Mogg of the Month August '24: Goblin Wizard

This is the third installment of our new monthly feature where we pick out a goblin card from among the hundreds available to us in Magic the Gathering™.

We've done a brand new card, we've done an older iconic card, this time we're going to look at one of only two goblins to appear on the infamous Reserved List.

Mogg of the Month for August 2024 is Goblin Wizard!

Goblin Wizard holds a peculiar spot in the ranks of goblin cards. Once upon a time it was the most overpowered goblin in all of Magic. These days it has been overshadowed by cards like Muxus and Goblin Lackey.

No longer seeing play in even Legacy or Vintage decks, it is only really played in goblin tribal EDH lists. The Wizard offers a unique ability of being able to put any goblin from your hand into play at instant speed and can also grant protection from white, which is super relevant in EDH due to the massive prevalence of white board wipes in the format.

Possibly the most expensive goblin card (with the exception of Dockside Extortionist.) This is due to it only ever having one printing (in two languages), The Dark (and The Dark Italian) and the fact it is protected by being on the Reserved List. This guarantees (at least for now), that Goblin Wizard will never be reprinted.

The Italian printing seems to be much darker frame than the English one and can be picked up a bit cheaper than the English version

The Dark was released back in 1994 and this card is now 30 years old, so it's hard to find one in reasonable condition. Currently an LP Goblin Wizard will set you back $80(US) or £60(UK). I managed to pick one up last year and got a very good price on it.

Here's what others have to say about Goblin Wizard:

"Goblin Wizard is a classic card that brings back a lot of nostalgia for old-school MTG players. As a card from The Dark set, it reminds many players of the early days of Magic, where goblins were already a fun and chaotic tribe.

The ability to put goblin creatures directly into play is quite powerful, especially in a dedicated goblin deck. It allows for quick and unexpected plays, potentially overwhelming opponents who aren't prepared for a sudden swarm.

The card works exceptionally well in goblin tribal strategies, where its ability to grant protection to goblins and cheat them into play can create some explosive and aggressive board states. It's a great way to maintain tempo and surprise opponents in casual or Commander formats.

While Goblin Wizard has a powerful effect, its high mana cost and fragile 1/1 body make it a bit of a risky play. Without immediate protection or value from its activated abilities, it can be easily removed, making it a gamble in competitive settings."

So that's about all I can say about Goblin Wizard. Its old, it's slow by today's standards, it's rare, it's expensive, but it's still an awesome goblin.

What is your favourite goblin card? Leave a comment below and we could feature it in the next Mogg of the Month!

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WELCOME

Welcome to Goblin Gathering! I have created this site to help manage and nurture my unhealthy obsession with goblins in Magic The Gathering™ It will be updated periodically as new goblin cards are released and I will aim to keep it an informative space for any players with an interest in goblin decks. I will strive to write semi-regularly but only with goblin relevant content. if you have any ideas or would like to create content for this site then you can email me at: admin@goblingathering.com If you've come this far please leave a comment on any of the articles. -Trashman

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