Goblin

Goblins (known as Imps in English releases prior to Final Fantasy VII) are a recurring species in many Final Fantasy games, starting with the first Final Fantasy. They are usually basic enemies encountered at the start of the game. They have low HP and are usually defeated in a single hit, even when party members are at level 1. Goblins often carry a weapon with them, usually a curved dagger.

Beginning in Final Fantasy IV, Goblins also appear as a recurring summon.

Final Fantasy
In Final Fantasy, the Goblin (known as the IMP in the original Nintendo Entertainment System release and formatted Imp in side materials ) is the weakest enemy in the game and likely the first encountered by the Warriors of Light. Goblins have a slightly stronger variant, Goblin Guards, which they often appear alongside. In groups with Goblin Guards, they sometimes also appear alongside Wolves or Warg Wolves. 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 play largely the same role as in Final Fantasy. Along with Leg Eaters and Hornets, they are among the most basic enemies in the game, and can easily be defeated with a single attack from the very start. Goblins have no special traits to set them apart from the other weakest enemy types, but offer more gil upon defeat on average. Prior to the Pixel Remaster version, Goblins are classified as giants and take extra damage from the Ogrekiller.

Goblins are found in random encounters across most of the world map. They appear in the surrounding areas of the towns Altair, Gatrea, Fynn, Paloom, Poft, Salamand, and Bafsk, as well as the area near Semitt Falls and the area north of Kashuan Keep. Goblins also appear within the Semitt Falls cave and in the Snow Cavern. After the Emperor summons the Cyclone, early game encounters on the world map are replaced, and Goblins no longer appear there.

Goblins have two variants, the slightly more powerful Goblin Guard and the rare Goblin Prince. Goblins often appear in battle alongside Goblin Guards. Within dungeons, they may also appear alongside Balloons or Grenades. Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls introduced an additional Goblin variant, the Li'l Murderer, which appears in the Soul of Rebirth mode.

Final Fantasy III
In Final Fantasy III, Goblins are again the most basic enemy in the game. They typically fall to a single attack even from a level 1 Onion Knight (or Freelancer in the 3D remake). They appear early in the game 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 4 Old Men in the Sewers beneath Amur. In the 3D remake, this encounter is instead a battle with four Gigantoads.

In the Famicom version, there is a 14% chance that a defeated Goblin will drop a Potion. In the 3D remake and Pixel Remaster versions, there is instead a 3% chance that a defeated Goblin may drop an item from the following table:

In addition, Potions can be stolen from Goblins in all versions.

Final Fantasy IV
In Final Fantasy IV, the Goblin (known as the Imp in the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and PlayStation versions) is again the most basic enemy in the game. In contrast to the previous two games, which each used unique Goblin designs, Goblins in Final Fantasy IV have a design inspired by their appearance in the original Final Fantasy. Goblins can be found across nearly the entirety of the overworld, with the only exceptions being the areas near Troia, Agart, and Eblan. They also appear within Mist Cave and the Antlion's Den, and may be called to battle by Summoners in the Passage of the Eidolons.

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. Goblins can appear in encounters alongside Domovoi, as well as Sword Rats, Tiny Mages, Basilisks, Adamantoises, or Gatlinghogs.

In the 2D versions of Final Fantasy IV, Goblins have a 5% chance of dropping an item when defeated. There is a 128/256 chance this item is a Potion, an 80/256 chance this is a Tent, a 44/256 chance this is a Bronze Hourglass, and a 4/256 chance this is the Goblin summon, which can be taught to Rydia. In Final Fantasy IV Easy Type and the American SNES release, instead of a Bronze Hourglass, there is a 44/256 chance of dropping a Hi-Potion. In the Pixel Remaster version, the odds of dropping a Bronze Hourglass and the Goblin summon are swapped.

In the 3D remake, Goblins have a 20% chance of dropping a Potion, a 12% chance of dropping a Tent, a 5% chance of dropping a Bronze Hourglass, and a 0.4% chance of dropping the Goblin summon.

Potions may also be stolen from Goblins in all versions.

When summoned, a Goblin will attack with Goblin Punch, dealing a small amount of non-elemental damage to a single target. In the 2D versions, summoning a Goblin has a base power of 8, a charge time of 0, and an MP cost of 1. In the 3D remake, it has a base power of 30, a charge time of 3, and an MP cost of 5.

In Final Fantasy IV Advance and Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection, there is a special Goblin that may appear in Cecil's trial in the Lunar Ruins. This Goblin is a human who has been transformed, and to pass the test, the party must refrain from killing it. In Final Fantasy IV Advance, this Goblin uses the color palette of the Goblin Captain, while in Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection, it uses the standard Goblin palette.

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 first 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, which they may also be encountered alongside) 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, with a third variant, the Neo Goblin, dummied out.

Goblins have a 1/3 chance of using Goblin Punch on their turn instead of a normal attack. If caught and released, Goblins will cast Flare.

Goblins have a 1/16 chance of dropping a Leather Cap when defeated. Potions may also be stolen from Goblins.

Standard Goblins appear in two varieties 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 varieties 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, the Brownie is known as the Goblin in Japanese. 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."