Jace's Sentinel MTG Card

Jace’s Sentinel provides consistent card advantage and resource acceleration with its card-drawing ability. The card’s instant speed interaction allows for strategic flexibility and responsive play. Its synergy with Jace planeswalkers makes it a tactical inclusion in blue-centric decks.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Merfolk Warrior
Released	2017-09-29
Set symbol
Set name	Ixalan
Set code	XLN
Power	1
Toughness	3
Number	283
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Alex Konstad

Text of card

As long as you control a Jace planeswalker, Jace's Sentinel gets +1/+0 and can't be blocked.

"We drove the Sun Empire out of the forest long ago, and we will not let them return."

Cards like Jace's Sentinel

Jace’s Sentinel offers an interesting twist on the traditional creature design in Magic: The Gathering, drawing comparisons to other creatures that favor spellcasting strategists. Just like Jace’s Sentinel, which gains a power boost when you control a Jace planeswalker, Gideon’s Lawkeeper can transform based on the presence of a Gideon planeswalker, obtaining indestructible in his company. The Sentinel thrives alongside its planeswalker, increasing its offensive capabilities and serving as a reliable guardian.

Exploring synergies further, Storm Fleet Spy is another card that rewards a controlling style of play but through a different mechanic. The Spy, when casting during a turn where you’ve attacked with a creature, allows you to draw a card. This is a subtle yet significant departure from Jace’s Sentinel’s static buff based on planeswalker presence. Thalia’s Lancers is another comparable card, fetching any legendary card from your deck, which can include a planeswalker. While not providing a stat increase like the Sentinel, it greatly enhances your ability to tailor your strategy with pinpoint precision.

In assessing the unique qualities of Jace’s Sentinel in relation to its counterparts, it’s clear that this card carves its niche within Magic: The Gathering as an essential piece in Jace planeswalker-centric decks, offering both protection and aggression on the battlefield.

Cards similar to Jace's Sentinel by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Jace’s Sentinel enhances your card strategy by allowing you to keep a steady flow of options in hand. Every time you cast a blue spell, it cleverly provides you with the option to draw a card, effectively thinning your deck and improving the quality of your draws.

Resource Acceleration: Though not directly impacting your mana pool, the Sentinel’s ability to consistently provide card draw indirectly accelerates your resource advantage. With more cards in hand, you’re enabled to make more impactful plays each turn, potentially outpacing your opponent in both resources and board presence.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of Jace’s Sentinel shines at instant speed. This allows you to react to your opponent’s moves by drawing in response to their actions, maintaining upper hand not only during your turn but throughout the entire game cycle. The ability to adjust on the fly is an invaluable asset that can shift the tide of any match.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of Jace’s Sentinel is that activating its key abilities may require you to discard cards. This can put you at a disadvantage, especially when you are holding onto pivotal spells or creatures for your strategy and are forced to decide between maintaining a hand advantage or getting the benefits of the Sentinel.

Specific Mana Cost: Jace’s Sentinel demands a precise mana composition to cast, which includes blue mana. This makes it less flexible as it requires a commitment to blue in your mana base. For players who don’t run a blue-centric deck or prefer a more diverse mana pool, it might not fit seamlessly into their strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s mana cost can be considered on the higher side for its stat line and abilities. When considering the mana investment versus the potential impact on the game, some players might find that Jace’s Sentinel does not provide an optimal cost-to-benefit ratio, particularly when there are other creatures in the same mana range that might offer more immediate or powerful effects on the battlefield.

Reasons to Include Jace’s Sentinel in Your Collection

Versatility: Jace’s Sentinel offers flexibility as a defensive creature capable of protecting your valuable planeswalkers. Its adaptability in both aggressive and controlling blue-based decks makes it a valuable asset across various play styles.

Combo Potential: With its ability to gain hexproof when you control a Jace planeswalker, it pairs well with these powerful cards, providing synergy in any deck that leverages the iconic mage’s capabilities, amplifying both defense and strategy.

Meta-Relevance: As the meta shifts to emphasize the importance of planeswalkers, the value of a card like Jace’s Sentinel increases, offering protection and enhancing long-term tactics in blue decks that are commonly found in competitive play.

How to beat

Jace’s Sentinel is a compelling card designed to synergize with one of Magic: The Gathering’s most iconic Planeswalkers, Jace. The card grants itself hexproof as long as you control a Jace Planeswalker, making it a sturdy ally in protecting your Planeswalkers and shaping the battlefield to your advantage. The key to overcoming Jace’s Sentinel lies in managing the board without targeting it directly.

To circumvent Jace’s Sentinel’s hexproof ability, you can employ board wipes that don’t target individual creatures, such as Wrath of God or Damnation. Alternatively, forcing a player to sacrifice creatures through effects like Diabolic Edict can prove effective. Additionally, applying pressures such as aggressive creature swarms or leveraging indirect damage sources like Earthquake or Pyroclasm can clear the way by sweeping the board, sidestepping the hexproof protection granted by the presence of a Jace Planeswalker.

Understanding the strategies and mechanics around Jace’s Sentinel is crucial in crafting a tactical approach. When playing against this card, prioritize removing the underlying Planeswalker or employ non-targeting removal methods, allowing you to navigate around the sentinel’s safeguard and secure victory on the MTG battlefield.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Jace's Sentinel MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Jace's Sentinel and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Jace's Sentinel has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Timeless	Legal