Jukai Liberator MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Snake Ninja |
| Abilities | Ninjutsu,Seek |
| Released | 2022-03-17 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Alchemy: Kamigawa |
| Set code | YNEO |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 27 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Michele Giorgi |
Text of card
Ninjutsu (, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.) Whenever Jukai Liberator deals combat damage to a player, choose land or nonland. Seek a permanent card of the chosen kind.
Cards like Jukai Liberator
Jukai Liberator brings unique dynamics to the field of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. Its resemblance lies with other creatures that can switch between two different forms. Jukai Liberator, notably, can transform into Jukai Naturalist. This versatility is slightly mirrored by the werewolf cards from the Innistrad sets, such as Reckless Waif that morphs into Merciless Predator. However, Jukai Liberator doesn’t rely on the day-night mechanic to initiate its transformation.
Analogous transformation can be seen in the modal double-faced cards of Zendikar Rising, like Akoum Warrior and Akoum Teeth. While offering flexibility, these cards lack the creature boosting effect that defines Jukai Naturalist. Delver of Secrets is another similar card, which flips into Insectile Aberration, offering a different kind of advantage based on library manipulation. But unlike Jukai Liberator, Delver of Secrets directly hinges on spellcasting to unlock its potential.
In summary, Jukai Liberator competes well with other transformative creatures in the strategic landscape of Magic: The Gathering, providing a distinctive mix of adaptability and support for enchantment-heavy decks.
Cards similar to Jukai Liberator by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Jukai Liberator. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mono-Green Stompy | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League | |
| Golgari Midrange | Gladiator | Gladiator Games: We're Back | |
 | Gruul Aggro | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League | |
 | Gruul Stompy | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League | |
| Bant Midrange | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 14 2024 | |
| Sultai Tempo | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 09 2024 | |
 | Sultai Midrange | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 06 2024 | |
| Golgari Aggro | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League | |
| Mono-Green Ramp | Gladiator | Gladiator Games: We're Back | |
| The Rock | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Jukai Liberator offers a unique mechanism to potentially draw a card, bolstering your hand and maintaining momentum during critical turns.
Resource Acceleration: By enabling land retrieval from the graveyard, Jukai Liberator acts as a subtle form of ramp, ensuring you land drops and smoothing out your mana curve for future turns.
Instant Speed: The option to cast Jukai Liberator at instant speed provides strategic flexibility, allowing for surprise blockers or end-of-turn plays to keep your opponents guessing.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Jukai Liberator requires you to discard a card upon activation. This could deplete your hand and be detrimental during the later stages of the game when maintaining card advantage is crucial.
Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes a specific color requirement, this card fits primarily into green-based decks. This specificity can limit deck-building flexibility and accessibility for players not running green as a core color.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Jukai Liberator’s mana cost is on the higher side, especially when considering its impact on the board state. There may be alternatives that provide similar or better effects for a lower investment, making it a less efficient choice in decks where mana efficiency is key.
Reasons to Include Jukai Liberator in Your Collection
Versatility: Jukai Liberator offers a flexible role within various deck archetypes. Its ability to function as both an early blocker and later as an enchantment creature gives players the adaptability they need during different phases of the game.
Combo Potential: With its transform ability, Jukai Liberator synergizes well in strategies that exploit enchantment synergies or benefit from self-bounce mechanics, allowing for repeated use of its enter-the-battlefield effect.
Meta-Relevance: Jukai Liberator is uniquely positioned to be a player in the current meta, where its utility as an enchantment and creature aligns well against decks that have a hard time dealing with either card type consistently.
How to beat
Jukai Liberator presents itself as a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. As a versatile card with the potential to shift from an enchantment to a creature, players may find it challenging to face. However, sticking to strategies that limit the opponent’s ability to amass a substantial number of creatures can be key. Utilizing board wipes effectively, particularly those that can clear out multiple creatures at once – such as Wrath of God or Doomskar – can impair the Jukai Liberator’s transformation conditions.
In addition, keeping removal spells handy for when the Jukai Liberator does become a creature ensures that the table is not overwhelmed by its presence. Spells like Murder, Go for the Throat, or Path to Exile offer clean and swift answers. Moreover, controlling cards that counter enchantments or creature spells provide a double layer of protection against this versatile card. Counterspell and Disenchant, for instance, can prevent the Liberator from taking root on the board altogether.
Ultimately, understanding the Jukai Liberator’s capabilities and having a deck equipped with the right counters can tilt the game back into your favor, keeping one step ahead of your adversary’s attempts to leverage the card’s dual nature.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Jukai Liberator MTG card by a specific set like Alchemy: Kamigawa, 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 Jukai Liberator 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 Jukai Liberator has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |