Chaos and Carnage: Magic: The Gathering Reveals Iconic Green Goblin Cards

In a thrilling development for fans of both comic books and collectible card games, Wizards of the Coast has officially begun its full-scale card previews for the highly-anticipated Magic: The Gathering | Marvel’s Spider-Man crossover set. While the entire set is filled with iconic characters, no one has made a bigger splash in the early previews than the legendary villain himself, the Green Goblin. The reveals, which are part of a week-long spoiler season leading up to the full image gallery on September 5th, have sent the community into a frenzy. The buzz has led to a massive increase in searches for “MTG Spider-Man Green Goblin,” “Green Goblin Nemesis card abilities,” and “MTG Marvel set reveals.”

The Magic: The Gathering | Marvel’s Spider-Man set, which is scheduled for a tabletop release on September 26th, 2025, is a Standard-legal expansion that brings the heroes, villains, and allies of the Spider-Man universe to the world of Magic. Unlike previous Universes Beyond releases, which were often Commander-focused, this set is designed to be a full-fledged expansion that is drafted and played just like a normal Magic set. The presence of iconic characters as legendary creatures, as well as new mechanics and a re-imagining of classic abilities, makes it a must-have for both casual players and competitive deck builders.

The Many Faces of the Goblin

Wizards of the Coast has surprised fans by not just revealing one version of the Green Goblin, but several, each one representing a different iteration of the character from the comics. This is a brilliant design choice that gives players a variety of options for their decks and a deeper dive into the character’s rich history. The most notable reveals so far include:

• Green Goblin, Nemesis: This is the headlining Green Goblin card, a legendary creature that showcases the character’s insidious nature. The card’s ability revolves around discarding cards, a new mechanic for the set. Whenever you discard a nonland card, you get to put a +1/+1 counter on a target Goblin. If you discard a land card, you create a tapped Treasure token. This ability perfectly captures the Goblin’s chaotic, self-serving nature and his willingness to sacrifice anything for power. It is a powerful engine for a deck that is focused on aggressive, discard-based strategies.
• Green Goblin, Revenant: This is a more aggressive, but no less terrifying, version of the Goblin. This Uncommon card features flying and deathtouch, making it a nightmare for your opponent’s creatures. Its ability triggers whenever it attacks, allowing you to discard a card and then draw a card for each card you’ve discarded that turn. This is a powerful form of card advantage that can help you cycle through your deck and find the cards you need to close out the game. It is a perfect card for a more budget-friendly, aggressive deck that wants to win quickly and efficiently.
• Norman Osborn: This is an entirely different take on the character, showing him in his pre-Goblin form. The card is a double-faced creature that can transform into the Green Goblin. The front side of the card, Norman Osborn, is a human creature with abilities that reflect his status as a brilliant but troubled inventor. The card’s ability to transform into the powerful and terrifying Green Goblin is a perfect reflection of his character arc in the comics.

In addition to the creatures themselves, Wizards has also revealed a number of related cards, including the powerful legendary land Oscorp Industries, and the instant spell Pumpkin Bombardment. Both cards feature the new “Mayhem” mechanic, which is a key part of the Black/Red color identity of the set. Mayhem allows you to play cards from your graveyard if they were discarded on the same turn, which is a brilliant new take on the classic Madness mechanic. This new mechanic provides a powerful synergy with the Green Goblin cards, allowing players to build a deck that is focused on discarding cards for value and then playing them again for a double dose of chaos.

A New Era for Universes Beyond

The full-scale card reveals for the Magic: The Gathering | Marvel’s Spider-Man set are a major step forward for the Universes Beyond initiative. They show that Wizards of the Coast is not just interested in creating fun, one-off Commander decks; they are committed to creating full-fledged, Standard-legal expansions that can stand on their own as a part of the game’s broader ecosystem. The set is a perfect blend of fan service and brilliant game design, and it is a clear sign that the future of Magic: The Gathering, with its new focus on bringing iconic IPs to the game, is brighter than ever. For fans of Spider-Man and Magic alike, the full set reveal on September 5th cannot come soon enough. The Green Goblin has arrived, and he is ready to take over your opponent’s life total.