Goblin Caves (Original Art)

Goblin Caves is a three-mana red Enchant Land (Enchantment-Aura) from The Dark (1994), that gives Goblin creatures +0/+2, if enchanted land is a basic Mountain. The art (by Drew Tucker) and flavor evoke a mischievous goblin stronghold built into a mountain base: “The stench of countless generations of unspeakable activities was enough to loosen both our footing and our stomachs.” It fits the goblin tribal theme: many goblins have weak bodies, that can use a buff to make them resilient. The +0/+2 buff helps them survive combat or removal that targets creatures with lower toughness. It also leans into the red mountain/goblin aesthetic: the aura on a Mountain ensures the deck is consistent (you’re playing a Mountain, you're playing goblins). Although Goblin Caves is a fairly minor buff, it has found use in formats like Pauper (where only common cards are legal). In lists of Mono-Red Aggro and Goblin-based decks in Pauper, Goblin Caves shows up in sideboards as a way to help your goblin creatures survive combat or removal. It appears in Rakdos (black-red) Goblins, Red Deck Wins, and Kudoltha Red. This card is not on the Reserved List.