Hobgoblin enemy line

The Hobgoblin, Kobold, Goblin, Hobble, and Hobblegob are enemies that are battled throughout Golden Sun and Golden Sun: Dark Dawn. These monsters, resembling portly trolls with colored skin, clubs, loincloths, bucklers, and helmets, are palette swaps of each other and have differing levels of power and defense.

From Golden Sun: The Lost Age onward there is another enemy named "Kobold" (see Kobold enemy line for full details), which is likely why this line's Kobold was renamed "Hobble" for the North American version of Dark Dawn. Likewise, in Dark Dawn there is another enemy named "Goblin" (see Gobling enemy line for full details), which is likely why this line's Goblin is replaced by a variant named "Hobblegob" for the game.

Hobgoblin
The Hobgoblin (ゴブリンギガント Goblin Gigant) is a huge level 23 variant with purple skin. In Golden Sun, only one is fought throughout the entire game, which is as a scripted boss encounter that occurs on the first "dungeon floor" of the optional Crossbone Isle as soon as you try to enter the door to that floor's puzzle room, and it is always fought alongside two Virago enemies.

Using the secret method of accessing Crossbone Isle earlier in the game by means of the Tolbi-bound Ship, the Hobgoblin can be fought before its two "later", "lesser" counterparts. But even at that earlier point in the game, it can be a very easy "sub-boss" to deal with since it is the first of nine floors worth of sub-boss encounters, even if one does not use a summon-rushing approach of everyone using a high-level summon right away to blow away the opposition.

The Hobgoblin is especially likely to be affected by Delusion-inflicting and Sleep-inducing effects. Its statistics are as follows:

The Hobgoblin uses the following battle commands with :

As a not-unintelligent enemy that carries stocked items, three of the 12.5% "ability slots" composing a 37.5% segment of the Hobgoblin's 100% chance to perform an Attack with a given action will instead cause the Hobgoblin to use one of its stocked items if it has any items remaining in stock and is able to use them applicably; if either it no longer has items in stock or the battlefield conditions do not allow its currently "individually available" item type to be used to a difference-making effect, it will use the called ability as normal. Its full inventory of items is structured in the following order, with each item's entire stock having to be used up before the next type of item can be available for use:
 * [[File:Crystal Powder.gif]] 1 Crystal Powder: The party is hit by a Mercury-aligned attack with 90 base damage that is spread out over 5 enemies with . As a consumable item, this assumes the Hobgoblin uses this with a Mercury Elemental Power rating of 100 instead of its normal rating, 85.
 * [[File:Smoke Bomb.gif]] 1 Smoke Bomb: An item that attempts to inflict Delusion to a targeted Adept.
 * [[File:Nut.gif]] 2 Nuts: Used only while a combatant on the user's side is not at maximum HP. An item that restores roughly 200 HP to either the user or an ally.
 * [[File:Sleep Bomb.gif]] 1 Sleep Bomb: An item that attempts to inflict Sleep to a targeted Adept.

Kobold
A Kobold (ゴブリン Goblin) is a comparatively small level 20 variant with green skin and brown equipment. In Golden Sun, the Kobold is first fought in Gondowan Cave, and subsequently fought in the underground of Lunpa Fortress, the overworld area of Gondowan between Gondowan Passage and Suhalla, in Suhalla Desert, and the small overworld area of Gondowan between Suhalla Desert and Suhalla Gate.

Wherever they are first fought, Kobolds are actually not as tough as the other monsters in the area, even though Kobolds are much slower, and they are far and away the easiest of the many monsters in Suhalla Desert. They should not be difficult to handle even if they use their Herbs.

A Kobold is especially likely to be affected by Delusion-inflicting and Sleep-inducing effects. Its statistics are as follows:

A Kobold uses the following battle commands with :

As a not-unintelligent enemy that carries stocked items, three of the 12.5% "ability slots" composing a 37.5% segment of the Kobold's 100% chance to perform an Attack with a given action will instead cause the Kobold to use one of its stocked items if it has any items remaining in stock and is able to use them applicably; if either it no longer has items in stock or the battlefield conditions do not allow its currently "individually available" item type to be used to a difference-making effect, it will use the called ability as normal. Its full inventory of items is structured in the following order, with each item's entire stock having to be used up before the next type of item can be available for use:
 * [[File:Herb.gif]] 2 Herbs: Used only while a combatant on the user's side is not at maximum HP. An item that restores roughly 50 HP to either the user or an ally.
 * [[File:Sleep Bomb.gif]] 1 Sleep Bomb: An item that attempts to inflict Sleep to a targeted Adept.

Goblin
The Goblin (ホブゴブリン Hobgoblin) is a slightly larger level 24 variant with light brown skin and green equipment. In Golden Sun, the Goblin is first fought in Suhalla Gate, and subsequently fought in the frontal "exit" portion of Venus Lighthouse.

When first able to be fought, they are not quite as tough as Earth Golems, particularly because they lack a monster skill that would be an enhanced version of their normal physical attack. Their ability to restore a monster on their side of the field to full health might be annoying, though.

A Goblin is especially likely to be affected by Delusion-inflicting and Sleep-inducing effects. Its statistics are as follows:

A Goblin uses the following battle commands with :

As a not-unintelligent enemy that carries stocked items, three of the 12.5% "ability slots" composing a 37.5% segment of the Goblin's 100% chance to perform an Attack with a given action will instead cause the Goblin to use one of its stocked items if it has any items remaining in stock and is able to use them applicably; if either it no longer has items in stock or the battlefield conditions do not allow its currently "individually available" item type to be used to a difference-making effect, it will use the called ability as normal. Its full inventory of items is structured in the following order, with each item's entire stock having to be used up before the next type of item can be available for use:
 * [[File:Vial.gif]] 1 Vial: Used only while a combatant on the user's side is not at maximum HP. An item that restores roughly 500 HP to either the user or an ally.
 * [[File:Elixir.gif]] 1 Elixir: An item that restores either itself or another monster on its side of the field of the Delusion, Stun, Death Curse, Psynergy Seal, and Sleep status ailments, if a monster is afflicted with any of these.

Hobble
A Hobble (ホブゴブリン Hobgoblin) is a level 8 variant with green skin, orange gear, and a spiked club. It is randomly fought in the overworld region beyond the Goma Highlands Road.

A Hobble is especially likely to be affected by Delusion-inflicting and Sleep-inducing effects. Its statistics are as follows:

A Hobble uses the following battle commands with :

On account of being an enemy with low intelligence that carries stocked items, its chance to use one of its stocked items is effectively a separate command that does not overlap with its chances to carry out other commands; while it is currently unable to use its currently "individually available" item applicably at the moment, it will default to using its remaining commands with each action. Its full inventory of items is structured in the following order, with each item's entire stock having to be used up before the next type of item can be available for use:
 * Smoke Bomb DD.png 1 Smoke Bomb: An item that attempts to inflict Delusion to a targeted Adept.
 * Herb DD.png 1 Herb: Used only while a combatant on the user's side is not at maximum HP. An item that restores roughly 50 HP to either the user or an ally.



Hobblegob
A Hobblegob (ハンマーゴブリン Hammer Goblin) is a level 12 variant with purple skin, red gear, and a mallet. It is randomly fought in the overworld region around Kaocho and Ayuthay, and it stops appearing after you start the Alchemy Forge.

A Hobblegob is especially likely to be affected by Delusion-inflicting and Sleep-inducing effects. Its statistics are as follows:

A Hobblegob uses the following battle commands with :

On account of being an enemy with low intelligence that carries stocked items, its chance to use one of its stocked items is effectively a separate command that does not overlap with its chances to carry out other commands; while it is currently unable to use its currently "individually available" item applicably at the moment, it will default to using its remaining commands with each action. Its full inventory of items is structured in the following order, with each item's entire stock having to be used up before the next type of item can be available for use:
 * Sleep Bomb DD.png 1 Sleep Bomb: An item that attempts to inflict Sleep to a targeted Adept.
 * Nut DD.png 1 Nut: Used only while a combatant on the user's side is not at maximum HP. An item that restores roughly 200 HP to either the user or an ally.



Hobgoblin
A Hobgoblin (ゴブリンギガント Goblin Gigant) is a larger level 29 variant with blue skin, orange gear, and a mace. It is randomly fought on the eastern side of Harun Island.

A Hobgoblin is especially likely to be affected by Delusion-inflicting and Sleep-inducing effects. Its statistics are as follows:

A Hobgoblin uses the following battle commands with :

On account of being an enemy with low intelligence that carries stocked items, its chance to use one of its stocked items is effectively a separate command that does not overlap with its chances to carry out other commands; while it is currently unable to use its currently "individually available" item applicably at the moment, it will default to using its remaining commands with each action. Its full inventory of items is structured in the following order, with each item's entire stock having to be used up before the next type of item can be available for use:
 * Crystal Powder DD.png 1 Crystal Powder: The party is hit by a Mercury-aligned attack with 90 base damage that is spread out over 5 enemies with . As a consumable item, this assumes the Hobgoblin uses this with a Mercury Elemental Power rating of 100 instead of its normal rating, 85.
 * Vial DD.png 1 Vial: Used only while a combatant on the user's side is not at maximum HP. An item that restores roughly 500 HP to either the user or an ally.
 * Smoke Bomb DD.png 1 Smoke Bomb: An item that attempts to inflict Delusion to a targeted Adept.

Cultural references

 * Hobgoblin is a term often applied in folktales in Britain as a friendly or amusing goblin. The name hobgoblin is often interchangeable with bugbear, boogeyman, bugaboo, and bogie.
 * Kobolds in German folklore were spirits. There are two versions but the most common version, the Heinzelmännchen, were elves that did chores but played malicious tricks if they were not pleased. Kobold in English translates into goblin.
 * Goblin refers to various differing versions of a legendary evil or mischievous creature. They are attributed with various abilities, temperaments, and appearances depending on the story and country of origin, and this spreads across northern Europe and the British Isles.