Goblin Chirurgeon is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Sacrifice a Goblin: Regenerate target creature.
Complete guide
Goblin Chirurgeon is a classic utility creature that provides a safety net for your most important threats. By putting your Goblins to work in the operating room, you can ensure your key creatures survive the heat of battle. This one-mana Shaman turns every Goblin on your board into a potential life-saving shield.
What It Does
Goblin Chirurgeon has an activated ability that allows you to sacrifice a Goblin as a cost to create a regeneration shield for a target creature. Regeneration acts like a safety net: the next time that creature would be destroyed this turn, it instead stays on the battlefield, becomes tapped, is removed from combat, and has all damage marked on it cleared.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, you announce the ability and choose a target creature to be regenerated. Second, you pay the cost by sacrificing a Goblin; this can be any Goblin you control, including Goblin Chirurgeon itself. Once the ability resolves, the target creature gains a regeneration shield that lasts until the end of the current turn.
Common Mistakes
A common error is trying to sacrifice Goblin Chirurgeon to save itself. If you sacrifice the Chirurgeon to pay the cost and target the Chirurgeon with the ability, the ability will fail to resolve because the target is no longer on the battlefield. Additionally, remember that regeneration only replaces destruction (from lethal damage or 'destroy' effects); it does not stop sacrifice or effects that reduce toughness to zero.
When to Play It
Since the cost is just a sacrifice, you can activate this at instant speed. Use it in response to a board wipe or a removal spell targeting your commander. It is also excellent during the declare blockers step to ensure your creature survives a combat exchange that would otherwise be lethal.
Interaction examples
Ragavan, Nimble PilfererIf your opponent casts a spell to destroy Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer, you can respond by activating Goblin Chirurgeon. You sacrifice the Chirurgeon as the cost to target Ragavan. The ability resolves, giving Ragavan a regeneration shield. When the opponent's spell attempts to destroy the Monkey Pirate, the shield is consumed, and Ragavan remains on the battlefield.
Ornithopter of ParadiseEven though the cost requires sacrificing a Goblin, the target can be any creature. If Ornithopter of Paradise is targeted by a damage-based removal spell, you can sacrifice a different Goblin (or the Chirurgeon itself) to regenerate the Ornithopter. This keeps your mana fixing alive even if your Goblins are the ones paying the price.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Goblin Chirurgeon
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Can also regenerate itself. If it sacrifices itself in an attempt to regenerate itself, the ability won’t resolve for having an illegal target.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Can sacrifice itself.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Putrid Goblin + Metallic Mimic + Goblin Chirurgeon
- 1Activate Goblin Chirurgeon by sacrificing Putrid Goblin.
- 2When Putrid Goblin dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield without a -1/-1 counter on it due to Metallic Mimic.
- 3Resolve the Goblin Chirurgeon ability.
- 4Repeat.
Putrid Goblin + First Day of Class + Goblin Chirurgeon
- 1Cast First Day of Class by paying
- 2Activate Goblin Chirurgeon by sacrificing Putrid Goblin
- 3When Putrid Goblin dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it.
- 4When Putrid Goblin enters, First Day of Class triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on Putrid Goblin.
- 5Resolve the Goblin Chirurgeon ability.
- 6Repeat from step 2
Putrid Goblin + Gev, Scaled Scorch + Goblin Chirurgeon
- 1Activate Goblin Chirurgeon by sacrificing Putrid Goblin.
- 2When Putrid Goblin dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield without a -1/-1 counter on it due to Gev.
- 3Resolve the Goblin Chirurgeon ability.
- 4Repeat.
Putrid Goblin + Grumgully, the Generous + Goblin Chirurgeon
- 1Activate Goblin Chirurgeon by sacrificing Putrid Goblin.
- 2When Putrid Goblin dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield without a -1/-1 counter on it due to Grumgully.
- 3Resolve the Goblin Chirurgeon ability.
- 4Repeat.
Putrid Goblin + Rhythm of the Wild + Goblin Chirurgeon
- 1Activate Goblin Chirurgeon by sacrificing Putrid Goblin.
- 2When Putrid Goblin dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield without a -1/-1 counter on it due to Rhythm of the Wild.
- 3Resolve the Goblin Chirurgeon ability.
- 4Repeat.
Putrid Goblin + Uncivil Unrest + Goblin Chirurgeon
- 1Activate Goblin Chirurgeon by sacrificing Putrid Goblin.
- 2When Putrid Goblin dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield without a -1/-1 counter on it due to Uncivil Unrest.
- 3Resolve the Goblin Chirurgeon ability.
- 4Repeat.
Putrid Goblin + Master Chef + Goblin Chirurgeon
- 1Activate Goblin Chirurgeon by sacrificing Putrid Goblin.
- 2When Putrid Goblin dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield without a -1/-1 counter on it due to Master Chef.
- 3Resolve the Goblin Chirurgeon ability.
- 4Repeat.
Putrid Goblin + Renata, Called to the Hunt + Goblin Chirurgeon
- 1Activate Goblin Chirurgeon by sacrificing Putrid Goblin.
- 2When Putrid Goblin dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield without a -1/-1 counter on it due to Renata.
- 3Resolve the Goblin Chirurgeon ability.
- 4Repeat.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Goblin Chirurgeon
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.