Festering Goblin MTG Card


Festering Goblin provides card advantage by potentially removing an opponent’s creature when it dies. Early board presence and subtle game acceleration can be achieved through this cost-efficient one-drop. The death-triggered ability offers strategic flexibility similar to instant speed interactions.
Card setsReleased in 11 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Zombie Goblin
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

When Festering Goblin is put into a graveyard from play, target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.

In life, it was a fetid, disease-ridden thing. In death, not much changed.


Cards like Festering Goblin

Festering Goblin stands as a classic example of a low-cost creature with a death-trigger effect in Magic the Gathering. Its ability to weaken an opponent’s creature upon death makes it a versatile choice in the early game. This card finds parallels with Doomed Dissenter, another one-mana creature which, rather than debuff an enemy, creates a 2/2 token upon its passing, thus maintaining board presence.

Examining another, we notice that Butcher Ghoul has a somewhat resemblance but with an undying mechanic that brings it back stronger when it dies. Both Festering Goblin and Butcher Ghoul serve as persistent threats, but the latter champions resilience over immediate board impact. We also have Viscera Seer, a card that, although does not offer a direct impact on the board state when it dies, it provides a valuable scrying ability to help with deck manipulation.

Assessing the value of Festering Goblin against its peers, it offers strategic depth to gameplay, with its unique ability to temporarily disrupt an opponent’s strategy, which is quite handy for players looking for immediate and conditional impact on the battlefield.

Doomed Dissenter - MTG Card versions
Butcher Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Viscera Seer - MTG Card versions
Doomed Dissenter - MTG Card versions
Butcher Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Viscera Seer - MTG Card versions

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

Stone-Throwing Devils - MTG Card versions
Will-o'-the-Wisp - MTG Card versions
Vampire Bats - MTG Card versions
Bog Rats - MTG Card versions
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Muck Rats - MTG Card versions
Vebulid - MTG Card versions
Zodiac Rat - MTG Card versions
Urborg Skeleton - MTG Card versions
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Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions
Dark Supplicant - MTG Card versions
Bile Urchin - MTG Card versions
Rimebound Dead - MTG Card versions
Plague Beetle - MTG Card versions
Sleeper Agent - MTG Card versions
Knucklebone Witch - MTG Card versions
Nightshade Stinger - MTG Card versions
Smolder Initiate - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Dead - MTG Card versions
Stone-Throwing Devils - MTG Card versions
Will-o'-the-Wisp - MTG Card versions
Vampire Bats - MTG Card versions
Bog Rats - MTG Card versions
Sewer Rats - MTG Card versions
Muck Rats - MTG Card versions
Vebulid - MTG Card versions
Zodiac Rat - MTG Card versions
Urborg Skeleton - MTG Card versions
Carrion Rats - MTG Card versions
Foulmire Knight // Profane Insight - MTG Card versions
Dark Supplicant - MTG Card versions
Bile Urchin - MTG Card versions
Rimebound Dead - MTG Card versions
Plague Beetle - MTG Card versions
Sleeper Agent - MTG Card versions
Knucklebone Witch - MTG Card versions
Nightshade Stinger - MTG Card versions
Smolder Initiate - MTG Card versions
Kjeldoran Dead - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Festering Goblin might not directly allow you to draw cards, it does contribute to card advantage by dealing with an opponent’s creature upon death. Your deck can maintain momentum by exchanging this low-cost creature for a potential threat or blocker on the other side of the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: Festering Goblin isn’t a traditional source of resource acceleration like mana dorks or artifacts, but it can facilitate resource efficiency. This one-drop permits you to establish a board presence early on, therefore subtly accelerating your game plan without investing heavily in mana or resources.

Instant Speed: The ability of Festering Goblin to affect combat or end-of-turn decisions doesn’t come from casting it at instant speed but rather from its death-triggered ability. You can time the trade of your Festering Goblin to disrupt your opponent’s strategy at crucial moments, almost mimicking the flexibility of instant speed interactions.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Festering Goblin doesn’t necessarily have a discard requirement, but its one-time use effect upon its death might not compare favorably with other cards that offer repeatable effects or don’t require a sacrifice to utilize their full potential.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature requires black mana, which makes it a potential drawback for decks not running black or those with a tight mana base that might struggle to source the specific color consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Festering Goblin has a low casting cost, when compared to other one-drop creatures, its impact on the game may not be as substantial. There are creatures at a similar mana cost that can offer greater power, toughness, or utility, thus possibly relegating Festering Goblin to a less optimal choice for deck building.


Reasons to Include Festering Goblin in Your Collection

Versatility: Festering Goblin is a versatile choice for decks that emphasize graveyard synergy or attrition strategies. Its ability to provide a -1/-1 counter upon death can disrupt your opponent’s battlefield, making it a handy card across various game situations.

Combo Potential: This one-drop creature can serve as an essential piece in combos, particularly in decks that capitalize on sacrifice mechanics or death triggers. Integrating Festering Goblin with such strategies can significantly enhance your gameplay.

Meta-Relevance: In matchups where the early game can dictate the pace, having Festering Goblin can be particularly advantageous. It poses a threat to one-toughness creatures that are commonly used in aggressive decks, which can be prevalent depending on the meta.


How to beat

Festering Goblin is a small yet strategically significant creature in the MTG universe. Its strength lies in its death trigger, which allows a player to give a target creature -1/-1 until end of turn. This can disrupt early game plays, especially against decks that rely on one-toughness creatures for their opening strategy. To effectively counter this pesky goblin’s effect, it’s wise to limit the impact of its death trigger.

One approach is to avoid overextending with multiple vulnerable creatures until Festering Goblin is off the board. Alternatively, you can utilize mechanics like Hexproof or Indestructible to shield your important creatures from its ability. Removal spells that exile rather than destroy also prevent the death trigger from activating entirely, such as with cards like Path to Exile. In multi-creature scenarios, focusing on creatures with higher toughness will minimize the goblin’s influence. The key is anticipation, managing your plays, and using strategic removals to ensure that Festering Goblin doesn’t fester into a larger problem on the battlefield.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Festering Goblin MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught and Ninth Edition, 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 Festering Goblin and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Festering Goblin Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 2002-10-07 and 2023-01-13. Illustrated by Thomas M. Baxa.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-10-07OnslaughtONS 1481997NormalBlackThomas M. Baxa
22005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 1302003NormalWhiteThomas M. Baxa
32005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 130★2003NormalBlackThomas M. Baxa
42005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL F62003NormalWhiteThomas M. Baxa
52005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL F52003NormalWhiteThomas M. Baxa
62005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL F172003NormalWhiteThomas M. Baxa
72007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 1432003NormalBlackThomas M. Baxa
82009-09-04PlanechaseHOP 272003NormalBlackThomas M. Baxa
92010-06-18ArchenemyARC 162003NormalBlackThomas M. Baxa
102013-06-07Modern MastersMMA 872003NormalBlackThomas M. Baxa
112023-01-13Dominaria RemasteredDMR 852015NormalBlackThomas M. Baxa

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Festering Goblin has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal