Goblin Motivator MTG Card


Goblin Motivator’s haste-granting ability offers immediate board impact and can turn the tide of a match. The instant-speed activation provides strategic flexibility and potential surprise elements in combat. While it can boost your early game, relying heavily on it may affect your late-game strategy.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Goblin Warrior
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

: Target creature gains haste until end of turn. (It can attack and this turn.)

Small words stoke large flames.


Cards like Goblin Motivator

Goblin Motivator is an engaging creature card for aggressive decks in Magic: The Gathering, finding its kin in creatures like Tuktuk the Explorer and Goblin Chieftain. Just like these creatures, Goblin Motivator has the potential to accelerate the gameplay by providing other creatures you control with haste. However, Goblin Motivator stands out by being a one-drop, which can be game-changing, giving swift advantage as early as turn one.

Another relative in its arsenal is the Raging Goblin. While both cards grant haste, Raging Goblin inherently possesses haste, whereas our Motivator needs to tap to give another creature this ability. This interplay between self-generated speed versus bestowing it, adds a layer of strategy to your game.

Then there’s the comparison with Goblin Bushwhacker, which also gives other creatures haste when it enters the battlefield using its kicker ability. Although Goblin Bushwhacker can influence multiple creatures at once, it demands specific timing and additional mana for its kicker cost. In contrast, Goblin Motivator’s repeated use can adapt flexibly to various situations throughout the game.

Assessing the landscape of haste-enabling cards in MTG, Goblin Motivator competes with a robust lineup but manages to hold its own through cost-efficiency and versatility.

Tuktuk the Explorer - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chieftain - MTG Card versions
Raging Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Bushwhacker - MTG Card versions
Tuktuk the Explorer - MTG Card versions
Goblin Chieftain - MTG Card versions
Raging Goblin - MTG Card versions
Goblin Bushwhacker - MTG Card versions

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

Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions
Hurr Jackal - MTG Card versions
Primordial Ooze - MTG Card versions
Gorilla Shaman - MTG Card versions
Goblin Swine-Rider - MTG Card versions
Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions
Orcish Conscripts - MTG Card versions
Mountain Goat - MTG Card versions
Jackal Pup - MTG Card versions
Flailing Soldier - MTG Card versions
Branded Brawlers - MTG Card versions
Scarred Puma - MTG Card versions
Mogg Fanatic - MTG Card versions
Grim Lavamancer - MTG Card versions
Kessig Wolfrider - MTG Card versions
Skirk Prospector - MTG Card versions
Crazed Goblin - MTG Card versions
Akki Avalanchers - MTG Card versions
Mons's Goblin Waiters - MTG Card versions
Mogg Sentry - MTG Card versions
Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions
Hurr Jackal - MTG Card versions
Primordial Ooze - MTG Card versions
Gorilla Shaman - MTG Card versions
Goblin Swine-Rider - MTG Card versions
Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions
Orcish Conscripts - MTG Card versions
Mountain Goat - MTG Card versions
Jackal Pup - MTG Card versions
Flailing Soldier - MTG Card versions
Branded Brawlers - MTG Card versions
Scarred Puma - MTG Card versions
Mogg Fanatic - MTG Card versions
Grim Lavamancer - MTG Card versions
Kessig Wolfrider - MTG Card versions
Skirk Prospector - MTG Card versions
Crazed Goblin - MTG Card versions
Akki Avalanchers - MTG Card versions
Mons's Goblin Waiters - MTG Card versions
Mogg Sentry - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Goblin Motivator itself may not provide direct card advantage, its ability to grant haste to other creatures ensures they can impact the board immediately, potentially leading to advantageous trades or additional pressure on the opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Goblin Motivator offers a kind of resource acceleration not in the form of mana but in time. By giving another creature haste, it accelerates your game plan, allowing you to use your creatures the turn they come into play and maximizing resource efficiency on the battlefield.

Instant Speed: The ability of Goblin Motivator to grant haste can be activated at instant speed, giving you flexibility in combat. This can catch an opponent off-guard, enabling surprise blocks or attacks that could tip the game in your favor. Its instant speed utility ensures your tactics remain versatile and responsive to the evolving game state.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Goblin Motivator itself does not require a discard, it’s important for players to consider the potential card disadvantage in a deck heavily reliant on one-drop creatures. Sacrificing card quantity for a quick boost can hamper your options in the late game.

Specific Mana Cost: As a creature that costs a single red mana, Goblin Motivator’s efficiency is tethered to decks that can consistently produce red mana early. This specificity restricts deck versatility, particularly for those seeking a more diverse mana base or splashing colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its initial low cost, the necessity to keep mana open for its ability effectively escalates its cost each turn it’s used. In a format where mana efficiency equates to speed and strategic flexibility, the true cost to keep a Motivator’s ability on standby can be a tactical setback against decks that optimize their curve.


Reasons to Include Goblin Motivator in Your Collection

Versatility: Goblin Motivator is a flexible addition to any red-focused deck, providing a quick way to give creatures haste. It’s particularly effective in aggressive builds that aim to deal damage swiftly.

Combo Potential: This card shines in decks that thrive on surprising opponents. Teaming Goblin Motivator with high-powered creatures allows you to catch opponents off-guard, transforming the battlefield in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: Considering that many current decks focus on establishing board presence quickly, the ability to give your creatures haste can be critical. Goblin Motivator enables a faster playstyle, which is highly relevant in metas that favor quick, decisive plays.


How to beat Goblin Motivator

Goblin Motivator can be a pesky card to play against, capable of accelerating your opponent’s game by giving their creatures haste. Its low mana cost makes it a quick play, but it’s also fragile with just a single toughness, making it susceptible to removal. Tackling this nuisance involves being prepared to stymie its effect on the battlefield. Spell-based removal such as Shock or Fatal Push can dispatch the Motivator before it ramps up your opponent’s tempo. Board control spells like Electrickery or Cry of the Carnarium can clear the Motivator along with other low-toughness creatures your opponent might have played.

In games where you’re facing more creature-heavy decks, having a strategy for constant board control is essential. Spot removal is great for an immediate threat, but ensuring you can handle multiple creatures as the game progresses is key. Sweepers like Supreme Verdict or Blasphemous Act deal with the Motivator and whatever creatures it might have empowered. By prioritizing the removal of Goblin Motivator early on, you can maintain the pace of the game and prevent your opponent from gaining an early advantage.


BurnMana Recommendations

Goblin Motivator is a potent pick for red-deck enthusiasts looking to push the tempo and seize control of the board early. It’s not just a matter of speed; it’s about asserting dominance with a strategic edge in combat. Savvy players will recognize the value it adds to their arsenal, empowering a swift and aggressive playstyle. If you seek to optimize your game and relish the thrill of a fast start, integrating this card could be the key to claiming victory. Dive deeper with us to discover how Goblin Motivator can revamp your deck’s dynamics and give you the upper hand from the very first turn.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Goblin Motivator MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2019 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 Goblin Motivator and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Goblin Motivator Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2018-07-13 and 2022-10-14. Illustrated by Johann Bodin.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12018-07-13Core Set 2019M19 1432015NormalBlackJohann Bodin
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 9572015NormalBlackJohann Bodin
32020-09-26The ListPLST M19-1432015NormalBlackJohann Bodin
42022-10-14Game Night: Free-for-AllGN3 802015NormalBlackJohann Bodin

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Goblin Motivator has restrictions

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