Jack-in-the-Mox MTG Card
Text of card
oc T: Roll a six-sided die for Jack-in-the-Mox. On a 1, sacrifice Jack-in-the-Mox and lose 5 life. Otherwise, Jack-in-the-Mox has one of the following effects. Treat this ability as a mana source. 2 Add o W to your mana pool. 3 Add o U to your mana pool. 4 Add o B to your mana pool. 5 Add o R to your mana pool. 6 Add o G to your mana pool.
Cards like Jack-in-the-Mox
Jack-in-the-Mox stands out as a unique artifact in MTG due to its randomness and the potential mana acceleration it offers players. Its closest relatives in terms of unpredictability and mana generation might include the storied Mox cards, particularly Mox Diamond. While Mox Diamond requires you to discard a land card, Jack-in-the-Mox may produce any color of mana without such a cost, depending on the flip of a coin.
Another comparable card is Mana Crypt, a powerhouse in terms of mana acceleration. It provides two colorless mana at the cost of potentially dealing damage to you during your upkeep. While Mana Crypt offers a consistent mana source, Jack-in-the-Mox’s reliance on chance can create thrilling moments but lacks the predictability that many players covet. Then there’s Mox Opal, which requires metalcraft to activate and can tap for mana of any color in your color identity, offering strong synergy in artifact-heavy decks without the randomness of Jack-in-the-Mox.
In summary, if you’re seeking a mix of risk and reward along with dynamic mana generation, Jack-in-the-Mox can be a playful yet potent addition to your deck, providing surprising mana bursts that could turn the tide of the game.
Cards similar to Jack-in-the-Mox by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Much like peeking into a treasure chest, Jack-in-the-Mox provides a unique opportunity to draw from a rich tapestry of outcomes. Playing this card could swing the game in your favor by potentially offering new avenues of play through its random effect.
Resource Acceleration: In the fast-paced world of MTG, the ability to speed up your resource pool can be critical. Jack-in-the-Mox has the potential to accelerate your mana availability, giving you the upper hand to summon creatures or cast spells ahead of your opponent’s curve.
Instant Speed: The surprise factor of Jack-in-the-Mox cannot be underestimated. Its activation at instant speed means you can adapt flexibly to the evolving game state, keeping adversaries on their toes as you efficiently manage your resources throughout each phase of the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Jack-in-the-Mox demands its wielder to discard another card upon getting destroyed. This can severely setback players by slimming down their hand, especially during late-game scenarios where every card in hand counts towards strategizing a win.
Specific Mana Cost: With an activation cost that’s reliant on the roll of a six-sided die, this card’s unpredictability can be inconvenient. Although it can potentially provide any type of mana, the dependence on chance means you might not get the color you need at crucial moments, limiting its reliability in decks that require precise mana management.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For an artifact that offers such a risky gamble, the upfront investment to play Jack-in-the-Mox may not always equate to beneficial returns. This cost is especially noteworthy when juxtaposed with other mana-generating artifacts in the game that provide a more stable and less hazardous source of mana acceleration.
Reasons to Include Jack-in-the-Mox in Your Collection
Versatility: Jack-in-the-Mox stands out by offering a mana acceleration option for nearly any deck. Its ability to produce any color of mana makes it a crucial addition for multicolored decks seeking consistency in mana base.
Combo Potential: This card shines in environments where artifact synergies are valued. Its potential to be used as part of an infinite mana combo or to empower artifact-centric strategies can turn the tide of a game swiftly.
Meta-Relevance: With fast-paced games defining many competitive formats, Jack-in-the-Mox enables quicker deployment of key spells. This aspect can be particularly useful against decks that aim to win in the early to mid-game stages.
How to beat
The Jack-in-the-Mox card presents a unique challenge for Magic the Gathering players due to its volatile nature of providing a potential mana of any color at the risk of it being destroyed. When face-to-face with this card, consider your removal options. Spell-based artifact removal such as Disenchant or Naturalize can efficiently deal with the Mox before your opponent can gain significant advantage.
Alternatively, employing strategies that limit or control an opponent’s mana base can also be effective. Land destruction, for instance, paired with targeted removal can stifle an opponent’s mana availability, rendering their Jack-in-the-Mox less beneficial. Cards like Sinkhole can disrupt your opponent’s plans early on. Additionally, utilizing cards that cause discard or stripping the opponent’s hand can preemptively remove threats like Jack-in-the-Mox from the equation. Thoughtseize is an excellent example of a card that can disrupt an opponent’s hand, potentially getting rid of the Mox before it ever hits the field.
Considering the inherent risk of the card’s self-destruction, pressure tactics that push an opponent to tap out can sometimes turn Jack-in-the-Mox against them. Applying this pressure makes every tap of their precarious artifact a risky move, possibly leading to its own demise and turning the tide of the match in your favor.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Jack-in-the-Mox MTG card by a specific set like Unglued 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 Jack-in-the-Mox 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 Jack-in-the-Mox Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-08-11 and 2020-02-29. Illustrated by Dan Frazier.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-08-11 | Unglued | UGL | 75 | 1997 | Normal | Silver | Dan Frazier | |
| 2 | 2020-02-29 | Unsanctioned | UND | 78 | 2015 | Normal | Silver | Dan Frazier |