Goblin Engineer — ruling 1

Because targets are chosen for activated abilities before costs (such as "Sacrifice an artifact") are paid, Goblin Engineer's second ability can't target the artifact that will be sacrificed to pay its cost.

Goblin Engineer — ruling 2

If a card in a player's graveyard has {X} in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0.

Goblin Engineer : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Goblin Engineer 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

When this creature enters, you may search your library for an artifact card, put it into your graveyard, then shuffle. , , Sacrifice an artifact: Return target artifact card with mana value 3 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.

Complete guide

Goblin Engineer is a versatile toolbox card for artifact-based decks, acting as both a tutor and a recursive engine. For just two mana, it helps you set up your graveyard with exactly the gear you need and provides a way to swap cheap trinkets for powerful utility pieces.

What it Does

Goblin Engineer has two distinct functions. First, when it enters the battlefield, you can search your library for any artifact and put it directly into your graveyard. Second, it features an activated ability that allows you to swap an artifact you control for one in your graveyard, provided the card in the graveyard has a mana value of 3 or less.

Resolving the Abilities

When the enter-the-battlefield ability triggers, you search your library, place the chosen card into your graveyard, and then shuffle. For the activated ability, you must pay one red mana, tap the Engineer, and sacrifice an artifact as a cost. Crucially, you must choose a legal target for the ability before you pay the costs. This means you cannot target the same artifact you are about to sacrifice.

Common Mistakes

A common error is trying to sacrifice an artifact and return that same card to the battlefield immediately. Because the target must be selected before costs are paid, that artifact isn't in the graveyard yet to be targeted. Additionally, remember that if a card has {X} in its mana cost, X is treated as 0 when determining if it is a valid target for the Engineer's 3-mana-value limit.

When to Play It

Play Goblin Engineer early to set up your game plan by tutoring for a key piece. It is most effective when you have disposable artifacts like tokens or cheap utility creatures. Since the activated ability requires tapping, ensure you can protect the Engineer for a turn or give it haste to utilize the recursion immediately.

Interaction examples

Treasure Recycling

Professional Face-Breaker

Ornithopter of Paradise

If your Ornithopter of Paradise was destroyed earlier, you can use a Treasure token created by Professional Face-Breaker to bring it back. Tap Goblin Engineer, pay one red mana, and sacrifice the Treasure token to return the Ornithopter of Paradise (mana value 2) from your graveyard to the battlefield.

Fueling the Graveyard

Ornithopter of Paradise

When Goblin Engineer enters the battlefield, you can search your library for Ornithopter of Paradise and put it into your graveyard. On your next turn, you can then activate the Engineer's ability, sacrificing a different artifact to bring that Ornithopter directly into play.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Goblin Engineer

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1March 19, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
Because targets are chosen for activated abilities before costs (such as "Sacrifice an artifact") are paid, Goblin Engineer's second ability can't target the artifact that will be sacrificed to pay its cost.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2March 19, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
If a card in a player's graveyard has in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0.
No other card is named in this ruling.