Jubilant Skybonder MTG Card


Jubilant Skybonder strengthens creature control, pivotal for sustained board presence in matches. While effective, it demands card sacrifices, which could be costly in long games. It shines in decks built around creatures and flying, offering versatile defensive tactics.
Jubilant Skybonder - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Wizard
Abilities Flying
Released2020-04-24
Set symbol
Set nameIkoria: Lair of Behemoths
Set codeIKO
Power 2
Toughness 2
Number223
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJesper Ejsing

Text of card

Flying Creatures you control with flying have "Spells your opponents cast that target this creature cost more to cast."

She was born unable to walk. Through the *eludha*, she was able to fly.


Cards like Jubilant Skybonder

Jubilant Skybonder is an interesting creature card that brings strategic advantages to decks in Magic: The Gathering. It bears resemblance to cards like Elite Spellbinder, which also manipulate the dynamics of an opponent’s hand. While Elite Spellbinder targets the enemy’s hand directly, increasing the casting cost of the chosen card, Jubilant Skybonder has a subtler, yet powerful approach. It passively increases the mana cost of abilities an opponent would activate that target creatures you control.

Another card sharing similar territory is Thunder Drake. Although lacking the hand manipulation ability, it offers a different kind of aerial threat that grows stronger with each noncreature spell cast. While Thunder Drake focuses on personal power accumulation, Jubilant Skybonder is all about providing a shield against targeted spells and abilities, favoring a protective stance over growth. The Skybonder also compares to Hushbringer in terms of disrupting opponent’s plans, although Hushbringer silences enter-the-battlefield and dying triggers instead of protecting your team from targeted spells.

Delving into these comparisons, Jubilant Skybonder holds a unique role in MTG. Its mix of offensive capabilities and defensive utility makes it a key card for strategies looking to safeguard other valuable creatures and maintain a strong board presence.

Elite Spellbinder - MTG Card versions
Thunder Drake - MTG Card versions
Hushbringer - MTG Card versions
Elite Spellbinder - MTG Card versions
Thunder Drake - MTG Card versions
Hushbringer - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Jubilant Skybonder. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Esper AggroEsper Aggro GladiatorGladiator Games: We're Back

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Jubilant Skybonder allows for more sustained board presence, empowering your game with increased creature control. Its ability to add creatures to the field can tip the scales in your favor over the course of a match.

Resource Acceleration: With its moderate casting cost synergizing with decks focused on tempo, Jubilant Skybonder assists in maintaining a steady flow of creatures. This contributes to resource acceleration by enabling more efficient deployments of other cards in your pool.

Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, Jubilant Skybonder pairs well with instant-speed interactions, supporting a play style that keeps opponents guessing. Its abilities ensure that spells you cast with flash can be more effective, positing strategic advantages at critical moments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside of the Jubilant Skybonder is that it may require you to pitch another card to maximize its benefits. This can put you at a disadvantage, especially when your hand is already running low on cards, causing you to make potentially unfavorable trades in terms of card economy.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card’s mana cost is specific, demanding both white and blue mana to be played. This requirement restricts its inclusion to decks that can readily produce both colors, potentially limiting the variety of decks in which the Skybonder can be effectively utilized.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While this card offers valuable abilities, its comparatively high mana cost for a 2/3 flyer might not always provide the efficiency some players seek. Other cards in the same mana range could potentially offer a better board presence or more immediate impact on the game, giving them a more attractive cost-to-benefit ratio.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Jubilant Skybonder boasts a flexible role in decks, adapting well in strategies focused on creatures and flying synergies. Its ability to stifle opponent’s interactions with your creatures with flying makes it a valuable addition to any deck looking to maintain board presence.

Combo Potential: This card offers combo potential in decks that capitalize on spells and abilities that target multiple creatures. Coupling with cards that protect or empower flying creatures can create formidable synergies, making your aerial attacks much more threatening.

Meta-Relevance: As the game environment often contains a wealth of control decks utilizing abilities to disrupt opponents’ boards, Jubilant Skybonder plays a key role in countering those strategies. It ensures that your creatures with flying remain untouched by spells or abilities your opponents might cast at a higher cost, keeping the skies clear for your victory.


How to beat

Jubilant Skybonder presents a unique challenge as a creature card in MTG due to its ability to make your creatures with flying less vulnerable to opponents’ spells or abilities that target. This card commands a strategic approach to overcome, especially in flying-focused decks. The key to countering Jubilant Skybonder lies in utilizing spells that affect the whole board rather than targeting individual creatures. Board wipes like Shatter the Sky or Storm’s Wrath can bypass the protection granted by the Skybonder.

Additionally, playing around Jubilant Skybonder requires patience and timing. Employing instant-speed removal spells at the end of your opponent’s turn can pressure your adversary, forcing them to commit more resources to protect their board. This strategy can ultimately lead to a more favorable position where your spells can turn the tide. It’s also worth considering the utilization of creature abilities that don’t target, which circumvents Skybonder’s shielding. A well-prepared sideboard with versatile answers can ensure that Jubilant Skybonder does not impede your path to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the skies in Magic the Gathering can be a formidable strategy, and Jubilant Skybonder may just be the wind beneath your decks’ wings. With its potential to maintain a resilient board presence and accelerate your creature deployment, this card could become a cornerstone in your fliers’ repertoire. However, its unique advantages also demand a savvy play style and deck construction. If you find the strategic depth of enhancing your aerial army appealing, then this card deserves further examination. Explore more about how Jubilant Skybonder can elevate your gameplay and secure dominance in the azure heights of the battlefield.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Jubilant Skybonder MTG card by a specific set like Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, 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 Jubilant Skybonder and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Jubilant Skybonder has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-04-17 An opponent’s spell that targets a single creature with flying you control more than once costs only more to cast. An opponent’s spell that targets multiple creatures with flying you control costs more for each of those creatures.
2020-04-17 Jubilant Skybonder’s last ability applies to itself as long as it still has flying.