Ruinous Gremlin MTG Card


Ruinous Gremlin indirectly shapes card advantage through timely artifact disruption. Instant speed activation allows flexibility and tactical surprise in matches. While resource-intensive, Gremlin’s utility can justify its deployment cost in certain scenarios.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Gremlin
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

, Sacrifice Ruinous Gremlin: Destroy target artifact.

City officials once sent twenty gleaming automatons to exterminate a nest of gremlins. They soon saw the error of their ways.


Cards like Ruinous Gremlin

The Ruinous Gremlin is an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering, embodying a fascinating yet niche role across numerous gameplay scenarios. Like the Ruinous Gremlin, cards such as Ember Hauler and Torch Fiend offer the ability to remove key artifacts from the battlefield. These cards are a hatchet at hand to dismantle an opponent’s strategy, with Ember Hauler bearing the additional utility of dealing damage directly to any target.

Considering the cost-benefit aspect, Manic Vandal steps into the fray, presenting a similar ‘destroy artifact’ effect upon entering the battlefield. Although not as lean in mana cost as the Gremlin, this creature compensates with a sturdier body, allowing it to survive battles that the more fragile Gremlin could not. What makes the Gremlin stand apart, however, is its low mana requirement, making it a nimble option suitable for quicker artifact control in the early stages of the game.

Understanding the differences and applications of these cards is crucial for players strategizing against decks heavily reliant on artifacts. Each choice presents its tactical advantages, with the Ruinous Gremlin excelling as an early game sabotage player, agile in its mission to undermine an artifact-based stratagem.

Ember Hauler - MTG Card versions
Torch Fiend - MTG Card versions
Manic Vandal - MTG Card versions
Ember Hauler - MTG Card versions
Torch Fiend - MTG Card versions
Manic Vandal - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Ruinous Gremlin by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions
Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions
Hurr Jackal - MTG Card versions
Goblin Digging Team - MTG Card versions
Primordial Ooze - MTG Card versions
Goblin Artisans - MTG Card versions
Gorilla Shaman - MTG Card versions
Goblin Swine-Rider - MTG Card versions
Orcish Conscripts - MTG Card versions
Mountain Goat - MTG Card versions
Roc Hatchling - MTG Card versions
Jackal Pup - MTG Card versions
Mogg Fanatic - MTG Card versions
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Branded Brawlers - MTG Card versions
Scarred Puma - MTG Card versions
Grim Lavamancer - MTG Card versions
Enslaved Dwarf - MTG Card versions
Kessig Wolfrider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Guide - MTG Card versions
Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions
Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions
Hurr Jackal - MTG Card versions
Goblin Digging Team - MTG Card versions
Primordial Ooze - MTG Card versions
Goblin Artisans - MTG Card versions
Gorilla Shaman - MTG Card versions
Goblin Swine-Rider - MTG Card versions
Orcish Conscripts - MTG Card versions
Mountain Goat - MTG Card versions
Roc Hatchling - MTG Card versions
Jackal Pup - MTG Card versions
Mogg Fanatic - MTG Card versions
Flailing Soldier - MTG Card versions
Branded Brawlers - MTG Card versions
Scarred Puma - MTG Card versions
Grim Lavamancer - MTG Card versions
Enslaved Dwarf - MTG Card versions
Kessig Wolfrider - MTG Card versions
Goblin Guide - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Though Ruinous Gremlin doesn’t provide direct card draw, it creates an indirect card advantage by allowing you to destroy an opponent’s key artifact, potentially removing a source of their advantage. This could lead to a decisive shift in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While Ruinous Gremlin itself isn’t a direct source of resource acceleration, the ability to dismantle an artifact can slow down your opponent’s momentum, giving you the upper hand. It’s the art of resource control that can lead to acceleration in your own game plan.

Instant Speed: The activation of Ruinous Gremlin’s ability can be used at instant speed, providing flexibility in your strategy. You can wait for the most opportune moment to disrupt your opponent’s plays, catching them off guard and preserving your mana for other instant speed interactions on their turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Ruinous Gremlin requires a sacrifice of another artifact as part of its activation cost. This could potentially deplete your resources, particularly in artifact-heavy decks, and may not always be advantageous if your board state relies on those artifacts for other synergies or effects.

Specific Mana Cost: The gremlin’s ability might be challenging to activate in multicolored decks since it requires solely red mana. Without access to red mana sources or the required mana fixing, Ruinous Gremlin’s potential remains untapped, limiting its flexibility across various deck archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the activation cost isn’t particularly high, it does cost three mana in total (one to cast and two to activate). When considering the investment against the benefit of destroying just one artifact, players might find more efficient alternatives for artifact removal in the format, making the Ruinous Gremlin’s cost-effectiveness a point of contention.


Reasons to Include Ruinous Gremlin in Your Collection

Versatility: Ruinous Gremlin is a flexible card capable of fitting into various deck builds. Its ability to destroy artifacts ensures that it is a useful inclusion, particularly in formats where artifacts play a key role.

Combo Potential: This little gremlin can be a crucial cog in decks that rely on artifact destruction to impede opponents or to set off destructive combos. Its low-cost ability accelerates the dismantling of complex artifact-based strategies your adversary might employ.

Meta-Relevance: In any MTG meta where artifacts are dominant, Ruinous Gremlin becomes exceedingly relevant. Its presence in your deck can serve as an efficient counter to such prevailing strategies, disrupting opponent setups and leveling the playing field at a minimal mana investment.


How to beat

Ruinous Gremlin may not seem like a formidable opponent at a glance, but underestimating this creature can be a costly mistake in Magic: The Gathering. Ruinous Gremlin’s ability to destroy an artifact can dismantle your well-laid plans, especially if you rely heavily on artifacts’ synergies. It’s a low-cost creature, making it an early game nuisance if ignored. To effectively tackle this card, you should focus on removing it promptly from the battlefield to prevent your opponent from exploiting its ability. Instant removal spells are your best friend here, allowing you to react swiftly on your opponent’s turn before they can sacrifice the Gremlin for its destructive purpose.

Moreover, keeping a watchful eye on the board state and maintaining control over the artifacts that are crucial to your strategy is key. By prioritizing which artifacts to play and when, you can minimize the gremlin’s impact on your gameplay. Additionally, including versatile responses in your deck to deal with creatures that possess problematic abilities is always a sound strategy. This approach will not only help in facing Ruinous Gremlin but also strengthens your defenses against a variety of other threats you’ll encounter during the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Ruinous Gremlin 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 Ruinous Gremlin and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Ruinous Gremlin Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2020-11-12. Illustrated by Steve Prescott.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-09-30KaladeshKLD 1282015NormalBlackSteve Prescott
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 10452015NormalBlackSteve Prescott
32020-09-26The ListPLST KLD-1282015NormalBlackSteve Prescott
42020-11-12Kaladesh RemasteredKLR 1422015NormalBlackSteve Prescott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Ruinous Gremlin has restrictions

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