Jumbo Imp MTG Card
Text of card
Flying When you play Jumbo Imp, roll a six-sided die. Jumbo Imp comes into play with a number of +1/+1 counters on it equal to the die roll. During your upkeep, roll a six-sided die and put on Jumbo Imp a number of +1/+1 counters equal to the die roll. At the end of your turn, roll a six-sided die and remove from Jumbo Imp a number of +1/+1 counters equal to the die roll.
Cards like Jumbo Imp
Jumbo Imp is an intriguing card in the world of Magic: The Gathering with its unique set of mechanics. It mirrors a variety of other cards that hinge on flying and the manipulation of counters. One similar card is Crookclaw Transmuter, which also offers flying but comes with the ability to temporarily modify a creature’s power and toughness. Although the Transmuter affects the board immediately upon entry, Jumbo Imp requires careful planning, with its fluctuating power and toughness based on the number of counters.
When examining Pyre Hound, another creature that benefits from accumulating counters, there’s a notable difference. Pyre Hound gains permanence in its power boosts due to instance or sorcery spells you cast, whereas Jumbo Imp’s counters have the potential to decrease over turns. Abyssal Nocturnus presents a different angle, gaining power with your opponent’s black spells which can be an unpredictable metric as compared to Jumbo Imp’s more controlled counterplay.
Evaluating Jumbo Imp’s position among similar MTG flying creatures reveals its distinctive approach to counter management, offering a different type of strategic depth for player’s decks that thrive on adaptability and long-term tactical planning.
Cards similar to Jumbo Imp by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Jumbo Imp can manipulate deck mechanics positively, enhancing the ability to draw into more powerful spells or the resources needed as the match progresses.
Resource Acceleration: While Jumbo Imp itself may not directly accelerate resources, understanding its role can help optimize deck building strategies around it, contributing to more efficient mana curves and potential synergy with other cards that perform such functions.
Instant Speed: Although Jumbo Imp operates at sorcery speed, its inclusion can impact strategic planning, ensuring that your other instant speed spells are reserved for critical moments while setting up a formidable board presence.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: When you play Jumbo Imp, you’re required to discard a card from your hand, which may put you at a disadvantage. In a game where card advantage is crucial, losing an extra card can be a detriment to your game plan.
Specific Mana Cost: Jumbo Imp necessitates a precise combination of mana to cast, with a requirement for both black and red. This can complicate its integration into your deck, especially if you’re operating a multicolored deck that doesn’t focus on these colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: At three mana, Jumbo Imp’s casting cost is steep for its initial stats and abilities. Other creatures at a similar cost could potentially provide you with more substantial board presence or impactful abilities without the need to continuously invest mana to maintain them.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Jumbo Imp offers a unique dynamic to any deck featuring flying creatures or those that maximize counter play. Its ability to grow by removing time counters each turn allows it to adapt to various in-game scenarios, potentially becoming an aerial threat that’s hard to ignore.
Combo Potential: This card has intriguing interactions with cards that manipulate counters or benefit from creatures with flying. Combining Jumbo Imp with proliferate mechanics or any counter doubling effects can quickly elevate its presence on the board, creating strategic advantages for inventive deck builders.
Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to become a substantial flyer, Jumbo Imp can find its place in a meta that lacks sufficient flying defense or in environments where the ability to consistently present threats in the air grants you an upper hand. Whether it’s overcoming blockers or synergizing with other aspects of your strategy, this card holds its own in a varied MTG landscape.
How to beat
Jumbo Imp is a unique creature card that has an intricate mechanism tied to its flying ability. To maintain the Imp’s presence in the air, players must remember a chosen number and state it aloud upon each upkeep, which can lead to potential gameplay errors, leaving an opening for opponents. The strength of this creature lies in its increasing power and toughness as turns pass, but this also comes with the risk of incorrect guesses that could ground and ultimately destroy the creature.
Defeating Jumbo Imp requires strategy, starting with pressuring the opponent to prompt a mistake. Additionally, using spells that don’t allow creature abilities to activate, such as Silencing Shot, can effectively neutralize the Imp’s scaling power. Another method is to employ removal spells preemptively to avoid the escalating threat, using options such as Murder to eliminate the Imp before the guessing game can begin to heavily favor the opponent. In essence, swift action and disruption are key tactics in overcoming the quirky challenges presented by Jumbo Imp.
Given these aspects, players facing Jumbo Imp must focus on prevention and pressure-based strategies to nullify its potential and secure control over the pace and outcome of the match.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Jumbo Imp MTG card by a specific set like Unglued and Unsanctioned, 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 Jumbo Imp and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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
Printings
The Jumbo Imp Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-08-11 and 2020-02-29. Illustrated by Pete Venters.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-08-11 | Unglued | UGL | 34 | 1997 | Normal | Silver | Pete Venters | |
| 2 | 2020-02-29 | Unsanctioned | UND | 42 | 2015 | Normal | Silver | Pete Venters |