Jeskai Elder MTG Card
2014-09-05 - Number 46
2014-09-26 - Number 43
2020-07-03 - Number 53
2022-07-08 - Number 53
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Human Monk |
| Abilities | Prowess |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Key Takeaways
- Jeskai Elder offers card draw and strategic depth, enhancing spellslinger decks with its prowess ability.
- Meticulous mana management is crucial due to its specific casting cost, posing a challenge for some decks.
- In the right meta, Jeskai Elder can be a key card for maintaining pressure and gaining card advantage.
Text of card
Prowess (Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.) Whenever Jeskai Elder deals combat damage to a player, you may draw a card. If you do, discard a card.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Jeskai Elder’s prowess ability allows you to draw a card whenever you cast a noncreature spell, giving you the potential to cycle through your deck and maintain a flush hand.
Resource Acceleration: This card is a staple for strategies that aim to cast numerous spells quickly. While the Elder itself doesn’t directly generate mana, its ability enables you to churn through your deck to find the necessary resources, speeding up your overall game plan.
Instant Speed: Although Jeskai Elder is a creature, its prowess ability synergizes well with instant spells. This allows you to play at instant speed, keeping your opponent guessing while you boost the Elder and draw additional cards during either player’s turn.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Jeskai Elder’s ability necessitates discarding a card, which can deplete your hand quickly and leave you at a strategic disadvantage, especially if you’re not holding excess or less valuable cards to throw away.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost requires a precise mix of blue and red mana. For players not running a Jeskai or similar mana-flexible deck, consistently meeting this requirement can be challenging, hampering the card’s versatility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With the requirement of two specific mana to cast, Jeskai Elder’s return on investment might not be as significant compared to other creatures at the same cost. There are lower-cost creatures that offer similar benefits without the stringent mana demands, potentially making them more efficient choices for deck inclusion.
Reasons to Include Jeskai Elder in Your Collection
Versatility: Jeskai Elder’s low mana cost and prowess ability make it a flexible choice for many decks. Its ability to generate card draw upon dealing combat damage to a player allows it to fit seamlessly into strategies that prioritize card advantage and tempo.
Combo Potential: With each attack, Jeskai Elder not only triggers prowess but also sets up potential combos by allowing you to loot, which means to draw and then discard a card. This can be instrumental in finding combo pieces or filling your graveyard for strategies that capitalize on delve, flashback, or other graveyard synergies.
Meta-Relevance: In a metagame that values quick and recurring card advantage, the Jeskai Elder can become an unsung hero. As games become more about efficiency and resource management, having a card that continually pressures the opponent while refilling your hand is invaluable.
How to beat
Jeskai Elder is a unique creature card that brings both offensive and defensive values to the battlefield in MTG. With its prowess ability, the elder gains higher attack and defense each time you play a noncreature spell, which can be troubling for opponents to handle. However, there are effective strategies to keep this card in check.
Utilizing removal spells that can target creatures at instant speed will give you the upper hand, such as Path to Exile or Fatal Push. This will allow you to respond to the prowess trigger before the Elder can benefit from the buff. Additionally, spells that force your opponent to sacrifice a creature circumvent the improved statistics the prowess ability provides. Cards like Liliana of the Veil or Diabolic Edict are prime examples.
However, it’s not just about removal; controlling the pace of the game is vital. Counter spells can disrupt the casting of noncreature spells, making it harder for Jeskai Elder to grow stronger. In summary, having a strategy that involves direct removal, sacrifice effects, and disruption can tilt the matchup in your favor and keep Jeskai Elder from running rampant on the battlefield.
Cards like Jeskai Elder
The Jeskai Elder card adds unique flavor to the suite of prowess creatures in Magic the Gathering. Standing amongst peers like Monastery Swiftspear, Jeskai Elder distinguishes itself by offering card filtering alongside its prowess ability. While the Swiftspear accelerates early damage with its one-mana cost and haste, the Elder provides strategic advantage later in the game by allowing you to sift through your deck with its ability to draw and discard cards upon dealing combat damage.
Seeker of the Way is another related creature, which also benefits from noncreature spells by gaining lifelink in addition to prowess. Though it lacks the Elder’s card filtering effect, the lifegain can be pivotal in maintaining a healthy life total while still pressuring opponents. Delver of Secrets is slightly different yet comparable. It doesn’t carry the prowess ability, but it can transform into a flying threat. Delver may offer a faster clock than Jeskai Elder, but it doesn’t provide the card advantage that Elder can muster consistently.
In essence, while each creature aligns with the prowess theme and strengthens spellslinger strategies, Jeskai Elder offers a unique twist on combat interactions and card flow, upholding its place in decks that favor strategic depth and resource manipulation.
Cards similar to Jeskai Elder by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Jeskai Elder MTG card by a specific set like Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning and Khans of Tarkir, 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 Jeskai Elder and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Jeskai Elder Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2014-09-05 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by Craig J Spearing.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014-09-05 | Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning | DDN | 46 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Craig J Spearing | |
| 2 | 2014-09-26 | Khans of Tarkir | KTK | 43 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Craig J Spearing | |
| 3 | 2020-07-03 | Core Set 2021 | M21 | 53 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Craig J Spearing | |
| 4 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 53 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Craig J Spearing |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Jeskai Elder has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Jeskai Elder card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2014-09-20 | Any spell you cast that doesn't have the type creature will cause prowess to trigger. If a spell has multiple types, and one of those types is creature (such as an artifact creature), casting it won't cause prowess to trigger. Playing a land also won't cause prowess to trigger. |
| 2014-09-20 | Once it triggers, prowess isn't connected to the spell that caused it to trigger. If that spell is countered, prowess will still resolve. |
| 2014-09-20 | Prowess goes on the stack on top of the spell that caused it to trigger. It will resolve before that spell. |
| 2020-06-23 | You draw a card and discard a card all while Jeskai Elder's ability is resolving. Nothing can happen between the two, and no player may choose to take actions. |
