Dauthi Jackal MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Dauthi Jackal
Abilities Shadow
Power 2
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Dauthi Jackal enables creature removal at instant speed, providing strategic board control and surprise tactics.
  2. While offering utility, its discard cost and specific mana needs can limit deck-building flexibility and hand advantage.
  3. Its unique shadow ability and potential for combo interactions make it a situational but valuable addition to some decks.

Text of card

Shadow (This creature can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow.) o Bo B, Sacrifice Dauthi Jackal: Destroy target blocking creature.

"All Dauthi are jackals, regardless of breed." —Lyna, Soltari emissary


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dauthi Jackal presents a unique ability to potentially remove creatures from the board, indirectly contributing to card advantage. By forcing opponents to make difficult decisions about creature commitment, you sway the game’s momentum in your favor.

Resource Acceleration: While the Dauthi Jackal itself may not directly accelerate resources, its low casting cost allows for a swift deployment. This strategic early game presence can disrupt your opponent’s tempo, effectively setting the stage for a more aggressive resource curve.

Instant Speed: The activation of Dauthi Jackal’s ability operates at instant speed, giving you the versatility to use it during an opponent’s turn. This can be crucial in interrupting combat strategies, setting up favorable trades, or simply as a method to surprise the opposition at a moment’s notice, maintaining pressure on the board.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One notable downside of Dauthi Jackal is its demand that players discard a card to activate its exile ability. This can put you at a disadvantage, particularly when your hand is already running thin, as it decreases your options and can leave you vulnerable to an opponent’s strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Dauthi Jackal’s activation cost necessitates one black mana, which restricts its adaptability. This makes it a tricky fit for multi-color decks that might not always have the required mana available, potentially rendering the card unusable at critical moments.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three mana (two of which are generic and one black), Dauthi Jackal’s mana value can be burdensome for what it offers. When considering the utility it brings to the battlefield versus other cards in the same cost bracket, Dauthi Jackal may not always emerge as the most efficient choice for a deck slot.


Reasons to Include Dauthi Jackal in Your Collection

Versatility: Dauthi Jackal offers a versatile role in decks that are heavy on the shadow mechanic or require a reliable sacrifice outlet. This card thrives in environments where evasion and board control are key to victory.

Combo Potential: In combination with cards that capitalize on creature death or sacrifice, Dauthi Jackal can be part of engine-like interactions. It’s a perfect fit for decks that aim to exploit such synergies for incremental advantages.

Meta-Relevance: With an increasing focus on creature-based strategies, having Dauthi Jackal as part of your arsenal can be beneficial. It’s relevant particularly in metas where unblockable creatures can turn the tide of battle and where controlling the board is paramount.


How to beat

Dauthi Jackal, though not commonly seen in the forefront of competitive play in Magic: The Gathering, presents a tactical component within the shadow mechanic niche. One key weakness of this card lies in its stats, standing with modest numbers. Its activated ability can be a nuanced threat, essentially removing a potential blocker or attacker; however, it comes at the cost of sacrificing the jackal itself.

To effectively counter Dauthi Jackal, prioritizing the control of creatures with shadow is crucial, perhaps through global removal spells or effects that don’t target, as Dauthi Jackal can’t be blocked except by creatures with shadow. Control decks excel with options like board wipes or spells that limit the opponent’s ability to sustain creatures on the board. Moreover, creatures with the shadow ability are relatively scarce, meaning opponents relying on Dauthi Jackal might struggle to push for significant damage without a critical mass of synergy in their deck composition.

Ultimately, the straightforward strategy against a lone Dauthi Jackal is to neutralize its support system—a well-timed clearance of creatures can render it a non-threat. In contrasting its place with other creature cards in Magic: The Gathering, the Dauthi Jackal finds its strength diminished unless supported by a dedicated shadow-centric deck strategy.


Cards like Dauthi Jackal

Dauthi Jackal extends its paws into the realm of creature control in Magic: The Gathering. Both acting as a creature and a removal tool, this jackal is akin to Nekrataal, which offers a built-in method for eliminating opposition creatures upon entering the battlefield. While Nekrataal handles threats by destroying nonartifact, nonblack creatures, Dauthi Jackal requires an additional mana investment to exercise its power. Still, the jackal boasts Shadow, ensuring it can strike opponents almost unblocked.

Another analogous card is Skinrender, delivering a different tactic for creature management. Upon entry, Skinrender distributes -1/-1 counters, providing a more permanent solution compared to Dauthi Jackal’s sacrifice mechanism. Like Dauthi Jackal, it also presents a body on the battlefield, but skips the evasion. As we further sift through comparable options, Avatar of Woe comes to mind, which can not only block your opponent’s creatures but also destroy them without the sacrifice cost. However, its higher casting cost stands against its favor.

Examining the balance between creature features, battlefield presence, and removal abilities, Dauthi Jackal offers a unique blend of stealth and control, catering to players who value evasion as well as board influence.

Nekrataal - MTG Card versions
Skinrender - MTG Card versions
Avatar of Woe - MTG Card versions
Nekrataal - Visions (VIS)
Skinrender - DCI Promos (PDCI)
Avatar of Woe - Prophecy (PCY)

Cards similar to Dauthi Jackal by color, type and mana cost

Nettling Imp - MTG Card versions
Royal Assassin - MTG Card versions
El-Hajjâj - MTG Card versions
Plague Rats - MTG Card versions
Frozen Shade - MTG Card versions
Scathe Zombies - MTG Card versions
Sorceress Queen - MTG Card versions
Wall of Bone - MTG Card versions
Lost Soul - MTG Card versions
Mindstab Thrull - MTG Card versions
Mischievous Poltergeist - MTG Card versions
Strongarm Thug - MTG Card versions
Razortooth Rats - MTG Card versions
Ghastly Remains - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Undead - MTG Card versions
Deepwood Ghoul - MTG Card versions
Dross Prowler - MTG Card versions
Nim Lasher - MTG Card versions
Nim Abomination - MTG Card versions
Nantuko Husk - MTG Card versions
Nettling Imp - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Royal Assassin - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
El-Hajjâj - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Plague Rats - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Frozen Shade - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Scathe Zombies - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Sorceress Queen - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Wall of Bone - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Lost Soul - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Mindstab Thrull - Masters Edition (ME1)
Mischievous Poltergeist - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Strongarm Thug - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Razortooth Rats - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Ghastly Remains - Legions (LGN)
Lord of the Undead - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Deepwood Ghoul - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Dross Prowler - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Lasher - Mirrodin (MRD)
Nim Abomination - Darksteel (DST)
Nantuko Husk - Ninth Edition (9ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dauthi Jackal MTG card by a specific set like Exodus and Tempest Remastered, 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 Dauthi Jackal and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Dauthi Jackal Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-06-15 and 2015-05-06. Illustrated by Adam Rex.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-06-15ExodusEXO 581997normalblackAdam Rex
22015-05-06Tempest RemasteredTPR 952015normalblackAdam Rex

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dauthi Jackal has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Dauthi Jackal 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 This creature does not have to be an attacker or blocker to use its ability.

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