Goblin (Dungeons & Dragons)

{{Short description|Fictional monster from Dungeons & Dragons}} {{Italic disambiguation}} {{more citations needed|date=December 2015}}

{{Infobox fictional race | name = Goblin | image = 200px | caption = | first = The ''Dungeons & Dragons'' "white box" set (1974) | based_on = Goblin | type = Humanoid | alignment = Usually Neutral Evil }}

In the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game, '''goblins''' are a common and fairly weak race of evil humanoid monsters. Goblins are non-human monsters that low-level player characters often face in combat.

==Influences== Goblins in ''Dungeons & Dragons'' are based primarily on the goblins portrayed in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-Earth.<ref>{{cite book|author-first=Kelly|author-last=Searsmith|editor-first=Jeffrey|editor-last=Weinstock|date=2014|title=The Ashgate Encyclopedia of Literary and Cinematic Monsters|publisher=Ashgate Publishing|chapter=Goblin|page=289}}</ref> Goblins are presented as "evil" and "predisposed towards a society of brutal regimes where the strongest rule" in the game.<ref name=PJC>{{cite thesis|last=Clements|first=Philip J.|date=December 2019|title=Dungeons & Discourse: Intersectional Identities in Dungeons & Dragons|type=PhD|url=http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1573729920432102|access-date=September 22, 2020}}</ref>{{rp|48, 66, 134}} In turn, D&D's goblins influenced later portrayals in games and fiction, such as the tabletop wargame ''Warhammer Fantasy Battle''.<ref name="AshgateMonsters">{{cite book |last=Weinstock |first=Jeffrey |year=2014 |title=The Ashgate Encyclopedia of Literary and Cinematic Monsters |publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. |isbn=9781409425625}}</ref> They have also been compared to German kobolds.<ref>{{cite book |last=Klepeis |first=Alicia Z. |year=2016 |title=Creatures of Fantasy - Goblins |publisher=Cavendish Square Publishing |isbn=978-1-5026-0934-2 |page=56}}</ref> Unlike the goblins in Tolkien's works, the goblins of D&D are a separate race from orcs; instead, they are a part of the related species collectively referred to as "goblinoids",<ref name="AshgateMonsters"/> which includes hobgoblins, bugbears, and others.

==Publication history== The goblin first appeared in the fantasy supplement to the original "Chainmail" set, prior to appearing in the original Dungeons & Dragons game.

===''Dungeons & Dragons'' (1974–1976)=== The goblin was one of the first monsters introduced in the earliest edition of the game, the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' "white box" set (1974), where they were described simply as small monsters.<ref>Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson. ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (3-Volume Set) (TSR, 1974)</ref>

===''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 1st edition (1977–1988)=== The goblin appears in the first edition ''Monster Manual'' (1977),<ref>Gygax, Gary. ''Monster Manual'' (TSR, 1977)</ref> where it is described as having a tribal society and dwelling in dismal surroundings. They also appeared in the video game ''Pool of Radiance'' (1988), with the depiction directly derived from that book.<ref>{{cite book |title=Dungeons & Dragons Art & Arcana: a visual history |last1=Witwer |first1=Michael |last2=Newman |first2=Kyle |last3=Peterson |first3=Jonathan |last4=Witwer |first4=Sam |last5=Manganiello |first5=Joe |date=October 2018 |isbn=9780399580949 |publisher=Ten Speed Press |oclc=1033548473 |pages=212, 214}}</ref><ref name=MM1e>{{cite book|author=Gary Gygax|title=Monster Manual|date=December 1977|publisher=TSR, Inc.|isbn=0-9356-9600-8}}</ref>

The mythology and attitudes of the goblins are described in detail in ''Dragon'' #63 (July 1982), in Roger E. Moore's article, "The Humanoids."<ref>Moore, Roger E. "The Humanoids." ''Dragon'' #63 (TSR, 1982)</ref>

In the article "Hey, Wanna Be a Kobold?" by Joseph Clay in ''Dragon'' #141 (January 1989), kobolds, xvarts, goblins, and orcs were presented as player character races along with two new character classes the "Shaman" and the "Witch Doctor".<ref>{{cite journal | author-link = Joseph Clay | last = Clay | first = Joseph | title = Hey, Wanna Be a Kobold? | journal = Dragon | volume = #141 | publisher = TSR | year = 1989}}</ref>

===''Dungeons & Dragons'' (1977–1999)=== This edition of the ''D&D'' game included its own version of the goblin, in the ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' (1977, 1981, 1983).<ref>Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974], edited by J. Eric Holmes. ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' (TSR, 1977)</ref><ref>Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974], edited by Tom Moldvay. ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' (TSR, 1981)</ref><ref>Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974], edited by Frank Mentzer. ''Dungeons & Dragons Set 1: Basic Rules'' (TSR, 1983)</ref> The goblin was featured as a player character race in the gazetteer ''The Orcs of Thar'' (1989). Goblins were also later featured in the ''Dungeons & Dragons Game'' set (1991), the ''Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia'' (1991),<ref>Allston, Aaron, Steven E. Schend, Jon Pickens, and Dori Watry. ''Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia'' (TSR, 1991)</ref> the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' set (1994), and the ''Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game'' set (1999).<ref>Slavicsek, Bill. ''Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game'' (TSR, 1999)</ref>

===''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd edition (1989–1999)=== The goblin appears first in the ''Monstrous Compendium Volume One'' (1989),<ref>Cook, David, et al. ''Monstrous Compendium Volume One'' (TSR, 1989)</ref> and is reprinted in the ''Monstrous Manual'' (1993).<ref>Stewart, Doug, ed. ''Monstrous Manual'' (TSR, 1993)</ref>

The goblin is detailed as a playable character race in ''The Complete Book of Humanoids'' (1993).<ref>Slavicsek, Bill. ''The Complete Book of Humanoids'' (TSR, 1993)</ref> The book notes that goblins cannot be wizards.<ref name="Dragon #205">{{cite journal| last = Swan| first = Rick| author-link = Rick Swan| title = Role-playing Reviews| journal = Dragon| issue = #205| page = 102| publisher = TSR| location = Lake Geneva, Wisconsin|date=May 1994}}</ref> The goblin is later presented as a playable character race again in ''Player's Option: Skills & Powers'' (1995),<ref>Niles, Douglas and Dale Donovan. ''Player's Option: Skills & Powers'' (TSR, 1995)</ref> and in the module ''Reverse Dungeon'' (2000).<ref>Rateliff, John D., and Bruce R. Cordell. ''Reverse Dungeon''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000</ref>

The '''goblyn''', a related creature in the Ravenloft campaign setting, appeared in the module ''Feast of Goblyns'' (1990), and the ''Monstrous Compendium Ravenloft Appendix'' (1991).

The '''Cerilian goblin''' for the Birthright campaign setting appeared in the ''Birthright Campaign Setting'' set (1995), and was reprinted in ''Monstrous Compendium Annual Three'' (1996).

===''Dungeons & Dragons'' 3.0 edition (2000–2002)=== The goblin appears in the ''Monster Manual'' for this edition (2000).<ref>Cook, Monte, Jonathan Tweet, and Skip Williams. ''Monster Manual'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2000)</ref>

Tactics for fighting goblins were described in "''Vs. Goblins''", by Bruce Cordell, in ''Dragon'' #275 (2000).<ref>Cordell, Bruce R. "Vs. Goblins." ''Dragon'' #275 (Paizo Publishing, 2000)</ref>

The '''Dekanter goblin''' was introduced in ''Monsters of Faerun'' (2000). ''Races of Faerûn'' (2003) presented the goblin and Dekanter goblin as player character races for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.<ref>Reynolds, Sean K., Forbeck, Matt, Jacobs, James, Boyd, Erik L. ''Races of Faerûn'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2003)</ref>

The '''blue''', a psionic relative of the goblin, appeared in the ''Psionics Handbook'' (2001).

The '''goblyn''' of Ravenloft appeared for this edition in ''Denizens of Darkness'' (2002).

===''Dungeons & Dragons'' 3.5 edition (2003–2007)=== The goblin appears in the revised ''Monster Manual'' for this edition (2003).

The blue appeared in the ''Expanded Psionics Handbook'' (2004).<ref>Cordell, Bruce R. ''Expanded Psionics Handbook'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2004)</ref>

The '''air goblin''', the '''aquatic goblin''', the '''arctic goblin''', the '''desert goblin''', and the '''jungle goblin''' were all introduced in ''Unearthed Arcana'' (2004).<ref>Collins, Andy, Jesse Decker, David Noonan, and Rich Redman. ''Unearthed Arcana'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2004)</ref> ''Monster Manual III'' (2004) introduced the '''forestkith goblin'''.<ref>Burlew, Rich, et al. ''Monster Manual III'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2004)</ref> The '''snow goblin''' appeared in ''Frostburn: Mastering the Perils of Ice and Snow'' (2004).<ref>Baur, Wolfgang, James Jacobs, and George Strayton. ''Frostburn'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2004)</ref> The '''dark goblin''' appeared in ''Tome of Magic'' (2006).<ref>Sernett, Matthew, Dave Noonan, Ari Marmell, and Robert J. Schwalb. ''Tome of Magic: Pact, Shadow, and Truename Magic'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2006)</ref> The '''vril''', and the '''goblin flesh-herder''' appeared in ''Drow of the Underdark'' (2007).

The '''goblyn''' of Ravenloft was updated to this edition in ''Denizens of Dread'' (2004), but also appeared again in the ''Campaign Classics'' feature in ''Dragon'' #339 (January 2006).

===''Dungeons & Dragons'' 4th edition (2008–2014)=== The goblin appears in the ''Monster Manual'' for this edition (2008), including the '''goblin cutter''', the '''goblin blackblade''', the '''goblin warrior''', the '''goblin sharpshooter''', the '''goblin hexer''', the '''goblin skullcleaver''', and the '''goblin underboss'''. The bugbear and the hobgoblin also appear under the '''goblin''' entry in this edition's ''Monster Manual''.<ref>Mearls, Mike, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt. ''Monster Manual'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2008)</ref>

===''Dungeons & Dragons'' 5th edition (2014–present)=== Goblins feature in the first segment of the adventure ''Lost Mine of Phandelver'', included in the 5th edition ''Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set'' (2014).<ref name=AVClubStarter>{{cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/article/new-dungeons-dragons-more-streamlined-no-less-chal-209058 |title=The new Dungeons & Dragons is more streamlined but no less of a challenge |publisher=The A.V. Club |date=2014-09-23 |access-date=2015-08-02}}</ref> The goblin also appears in the ''Monster Manual'' for this edition (2014), including the '''goblin boss'''.<ref>''Monster Manual'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2014)</ref> In ''Volo's Guide to Monsters'' Goblins, Hobgoblins, and Bugbears were featured as playable races under Monstrous Races.<ref>''Volo's Guide to Monsters'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2016)</ref><ref name=DW>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/11/16/new-dungeons-dragons-monster-guide-limited-edition-cover-option/ |last=Wickline |first=Dan |title=New Dungeons & Dragons Monster Guide Has Limited Edition Cover Option |website=Bleeding Cool |date=2016-11-16 |access-date=2024-01-29}}</ref> Goblins were presented as a playable race in the ''Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica'',<ref>''Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2018)</ref> the "''Magic: The Gathering'' crossovers ''Plane Shift: Ixalan'' and ''Plane Shift: Zendikar''", as well as in ''Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse'', which also featured a more detailed backstory, antagonist versions and related creatures to the goblins.<ref name=Hall>{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Charlie|date=January 18, 2022|title=More than 30 playable D&D races will be included in Monsters of the Multiverse|url=https://www.polygon.com/22889546/dnd-monsters-of-the-multiverse-pc-races-full-list|access-date=2025-05-02|website=Polygon}}</ref>

==Description== In ''Dungeons & Dragons'', goblins are small humanoid monsters.<ref name="GoblinsCurrie">{{cite book |last=Currie |first=Stephen | year=2011 |title=Goblins |publisher=Capstone |isbn=9781601523600}}</ref> They vary in height from about {{height|ft=3|in=0}} to {{height|ft=3|in=0.5}} and weigh {{convert|40-45|lb|kg}}. They walk upright even though their arms nearly reach their knees. Their eyes vary from red to yellow and are usually dull and glazed. Described as "hideously ugly",<ref name="GoblinsCurrie"/> they have a broad nose that sits on a flat face with pointed ears and a wide mouth. Their mouth contains small, but sharp fangs. Their skin pigment ranges from a deep red through nearly any shade of orange to yellow. Members of the same tribe tend to have the same skin color.

===Society=== Goblins usually live in tribes which are ruled by the strongest goblin in the group. These tribes vary in size from gangs of 4–9 to tribes of up to 400.<ref>{{cite web|last=Carton|first=Jans|title=The Hypertext d20 SRD|url=http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/goblin.htm|access-date=28 April 2013}}</ref> Most larger tribes have wolves or dire wolves as mounts, or ally themselves with worgs, which also carry them into battle. Goblin tribes usually settle near civilized areas to raid for food, livestock, tools, weapons, and supplies. It is common for the leaders of goblin clans to be non-goblin (either other goblinoids or a different species entirely); such leaders are exploiting the goblins as disposable soldiers to further their purpose.

thumb|Maglubiyet, chief deity of goblins in most campaign settings<ref name=Hall/>

In most campaign settings, Maglubiyet, the god of war and rulership, is the chief deity of goblins. In the 5th edition book ''Monsters of the Multiverse'' his backstory is expanded so "that Maglubiyet actually conquered the goblinoids" and corrupted them from their original fae form, but "was not their original godly ancestor."<ref name=Hall/>

Other gods worshipped by the goblins include Khurgorbaeyag, the god of slavery, oppression, and morale, and Bargrivyek, the god of co-operation and territory.

Deities of other goblin races include Meriadar (deity of patience, tolerance, meditation, and arts and crafts) and Stalker (deity of hate, death, and cold), as well as the hobgoblin god Nomog-Geaya (deity of War and Authority), the bugbear gods Hruggek (deity of violence and combat), Grankhul (deity of hunting, senses, and surprise), and Skiggaret (deity of fear), as well as Kikanuti the goddess of the desert goblins, known as bhukas.

==Goblin sub-races== Sub-races of goblin in ''Dungeons & Dragons'' include the snow goblin, the aquatic goblin, and the jungle goblin, each adapted to a particular environment.<ref name="GoblinsCurrie"/>

===Nilbog=== '''Nilbogs''' are, according to the game description, a type of naturally-born but magical goblins that are healed by receiving damage and are damaged by healing spells.<ref>{{Cite journal|journal=White Dwarf|author=Roger Musson (after Nick Best)|title=The Fiend Factory|others=Don Turnbull (editor)|publisher=Games Workshop|date=April 1978|issue=6|pages=6–8}}</ref> Furthermore, they project a paradox area effect in whose radius every intended action is twisted so that the exact opposite is carried out (i.e.: instead of hitting a nilbog with a weapon, one might end up attacking a companion; or instead of plundering a treasure hoard, an adventuring party under the influence of "nilbogism" might actually end up adding their own wealth to it). The name of this sub-species is "goblin" spelled backward, a reference to this reversal of effects.

===Verdan=== Introduced in the ''Acquisitions Incorporated'' supplement, the Verdan are a race of goblins subject to constant magical mutations due to a connection to a chaotic force of magic.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Acquisitions Incorporated.|date=2019|others=Inc Wizards of the Coast, Acquisitions Incorporated|isbn=978-0-7869-6690-5|location=Renton, WA|oclc=1104795915}}</ref> The Verdan are notably taller than other goblins and less monstrous in appearance. Mutations, occurring at random throughout their lifespans, can cause changes to eye color, skin color, hair color, gender and/or sex. They live far longer than any other goblinoid, comfortably over two centuries. As a race, they are nomads, and their traveling has made them less prone to pettiness and violence than their other goblin cousins.

==Other publishers== Goblins feature prominently in material for the ''Pathfinder Roleplaying Game'' from Paizo Publishing, which is based on the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' 3.5 rules. The goblins in ''Pathfinder'', as detailed in Paizo's books ''Classic Monsters Revisited'' (2008)<ref>Baur, Wolfgang, Jason Bulmahn, Joshua J. Frost, James Jacobs, Nicolas Logue, Mike McArtor, James L. Sutter, Greg A. Vaughan, Jeremy Walker. ''Classic Monsters Revisited'' (Paizo, 2008)</ref> and ''Goblins of Golarion'' (2011),<ref>James Jacobs, Hal Maclean, Richard Pett. ''Pathfinder Player Companion: Goblins of Golarion'' (Paizo, 2011)</ref> have a distinct characterization from their ''Dungeons & Dragons'' counterparts; reviewers have described them as "walking bundles of chaos and crazy".<ref name=GoblinsNewsarama>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsarama.com/18598-best-shots-advance-reviews-satellite-sam-2-pathfinder-goblins-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810130232/http://www.newsarama.com/18598-best-shots-advance-reviews-satellite-sam-2-pathfinder-goblins-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 10, 2013 |title=Best Shots Advance Reviews: SATELLITE SAM #2, PATHFINDER: GOBLINS! #1 |publisher=Newsarama |date=2013-08-06 |access-date=2015-08-02}}</ref>

Pathfinder's goblins are also central to Paizo's Free RPG Day modules ''We Be Goblins!'' (2011), ''We Be Goblins Too!'' (2013) and ''We Be Goblins Free!'' (2015), which feature goblins as player characters,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paizo.com/products/btpy9c20?Pathfinder-Module-We-Be-Goblins-Free |title=Pathfinder Module: We Be Goblins Free! (PFRPG) |publisher=paizo.com |access-date=2015-08-02}}</ref> as well as the licensed Dynamite Entertainment comic ''Pathfinder: Goblins!''<ref name=GoblinsNewsarama/>

==In other media== Goblins are the protagonists in the ''Dungeons & Dragons''-influenced webcomic ''Goblins''.<ref name="GoblinsWebcomic">{{cite book |last=Hunt |first=Tarol | year=2006 |title=Goblins Book One: Life Though Their Eyes |publisher=Tarol Hunt |isbn=0978373707}}</ref> Goblins also feature prominently in another ''Dungeons & Dragons''-influenced work, ''The Order of the Stick''; a major antagonist, Redcloak, is a goblin cleric serving a deity known as the "Dark One".<ref name="OOTSVol-1">{{cite book |last=Burlew |first=Rich | year=2007 |title=The Order of the Stick: Start of Darkness |publisher=Giant in the Playground |isbn=978-0976658047}}</ref>

A "Goblin Lair" is used as one of the sample encounters in the book ''Dungeon Master 4th Edition for Dummies''.<ref name="DM4E for dummies">{{cite book |last1=Wyatt |first1=James |author-link1=James Wyatt (game designer) |author-link2=Bill Slavicsek|last2=Slavicsek|first2=Bill |author-link3=Rich Baker (game designer)|last3=Baker|first3=Rich |year=2008 |title=Dungeon Master 4th Edition For Dummies |publisher=For Dummies |isbn=978-0470292914}}</ref>

==Reception== Scott Baird from ''Screen Rant'' compiled a list of the game's "10 Most Powerful (And 10 Weakest) Monsters, Ranked" in 2018, calling this one of the weakest, saying "Goblins are purposely designed to be weak and ineffective in combat so that they can fulfill their role as the tutorial battle of ''Dungeons & Dragons''." Baird also found goblins the most stereotypical of choices for a combat encounter for beginning characters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/dungeons-and-dragons-powerful-weak-monsters-ranked/|title=Dungeons & Dragons: 10 Most Powerful (And 10 Weakest) Monsters, Ranked|last=Baird|first=Scott|date=May 20, 2018|website=Screen Rant|access-date=February 23, 2022}}</ref>

''Bleeding Cool'' perceived the goblin as among "the more distinctive race options in the ''D&D'' multiverse"<ref name=DW/> and ''Syfy Wire'' considered it among the players' "favorites",<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-01-18|last=Grebey|first=James|title=New 'Dungeons & Dragons' book collects player races and monsters alike|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/dungeons-and-dragons-monsters-of-the-multiverse|access-date=2025-07-29|website=Syfy Wire}}</ref> while ''Comic Book Resources'' counted the goblin as # 10 on the list of "10 Powerful Monster Species That You Should Play As", stating that "They're pretty much everywhere in a fantasy setting and have so many variations that it is unlikely to not fit in a campaign. The traditional goblin is the equivalent of an internet troll, smallish, angry, looking to bully those it can and flee if the confrontation goes badly."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/dungeons-dragons-powerful-monster-species-play-as/ |title=Dungeons & Dragons: 10 Powerful Monster Species That You Should Play As |work=Comic Book Resources |first=Jacob |last=Bourque |date=March 12, 2020 |access-date=March 25, 2021}}</ref>

Paul Karczag and Lawrence Schick counted the goblin among the "five main "humanoid" races" in AD&D.<ref>{{cite book|last=Schick |first=Lawrence|title=Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games|publisher=Prometheus Books |year=1991|page=92|isbn=0-87975-653-5}}</ref>

Cyril Pasteau for ''Backstab'' found goblins suitable opponents for characters of the lowest level.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Pasteau|first=Cyril|date=November 2000|title=The Sunless Citadel|language=fr|magazine=Backstab|number=24|page=75}}</ref>

''A.V. Club'' reviewer Nick Wanserski praised the "thoughtful" look on goblins provided in ''Volo's Guide to Monsters'': While "such staples as orcs, goblins, and kobolds [...] often get lumped together as a dull monolith", the many details here give "a lot of personality to an otherwise easily forgettable monster."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/your-guide-to-volo-s-guide-to-monsters-1798254926 |title=Your guide to ''Volo's Guide To Monsters'' |last1=Wanserski |first1=Nick |last2=Chavez |first2=Danette |website=The A.V. Club |date=2016-11-29 |access-date=2024-02-02}}</ref> As a player character race ''CGMagazine'' contributor Chris de Hoog considered the "monster-based" goblins among the "more unconventional" options.<ref>{{Cite web|last=de Hoog|first=Chris|date=January 25, 2022|title=D&D: Rules Expansion Gift Set Review - CGMagazine|url=https://www.cgmagonline.com/review/tabletop/dd-rules-expansion-gift-set-review/|access-date=June 6, 2025|website=CGMagazine}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Goblin (Dungeons and Dragons)}} Category:Dungeons & Dragons creatures from folklore and mythology Category:Dungeons & Dragons humanoids Category:Dungeons & Dragons monsters Category:Fictional goblins Category:Fictional story elements introduced in 1974