Goblin Spy MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Goblin Rogue |
| Released | 2000-10-02 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Invasion |
| Set code | INV |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 145 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Scott M. Fischer |
Key Takeaways
- Continual top card view of the opponent’s library enables informed strategic play and foresight in matches.
- Doesn’t provide direct card draw, making strategic planning a priority for optimally utilizing its ability.
- Instant-speed knowledge gained each turn could give you a critical edge, enhancing decision-making.
Text of card
Play with the top card of your library revealed.
"Isn't he on our side?" "Yep." "Why's he spyin' on us?" "Don't ask."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Goblin Spy lets you view the top card of your opponent’s library, providing continual insight into their upcoming plays which can help you strategically outmaneuver them in the match.
Resource Acceleration: Although the Goblin Spy doesn’t directly impact your mana resources, it offers tactical advantages that can indirectly affect resource management by informing your decisions on when to deploy your own accelerants or threats.
Instant Speed: While the Goblin Spy itself is a creature card and not an instant, its ability functions during each of your opponent’s draw phases, effectively giving you instant-speed knowledge at the beginning of every turn and keeping you one step ahead.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Goblin Spy doesn’t require a discard itself, but if you’re running a deck that thrives on card advantage, Goblin Spy fails to contribute directly to your hand. It is crucial to assess whether the information it provides is worth the slot in your deck that could be used for direct card draw or disruption.
Specific Mana Cost: The Spy’s red mana cost means it is naturally inclined towards red or multicolor decks focused on aggressive or combo strategies. This restricts its inclusion in decks that cannot or prefer not to run red mana, limiting its versatility across the various MTG archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At two mana for a 1/1 creature, Goblin Spy might seem cost-effective for its unique ability to peek at the top card of an opponent’s library. However, when evaluating its impact on the game, it could be considered a passive ability without an immediate tangible benefit, such as card draw or board presence—factors that often determine the pace and outcome of matches.
Reasons to Include Goblin Spy in Your Collection
Versatility: Goblin Spy is a versatile addition to decks looking to manipulate draws. Its ability to show the top card of your opponent’s library can guide your strategic plays, whether you’re preparing defenses or considering your next offensive move.
Combo Potential: The foresight provided by Goblin Spy pairs well with shuffle effects and cards that benefit from knowing the top card of libraries, like Lantern of Insight. This can form the backbone of a control combo that manages both players’ draws.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where setting up the perfect draw is critical, Goblin Spy could act as a valuable source of information. Against top-deck manipulation strategies or decks heavily relying on the element of surprise, having constant knowledge of the next card can be game-changing.
How to Beat Goblin Spy
Goblin Spy is a unique creature card in MTG that allows players to see the top card of an opponent’s library at all times. This ability can be a thorn in the side, offering strategic insight into the opponent’s upcoming plays. However, overcoming this sneaky goblin isn’t as difficult as it seems. Key strategies include utilizing library shuffling effects to continuously change the top card, thus nullifying the spy’s advantage. Cards like fetch lands or any spell that inherently shuffles the library help in keeping your top card a mystery.
Besides, playing instants on the opponent’s turn can disrupt their knowledge and decision-making process. If you’re aware that your opponent is banking on their Goblin Spy intel, a well-timed instant can throw off their plans, potentially wasting their turns. Moreover, using cards that allow you to draw at instant speed ensures that the information gained by Goblin Spy is outdated by the time they can act on it. Lastly, remember that simple removal spells are effective against creatures with low toughness, making them an easy target to eliminate from the board and restore the veil of secrecy to your deck order.
Overall, while Goblin Spy poses an unorthodox challenge, the numerous strategies available in MTG to obfuscate and protect your deck’s order, alongside direct removal, will ensure you can maintain the upper hand against this cunning card.
Cards like Goblin Spy
Goblin Spy is a unique creature in the vast universe of Magic: The Gathering. This red creature card has a playful ability that lets you peek at the top card of an opponent’s library. While it doesn’t have direct parallels, it shares a theme with cards that disrupt an opponent’s deck strategy. Fortune Teller is a creature that also grants knowledge of the top card of a library, though it focuses on your own.
In terms of red cards that interfere with libraries, Goblin Guide stands out, providing a quick pace along with the potential to reveal cards from the opponent’s library, offering strategic advantages similar to Goblin Spy. There’s also Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer, which goes a step further by not just revealing the top card but potentially casting it, adding a level of interaction not found in Goblin Spy’s simpler design.
Despite being different in terms of impact and cost, comparing Goblin Spy with these cards highlights its unique utility in gaining valuable intel on an opponent’s next draw, an edge that can be crucial in the right deck. While not as aggressive or versatile as its counterparts, Goblin Spy offers a unique form of reconnaissance, maintaining its niche in the rogue gallery of red creature cards.
Cards similar to Goblin Spy by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Goblin Spy MTG card by a specific set like Invasion, 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 Spy 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin Spy has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Goblin Spy card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-04-15 | If the top card of your library changes while you’re casting a spell or activating an ability, the new top card won’t be revealed until you finish casting that spell or activating that ability. |
| 2013-04-15 | The top card of your library isn’t in your hand, so you can’t suspend it, cycle it, discard it, or activate any of its activated abilities. |
| 2013-04-15 | When playing with the top card of your library revealed, if an effect tells you to draw several cards, reveal each one before you draw it. |
