Numa, Joraga Chieftain MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeLegendary Creature — Elf Warrior
Abilities Partner
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Numa offers card advantage by empowering creatures during combat, posing a growing threat each turn.
  2. He accelerates resources, maximizing your elves’ power and synergizing to boost mana production.
  3. A psychological edge arises as opponents must consider the unpredictable enhancement of your elves.

Text of card

At the beginning of combat on your turn, you may pay . When you do, distribute X +1/+1 counters among any number of target Elves. Partner (You can have two commanders if both have partner.)

His blade carves a path for his people. His words guide them along it.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Numa Joraga Chieftain offers a strategic edge by bolstering your board with counters at the beginning of combat, potentially transforming each of your turns into an opportunity to grow your army’s threat level.

Resource Acceleration: By providing a way to distribute +1/+1 counters among your creatures, Numa can rapidly amplify the power of your elves, pushing your mana generation through elf synergies to new heights.

Instant Speed: While Numa’s ability isn’t at instant speed, his effect at the start of combat can force opponents to play around the unknown variables of how powerful your elves will become, indirectly granting you a psychological advantage and influencing their play choices.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Numa, Joraga Chieftain demands that you discard another elf card or pay an additional 3 mana to activate its ability. This can be particularly taxing when your hand is already stretched thin, putting you at a strategic disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: The card’s activation cost requires green mana, which can limit its flexibility. This makes it a less attractive option for multi-colored decks that might struggle with mana consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing 3 green mana to cast, Numa, Joraga Chieftain has a steep cost for its base stats and abilities. In metas where speed is of the essence, this card may lag behind other lower-cost elves that accelerate your game plan more quickly.


Reasons to Include Numa Joraga Chieftain in Your Collection

Versatility: Numa Joraga Chieftain’s ability to bolster your creatures makes him flexible for decks focusing on elf tribal themes or those looking to amplify combat effects. His ability to distribute +1/+1 counters can adapt to various game states, making your army formidable.

Combo Potential: With elves known for their synergy and combo capabilities, Numa effortlessly integrates into strategies revolving around +1/+1 counters. His power to magnify other elves or work with cards that reward counters makes him a combo enabler.

Meta-Relevance: Given how popular and enduring elf decks are in the metagame, Numa Joraga Chieftain maintains relevance. His tribal support helps keep pace with other creature-based decks while strengthening your board presence against control archetypes.


How to beat

Numa, Joraga Chieftain, is an intriguing character in the deck dynamics of MTG. With the ability to amplify the strength of other elves in play, Numa can quickly turn the tide in favor of an elf-centric deck. This strengths bolstering function she provides is both a boon to elf decks and a challenge to those facing them.

However, as formidable as this elven leader may seem, there are strategies to counter her influence on the battlefield. Key tactics involve removal spells that can target her directly, such as Doom Blade or Murder, disrupting the synergy before it can fully develop. Board control measures, like Wrath of God, can clear the field of Numa and her elven followers in a single stroke. Disabling Numa’s ability by using counterspells like Cancel when she attempts to use her power also aids in mitigating the threat she represents. Moreover, instant speed interaction allows you to act on the opponent’s turn, reducing the opportunity for elf buffing shenanigans.

To withstand Numa’s buffing strategy, a well-thought-out mix of direct removal, board wipes, and counterspells are essential. Such a comprehensive approach can effectively neutralize the advantage that Numa, Joraga Chieftain brings to the table in MTG.


BurnMana Recommendations

Fascinated by Numa Joraga Chieftain’s unique abilities to fortify your MTG elf army? Navigating its strengths and weaknesses is essential for optimizing your green deck’s performance. Don’t let its mana demands deter you; consider the broader strategic implications it could have for your game plan. Whether you’re new to elf tribal decks or looking to refine your current setup, understanding the dynamics of counter distribution and synergy is key. If you’re eager to build an unstoppable force or just looking to edge out the competition with thoughtful card choices, delve deeper with us. Learn how Numa can be the cornerstone of your winning strategy. Join our MTG community to unlock the full potential of your elf-driven deck!


Cards like Numa, Joraga Chieftain

In the landscape of Magic: The Gathering, Numa Joraga Chieftain stands out for its ability to fortify creatures on the battlefield. This green mana creature compares notably to Renata, Called to the Hunt, which similarly boosts other creatures you control. Numa Joraga Chieftain allows for a more controlled empowerment, letting you select a creature each combat to receive the bonus at the cost of mana investment.

Trostani, Selesnya’s Voice is another parallel, providing creature tokens a bonus while simultaneously offering a formidable life gain mechanic. Numa, focusing solely on enhancing existing creatures, takes a more combative route rather than Trostani’s more defensive, token-generating forte.

Finally, looking at Marwyn, the Nurturer, a card that grows more powerful with each elf summoning, it offers an intriguing comparison. While Marwyn provides a significant mana advantage over time, Numa Joraga Chieftain provides immediate board impact by boosting creatures’ combat potential. Both cards play pivotal roles in elf-based strategies, yet shine in different operational aspects.

Analyzing these cards side by side, Numa Joraga Chieftain’s adaptable and immediate buffing capability grants a consistent, tactical edge in elves-centric decks, affirming its distinct position among creature-enhancing cards in Magic: The Gathering.

Renata, Called to the Hunt - MTG Card versions
Trostani, Selesnya's Voice - MTG Card versions
Marwyn, the Nurturer - MTG Card versions
Renata, Called to the Hunt - Theros Beyond Death (THB)
Trostani, Selesnya's Voice - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Marwyn, the Nurturer - Dominaria Promos (PDOM)

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Numa, Joraga Chieftain MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Commander Legends, 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 Numa, Joraga Chieftain and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Numa, Joraga Chieftain Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2020-11-20 and 2021-02-05. Illustrated by Kieran Yanner.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 862982015normalblackKieran Yanner
22020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 5832015normalblackKieran Yanner
32020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 2462015normalblackKieran Yanner
42021-02-05Kaldheim CommanderKHC 712015normalblackKieran Yanner

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Numa, Joraga Chieftain has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-11-10 An effect that checks whether you control your commander is satisfied if you control one or both of your two commanders.
2020-11-10 Both commanders start in the command zone, and the remaining 98 cards (or 58 cards in a Commander Draft game) of your deck are shuffled to become your library.
2020-11-10 If some of the creatures are illegal targets as the reflexive triggered ability tries to resolve, the original distribution of counters still applies and the counters that would have been put on illegal targets are lost.
2020-11-10 If something refers to your commander while you have two commanders, it refers to one of them of your choice. If you are instructed to perform an action on your commander (e.g. put it from the command zone into your hand due to Command Beacon), you choose one of your commanders at the time the effect happens.
2020-11-10 If your Commander deck has two commanders, you can only include cards whose own color identities are also found in your commanders' combined color identities. If Falthis and Kediss are your commanders, your deck may contain cards with black and/or red in their color identity, but not cards with green, white, or blue.
2020-11-10 Numa's triggered ability goes on the stack without a target. While that ability is resolving, you may pay . If you do, a second ability triggers. You choose the target Elves and announce how the +1/+1 counters will be distributed as you put that ability on the stack. Each target must receive at least one +1/+1 counter. This is different from abilities that say "If you do . . ." in that players may cast spells and activate abilities after mana is paid but before counters are placed.
2020-11-10 Once the game begins, your two commanders are tracked separately. If you cast one, you won't have to pay an additional the first time you cast the other. A player loses the game after having been dealt 21 damage from any one of them, not from both of them combined.
2020-11-10 To have two commanders, both must have the partner ability as the game begins. Losing the ability during the game doesn't cause either to cease to be your commander.
2020-11-10 You can choose two commanders with partner that are the same color or colors. In Commander Draft, you can even choose two of the same commander with partner if you drafted them. If you do this, make sure you keep the number of times you've cast each from the command zone clear for "commander tax" purposes.

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