# Fartbuckle The Goblin > Fartbuckle the Goblin is a July 2024 TikTok meme from @tumbleweed2319 featuring a D&D goblin sacrificing himself, whispering "I save friends, Fartbuckle is happy," set to Childish Gambino's "Lithonia. Fartbuckle the Goblin is a fictional Dungeons & Dragons NPC who went viral on TikTok in July 2024 after a comedy skit depicted the goblin sacrificing himself to save a doomed party, whispering "I… save… friends… Fartbuckle… is… happy" with his dying breath. Set to Childish Gambino's "Lithonia," the original video by @tumbleweed2319 racked up millions of views and spawned an outpouring of tribute animations, reaction videos, and genuine mourning for a character nobody had heard of days earlier[1][3]. ## Origin On July 20, 2024, TikTok user @tumbleweed2319 posted a 17-second comedy skit about a Dungeons & Dragons party on the verge of a total party kill[1]. The video opens with illustrations of tired, frustrated players facing down a magic crystal enemy. The DM then introduces a goblin companion named Fartbuckle, who charges the crystal in a suicidal last stand[4]. As the goblin is obliterated, he whispers his now-iconic final words: "I… save… friends… Fartbuckle… is… happy"[3]. The video was set to "Lithonia" by Childish Gambino, a track that builds from airy synths to a guitar-heavy anthemic riff. As Kotaku noted, the song's climax lands right as Fartbuckle makes his sacrifice, with Donald Glover growling "I feel liberated" in a moment of completely accidental but perfect synchronization[3]. The video pulled over 5.2 million views and 697,000 likes within its first six days[4]. - **Platform:** TikTok - **Creator:** @tumbleweed2319 (original video creator) - **Date:** 2024 ## Overview Fartbuckle is a goblin companion from a Dungeons & Dragons scenario. In the original skit, a D&D party faces a total wipe against a magic crystal boss. Just when all hope is lost, the dungeon master reminds the group about their forgotten NPC companion, a goblin named Fartbuckle, who charges the crystal and destroys it at the cost of his own life[4]. The video uses simple hand-drawn illustrations paired with the dramatic crescendo of Childish Gambino's rock ballad "Lithonia," creating a weirdly effective emotional gut-punch out of a character with an objectively ridiculous name[3]. Whether Fartbuckle was ever a real character in an actual D&D campaign or purely invented for the bit is unknown. Some viewers claimed he was real, but without confirmation from the creators, the mystery only added to his legend[1]. ## How It Spread The creator posted three follow-up videos in the days after Fartbuckle's debut. Two animations received over 1.3 million views in four days and 374,500 views in one day, respectively[4]. One explored Fartbuckle's backstory, revealing that the goblin "always did like ladybugs" and that they reminded him of his mysterious home[1]. TikToker @Senpapi.Gabe helped document and expand on the character's lore[2]. The D&D community on TikTok quickly picked up the trend. On July 25, 2024, @wizardinatshirt posted a reaction video that pulled 143,000 views and 27,800 likes in a single day[4]. Users flooded the platform with tribute animations, POV gags about beloved side characters dying, and genuine emotional reaction videos, all set to "Lithonia"[1][3]. Kotaku's coverage described being algorithmically inducted into "FartbuckleTok," comparing it to the way TikTok's For You Page can suddenly immerse users in CatTok or FoodTok[3]. The name "Fartbuckle" started appearing on the feeds of confused users with no D&D context, which only drove more curiosity and engagement[1]. The meme expanded beyond D&D into other fandoms. Players of Elden Ring and Final Fantasy XIV grafted the Fartbuckle archetype onto their own beloved minor characters who made noble sacrifices[3]. The trend became a broader celebration of the "noble sacrifice from the most unexpected and meager characters" trope[3]. Donald Glover himself acknowledged the meme. His eight-second TikTok showed a simple drawing of a sad person with "Lithonia" playing and the caption "he fought until the end"[2]. Looper reported that Glover seemed happy about his song becoming the soundtrack to a viral D&D goblin's death[2]. By the time of Looper's coverage, the original video had crossed nine million views[2]. ## How to Use The Fartbuckle format typically works in a few ways: - **D&D storytelling:** Create an animated or illustrated skit about a minor NPC making a heroic sacrifice, set to "Lithonia" by Childish Gambino. The key emotional beat is the contrast between the character's silly name or lowly status and the gravity of their sacrifice. - **Reaction/tribute videos:** Film yourself watching the original Fartbuckle video and reacting to the emotional moment, or create a tribute to the character. - **Archetype application:** Apply the Fartbuckle template to any franchise where a minor, overlooked character makes a noble sacrifice. Common targets include RPG companions, side characters in anime, and NPCs from games like Elden Ring or Final Fantasy XIV[3]. - **POV format:** "POV: the DM introduces an NPC with a dumb name and now everyone is crying" style videos that play on the unexpected emotional attachment. The "Lithonia" soundtrack is a near-essential ingredient. The song's build from quiet synths to anthemic guitar riff provides the emotional architecture that makes the format work[3]. ## Cultural Impact Fartbuckle tapped into something real about how tabletop RPG players bond with throwaway characters. The meme drew mainstream attention to a common D&D dynamic: dungeon masters sometimes introduce a last-minute NPC to rescue a party from a total wipe, a technique known as "failing forward" that not all players appreciate[1]. The comedic tension between the absurd name and the genuine emotional response became the meme's engine. The trend also boosted awareness of Dungeons & Dragons on TikTok. Looper suggested that TikTok might end up doing more to sell D&D to mainstream audiences than celebrity endorsements from Joe Manganiello or Chris Pine[2]. Daily Dot covered the meme's spread as an example of how TikTok's algorithm can turn completely obscure content into mass cultural moments overnight[1]. Kotaku's analysis drew a deeper parallel, noting that the Fartbuckle trend mirrors how real grief can come from unexpected places, making people appreciate things they took for granted[3]. The meme struck a chord specifically because nobody expected to feel sad about a goblin named Fartbuckle. ## Fun Facts - Donald Glover's response TikTok was only eight seconds long but confirmed he was aware his song had become inseparable from a goblin named Fartbuckle[2]. - The original video's emotional impact is largely accidental. "Lithonia" was not written about D&D, goblins, or sacrifice, but the lyric "I feel liberated" lands at the exact moment of Fartbuckle's death[3]. - Kotaku's writer described being stuck on "FartbuckleTok" the same way the algorithm traps users on CatTok or FoodTok[3]. - Whether Fartbuckle was ever a real character in an actual D&D game is still unconfirmed. Some viewers insisted he was, but the creator never settled the debate[1]. - The meme reignited discussion about the controversial "failing forward" DM technique, where game masters introduce convenient rescues to prevent total party kills[1]. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is Fartbuckle the Goblin? Fartbuckle is a fictional goblin NPC from a Dungeons & Dragons scenario who went viral on TikTok in July 2024 after a comedy skit depicted him sacrificing his life to save a doomed party[4]. ### Where did Fartbuckle the Goblin come from? TikTok user @tumbleweed2319 posted the original video on July 20, 2024, featuring simple illustrations of the goblin's heroic death set to Childish Gambino's "Lithonia"[1]. ### What does Fartbuckle the Goblin mean? The meme represents the unexpected emotional attachment people form with minor, seemingly unimportant characters. It plays on the contrast between a ridiculous name and a genuinely moving sacrifice[3]. ### How do you use Fartbuckle the Goblin? Create or share content about a minor character making a noble sacrifice, typically set to "Lithonia." The format works for D&D storytelling, fandom tributes, and reaction videos[3]. ### Is Fartbuckle the Goblin still popular? The meme peaked in late July 2024 with millions of views across TikTok. As of mid-2024, the original video had crossed nine million views[2]. ### Was Fartbuckle a real D&D character? It's unclear. Some viewers claimed Fartbuckle was from a real campaign, but the original creator never confirmed or denied it[1]. ### What song plays in the Fartbuckle video? "Lithonia" by Childish Gambino (Donald Glover). The song's dramatic build matched the goblin's sacrifice so perfectly that many viewers assumed it was intentional[3]. ### Did Donald Glover respond to Fartbuckle? Yes. Glover posted an eight-second TikTok with a drawing of a sad figure, "Lithonia" playing, and the caption "he fought until the end"[2]. ### What are Fartbuckle's last words? "I… save… friends… Fartbuckle… is… happy" are the goblin's final words as he sacrifices himself to destroy the magic crystal threatening the party[3]. ### What is "failing forward" in D&D? It's a DM technique where the game master introduces a convenient rescue to prevent a total party kill. Fartbuckle is either a genuine example of this or a parody of it[1]. ## References 1. [Fartbuckle The Goblin Inspires Heartbreaking Memes On TikTok]() 2. [Who Is Fartbuckle? The Tragic Story That's Making TikTok Cry, Explained]() 3. [TikTok Has Been Mourning A Goblin Named Fartbuckle And It’s As Odd As It Sounds - Kotaku]() 4. [Fartbuckle the Goblin - Know Your Meme]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/fartbuckle-the-goblin Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library