Goblin Cadets
Creature — Goblin
Whenever this creature blocks or becomes blocked, target opponent gains control of it. (This removes this creature from combat.)
- CMC
- 1
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- R
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Urza's Saga
- Price
- $2.44
- EDHREC rank
- #11660
Goblin Cadets enters as a 2/1 for one mana, but the price is steep: whenever it blocks, defending gets to gain control of it. Outside of dedicated donation strategies, that downside ends the conversation immediately — Zedruu the Greathearted is the reason this card has a home at all.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Zedruu the Greathearted
Zedruu the Greathearted is the definitive home for Goblin Cadets — donate the Cadets before it ever blocks, convert the liability into card draw and life gain, and let your opponent enjoy their new 2/1 that punishes them for attacking into it.
Blim, Comedic Genius
Blim, Comedic Genius wants permanents that punish whoever holds them, and Goblin Cadets fits that philosophy cleanly — pass it to an opponent via Blim and watch the blocking trigger become their problem.
Iroh, Tea Master
Iroh, Tea Master runs a similar donate-and-benefit loop, and Goblin Cadets slots in as a cheap, on-theme piece that rewards you the moment it leaves your side of the table.
Zidane, Tantalus Thief
Zidane, Tantalus Thief cares about moving permanents between players, and Goblin Cadets offers a one-mana entry point that practically forces a transfer the instant it tries to defend.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | not legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Goblin Cadets is legal in Commander, Legacy, Vintage, and Oathbreaker, but the only format where it sees real play is Commander — specifically in donation and chaos shells. In Legacy and Vintage, a one-mana 2/1 with a crippling combat downside doesn't compete with what those formats offer, and no meaningful constructed metagame has ever called for it. Commander is where the downside flips into a feature, making Goblin Cadets functionally a format-specific card despite its broader legality.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$2.44 cheap tier
At $2.44, Goblin Cadets sits at the high end of what you'd expect for a narrow, single-format role-player — demand from Zedruu and Blim lists keeps the price propped up above bulk. It's not a card you'd speculate on, but if you're building the right deck, $2.44 for the effect is straightforward.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Zedruu the Greathearted
- Blim, Comedic Genius
- Iroh, Tea Master
- Zidane, Tantalus Thief
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.