Goblin

Goblins are small in stature, with the build and strength of a human child at their peak.

They typically wear crude and simple clothing and wield basic weapons like daggers and clubs.

Their eyes are adapted for darkness, allowing them to see easily in caves and nighttime environments.

They are unfailingly brutal, self-centered, and sadistic, taking pleasure in torture and violence for their own amusement.

Goblins are clever enough to learn from experience but never develop concepts like kindness, empathy, or loyalty.

Their temperament is marked by deep-seated resentment, they never forget a grudge, and their sense of victimhood is grotesquely inflated.

Despite being the weakest class of monsters, Goblins are infamous for their high numbers and ruthless tactics.

They reproduce rapidly; only males exist, forcing them to kidnap females of other humanoid races for breeding—these captives are referred to as "broodbags."

Goblins are said to have originated from the Green Moon among the "non-prayer bearers."

They adapt to a range of habitats from sewers to snowy mountains and are almost always found in groups.

While an individual Goblin is weak, making it possible for even a strong villager to fend off a few, they are extremely dangerous in groups.

Their abilities include:

Night vision and heightened sense of smell.

Quick reflexes and nimbleness, making them adept at ambushes.

Primitive but adaptive use of weapons and tools; they can craft poison, set traps, and even commandeer boats or wolves.

A Goblin’s vitality is unexpectedly high; even when mortally wounded, they may attempt one last attack or feign death for a surprise assault.

Among them exist higher-ranking types, such as:

Hobgoblin: Physically larger and more dangerous, often a group’s boss or enforcer.

Goblin Shaman: Spellcasters using totems, poison, and traps.

Goblin Rider: Goblins who have tamed wolves, riding them into battle.

Goblin Lord: Exceptionally intelligent and commanding Goblins who can organize large armies.

Goblin Champion: Enormous, battle-hardened warriors.

Goblin Paladin: Rare, armored Goblins skilled in sword and shield, capable of mock knighthood rituals.

Goblin Priest: Dark priests utilizing blood magic and forbidden rituals.

Goblins form loose packs with little true camaraderie, viewing each other as disposable tools.

Their only collective drive is conquest and survival; any leadership is typically fear-based.

The only time Goblins show cooperation is for self-serving goals, such as raiding villages or overwhelming enemies.

Their relationships with other species are strictly predatory.

The phrase “They are stupid, but not fools,” is often used by GOBLIN SLAYER as a warning about underestimating them.

Despite their infamous cruelty, many villagers and new adventurers dismiss Goblins as an easy challenge, resulting in tragic mistakes.

Goblins can learn from their failures and from their more experienced kin known as "Wanderers."

Their savagery is so profound that difficult stories and songs circulate about entire nations ruined for focusing only on Goblin extermination while stronger monsters rise elsewhere.

“They’re stupid, but they’re not fools.”

General Threat in the World

Goblins rarely draw official attention from kingdoms, as forces like demons and dragons pose much greater risks.

Adventurer Guilds handle Goblin extermination requests, often sending inexperienced parties.

Because Goblins’ danger is underestimated and most records are oral or unwritten, newcomers often fall victim due to overconfidence and poor preparation.

Goblin Army and Key Incidents

A highly intelligent Goblin Lord once led an army of about a hundred, targeting a ranch near a frontier town as a base to invade a city.

He cleverly coordinated his forces, using women as human shields and directing flanking attacks.

However, GOBLIN SLAYER anticipated his moves and, with the help of numerous adventurers, eradicated the Goblin army.

The Lord’s own background: as a child spared by a softhearted female adventurer, he turned on and killed her, only to later rise to leadership—an incident used to teach that Goblins should never be shown mercy.

Despite being more strategic than normal, after his plans failed, the Lord tried to escape alone, only to be cornered and killed by GOBLIN SLAYER.

Encounters with Elite Types

GOBLIN SLAYER and his party faced several powerful variants:

The Goblin Champion nearly defeated the party and left GOBLIN SLAYER critically wounded before being killed.

The Goblin Paladin, ruling a snowy mountain fortress, tried organizing Goblins into a military force, but was overthrown in a unique duel.

The Goblin Priest attempted a summoning ritual using "blood magic" but was stopped by the interventions of the Sword Maiden’s priest warriors.

Goblins’ Role in Plots and Society

Violent factions and would-be revolutionaries have used Goblins as expendable shock troops to destabilize kingdoms.

Even if all Goblins were wiped out, the ease of creating new ones as minions means their complete eradication is nearly impossible.

The presence of firearms would, by author’s speculation, simply lead Goblins to steal and misuse them.

Goblins’ tendency to rapidly adapt and increase in menace makes them uniquely persistent among low-tier monsters.

In crossover collaborations, Goblins often appear as recurring antagonists marked by their crude and nasty attitudes, true to their depiction in GOBLIN SLAYER.