Jihad MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Released | 1993-12-17 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Arabian Nights |
| Set code | ARN |
| Number | 5 |
| Frame | 1993 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Brian Snõddy |
Text of card
Choose a color. As long as opponent has cards of this color in play, all white creatures gain +2/+1. Jihad must be discarded immediately if at any time opponent has no cards of this color in play.
Cards like Jihad
The Jihad Mtg card is an enigmatic piece within Magic: The Gathering that embodies a unique combination of abilities and conditional buffs. Its closest rivals are cards like Crusade and Honor of the Pure, which also grant power boosts to your creatures. Crusade offers a simpler approach by giving +1/+1 to all white creatures, making it straightforward yet less flexible than Jihad. Honor of the Pure also provides a +1/+1 bonus but only to your own white creatures, which can be strategically advantageous without benefiting opponents.
Looking at other parallels, Glorious Anthem stands as a non-conditional aura, strengthening all your creatures regardless of color. This can make Glorious Anthem a more reliable source of power, albeit at a higher mana cost compared to Crusade. Meanwhile, Jihad’s ability to target specific colors can be both an asset and a liability, offering potential for powerful swings or resulting in little effect if not aligned with the board state.
Analyzing the dynamics and strategic depth, Jihad presents an intriguing choice for deck builders. Its conditional boost requires tactical forethought, setting it apart from similar cards that offer more consistent but less impactful enhancements to your creatures on the battlefield.
Cards similar to Jihad by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Provides strategic benefits by potentially diminishing an opponent’s creature base, which can be considerably advantageous in protracted games.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly impacting mana, it allows for a decisive tempo boost when committing creatures to the battlefield without the worry of unfavorable trades.
Instant Speed: Though the Jihad card operates at sorcery speed, its enduring effect could tip the scales during critical combat phases or when planning for future turns.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Activating Jihad requires a firm commitment to a single creature on the battlefield. If your strategy revolves around this enchantment, any loss of that creature can lead to a significant setback, as Jihad then requires you to discard it, possibly stripping you of a key component in your game plan.
Specific Mana Cost: Jihad’s casting cost is specifically tailored for white mana-heavy decks. This can often restrict its inclusion to mono-white or color-paired decks that can reliably meet the triple white mana requirement, thereby reducing its versatility in multicolored or less mana-stable decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three white mana, the investment for Jihad can be considered high when compared to other enchantments or spells that provide similar or more flexible benefits. Given that competitive play often demands efficient use of resources, the mana investment into Jihad could be better allocated elsewhere to maximize your deck’s performance and consistency.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: The Jihad card offers a unique effect that can be utilized across various white-aligned decks. Its ability to grant a power boost under certain conditions can turn the tide in creature-based strategies.
Combo Potential: When paired with cards that maintain board control or dictate the pace of combat, Jihad can effectively amplify the effectiveness of your creatures, making it a key piece in synergistic builds.
Meta-Relevance: In a game state that favors creature-heavy decks or where specific creature types are prevalent, Jihad’s ability to adapt and empower your creatures based on the board state can become a deciding factor for victory.
How to Beat
Understanding how to effectively counter Jihad, a renowned card in Magic: The Gathering, requires a strategic approach. Jihad showcases its power by bolstering a player’s creatures as long as they remain committed to one color, setting a stage where their armies become dauntingly powerful. However, one of its pivotal drawbacks is its dependency on the declared color and the permanents of that color remaining on the battlefield.
To dismantle the card’s advantages, players should focus on their timing and card choices. Playing multicolored decks can mitigate the impact of Jihad due to its single-color limitation. Removal spells that target enchantments can be key, as cards like Disenchant or Naturalize directly remove such enchantments from the battlefield, effectively neutralizing Jihad’s influence. Another tactic is to remove the creatures enhanced by Jihad, making its effect null and void. Cards like Wrath of God or Doom Blade, which eliminate creatures, disrupt the synergy that Jihad aims to create.
Integrating a varied mana-base and incorporating versatile removal spells into one’s deck are essential strategies when preparing to face off against cards like Jihad. Through these methods, players can weaken Jihad’s strategic stronghold and maintain control of the game board.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Jihad MTG card by a specific set like Arabian Nights, 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 Jihad 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Jihad has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Oldschool | Legal |
| Commander | Banned |
| Legacy | Banned |
| Oathbreaker | Banned |
| Vintage | Banned |
| Duel | Banned |
| Predh | Banned |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Jihad card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | In a multi-player game, it tracks only the chosen player. This is not changed even if this card changes controllers. |