First Published 6 May 2016
This article is relative to all worlds of The Multiverse.

A goblin attacking

Small humanoid (goblinoid), neutral evil

Goblins are small, black-hearted, selfish humanoids that lair in caves, abandoned mines, despoiled dungeons, and other dismal settings. Individually weak, goblins gather in large - sometimes overwhelming - numbers. They crave power and regularly abuse whatever authority they obtain.

The goblins larger cousins, hobgoblins and bugbears, like to bully goblins into submission - but goblins are lazy and undisciplined, making them poor servants, laborers, and guards.

Motivated by greed and malice, goblins can't help but celebrate the few times they have the upper hand. They dance, caper with sheer joy when victory is theirs. Once their revels have ended, goblins delight in the torment of other creatures and embrace all manner of wickedness.

Goblins are ruled by the strongest or smartest among them. A goblin boss might command a single lair, while a goblin king or queen (who is nothing more than a glorified goblin boss) rules hundreds of goblins, spread out among multiple lairs to ensure the tribe's survival. Goblin bosses are easily ousted, and many goblin tribes are taken over by hobgoblin warlords or bugbear chiefs.

Goblins festoon their lairs with alarms designed to signal the arrival of intruders. Those lairs are also riddled with narrow tunnels and bolt-holes that human-sized creatures can't navigate, but which goblins can crawl through with ease, allowing them to flee or to circle around and surprise their enemies.

In Battle

• Usually wear leather armor, and carry a shield.
• Usually use a scimitar or shortbow.
• Can easily disengage or hide.

More information on Goblins can be found on page 165 of the 5e Monster Manual.