Jailbreak MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Jailbreak excels at disrupting opponents and turning the tide with its card advantage and instant speed tactics.
  2. It poses some risks with specific mana costs and an initial discard requirement that must be strategically managed.
  3. Despite these drawbacks, Jailbreak’s versatility and combo potential make it a valuable asset in various MTG strategies.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Jailbreak MTG card by a specific set like New Capenna Commander and New Capenna Commander, 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 Jailbreak and other MTG cards:

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Text of card

Return target permanent card in an opponent's graveyard to the battlefield under their control. When that permanent enters the battlefield, return up to one target permanent card with equal or lesser mana value from your graveyard to the battlefield.

Obscura spies rarely stay locked up long enough to make it to trial.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Jailbreak can potentially disrupt your opponent’s strategy by removing a key piece from their game plan, while also offering you the chance to repurpose that card for your own advantage. This dual benefit crystallizes the notion of card advantage, propelling you ahead of your opponent in terms of resources and options.

Resource Acceleration: By untapping lands or artifacts with Jailbreak, you effectively accelerate your resource pool. This unexpected influx can set the stage for more impactful plays, multi-spell turns, or simply provide the needed mana to activate abilities that may turn the tide of battle in your favor.

Instant Speed: The versatility of tactical deployment at instant speed cannot be overstated. Jailbreak affords you the element of surprise, allowing you to adapt to the evolving battlefield on your opponent’s turn. Timing the execution of Jailbreak could not only disrupt opposing strategies but also forge opportunities for advantageous interactions within your own turn sequence.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the downsides of the Jailbreak card is the initial requirement to discard a card. For players who rely on maintaining card advantage, this can be a significant setback. Discarding can hamper your hand if you’re unable to recuperate the lost resources effectively.

Specific Mana Cost: This card comes with a very particular mana cost that can be tricky to manage in a multicolored deck. It requires a certain color commitment which can make it less flexible and potentially a dead card in hand if mana fixing is an issue.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Even though Jailbreak may offer an intriguing ability, its mana cost is considered high when evaluating the overall impact on the game. There are alternative cards that provide similar or better effects at a lower mana investment, making them more efficient choices, particularly in fast-paced games where every mana point counts.


Reasons to Include Jailbreak in Your Collection

Versatility: Jailbreak is a unique addition capable of enhancing various deck strategies. It’s not just about disruption; it’s a card that can adapt to aggressive, control, and combo decks, making it a multipurpose tool for any player.

Combo Potential: With the ability to untap target creature, Jailbreak synergizes with cards that benefit from being untapped multiple times or possess tap-triggered abilities. It opens up avenues for creative combo builds that can take opponents by surprise.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where lockdown and control decks are prevalent, Jailbreak provides a tactical edge by allowing you to free up your key creatures. This can be especially critical when maintaining momentum and board presence is vital for overcoming the competition.


How to beat

Jailbreak is a nuanced addition to the control tools available in Magic: The Gathering, inviting comparison to other lockdown cards. It shines in its ability to contain threats, but smart play can overcome its restrictions. Unlike spells that destroy or exile, Jailbreak temporarily sidelines a creature, which can return to wreak havoc if the Jailbreak enchantment is removed. The strategy to beat such a card involves a few angles. One can employ enchantment removal like Disenchant or Naturalize, which directly eliminates Jailbreak, freeing your creature.

Alternatively, playing around it is possible by deploying a more diverse threat base; don’t overcommit to the board and bait the Jailbreak on a lesser creature. Protecting your game-changers with counterspells or hexproof can also be a sound approach, as it maintains threat levels while minimally impacting your resources. It’s essential to remember that adaptability and foresight are key when facing situational control cards. By being selective with which creatures to cast and when, and by having answers to enchantments, you can nullify the impact of Jailbreak and keep your offensive momentum.


BurnMana Recommendations

With the dynamic nature of MTG, cards like Jailbreak can be both a boon and a bane. Great MTG play pivots on insight, strategy, and the right arsenal. If you’re intrigued by the potential of Jailbreak to rock your opponent’s world, we encourage you to deepen your understanding of MTG’s nuanced mechanics. Discover how to wield cards like Jailbreak effectively and build decks that turn constraints into powerful advantages. Dive into the meta, explore combos, and develop tactics that align with your playstyle. Eager for more strategic depth and game-changing knowledge? Continue learning with us and reshape your MTG destiny.


Cards like Jailbreak

Jailbreak is a nuanced piece in the Magic: The Gathering puzzle of control spells. Like Jailbreak, several other cards disrupt opponents by locking down their resources or creatures. A close relative is Icy Manipulator, allowing users to tap a target artifact, creature, or land. Although Icy Manipulator offers more versatility, it doesn’t match Jailbreak’s ability to specifically untap one’s own permanents if a condition is met, offering a subtle advantage in certain scenarios.

Tidebinder Mage is another card that springs to mind. It employs a similar lockdown tactic but is bound to two colors and only affects red or green creatures while providing a creature body on the board. Conversely, the colorless nature of Jailbreak gives it a universal compatibility with any deck, making it a more flexible option despite not providing the additional creature. Vedalken Shackles is a more powerful form of control, allowing the hijacking of creatures rather than just tapping them. However, this increased power comes with a heftier cost and dependency on islands, which constrains its deck inclusion to solely blue archetypes.

Analyzing Jailbreak alongside its alternatives reveals it as a critical tool in particular control strategies within Magic: The Gathering, holding a unique position due to its untap clause and broad compatibility.

Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Tidebinder Mage - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Shackles - MTG Card versions
Icy Manipulator - MTG Card versions
Tidebinder Mage - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Shackles - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Jailbreak by color, type and mana cost

Balance - MTG Card versions
Shahrazad - MTG Card versions
Martyr's Cry - MTG Card versions
Gift of Estates - MTG Card versions
Starlight - MTG Card versions
Renewing Dawn - MTG Card versions
Tariff - MTG Card versions
Pegasus Stampede - MTG Card versions
Planar Birth - MTG Card versions
Flicker - MTG Card versions
Steadfastness - MTG Card versions
Sacred Nectar - MTG Card versions
False Dawn - MTG Card versions
Morningtide - MTG Card versions
Academic Probation - MTG Card versions
Gather the Townsfolk - MTG Card versions
Servo Exhibition - MTG Card versions
Martial Coup - MTG Card versions
Revoke Existence - MTG Card versions
Glare of Heresy - MTG Card versions
Balance - MTG Card versions
Shahrazad - MTG Card versions
Martyr's Cry - MTG Card versions
Gift of Estates - MTG Card versions
Starlight - MTG Card versions
Renewing Dawn - MTG Card versions
Tariff - MTG Card versions
Pegasus Stampede - MTG Card versions
Planar Birth - MTG Card versions
Flicker - MTG Card versions
Steadfastness - MTG Card versions
Sacred Nectar - MTG Card versions
False Dawn - MTG Card versions
Morningtide - MTG Card versions
Academic Probation - MTG Card versions
Gather the Townsfolk - MTG Card versions
Servo Exhibition - MTG Card versions
Martial Coup - MTG Card versions
Revoke Existence - MTG Card versions
Glare of Heresy - MTG Card versions

Printings

The Jailbreak Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2022-04-29 and 2022-04-29. Illustrated by Tatiana Kirgetova.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 172015NormalBlackTatiana Kirgetova
22022-04-29New Capenna CommanderNCC 1182015NormalBlackTatiana Kirgetova

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Jailbreak has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Jailbreak card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2022-04-29 You don't choose a target from your own graveyard until after the permanent card from your opponent's graveyard has entered the battlefield. If that card doesn't enter the battlefield for some reason, you will not be able to target and return a card from your own graveyard.