Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

Embermage Goblin is a short, fiery burst from Onslaught that still lights up casual games and deep-dive discussions about card design 🧙‍♂️🔥. This red goblin wizard arrives with a two-part identity: a mana cost of 3 and a color identity that screams aggro with a twist. The 4-mana investment buys you a 1/1 creature who packs a tutor-on-enter effect and a tiny, reliable burn option—an unusual combination that feels like it was cooked up during a late-night goblin workshop. The art by Pete Venters captures that mischievous spark you expect from goblins, and the frame from the 1997 era lends a certain nostalgic edge that collectors instantly recognize 🎨.

From a grading perspective, Embermage Goblin sits in the Onslaught set (ONS), printed in the classic black border era with a 1997-style frame. It’s an Uncommon in that print run, a slot that often travels with more variable print quality than the rarer mythics while still carrying distinctive hallmarks—like the artist’s signature, the exact mana-cost typography, and the Onslaught set symbol. Its printed rarity is a clue for graders to check for watermarking alignment and set-specific borders, especially when you’re verifying a nonfoil copy that may have endured years in a binder or pocket binder without the protective gloss of foil stock 🔎.

When this creature enters, you may search your library for a card named Embermage Goblin, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle. {T}: This creature deals 1 damage to any target.

Let’s break down what a grader should watch for, using the card data as a roadmap. The mana cost is exactly {3}{R} and the card type line reads Creature — Goblin Wizard, a rare blend that tells us this is both a red splash and a goblin-centric caster. The power/toughness shows 1/1—a modest body, which matches the era’s approach to splashy abilities over raw stats. The exact oracle text matters: the enter-the-battlefield tutor is named Embermage Goblin itself, a self-referential twist that invites you to fetch another copy for recasting or to set up a quick loop in casual play. The tap ability to deal 1 damage to any target reinforces the card’s single-shot tempo—burning a tiny piece of life or taking out a bothersome blocker in a pinch ⚔️.

Authenticity checks for Embermage Goblin center on several details. First, confirm the multiverse ID (39589) and the set identifier (ONS, Onslaught). The collector-number 200 and the rarity designation as Uncommon align with the print run, so a counterfeit that mismatches any of these facts will stand out on close inspection. The border color is black, the frame is the 1997 style, and the artist is Pete Venters; all of these elements should be consistent with a genuine Onslaught nonfoil. If you encounter a so-called “modern” recreation, watch for a foil treatment or a border variant that doesn’t belong to the Onslaught line. A counterfeit might show a misaligned set symbol, an off-font mana cost, or a misprinted text box that doesn’t line up with the original silhouette. The nonfoil status matters too—Onslaught nonfoil prints have different sheen and texture compared to modern reprint lines, and your grade should reflect any surface or edge wear that’s consistent with age rather than suspect manufacturing defects 🧩.

In practice, grading Embermage Goblin is less about raw power and more about provenance. The legibility of the oracle text, the accuracy of the set symbol, and the alignment of the card’s typography all contribute to a credible grade. The card is legal in formats like Legacy and Duel, with vintage also recognized, which makes it appealing to older-gear collectors who prize authentic print runs. The card’s economy—valued at a modest USD price in the mid-range for Uncommons of its era—means graders often encounter a broader range of condition issues: rounded corners from binder wear, minor edge whitening, or subtle color shifts from decades in binders. Those are the sorts of quirks that separate a true gem from a well-worn replica, and a careful eye, plus cross-checks against reputable databases like Scryfall or Gatherer, goes a long way 💎.

From a gameplay perspective, Embermage Goblin is a micro-architect of pivoting strategies. The enter-the-battlefield tutor capability can create skippable loops in a goblin-centric or red-focused deck, letting you fetch an Embermage Goblin to “reload” a hand with explosive quickness. The fact that the tutor requires you to reveal the card you search for adds a tactical layer: you’re signaling intent to your opponents while maintaining information control. The ability to deal 1 damage with a tap adds a reliable burn option in the late game, particularly in stompy or control-adjacent builds where every point matters ⚔️. For collectors, that dual utility—the potential to tutor for a copy and the guaranteed ping—adds to the nostalgia and value in a sealed or graded collection. As you explore Embermage Goblin’s place in the broader MTG narrative, you’ll notice how it embodies the era’s appetite for clever, name-based interactions. While not a powerhouse by modern standards, it demonstrates early experimentation in card design: a compact body with a unique, name-based tutoring clause that rewards players who plan ahead and value card engineering as much as raw stats. These traits—artistry by Venters, a distinctive Onslaught frame, and a tutor-on-entry that still sparks conversation—keep Embermage Goblin relevant in both nostalgia-crazed discussions and legitimate pricing conversations 🔥.

For the curious shopper who wants a tangential thrill with their MTG journey, consider pairing this exploration with a practical product outside the typical card-collecting flow. A quick detour to our shop offers a convenient, everyday gadget that compliments modern hobbying—the Phone Click-On Grip Back of Phone Stand Holder—a clever desk companion for gaming nights and card-laying sessions. It’s a small nod to the portable, tactile world we enjoy alongside our decks, and it’s just a click away for convenient ordering 🧙‍♂️💎.

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