Slobad, Goblin Tinkerer

Slobad, Goblin Tinkerer was originally introduced to the Magic: The Gathering universe in the 2004 Mirrodin block, reflecting the setting's core theme of artifact-centric gameplay. The character, a goblin smith capable of sacrifice-driven engineering, was designed as a unique utility commander who leverages his own artifacts to protect his board state. This specific iteration, appearing in the 2016 Commander product, serves as a reprint that maintains the mechanical integrity of the original card while updating its availability for the popular multiplayer format.

The illustration for this card is attributed to Greg Staples, a long-time contributor to the game known for his expressive character designs. Staples captured Slobad in a moment of frantic ingenuity, emphasizing the frantic, industrial aesthetic of the Mirrodin plane. The design was received as a nuanced piece of goblin lore, shifting the archetype away from simple chaotic aggression toward the more methodical, albeit eccentric, role of an artifact artificer.