Jihad MTG Card


Jihad - Arabian Nights
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeEnchantment
Released1993-12-17
Set symbol
Set nameArabian Nights
Set codeARN
Number5
Frame1993
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byBrian Snõddy

Key Takeaways

  1. Jihad offers strategic advantage and can dictate tempo in creature-centric strategies within white-aligned decks.
  2. As a high-cost, color-specific card, Jihad may fall short in versatility compared to other enchantments.
  3. Removing Jihad’s impact requires precise timing and incorporating versatile disruption or removal spells.

Text of card

Choose a color. As long as opponent has cards of this color in play, all white creatures gain +2/+1. Jihad must be discarded immediately if at any time opponent has no cards of this color in play.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Provides strategic benefits by potentially diminishing an opponent’s creature base, which can be considerably advantageous in protracted games.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting mana, it allows for a decisive tempo boost when committing creatures to the battlefield without the worry of unfavorable trades.

Instant Speed: Though the Jihad card operates at sorcery speed, its enduring effect could tip the scales during critical combat phases or when planning for future turns.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Activating Jihad requires a firm commitment to a single creature on the battlefield. If your strategy revolves around this enchantment, any loss of that creature can lead to a significant setback, as Jihad then requires you to discard it, possibly stripping you of a key component in your game plan.

Specific Mana Cost: Jihad’s casting cost is specifically tailored for white mana-heavy decks. This can often restrict its inclusion to mono-white or color-paired decks that can reliably meet the triple white mana requirement, thereby reducing its versatility in multicolored or less mana-stable decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three white mana, the investment for Jihad can be considered high when compared to other enchantments or spells that provide similar or more flexible benefits. Given that competitive play often demands efficient use of resources, the mana investment into Jihad could be better allocated elsewhere to maximize your deck’s performance and consistency.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Jihad card offers a unique effect that can be utilized across various white-aligned decks. Its ability to grant a power boost under certain conditions can turn the tide in creature-based strategies.

Combo Potential: When paired with cards that maintain board control or dictate the pace of combat, Jihad can effectively amplify the effectiveness of your creatures, making it a key piece in synergistic builds.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that favors creature-heavy decks or where specific creature types are prevalent, Jihad’s ability to adapt and empower your creatures based on the board state can become a deciding factor for victory.


How to Beat

Understanding how to effectively counter Jihad, a renowned card in Magic: The Gathering, requires a strategic approach. Jihad showcases its power by bolstering a player’s creatures as long as they remain committed to one color, setting a stage where their armies become dauntingly powerful. However, one of its pivotal drawbacks is its dependency on the declared color and the permanents of that color remaining on the battlefield.

To dismantle the card’s advantages, players should focus on their timing and card choices. Playing multicolored decks can mitigate the impact of Jihad due to its single-color limitation. Removal spells that target enchantments can be key, as cards like Disenchant or Naturalize directly remove such enchantments from the battlefield, effectively neutralizing Jihad’s influence. Another tactic is to remove the creatures enhanced by Jihad, making its effect null and void. Cards like Wrath of God or Doom Blade, which eliminate creatures, disrupt the synergy that Jihad aims to create.

Integrating a varied mana-base and incorporating versatile removal spells into one’s deck are essential strategies when preparing to face off against cards like Jihad. Through these methods, players can weaken Jihad’s strategic stronghold and maintain control of the game board.


Cards like Jihad

The Jihad Mtg card is an enigmatic piece within Magic: The Gathering that embodies a unique combination of abilities and conditional buffs. Its closest rivals are cards like Crusade and Honor of the Pure, which also grant power boosts to your creatures. Crusade offers a simpler approach by giving +1/+1 to all white creatures, making it straightforward yet less flexible than Jihad. Honor of the Pure also provides a +1/+1 bonus but only to your own white creatures, which can be strategically advantageous without benefiting opponents.

Looking at other parallels, Glorious Anthem stands as a non-conditional aura, strengthening all your creatures regardless of color. This can make Glorious Anthem a more reliable source of power, albeit at a higher mana cost compared to Crusade. Meanwhile, Jihad’s ability to target specific colors can be both an asset and a liability, offering potential for powerful swings or resulting in little effect if not aligned with the board state.

Analyzing the dynamics and strategic depth, Jihad presents an intriguing choice for deck builders. Its conditional boost requires tactical forethought, setting it apart from similar cards that offer more consistent but less impactful enhancements to your creatures on the battlefield.

Crusade - MTG Card versions
Honor of the Pure - MTG Card versions
Glorious Anthem - MTG Card versions
Crusade - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Honor of the Pure - Magic 2010 Promos (PM10)
Glorious Anthem - Urza's Saga (USG)

Cards similar to Jihad by color, type and mana cost

Damping Field - MTG Card versions
Farmstead - MTG Card versions
Cooperation - MTG Card versions
Noble Steeds - MTG Card versions
Aura of Silence - MTG Card versions
Empyrial Armor - MTG Card versions
Cessation - MTG Card versions
Arrest - MTG Card versions
Glorious Anthem - MTG Card versions
Samite Sanctuary - MTG Card versions
Pariah - MTG Card versions
Tattoo Ward - MTG Card versions
Sparring Regimen - MTG Card versions
Shielded by Faith - MTG Card versions
The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - MTG Card versions
Oblivion Ring - MTG Card versions
Cage of Hands - MTG Card versions
Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - MTG Card versions
Guardian's Magemark - MTG Card versions
Celestial Dawn - MTG Card versions
Damping Field - Antiquities (ATQ)
Farmstead - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Cooperation - Ice Age (ICE)
Noble Steeds - Alliances (ALL)
Aura of Silence - The List (PLST)
Empyrial Armor - Weatherlight (WTH)
Cessation - Urza's Legacy (ULG)
Arrest - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Glorious Anthem - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Samite Sanctuary - Prophecy (PCY)
Pariah - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Tattoo Ward - Odyssey (ODY)
Sparring Regimen - Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos (PSTX)
Shielded by Faith - Signature Spellbook: Gideon (SS2)
The Restoration of Eiganjo // Architect of Restoration - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)
Oblivion Ring - Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)
Cage of Hands - Commander Legends (CMR)
Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant // Rune-Tail's Essence - The List (PLST)
Guardian's Magemark - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Celestial Dawn - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Jihad MTG card by a specific set like Arabian Nights, 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 Jihad and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Jihad has restrictions

FormatLegality
OldschoolLegal
CommanderBanned
LegacyBanned
OathbreakerBanned
VintageBanned
DuelBanned
PredhBanned

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Jihad card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2004-10-04 In a multi-player game, it tracks only the chosen player. This is not changed even if this card changes controllers.

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