Jeering Instigator MTG Card

Jeering Instigator turns the tides by commandeering opponent’s creatures momentarily, disrupting their strategies. It boasts flexibility and combo potential in decks that leverage morph abilities for surprise plays. Despite its strengths, it presents challenges like high morph costs and potential resource depletion.

Jeering Instigator - Khans of Tarkir Promos (PKTK)

Khans of Tarkir Promos (PKTK)
2014-09-26 - Number 113s

Jeering Instigator - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)

Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
2014-09-26 - Number 113

Jeering Instigator - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Magic Online Promos (PRM)
2002-06-24 - Number 55771

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Goblin Rogue
Abilities	Morph
Power	2
Toughness	1

Text of card

Morph (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for . Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.) When Jeering Instigator is turned face up, if it's your turn, gain control of another target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn.

Cards like Jeering Instigator

Jeering Instigator offers a twist to the creature control dynamics within MTG. Its closest relative might be Act of Treason, which similarly grants temporary control over an opponent’s creature. However, the Instigator allows subtlety through its morph ability – a concealed threat that can surprise opponents at a crucial moment. Unlike Act of Treason, Jeering Instigator requires a turn set-up to utilize its morph feature, presenting a strategic layer to gameplay.

Another parallel is drawn with Harness by Force, which shares the trait of seizing multiple creatures. While the scope for control is broader with Harness by Force, especially in multiplayer games, it comes with a higher mana cost compared to the Instigator’s morph cost. Kari Zev’s Expertise also stands out in this field, granting not only control but also a free spell cast, adding to the synergy potential. Nevertheless, it lacks the morphing aspect that can be pivotal in deceptive play styles.

In the landscape of creature commandeering cards, Jeering Instigator has a unique position. Its blend of surprise factor and control, though conditional, offers a distinctive tool to MTG players seeking tactical advantages over their adversaries.

Kari Zev's Expertise - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Jeering Instigator offers a unique way to disrupt your opponent’s board while potentially gaining control of a key creature. When morphed and turned face up, it can temporarily steal an adversary’s creature, effectively giving you an additional creature on the field and denying them one. This can be a pivotal swing in board presence and strategy execution.

Resource Acceleration: Although the Jeering Instigator doesn’t directly accelerate your resources, the ability to use an opponent’s creature against them could lead to further advantages. Whether it’s utilizing their abilities or attacking with them, you effectively increase your resources on the battlefield without expending your own cards, setting you up for more powerful plays.

Instant Speed: While the Jeering Instigator itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, the morph mechanic allows for a surprise element during your turn. Revealing the instigator to take control of an opponent’s creature can be done at a moment that maximizes strategic advantage, much like the flexibility provided by instant speed plays.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Jeering Instigator doesn’t have a discard requirement itself, but to maximize its potential, sometimes you may need to pair it with cards that require discarding, which could deplete your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes red, Jeering Instigator can be restrictive in multicolored decks that may struggle with generating the right mana at the right time.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a morph cost of two red and three other mana to gain control of an opponent’s creature only until end of turn, there are more cost-efficient alternatives available for temporary creature control.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Jeering Instigator brings the ability to disrupt your opponent by taking control of their creatures at a pivotal moment, making it a dynamic inclusion, particularly for decks aiming to turn the tide of battle in their favor.

Combo Potential: With its morph ability, this card can pair well with strategies that unveil hidden surprises or work with cards designed to manipulate the battlefield by gaining control of your opponent’s assets momentarily.

Meta-Relevance: Being able to take the reins on an opponent’s key creature can give you an upper hand within a meta where creature-based tactics prevail. Jeering Instigator is a smart pick when facing decks that heavily rely on individual high-value creatures.

How to beat

The Jeering Instigator stands out in the landscape of creature cards with its deceitful nature. Behind its facade of a 2/1 Goblin Rogue for two mana awaits a powerful morph ability that can completely turn the tables of the game. When its morph cost is met – and often when least expected – it enables you to gain control of an opponent’s creature for a turn. This ability not only disrupts your opponent’s strategy but also could allow for a significant swing in board presence or even the game itself.

To effectively neutralize a Jeering Instigator, it is imperative to nullify its morphing ploy. Counterspells can prevent the activation of its morph ability, while instant-speed removal can dispose of the Instigator before it alters the tide of battle. Additionally, cards that restrict the types of spells your opponent can cast or cards that specifically target abilities can serve as valuable deterrents, ensuring your forces remain under your command.

Strategizing against the Instigator, one should also consider ways to limit the impact of any temporary creature gain. This means avoiding overextending with high-value creatures without protection or considering the use of vigilance and indestructible abilities. By anticipating the Instigator’s mischief and preparing accordingly, you can mitigate its influence and retain the upper hand.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Jeering Instigator MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Khans of Tarkir Promos, 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 Jeering Instigator and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Jeering Instigator Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2014-09-26 and 2014-09-26. Illustrated by Willian Murai.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	~~2002-06-24~~	Magic Online Promos	PRM	55771	2015	Normal	Black	Willian Murai
2	2014-09-26	Khans of Tarkir Promos	PKTK	113s	2015	Normal	Black	Willian Murai
3	2014-09-26	Khans of Tarkir	KTK	113	2015	Normal	Black	Willian Murai

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Jeering Instigator has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Jeering Instigator 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	A permanent that turns face up or face down changes characteristics but is otherwise the same permanent. Spells and abilities that were targeting that permanent, as well as Auras and Equipment that were attached to the permanent, aren’t affected.
2014-09-20	Any time you have priority, you may turn the face-down creature face up by revealing what its morph cost is and paying that cost. This is a special action. It doesn’t use the stack and can’t be responded to. Only a face-down permanent can be turned face up this way; a face-down spell cannot.
2014-09-20	At any time, you can look at a face-down spell or permanent you control. You can’t look at face-down spells or permanents you don’t control unless an effect instructs you to do so.
2014-09-20	Because the permanent is on the battlefield both before and after it’s turned face up, turning a permanent face up doesn’t cause any enters-the-battlefield abilities to trigger.
2014-09-20	Gaining control of a creature doesn’t cause you to gain control of any Auras or Equipment attached to that creature.
2014-09-20	If a face-down permanent leaves the battlefield, you must reveal it. You must also reveal all face-down spells and permanents you control if you leave the game or if the game ends.
2014-09-20	Jeering Instigator’s last ability can target any creature, even one that’s untapped or one you already control.
2014-09-20	Morph lets you cast a card face down by paying , and lets you turn the face-down permanent face up any time you have priority by paying its morph cost.
2014-09-20	The face-down spell has no mana cost and has a converted mana cost of 0. When you cast a face-down spell, put it on the stack face down so no other player knows what it is, and pay . This is an alternative cost.
2014-09-20	When the spell resolves, it enters the battlefield as a 2/2 creature with no name, mana cost, creature types, or abilities. It’s colorless and has a converted mana cost of 0. Other effects that apply to the creature can still grant it any of these characteristics.
2014-09-20	You must ensure that your face-down spells and permanents can easily be differentiated from each other. You’re not allowed to mix up the cards that represent them on the battlefield in order to confuse other players. The order they entered the battlefield should remain clear. Common methods for doing this include using markers or dice, or simply placing them in order on the battlefield.