Ornery Goblin MTG Card
2018-10-05 - Number 112
2020-07-17 - Number 353
2024-02-23 - Number 143
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Goblin Warrior |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Text of card
Whenever Ornery Goblin blocks or becomes blocked by a creature, Ornery Goblin deals 1 damage to that creature.
"Nobody ever listens to my complaints! Not even when I use the listening stick."
Cards like Ornery Goblin
In the realm of red creature spells, Ornery Goblin holds a unique spot. Its closest relatives, such as Goblin Piker and Raging Goblin, each bring their own strengths to the battlefield. Goblin Piker, for instance, is a straightforward creature with a power and toughness of 2/1, identical to Ornery Goblin. However, it lacks the ability to deal that extra point of damage to a creature it’s fighting like Ornery Goblin can, which enables shrewd combat trades against tougher creatures.
Comparatively, Raging Goblin boasts haste, allowing for immediate impact on the game by attacking the moment it comes into play. This speedy advantage compensates for its lower toughness compared to Ornery Goblin. Nonetheless, it’s the latter’s passive ability that often shifts the combat odds in your favor, deterring opponents from blocking or trading with weaker creatures.
Ultimately, Ornery Goblin carves out a place for itself among goblin cards in MTG with its particular blend of power and pestering passive ability. It’s a prime choice for players seeking to maintain early game pressure while potentially diminishing an opponent’s creature force.
Cards similar to Ornery Goblin by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While Ornery Goblin might not directly let you draw more cards, its ability to deal 1 damage to a blocking creature can often remove smaller threats, effectively preventing your opponent from building up their side of the board and maintaining your card quality on the battlefield.
Resource Acceleration: The Ornery Goblin fits perfectly in aggressive red decks that focus on quick plays and pace pressure. By costing only two mana, this creature enables you to develop your board early while holding mana for other spells, keeping the momentum in your favor.
Instant Speed: Although the Ornery Goblin operates at sorcery speed, its reactionary ability when blocked adds a layer of instant-like interaction during combat. This may force your opponent to reconsider their blocks or risk losing their creatures, subtly influencing the game’s tempo in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Despite its aggressive potential, Ornery Goblin requires a player to discard a card when it becomes the target of a spell, putting a strain on your hand if you’re not prepared to lose resources.
Specific Mana Cost: Ornery Goblin’s casting cost demands both generic and red mana, which may not seamlessly fit into multi-colored deck strategies that lack sufficient mana fixing.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While it offers a solid early-game presence, the mana investment for Ornery Goblin might weigh heavily against its 2/1 stat line when other creatures or spells at similar cost provide greater advantage or versatility on the battlefield.
Reasons to Include Ornery Goblin in Your Collection
Versatility: Ornery Goblin is a flexible option for any red aggro deck. Its ability to deal damage to any creature that blocks it can help keep the path clear for your other attackers, making it a practical choice for both early-game pressure and mid-game board control.
Combo Potential: With its unique interaction in combat, this creature pairs well with cards that disincentivize blocking, enabling you to create favorable situations on the battlefield. Its synergy with cards that manipulate combat can turn it into a strategic asset in your deck.
Meta-Relevance: Given its aggressive nature, Ornery Goblin fits nicely into a meta filled with creature-based strategies. It provides a reliable way to chip away at opponents’ creatures, making it a useful tool against decks that rely heavily on small utility creatures.
How to beat
Ornery Goblin is a creature card that brings a certain level of toughness to the battlefield in MTG. Its unique ability to deal 1 damage to any creature blocking or blocked by it, ensures that it can often trade up, taking down creatures with higher toughness than its own. To successfully beat an Ornery Goblin, consider using removal spells that don’t rely on the combat phase, such as Shock or Fatal Push.
Another strategy is to deploy creatures with high toughness that can withstand the Goblin’s ability to deal that extra damage. Utilizing flying creatures is also an effective tactic, as Ornery Goblin lacks reach and thus cannot block them. However, be mindful of having enough creatures to overcome its damage output. It’s also worth noting that Ornery Goblin is more effective in the early game, so stabilizing the board quickly and setting up strong defenses or a swift offense can mitigate the impact of this feisty Goblin.
Overall, while Ornery Goblin can be a nuisance to deal with in the early stages of the game, thoughtful planning around removal and creature deployment can vanquish this fiery adversary with relative ease, ensuring your path to victory remains clear.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Ornery Goblin MTG card by a specific set like Guilds of Ravnica and Jumpstart, 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 Ornery Goblin and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
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- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
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- Troll and Toad
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- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Ornery Goblin Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2018-10-05 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by Johann Bodin.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018-10-05 | Guilds of Ravnica | GRN | 112 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Johann Bodin | |
| 2 | 2020-07-17 | Jumpstart | JMP | 353 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Johann Bodin | |
| 3 | 2024-02-23 | Ravnica: Clue Edition | CLU | 143 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Johann Bodin |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Ornery Goblin has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Ornery Goblin card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-10-05 | The triggered ability triggers once for each creature blocking or blocked by Ornery Goblin. The ability resolves and deals damage to that creature before combat damage is dealt. If that damage destroys all creatures blocking Ornery Goblin, Ornery Goblin doesn’t become unblocked. |