GO TO JAIL MTG Card
Text of card
When GO TO JAIL enters the battlefield, exile target creature an opponent controls until GO TO JAIL leaves the battlefield. At the beginning of the upkeep of the exiled card's owner, that player rolls two six-sided dice. If he or she rolls doubles, sacrifice GO TO JAIL.
Cards like GO TO JAIL
Go to Jail is an intriguing card in Magic: The Gathering, sharing space with conditional removal spells. Not unlike Arrest, which also prevents a creature from attacking or blocking and using its abilities. Go to Jail, however, adds an element of suspense with the inclusion of the Monopoly-inspired ‘roll a die’ mechanics, potentially offering a temporary solution to deal with threats. Arrest, by contrast, provides a more permanent answer, with no dice roll involved.
Analogous to Go to Jail is Detainment Spell. This card offers a similar temporary locking mechanism, with the advantage of being able to move the enchantment to other creatures. It lacks the dice mechanic, which brings an unpredictable nature to Go to Jail. Then there’s One Thousand Lashes, restricting a creature much like Go to Jail does, while also dealing damage to its controller each turn. However, it comes at a higher mana cost and without the possibility of the creature escaping detainment through a lucky dice roll.
Overall, Go to Jail presents a unique combination of detainment and chance, placing itself as an interesting option for players who enjoy engaging with the variability and potential temporary control it offers within the vast realm of MTG removal spells.
Cards similar to GO TO JAIL by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Playing Go to Jail in a strategically timed manner can often result in neutralizing your opponent’s threat while keeping your hand resourceful. It’s a technique that shifts the balance of power, potentially leaving your opponent at a card deficit.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing resource acceleration, Go to Jail can indirectly speed up your game plan by dealing with an opposing threat. This allows you to focus your resources on furthering your board state instead of handling problematic creatures or planeswalkers.
Instant Speed: The ability to play Go to Jail at instant speed offers significant versatility. By waiting until the optimal moment, perhaps in response to an enemy spell or ability, you maximize the potential of this disruption. Swiftly handling enemy threats during their turn can be a game-changer.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: To activate GO TO JAIL, a player must sacrifice a certain number of permanents or meet other conditions, which could lead to a decrease in board presence or strategic disadvantage, especially if crucial cards are on the line.
Specific Mana Cost: This card comes with a particular mana requirement that necessitates white mana, which might not align with the mana base of all decks, potentially limiting its integration into multi-colored or colorless ones.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that could be considered steep for the effect it provides, players may find it less than ideal in fast-paced games where lower-cost cards could achieve similar results more efficiently.
Reasons to Include GO TO JAIL in Your Collection
Versatility: GO TO JAIL offers a unique mechanics blend that can slot into numerous deck archetypes. Creative deck builders may appreciate its ability to control the tempo by locking down opponent’s key creatures.
Combo Potential: This card pairs well with other cards that benefit from detainment effects or bounty counter mechanics, enabling players to potentially build around a control-and-capture theme.
Meta-Relevance: In formats where aggressive creature strategies are prevalent, having GO TO JAIL provides a direct response to hinder your opponents’ momentum and give you the upper hand on the battlefield.
How to beat
The card Go to Jail from Magic: The Gathering poses an interesting challenge for players. It serves as a tool for controlling opponents’ creatures by ostensibly removing them from play until certain conditions are met. However, defeating this card requires strategic plays and building a deck that can either swiftly counterspell enchantments or efficiently remove them from the battlefield. One effective tactic is to include cards that can bounce your own creatures back to your hand, averting the detainment that Go to Jail imposes.
Another method involves employing cards that can destroy or otherwise neutralize enchantments directly. Look for spells with low mana costs that can target and remove enchantments or include creatures with abilities that can be activated to achieve the same effect. Additionally, having a means of shuffling your own library can help prevent the monotony of continually revealing the same card, thus keeping Go to Jail’s effect at bay. It’s worth noting that integrating multifunctional cards that offer both creature and non-creature spell interactions can enhance your deck’s resilience against Go to Jail and similar control strategies.
Ultimately, incorporating versatility and enchantment mitigation into your deck configuration will increase your chances of outmaneuvering Go to Jail and maintaining the upper hand during the match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase GO TO JAIL MTG card by a specific set like Unstable and Unsanctioned, 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 GO TO JAIL and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- 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
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Printings
The GO TO JAIL Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-12-08 and 2020-02-29. Illustrated by Marco Teixeira.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-12-08 | Unstable | UST | 8 | 2015 | Normal | Silver | Marco Teixeira | |
| 2 | 2020-02-29 | Unsanctioned | UND | 6 | 2015 | Normal | Silver | Marco Teixeira |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering GO TO JAIL card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-02-29 | “Doubles” means the results of each of the two rolls is identical, after applying any effects that may alter or affect the roll. For example, if you roll a 5 and a 6, and then use Snickering Squirrel to change the 5 into a 6, you’ve rolled doubles. |