Goblin

Goblins, originally known as Imps, are a recurring species in several Final Fantasy games, starting with the first Final Fantasy. They are basic enemies which are usually encountered at the start of the game. They have low HP and are usually defeated from taking one hit, even when party members are at level 1. Goblins often carry a weapon with them, usually a curved dagger.

Final Fantasy
In Final Fantasy, the Goblin (known as the IMP in the original Nintendo Entertainment System release and formatted Imp in the manual ) is the weakest enemy in the game and likely the first encountered by the Warriors of Light. Goblins have a slightly stronger variant, Goblin Guard, which they often appear alongside. Prior to the Pixel Remaster version, Goblins are classified as giants and take extra damage from the Great Sword (except in the original release, where elemental weapons are bugged and have no added effect).

Most Goblins are encountered on the world map, particularly in the vicinity of Cornelia, Pravoka, and the Chaos Shrine. They are also found within the Chaos Shrine during the present. Because the game's default battle formation is made up of three to five Goblins, they can be found elsewhere on the world map on isolated tiles outside a given area's encounter grid, such as a small strip of land south of the Cavern of Earth.

In later remakes, starting with Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls, Goblins have two other variants found in the Soul of Chaos dungeons, Black Goblins and Knockers. The wandering soul of a Goblin also appears in Whisperwind Cove, who mourns their expendable nature.

Final Fantasy II
In Final Fantasy II, Goblins have a slightly different appearance but otherwise act same as in Final Fantasy. They are located in the surrounding areas of the towns Altair, Fynn, Paloom, Poft and Salamand. Goblins also appear at Semitt Falls and the Snow Cavern.

Goblins have two more powerful variants, the Goblin Guard and the rare Goblin Prince, as well as a variant called Li'l Murderer introduced in the Soul of Rebirth mode first appearing in Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls.

Final Fantasy III
In Final Fantasy III, Goblins are again the most basic enemy in the game. They appear in the Altar Cave, Ur, and on the world map around Ur. They have two more powerful variants, Knockers and Red Caps, with two even stronger variants, Captains and Hobgoblins, dummied out.

A group of Goblins are the very first enemies fought, in a fixed encounter in the Altar Cave. In the Famicom version, they appear in a group of two to four, while in the 3D remake and Pixel Remaster versions, they always appear in a group of three.

A group of eight Goblins is fought in another fixed encounter later in the game, when rescuing the Fellows in the Sewers beneath Amur. In the 3D remake, this encounter is instead a battle with four Gigantoads.

Final Fantasy IV
In Final Fantasy IV, the Goblin (known as the Imp in the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and PlayStation versions) is one of the most basic enemies. They can be found in most parts of the overworld and in Mist Cave, Antlion's Den, and Feymarch. Goblins have a similar appearance to their counterparts from the first Final Fantasy, but with green clothes. Goblins have three stronger variants, the Domovoi, Goblin Captain, and Li'l Murderer. A fourth variant, the Goblin Prince, appears in the Lunar Ruins in Final Fantasy IV Advance and Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection.

Like Final Fantasy III, Goblins can drop a Potion if defeated, but may instead drop a Tent, an Hourglass, or a Goblin summon, which Rydia can use for 1 MP during battles. The Goblin summon can attack opponents using its Goblin Punch attack.

Starting with Final Fantasy IV Advance, Goblins are the first enemy in the bestiary, which is also the case with Final Fantasys remakes and Final Fantasy IIIs 3D remake.

Final Fantasy V
In Final Fantasy V, Goblins are again the weakest enemies in the game. They are the first enemies encountered, fought by Bartz during a series of fixed encounters in the prologue. Goblins are found as random encounters on the world map around Tycoon, Tule, and the Wind Shrine, as well as in the right side of the Fork Tower. A Goblin also appears as a monster-in-a-box in the Greenhorn's Club in Tule. Goblins are part of the default encounter set along with Killer Bees, and may appear on isolated tiles outside of an area's encounter grid across all three worlds. Goblins have two stronger variants, Black Goblins and Gobbledygooks.

Goblins have a 1 in 3 chance of using Goblin Punch, which deals 8 times the damage of a normal attack against an enemy of the same level and can be learned as Blue Magic. If caught and released, Goblins will cast Flare.

Standard Goblins appear in two variants with separate sprites and stats. The Goblins in the prologue have green clothing and red hair, while the ones found in random encounters have red clothing and blue hair. The tutorial Goblins have only a single HP and do not have access to Goblin Punch. In the older mobile version and the Pixel Remaster version, both variants share the sprite of the main game Goblins, but the tutorial Goblins still have weaker stats.

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
In Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, they are named Brownie, although their Japanese name is still Goblin. Brownies are only encountered in the Level Forest. They wear red clothes, a red beanie and white shoes. If a Brownie has taken enough damage, its beanie is removed, revealing a black mohawk and a bandage on its head. Brownies have two more powerful variants, the Mint Mint and the Red Cap.

Brownies have 50 HP. When defeated, they reward 66 EXP and 3 GP.

Profiles

 * Final Fantasy Mystic Quest Strategy Guidebook (page 19): "Dressed in their favored reddish clothes and cap, these thugs kick and punch the daylights out of you."