Goblin Grappler
Creature — Goblin
Provoke (Whenever this creature attacks, you may have target creature defending player controls untap and block it if able.)
- CMC
- 1
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- R
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Legions
- Price
- $0.09
- EDHREC rank
- #19936
Goblin Grappler forces a blocker to attack each combat — a repeatable provoke trigger that clears the way for your team at the cost of one mana and one card slot. It's a niche role-player, not a staple, and General Marhault Elsdragon is the only commander who makes that ability worth a deck slot.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
General Marhault Elsdragon
General Marhault Elsdragon gains +1/+1 counters whenever a creature is forced to attack, so Goblin Grappler's provoke ability is a direct counter engine — each combat you trigger it, Marhault grows, which is exactly the loop this deck is built to repeat.
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 | legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Goblin Grappler is a narrow fit outside of General Marhault Elsdragon builds, where provoke synergy is the whole point. Pauper is where it has the most theoretical legality-meets-relevance overlap, but even there the one-power body competes poorly for the one-drop slot. Legacy and Vintage allow it, but no competitive shell wants a 1/1 that pokes one blocker when faster, more impactful options exist at the same cost. Goblin Grappler is a Commander-only inclusion, and only in one specific commander's deck.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.09 bulk tier
At $0.09, Goblin Grappler is deep bulk — you'll find copies in any dollar bin or throw-in trade. That price reflects its demand accurately: it's a narrow single-commander card, and nothing on the horizon changes that ceiling.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- General Marhault Elsdragon
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.