Goblin Charbelcher MTG Card
2003-10-02 - Number 176
2004-09-01 - Number mb176
2016-06-10 - Number 222
2017-10-24 - Number 57
2019-11-07 - Number 1588
2022-11-18 - Number 81z
2022-11-18 - Number 81
2022-11-18 - Number 18
2020-09-26 - Number DDT-57
2022-11-18 - Number 60
| Card sets | Released in 10 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact |
Key Takeaways
- Generates card advantage by thinning your deck and intensifying draw quality.
- Allows for resource acceleration and instant-speed strategic plays.
- Demands specific setup and mana, making it a potent but niche card.
Text of card
, : Reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal a land card. Goblin Charbelcher deals damage equal to the number of nonland cards revealed this way to target creature or player. If the revealed land card was a Mountain, Goblin Charbelcher deals double that damage instead. Put the revealed cards on the bottom of your library in any order.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Goblin Charbelcher, while not a direct source of card draw, generates significant advantage by potentially ending the game on the spot. This puts intense pressure on opponents to find an answer immediately, often sifting through their decks to do so, which in turn thins your deck, subtly increasing the quality of your draws.
Resource Acceleration: In the right deck, particularly those with a low land count, Goblin Charbelcher acts as a form of acceleration. It allows you to channel your resources into a single, game-winning activation rather than deploying multiple threats over several turns, maximizing the impact of each mana spent.
Instant Speed: The ability to activate Goblin Charbelcher at instant speed has strategic advantages. It lets you pass the turn without committing to a line of play, keeping opponents guessing and providing the flexibility to respond to their end-of-turn moves. This can often lead to a surprise win if the opponent taps out or fails to leave up enough interaction.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: To unleash its potential, Goblin Charbelcher necessitates a setup where your library is stacked in a very particular way or nearly empty. This tactic often involves discarding or manipulating your deck, which may consume valuable cards and turns, leaving you vulnerable while you prepare your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Activation of Goblin Charbelcher’s ability requires a specific mana investment of three colorless and one red. This precise cost can make it challenging to integrate into multicolor decks or those that operate on a tight mana curve, potentially restricting its adaptability and usability across various deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a need for four mana to cast and additional mana to activate, Goblin Charbelcher’s total cost can be steep compared to other win conditions or combo pieces within the game. Efficient mana utilization is crucial in MTG, and a heavy investment in one card can sometimes detract from the overall gameplay, especially if the card is neutralized or the combo is disrupted by your opponent.
Reasons to Include Goblin Charbelcher in Your Collection
Versatility: Goblin Charbelcher has a unique place in various deck builds, thanks to its ability to serve as a win condition unto itself; it’s not just for goblin decks. Its function ignores creature-based board states, making it useful against a wide range of opponents.
Combo Potential: This card is notorious for its explosive combo capabilities. When paired with cards that manipulate your deck or provide ample mana, it can end games in a single activation, making for memorable plays and clutch victories.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta that’s heavy on control or lacks enchantment-based removal, the Belcher can become a standout performer. Its relevance increases when decks are less prepared to handle unconventional threats. Plus, having an alternate win-con in the face of creature stalemates can be game-changing.
How to Beat Goblin Charbelcher
Goblin Charbelcher, a formidable artifact in Magic the Gathering, can end games swiftly by dealing massive damage directly to opponents. To counteract this powerful card, players must adopt a proactive strategy. One efficient method is to utilize artifact removal spells like Nature’s Claim or Abrade that can destroy Goblin Charbelcher before it activates. Control decks that can counter spells also stand a good chance, as a well-timed Counterspell or Mana Leak can prevent Goblin Charbelcher from ever hitting the board.
Another tactic is to limit the card’s effectiveness by manipulating your own library. Since Goblin Charbelcher’s damage depends on the number of cards revealed before hitting a land, strategic deck shuffling and scrying can help ensure that a land card is near the top of your library to minimize potential damage. Additionally, employing cards like Pithing Needle or Phyrexian Revoker can neutralize Goblin Charbelcher’s activated abilities without having to remove it from the field altogether.
Ultimately, the key to overcoming the threat of Goblin Charbelcher lies in preparedness and reaction speed. By including direct answers to artifacts in your deck and maintaining awareness of the board state, you can dismantle the explosive power of Goblin Charbelcher and secure your path to victory.
Cards like Goblin Charbelcher
The unique strategy employed by Goblin Charbelcher in the MTG realm is a standout example of an alternate win condition. Among cards that also function outside the conventional combat damage win scenario, Door to Nothingness is a well-known comparison. While Door to Nothingness demands a heavy multicolor mana commitment to remove a player from the game, Goblin Charbelcher’s activation offers a potentially swift victory with the right deck structure, often revolving around a low land count.
Another similar card is Thassa’s Oracle, which provides a victory via library manipulation. This card doesn’t offer the direct damage route Goblin Charbelcher does, but rather checks for game conditions related to the content of one’s library. Moreover, cards like Banefire or Rocket Launcher, while they don’t offer an instant win, they can still deliver a massive one-shot amount of damage, somewhat echoing Goblin Charbelcher’s potential for ending games suddenly. However, these cards require significant mana investment to be lethal.
In summary, although several MTG cards offer diverse ways to cinch a game, Goblin Charbelcher’s relatively low activation cost and explosive damage output connected with deck building strategy place it in a unique niche for players seeking an unconventional path to victory.
Cards similar to Goblin Charbelcher by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Goblin Charbelcher MTG card by a specific set like Mirrodin and World Championship Decks 2004, 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 Charbelcher and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Goblin Charbelcher Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2022-11-18. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003-10-02 | Mirrodin | MRD | 176 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Stephen Tappin | |
| 2 | 2004-09-01 | World Championship Decks 2004 | WC04 | mb176 | 2003 | Normal | Gold | Stephen Tappin | |
| 3 | 2016-06-10 | Eternal Masters | EMA | 222 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 4 | 2017-10-24 | Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins | DDT | 57 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 5 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1588 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 6 | The List | PLST | DDT-57 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | ||
| 7 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts | BRR | 81z | 1997 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 8 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts | BRR | 81 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 9 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War Retro Artifacts | BRR | 18 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Jesper Ejsing | |
| 10 | The Brothers' War Art Series | ABRO | 60 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Jesper Ejsing |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin Charbelcher has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Goblin Charbelcher card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-06-08 | If you reveal no land cards, Goblin Charbelcher deals damage equal to the number of cards revealed, and then you may order your library as you like. |
| 2016-06-08 | You must choose a target for Goblin Charbelcher's ability as you activate it, before you reveal any cards. |
