3 Elixir
Overview
Dart Goblin is a long-range glass cannon that punishes slow reactions with relentless chip damage. At 3 elixir, he boasts 6.5 tile range and a 0.65-second hit speed - the fastest sustained DPS from range in the game. Dart Goblin is the core damage dealer in Mortar Bait archetypes holding a 57.3% win rate, where he hides behind spell bait cards like Goblin Barrel and Skeleton Barrel. Left unaddressed for even 2 seconds, Dart Goblin deals 500+ chip damage to a tower. His range lets him outrange most defensive buildings and attack from positions where opponents cannot easily reach him. Speed, range, and bait synergy make Dart Goblin a silent killer that racks up tower damage throughout the match.
Strategy
When to Play
Deploy Dart Goblin at the bridge when you know opponent's small spell (Log, Zap, Arrows) is out of rotation. In bait decks, throw Goblin Barrel or Skeleton Barrel first to bait the spell, then punish with Dart Goblin in the same lane or opposite. His 0.65-second attack speed means every second he lives translates to 160+ tower damage.
On defense, Dart Goblin placed behind your Princess Tower kills Hog Rider, Giant, and Balloon from safety. His 6.5-tile range means he starts shooting before most troops can reach him. Against tanks, Dart Goblin provides continuous DPS from the back while your mini-tank (Knight, Miner) absorbs hits.
Placement
The anti-spell lane is key: place Dart Goblin at the bridge in the lane opposite to where opponent just used their spell. In bait decks, this guarantees 3-5 free hits (500-800 tower damage). On defense, place Dart Goblin behind and to the side of your Princess Tower so melee troops cannot reach him without walking through tower range first.
For chip damage, place Dart Goblin at the river in the pocket (beside the Princess Tower at the bridge). His range lets him shoot the tower without crossing the bridge, making it harder for opponents to respond.
Synergies
Dart Goblin + Mortar forms the dual-threat core of Mortar Bait: Mortar provides siege pressure and defensive splash while Dart Goblin chips from the other lane or supports Mortar pushes. Skeleton Barrel and Goblin Barrel bait spells that would kill Dart Goblin, creating the classic bait triangle where opponents always lose one trade.
Pair Dart Goblin with Knight or Miner to tank for him. Even 2 extra seconds of survival from a Knight tanking results in 500+ additional tower damage. Behind a Miner, Dart Goblin's rapid fire shreds towers while Miner absorbs all hits.
Matchups
Strong Against
- Giant/Golem: Dart Goblin's sustained DPS melts tanks from range. Behind tower, he deals 2000+ damage to a Giant walking his lane without taking a single hit.
- Hog Rider: Placed behind tower, Dart Goblin kills Hog Rider in 7 shots with tower assist. Hog gets maximum 2 swings.
- Balloon: Dart Goblin's range and attack speed shoot down Balloon before a second bomb. Reliable 3-elixir air counter.
- Graveyard: Rapid fire kills Graveyard skeletons as they spawn. One of the best Graveyard counters in the game for 3 elixir.
Countered By
- The Log: One-shots Dart Goblin for equal trade. The most common counter in the meta - must bait it before playing Dart Goblin.
- Arrows: Kills Dart Goblin for equal trade. Slower travel time gives 1-2 free shots, but still a hard counter.
- Zap: Leaves Dart Goblin at minimal HP for tower to finish. Does not fully counter but severely weakens.
- Valkyrie: Closes distance quickly and kills Dart Goblin in one hit. Tanky enough to absorb Dart Goblin's shots while walking.
- Mega Knight: Jump from bridge one-shots Dart Goblin. Never place Dart Goblin within Mega Knight jump range.
Tips
Bait first, punish second: Always throw Goblin Barrel or Skeleton Barrel before deploying Dart Goblin. Once the spell is used on bait, Dart Goblin attacks freely for 500-800 damage.
Behind-tower defense: Place Dart Goblin behind your Princess Tower against tanks and Hog. His 6.5-tile range reaches them without exposure to any melee damage.
Pocket chip: Deploy Dart Goblin at the river beside your tower. He shoots the enemy tower without crossing the bridge, forcing opponents to commit elixir to stop chip damage.
Speed advantage: Dart Goblin's Very Fast movement speed lets him reach the bridge before most troops. Deploy him slightly behind fast pushes to provide ranged support.
Opposite lane pressure: When opponent commits to one lane, drop Dart Goblin at the bridge in the other. They must respond or lose 500+ tower damage in seconds.
Tank and spank: Drop Knight or Miner at bridge, then Dart Goblin behind. The tank absorbs everything while Dart Goblin deals devastating sustained damage to the tower.
Common Mistakes
Playing into spells: Dropping Dart Goblin when opponent has Log or Arrows in hand is an instant negative trade. Always bait spells first in bait decks.
Same-lane stacking: Placing Dart Goblin in the same lane as your other bait cards lets opponents get multi-target spell value. Split your bait across lanes.
Bridge placement against Mega Knight: Dart Goblin at bridge is one-shot by Mega Knight jump. Place him behind your tower when MK is in their rotation.
Overreliance on chip: Only using Dart Goblin for chip damage ignores his defensive power. His DPS kills tanks, Hog, and Balloon efficiently from safe positions.
Late reaction: Waiting too long to deploy Dart Goblin on defense means tanks reach your tower. Place him immediately when threats appear - his range compensates for the early placement.