potentially restricts its integration into a wider variety of strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a creature that offers cost reduction on spells, Goblin Electromancer itself comes at a relatively steep two mana, including one that is colored. In some instances, this means players might have to wait an additional turn to benefit from its ability or choose between developing their board or holding up mana for other interactions.


Reasons to Include Goblin Electromancer in Your Collection

Versatility: Goblin Electromancer is a well-rounded card that can seamlessly fit into various red and blue spell-heavy decks. Its ability to reduce the cost of spells helps to accelerate your game plan by casting multiple spells in a turn more efficiently.

Combo Potential: As an integral piece in many combos, this creature’s cost-reduction ability allows you to chain spells for potentially game-ending sequences. Whether it’s setting up a storm count or enabling an early resolution of a high-impact instant or sorcery, the Electromancer’s presence can be pivotal.

Meta-Relevance: Given its low mana cost and impactful ability, Goblin Electromancer maintains relevance in various MTG formats. It shines in metas where casting numerous spells quickly is crucial to outpace opponents, making it a staple in decks that aim to overwhelm with swift casting and synergies.


How to beat

Goblin Electromancer serves as a keystone in many cost-reduction strategies within Magic: The Gathering. Primarily found in decks focused on casting numerous spells in a single turn, the card reduces the amount of mana required to cast instant and sorcery spells. To counteract this advantage, it’s essential to disrupt the tempo of your opponent’s game plan. Removal spells are effective for quickly dispatching this creature before a player can fully benefit from its cost-reduction abilities. Instants like Fatal Push or Lightning Bolt can swiftly remove the Electromancer from the battlefield.

Control tactics are also a strong way to keep Goblin Electromancer in check. Deny your opponent’s ability to establish their board by countering the creature when it is initially cast, using counterspells such as Counterspell or Essence Scatter. Additionally, board wipes like Wrath of God can reset the playing field, erasing the advantage provided by the Electromancer even if it has already affected the pace of the game.

Timing is crucial when facing this creature. Strategic removal or control must occur before the opponent can leverage the reduced costs to unleash a flurry of spells. By effectively managing your resources and choosing the optimal moment, you can mitigate the threat posed by Goblin Electromancer and maintain control of the match.


BurnMana Recommendations

Integrating Goblin Electromancer into your deck can be a game-changer for MTG enthusiasts geared towards spell-slinging tactics. Not only does it pave the way for swifter and more dynamic gameplay, but its ability to expedite your spellcasting can often lead to a considerable advantage on the battlefield. Understandably, its potential may be met with some drawbacks and requires strategic mana management and deck integration. However, the benefits of resource acceleration and flexible game response often outweigh its limitations. Eager to harness the full power of Goblin Electromancer and revolutionize your spell-casting strategy? Join us for an in-depth exploration and master the art of rapid-fire magic.


Cards like Goblin Electromancer

Goblin Electromancer shines within the realm of spell-slinging synergies in Magic: The Gathering. Its distinct advantage is reducing the cost of instants and sorceries you cast by one mana, making it valuable for decks that aim to cast multiple spells in a single turn. A comparable utility can be seen in Baral, Chief of Compliance, who not only decreases spell costs but also provides a card advantage by allowing you to draw after a counter.

Another alternative is Curious Homunculus, which also offers a cost reduction for spells. Unlike Goblin Electromancer, it can transform into Voracious Reader, further reducing spell costs and stepping up as a more formidable creature. However, it is worth noting that Goblin Electromancer’s immediate impact on the board does not require a transformational condition, a clear plus for decks that want to ramp up their magic right away.

As magic players analyze choices tailored to their spell-heavy strategies, Goblin Electromancer often emerges as a go-to for its immediate impact and the steady streamlining of spell costs it provides, enabling faster and potentially more devastating turns against opponents.

Baral, Chief of Compliance - MTG Card versions
Baral, Chief of Compliance - Aether Revolt Promos (PAER)

Cards similar to Goblin Electromancer by color, type and mana cost

Sprite Dragon - MTG Card versions
Dracoplasm - MTG Card versions
Razorfin Hunter - MTG Card versions
Kaza, Roil Chaser - MTG Card versions
Captain Vargus Wrath - MTG Card versions
Izzet Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Riverfall Mimic - MTG Card versions
Nin, the Pain Artist - MTG Card versions
Frostburn Weird - MTG Card versions
Nivix Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Marchesa's Smuggler - MTG Card versions
Stormchaser Mage - MTG Card versions
Tawnos, Urza's Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Beamsplitter Mage - MTG Card versions
League Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Lightning Stormkin - MTG Card versions
Red Herring - MTG Card versions
Bjorna, Nightfall Alchemist - MTG Card versions
Prismari Pledgemage - MTG Card versions
Prismari Apprentice - MTG Card versions
Sprite Dragon - Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate (CLB)
Dracoplasm - Tempest Remastered (TPR)
Razorfin Hunter - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Kaza, Roil Chaser - Zendikar Rising (ZNR)
Captain Vargus Wrath - Commander Legends (CMR)
Izzet Guildmage - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Riverfall Mimic - Eventide (EVE)
Nin, the Pain Artist - The List (PLST)
Frostburn Weird - Ravnica: Clue Edition (CLU)
Nivix Guildmage - GRN Guild Kit (GK1)
Marchesa's Smuggler - Conspiracy (CNS)
Stormchaser Mage - Oath of the Gatewatch (OGW)
Tawnos, Urza's Apprentice - The List (PLST)
Beamsplitter Mage - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)
League Guildmage - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Lightning Stormkin - Core Set 2020 (M20)
Red Herring - Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021 (CMB2)
Bjorna, Nightfall Alchemist - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Prismari Pledgemage - Strixhaven: School of Mages (STX)
Prismari Apprentice - Strixhaven: School of Mages (STX)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Goblin Electromancer MTG card by a specific set like Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari and Return to Ravnica, 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 Electromancer and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Goblin Electromancer Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 2012-09-07 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by Svetlin Velinov.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-09-07Duel Decks: Izzet vs. GolgariDDJ 32003normalblackSvetlin Velinov
22012-10-05Return to RavnicaRTR 1632003normalblackSvetlin Velinov
32015-11-13Commander 2015C15 2202015normalblackSvetlin Velinov
42017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 1662015normalblackSvetlin Velinov
52017-03-31Duel Decks: Mind vs. MightDDS 222015normalblackSvetlin Velinov
62018-10-05Guilds of RavnicaGRN 1742015normalblackSvetlin Velinov
72022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 3412015normalblackSvetlin Velinov
82024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 1862015normalblackSvetlin Velinov
92024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 3671997normalblackSvetlin Velinov

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin Electromancer has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Goblin Electromancer card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2017-03-14 Two Goblin Electromancers will make instant and sorcery spells you cast cost less to cast, and so on.
2018-10-05 Goblin Electromancer's effect reduces only generic mana in the spell's total cost.
2018-10-05 To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost you're paying, add any cost increases, then apply any cost reductions. The mana value of the spell remains unchanged, no matter what the total cost to cast it was.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks