Aswan Jaguar MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Summon Jaguar
Released	1997-04-01
Set symbol
Set name	Astral Cards
Set code	PAST
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	1
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Pat Lewis

Key Takeaways

Aswan Jaguar thins opponents’ decks by targeting creatures, impacting the game over time.
Despite its power, using the Jaguar’s ability requires a specific discard, which can be costly.
High mana cost and restrictive colors may limit the Jaguar’s deck compatibility and overall impact.

Text of card

When Aswan Jaguar comes into play, choose a random creature type from those in target opponent's deck. , : Bury target creature of the chosen type.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Aswan Jaguar can potentially remove a creature from your opponent’s library every turn, subtly diminishing their resources and indirectly working towards card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Although not a direct accelerator, the Aswan Jaguar can bypass the need for resource investment to deal with threats by randomly destroying creatures with its unique ability.

Instant Speed: While the Jaguar itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its ability may be activated during any player’s upkeep, which allows for strategic timing akin to instant speed tactics. This enables players to adapt to the evolving battlefield as needed.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Players must often discard another card to tap into the Aswan Jaguar’s ability, which can be detrimental when your hand is already depleted or if you’re maintaining card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: The Aswan Jaguar demands a specific and somewhat challenging mana arrangement to play, requiring one of each; green, red, and another. This can restrict its inclusion to decks that can reliably produce all three mana types or necessitate a build around its mana needs.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana, which includes both green and red, its cost is weighty considering its modest stats and the setup needed for its ability to be advantageous. Given its mana value, there are other creatures and spells that may offer more immediate utility or impact on the game without complicated prerequisites.

Reasons to Include Aswan Jaguar in Your Collection

Versatility: Aswan Jaguar finds a home in various deck archetypes that appreciate creature-based strategies. With the ability to potentially remove problem creatures, it serves as a unique form of interaction.

Combo Potential: This card pairs well with effects that manipulate the top of the deck, ensuring the targeted reveal is a creature, thus maximizing its removal capability. Integrating it into a deck with scrying or library manipulation enhances its utility.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta filled with creature-heavy decks, Aswan Jaguar can act as a recurring source of threat removal. Being part of the game’s history, it also intrigues collectors and players fond of classic cards with unusual mechanics.

How to beat

The Aswan Jaguar is an intriguing creature in the landscape of Magic: The Gathering. This unique cat holds the power to single-handedly destroy random creatures under specific conditions. To effectively counter the abilities of the Aswan Jaguar, players should focus on strategies that limit the Jaguar’s access to targets. This means maintaining a low creature count on the board or deploying creatures with hexproof or indestructible qualities.

Another tactical approach to defeating the Aswan Jaguar involves using instant-speed removal spells that can dispatch the Jaguar before it utilizes its ability. Cards like Path to Exile or Fatal Push excel in this role, offering a precise method to deal with such threats. Remember, timing is essential; the best moment to act is in response to the Jaguar’s triggered ability or before its controller reaches the required mana to activate it. By anticipating the Jaguar’s moves and employing a smart defense, players can neutralize this predatory feline and maintain the upper hand in their Magic: The Gathering matches.

In the vast ecosystem of MTG strategies, understanding and preparing for unique threats like the Aswan Jaguar distinguishes seasoned players from novices. A strategic mind can ensure that this seemingly daunting card becomes little more than a harmless kitten in the grand scale of the game.

Cards like Aswan Jaguar

Aswan Jaguar stands out in Magic: The Gathering as an intriguing creature with a unique ability to eliminate other creatures through simulating combat. In comparison, Predator Ooze shares the quality of being a resilient creature but does so by accumulating indestructibility through +1/+1 counters. While Aswan Jaguar relies on a match-up mechanic to remove threats, Predator Ooze takes a more direct route to permanence on the battlefield.

Another card that potentiallymatches the Jaguar’s removal capability is Polukranos, World Eater. This monstrous creature can also deal with multiple threats, thanks to its Monstrosity ability which allows it to fight multiple creatures. Although Polukranos demands a significant mana investment to unlock its full potential, the controlled and repeatable nature of its fighting ability contrasts with Aswan Jaguar’s randomness and dependency on activating an ability.

Examining these creatures and their functionalities illustrates the depth and versatility of creature-based removal in Magic: The Gathering. Aswan Jaguar may offer a more suspenseful and tactically diverse experience due in part to its dependence on the luck of the draw.

Polukranos, World Eater - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Aswan Jaguar MTG card by a specific set like Astral Cards, 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 Aswan Jaguar and other MTG cards: