Salivating Gremlins MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Gremlin
Power 2
Toughness 3

Key Takeaways

  1. Converts resource acceleration from artifacts into significant battlefield power, benefiting aggressive strategies.
  2. Thrives in artifact-dense environments, and can lead to unexpected shifts in game state when powered up.
  3. Requires strategic artifact management and instant-speed interactions to maximize its potential during gameplay.

Text of card

Whenever an artifact enters the battlefield under your control, Salivating Gremlins gets +2/+0 and gains trample until end of turn.

If an elf can dream it, a dwarf can build it, and a gremlin can eat it.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Salivating Gremlins doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its strength lies in synergizing with artifact-heavy decks. Each time an artifact enters the battlefield under your control, Salivating Gremlins gets stronger. This means that playing artifacts not only develops your board but also turns this Gremlin into a more formidable threat.

Resource Acceleration: Salivating Gremlins pairs well with cards that put artifacts onto the battlefield. It essentially converts the resource acceleration provided by artifacts and treasure tokens into raw power on the battlefield. Every artifact that lands amplifies its potential to deal damage, making it a key player in artifact-centric strategies.

Instant Speed: Although Salivating Gremlins itself isn’t an instant-speed card, it thrives in a deck built around instant-speed interactions. Casting artifacts or triggering abilities at instant speed can unexpectedly beef up the Gremlins during combat or at the end of your opponent’s turn, leading to surprising shifts in the game state and securing its place as a powerful card for aggressive strategies.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Salivating Gremlins necessitates the presence of an artifact to trigger its ability. In games where artifacts are scarce or have already been played, this can diminish the card’s potential impact.

Specific Mana Cost: Salivating Gremlins requires both colorless and red mana to cast, which may not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks that don’t prioritize red mana production.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana, Salivating Gremlins might compete with other three-drop creatures offering more immediate or versatile benefits on the battlefield.


Reasons to Include Salivating Gremlins in Your Collection

Versatility: Salivating Gremlins offers a flexible role in decks geared toward artifact synergy. Its power grows with each artifact you play, making it fit well in aggressive artifact-based strategies.

Combo Potential: This card shines in decks with frequent artifact drop rates. The ability to rapidly scale its attack power with artifacts allows for surprise bursts of damage, turning the tide in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where artifacts are abundant or decks built around them are common, Salivating Gremlins can serve as a solid asset, exploiting the prevalence of artifact mechanics to buff its strength consistently.


How to Beat Salivating Gremlins

Salivating Gremlins is an intriguing creature in the Magic: The Gathering universe, known for growing stronger whenever an artifact enters the battlefield under your control. This can quickly turn the tide of the game if left unchecked. Dealing with the Gremlins requires a strategic approach to prevent their rapid growth in power and toughness.

Control tactics are key when facing this threat. Countermeasures include removing artifacts from play, thus starving the Gremlins of their power source. Spells that directly destroy or exile artifacts can be particularly effective in this scenario. Additionally, efficient creature removal is essential. Quick response spells that can take out creatures at instant speed give you the ability to respond to the Gremlins before they get out of control. You can also utilize enchantments that keep creatures tapped down, denying the Gremlins the chance to attack, no matter how large they grow.

In sum, overcoming Salivating Gremlins involves clever manipulation of the board state and timely interference with artifact synergy. With the right removal spells and a focus on controlling artifacts, you can ensure that these Gremlins don’t get the feast they are looking for, thereby maintaining the upper hand.


Cards like Salivating Gremlins

Salivating Gremlins is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering that thrives in artifact-centric decks. When paralleling it to other cards, one can’t help but consider the similarities with Auriok Sunchaser. Both creatures swell in power when interacting with artifacts. Yet, the Sunchaser gains power and defense along with flying ability, whereas Salivating Gremlins only increases its power, but with the potential for a larger boost during a single turn.

Examining Iron League Steed provides another interesting comparison. This card gives you the choice to create a 2/2 artifact creature with haste, or to give another artifact creature that haste as a Modular 1. This plays into the same artifact synergies but provides immediate speed, unlike the Gremlins which require a setup to grow. Then, there’s Gearseeker Serpent, which costs less for each artifact you control and can become unblockable. The Serpent offers a consistent late-game threat that doesn’t rely on triggers, contrasting with the Gremlins’ explosive but momentary power increase.

Ultimately, each of these cards offers a unique approach to leveraging artifacts, but Salivating Gremlins has a standout capacity for aggressive strategies looking to capitalize on a swift surge in power, especially when artifacts are aplenty.

Auriok Sunchaser - MTG Card versions
Iron League Steed - MTG Card versions
Gearseeker Serpent - MTG Card versions
Auriok Sunchaser - Scars of Mirrodin (SOM)
Iron League Steed - Kaladesh (KLD)
Gearseeker Serpent - Kaladesh (KLD)

Cards similar to Salivating Gremlins by color, type and mana cost

Dwarven Warriors - MTG Card versions
Raging Bull - MTG Card versions
Wall of Lava - MTG Card versions
Brassclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Sabretooth Tiger - MTG Card versions
Imperial Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Uthden Troll - MTG Card versions
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - MTG Card versions
Goblin Rabblemaster - MTG Card versions
Nosy Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Sky Raider - MTG Card versions
Cosmic Larva - MTG Card versions
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - MTG Card versions
Cunning Bandit // Azamuki, Treachery Incarnate - MTG Card versions
Ghost-Lit Raider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chariot - MTG Card versions
Balduvian Barbarians - MTG Card versions
Basalt Gargoyle - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chieftain - MTG Card versions
Orcish Artillery - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Warriors - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Raging Bull - Legends (LEG)
Wall of Lava - Ice Age (ICE)
Brassclaw Orcs - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Sabretooth Tiger - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Imperial Recruiter - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Uthden Troll - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Goblin Rabblemaster - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Nosy Goblin - Onslaught (ONS)
Goblin Sky Raider - Onslaught (ONS)
Cosmic Larva - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Cunning Bandit // Azamuki, Treachery Incarnate - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Ghost-Lit Raider - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Goblin Chariot - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Balduvian Barbarians - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Basalt Gargoyle - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)
Goblin Chieftain - Resale Promos (PRES)
Orcish Artillery - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Salivating Gremlins MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh and Mystery Booster, 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 Salivating Gremlins and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Salivating Gremlins Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2020-11-12. Illustrated by Christopher Burdett.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-09-30KaladeshKLD 1292015normalblackChristopher Burdett
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 10492015normalblackChristopher Burdett
32020-08-07Double Masters2XM 1432015normalblackChristopher Burdett
42020-09-26The ListPLST KLD-1292015normalblackChristopher Burdett
52020-11-12Kaladesh RemasteredKLR 1432015normalblackChristopher Burdett

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Salivating Gremlins has restrictions

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

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