The Spear Goblin is a ranged support troop in Merge Tactics that costs just 2 Golden Elixir and carries the Goblin and Blaster traits. While he deals low damage per hit and has fragile health, his value lies in being an excellent early-game chip damage dealer and a powerful enabler for both Elixir farming and trait synergies. Unlike the melee Goblin, Spear Goblin prefers to fight from a distance, making use of his moderate range and reliable tempo to support stronger troops from the backline. His design reflects this lighter, longer-ranged role — he’s thinner, wears a bandana, and wields a wooden spear ready to strike from afar.
Role and Combat Style
Spear Goblin is a single-target ranged unit with a 1.66-second hit speed and a range of three tiles. His damage output isn’t overwhelming on its own, but it becomes meaningful over time, especially when he’s kept safe behind tanks. Due to his low cost, players can place him early and frequently upgrade him to higher star levels, allowing him to scale well throughout a match. His real strength isn’t in direct carry potential, but in softening enemies and contributing steady damage while the rest of your team does the heavy lifting.
Early Game Value with Goblin Synergy
Spear Goblin gains a lot of value from being part of the Goblin trait, alongside the melee Goblin. Because both troops cost only 2 Elixir, it’s easy to deploy and merge them early, activating the Goblin trait’s passive which gives free Goblin or Spear Goblin copies. These free units can be merged for additional star levels, and with successful merges, the player earns triple the Elixir used in the process. This interaction forms the backbone of many early-game strategies, giving players more Elixir than they started with and allowing them to build up a much stronger mid-game presence.
Elixir Farming Potential with Spirit Empress
When paired with Spirit Empress, the Elixir gain from Goblin merges becomes even more valuable. Merging units not only grants Elixir through the Goblin trait, but also benefits from Spirit Empress’s Fusion Foresight, doubling the amount returned. For example, a 3-Star Goblin or Spear Goblin merge can return 4 or more Elixir, essentially making them free Elixir batteries. This interaction enables builds where the Goblin units are only used for merging and farming, rather than combat, with the real power coming from the extra Elixir used to deploy heavy-hitting troops like Dart Goblin, Goblin Machine, or other trait-centered units.
Leveraging the Blaster Trait
Spear Goblin also belongs to the Blaster trait, which rewards ranged positioning by increasing damage based on distance. This trait allows him to play further back while increasing his damage the farther away he is from his target. As part of a full Blaster lineup, Spear Goblin benefits from trait synergies that increase his burst potential. The September 29 patch expanded the Blaster trait to offer bonus effects for 2 and 4 troops, giving players even more incentive to build around it.
Best Blaster Pairings
In Blaster-focused compositions, Spear Goblin pairs well with Musketeer, who pushes enemies back to increase the distance between the frontline and your Blasters. This effect is ideal, as it allows Spear Goblin to maintain maximum Blaster damage for longer periods. He also synergizes well with Baby Dragon, whose splash damage finishes off softened targets and who benefits from the Blaster trait’s boost as well. When the Fire trait is active, Baby Dragon becomes even stronger, cleaning up targets that Spear Goblin has already chipped down. In these setups, Spear Goblin plays the role of the setup unit — not dealing the final blow, but making it easier for stronger units to clean house.
Strategic Use and Placement
Because of his frailty, Spear Goblin should always be placed behind tankier troops or disruption units. His medium speed and average range allow him to keep safe from direct melee encounters, but only if his frontline holds. When used in Elixir-farming builds, it’s often better to prioritize merges early to maximize value rather than holding him on the board. However, in Blaster setups, keeping him alive becomes a priority, so defensive positioning becomes more important. Deciding whether to farm with him or fight with him depends on your build — both styles are viable, but they require different positioning strategies.
Weaknesses and Counters
Spear Goblin’s biggest weakness is his low health. He’s vulnerable to splash damage, especially from Blasters, Fire troops, or any unit that can hit in an area. Additionally, without the support of a strong frontline, he is quickly eliminated in direct confrontations. His damage scaling also requires time to become meaningful, so fast-paced or high-pressure enemies can easily overwhelm him. Decks that bring Rangers, Fire Wizards, or Assassins may out-tempo Spear Goblin builds unless you stabilize early and secure Blaster range control.
Balance Changes and Update History
Spear Goblin was added to Merge Tactics during the launch update on June 30, 2025. He received a damage buff in the July 31 patch, increasing his output by 18%, bringing his DPS up to competitive levels and making him a stronger contributor to Blaster builds. The September 29 update replaced the old “Thrower” trait with Blaster, reworking its synergy mechanics and enabling new scaling strategies at 2 and 4 Blaster troop thresholds. These changes solidified Spear Goblin’s place as both a viable support attacker and a key part of trait-based economy strategies.
Spear Goblin may not be the flashiest troop in Merge Tactics, but he offers tremendous flexibility and economy value. In the early game, he helps activate Goblin merges and fuels your Elixir bank. In the mid- to late-game, he can support high-damage Blaster comps by applying chip pressure from afar. Whether you’re farming merges for Spirit Empress or building a range-heavy setup around Musketeer and Baby Dragon, Spear Goblin plays an essential role in keeping your deck cheap, efficient, and adaptable. Played wisely, he can enable both Elixir-rich openings and damage-efficient finishes.