Goblin Grenade

Against Tribal Errata

I wish you’d bring back tribal and errata older cards. Make the criteria simple: If the name kf the card has a creature type’s name in it, eg Goblin Grenade, Dragon Arch, Demonic Tutor, or if the card mechanically cares about the creature type, eg The Hive should be Insect tribal, Whirlermaker should be Servo tribal, Raise the Alarm should be soldier tribal. You guys did a giant creature type update in the past so mass erata isn’t foreign territory.

It adds a lot of words on cards for minimal mechanical relevance.

Creatures Demonic Tutor Dragon Dragon Arch Errata Errata Giant Goblin Goblin Grenade Insect Kindred / Typal Raise the Alarm Servo Soldier The Hive Tutoring Whirlermaker

Moving Away from Tribal Card Type

Tribal have seen some resurgence lately in non-standard sets. What are the chances of errata old cards which have clear tribal identity to give them the tribal card type? Spells like Brightstone Ritual, Goblin War strike, Goblin Grenade, Elvish Guidance and Didgeridoo. I think it would be a net positive since they would make tribal more playable.

We are moving away from the tribal card type not toward it.

Brightstone Ritual Card Types Didgeridoo Elvish Guidance Errata Goblin Goblin Grenade Goblin War Strike Kindred / Typal Premier Sets Premier Sets Spells

Wizards' Magic Statues

are there still other statues around Wizards? Have we seen any in the past? Do they have names?

Different Magic statues in the building: Shivan Dragon (Mitzi)
Dakkon Blackblade
Prodigal Sorcerer
Jester’s Cap
Spirit Link
Goblin Bomb
Goblin Rock Sled
Goblin Grenade

Dakkon Blackblade Dragon Goblin Goblin Bomb Goblin Grenade Goblin Rock Sled Prodigal Sorcerer Shivan Dragon Spirit Spirit Link

Fling Trivia

Hi Mark, New Years Eve is my girlfriends birthday. She loves playing red and all associated spells. Can I get a shout out and some trivia on 'Fling'?

I believe Fling was made as a scalable Goblin Grenade, a spell from Fallen Empire that required you to sacrifice a goblin to deal 5 damage. Fling was a variant that allowed you to do damage equal to the creature’s size. Fling’s playtest name was Fling. Happy birthday!

Appreciation Birthday Creatures Goblin Goblin Grenade Playtesting Red Sacrifice Spells

Goblins in Standard

Since m10 I feel like WOTC has been teasing me. The only thing that can make me not play green in constructed are goblins, but good goblins only seem to come out once or twice a block. Or none in a block with Innestrad and Theros. You guys reprinted goblin grenade with only 16 goblins in the standard environment and only about 3 of them might have been standard playable. Just tell me now, are goblins going the way of the squirrel in MTG or will I one day get my fun explodey friends back?

Goblins will ebb and flow but they’re not going anywhere.

Card Printing Constructed Goblin Goblin Grenade Green Reprints Squirrel Standard Theros Wizards of the Coast

WotC Lobby Statues

I know there's a Shivan Dragon in the WotC lobby, a Prodigal Sorcerer in a meeting room, and a Jace, the Mind Sculptor somewhere else. Are there any other Magic statues laying around?

The Jace the Minsculpter is a statue we have at events not in the building. Other Magic statues in the building: Dakkon Blackblade, Goblin Grenade, the Jester from Jester’s Cap, Goblin Rocksled, Goblin King, the woman from the original Spirit Link and the goblin from Goblin War Drums. So, lots of goblins and a few others.

Dakkon Blackblade Dragon Goblin Goblin Grenade Goblin King Goblin War Drums Jace, the Mind Sculptor Prodigal Sorcerer Shivan Dragon Spirit Spirit Link Wizards of the Coast

Goblin Grenade Speculation

If Goblin Grenade was never printed, and somebody came up with the design during the next set, would it be a tribal goblin card?

We’re shying away from tribal (the card type), so I doubt it.

Card Printing Card Types Goblin Goblin Grenade Kindred / Typal

Card Reprint Views

"How is it we give you an awesome gift like Rancor and your first reaction is to get angry at us?" -In case this is not just a punny question, I am pretty sure it is because you've done this to players so many times already. It's disheartening to see a fun card reprinted and then not get to use it. It feels like a bad joke or lie. That's why awhile back, I asked why you reprint cards like Goblin Grenade in environments where they will have little to no impact. I understand now, but it's not fun.

Why do you think Rancor won’t be good in this environment?

Card Printing Goblin Goblin Grenade Humor Rancor Reprints

Reprinting Strategy

When popular cards are reprinted, some seem like they are selected to have a large impact on Standard and Limited formats (Harrow, Solemn Simulacrum) while some seem like they are selected to have as little impact on the various formats as possible (Nantuko Shade, Goblin Grenade). Why reprint cards that were once good or popular if you're just going to make them bad the second time around?

Reprinting cards means a lot more than making something available in Standard. For players that weren’t around the first time the card was printed, for example, it’s an opportunity for them to get the card.

Card Printing Goblin Goblin Grenade Harrow Limited Nantuko Shade Reprints Shade Solemn Simulacrum Standard

Goblin Grenade Origin

Who designed Goblin Grenade? Also, is it just me or is that one of the most flavorful cards ever made?

The card was designed in Fallen Empires so it was the creation of some combination of these people: Skaff Elias, Jim Lin, Dave Petty or Chris Page.

Fallen Empires Flavor Goblin Goblin Grenade Skaff Elias

Tribal Tag Considerations

Why isn't goblin grenade tribal?

Because it wasn’t in a set that supported tribal. It’s question like this (really, how can Goblin Grenade not be tribal?) that ultimately led to tribal’s downfall because if we let it follow the course it wanted, we would have a lot of extra word on cards for very little mechanical gain.

Goblin Goblin Grenade Kindred / Typal