Mogg Jailer MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Goblin
Released	2001-02-05
Set symbol
Set name	Planeshift
Set code	PLS
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	68
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Mark Romanoski

Key Takeaways

Mogg Jailer can offer direct card advantage by forcing opponent discards under certain conditions.
While mana-specific, it can accelerate your tempo by impeding opponents, giving you a strategic edge.
Its high mana cost may lead some to prefer more efficient control cards in their MTG deck builds.

Text of card

Mogg Jailer can't attack if defending player controls an untapped creature with power 2 or less.

Hey, wake up! —Mogg secret password

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Mogg Jailer is adept at disrupting your opponent’s hand by forcing them to discard cards if certain conditions are met, potentially leading to direct card advantage as you whittle down your opponent’s resources.

Resource Acceleration: While Mogg Jailer doesn’t generate traditional mana acceleration, its potential to slow down an opponent can indirectly speed up your own game plan, giving you essential resource acceleration by comparison. You maintain tempo, staying ahead on the board while they catch up.

Instant Speed: Mogg Jailer’s abilities are inherently proactive but can work reactively in synergy with instant-speed spells and effects you may play during your opponent’s turn, thereby optimizing your overall strategy and keeping your adversaries on their toes.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Keeping your hand stocked with cards is pivotal in Magic the Gathering. Mogg Jailer asks a sacrifice from players that can be costly, as it may require them to discard a valuable card to yield its benefits. This can become a significant drawback when your card advantage is under threat or your arsenal is waning.

Specific Mana Cost: Deck building is an art that values flexibility. The specific mana needs of Mogg Jailer demand a dedicated source, limiting the card’s compatibility to primarily red decks or builds with enough mana fixing. This can deter its inclusion in decks that operate on a varied mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Efficiency is key in a game where tempo can dictate the winner. The mana investment for Mogg Jailer may overshadow its utility, especially when other cards at a lower cost can provide similar or better effects. Savvy players might opt for these more cost-effective alternatives when refining their decks.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Mogg Jailer is a tool that fits seamlessly into decks built around goblin strategies or those looking to capitalize on creature control. Its ability to prevent the blocked creature from untapping enhances its utility, providing an obstacle for opponents across various game situations.

Combo Potential: This card can work well with cards that benefit from locking down opponents’ creatures. It synergizes with effects that tap creatures, ensuring they remain incapacitated while Mogg Jailer is on the field, thus opening the door for multiple strategic plays.

Meta-Relevance: Given the ever-present creature-based strategies in the meta, Mogg Jailer has the potential to be a strategic piece in controlling the board and hindering opponent’s plans. It especially shines in metas where creatures with tap abilities are prevalent.

How to beat

The Mogg Jailer is an intriguing creature card that can pose serious obstacles for opponents relying on smaller creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to prevent creatures with power 2 or less from attacking ensures a control over the battlefield early in the game. To effectively bypass the Mogg Jailer’s restriction, players must strategize around its weakness. One option includes enhancing the power of their creatures, pushing them beyond the power threshold that Mogg Jailer sets.

Alternatively, employing removal spells that can directly target and dispatch the Mogg Jailer before it can lock down the board is an effective tactic. This includes spells like Lightning Bolt or Path to Exile that can manage threats swiftly. Creature abilities that can bypass the jailer’s constraints, such as flying or unblockable creatures, can also be key in maintaining an offensive stance. Strategic planning and a well-constructed deck capable of adapting to such control elements are critical when facing a card like Mogg Jailer.

Taking these approaches not only neutralizes the Mogg Jailer’s advantage but also reinforces the necessity for a versatile and responsive deck build when engaging in the dynamic world of Magic: The Gathering.

Cards like Mogg Jailer

Mogg Jailer is a notable entry in the pool of creature control cards in Magic: The Gathering. It’s relatable to cards like Master of the Feast, which grants an opponent card advantage in exchange for a sizeable creature early in the game. Mogg Jailer, alternatively, offers a unique restriction on creature-based deck strategies by preventing opponents from attacking with their most powerful creatures, provided Mogg Jailer remains untapped.

Another comparable card is Ensnaring Bridge, a card that restricts the ability of decks to attack based on hand size. While Ensnaring Bridge affects all creatures and can be more encompassing, it does not offer the same creature stats as Mogg Jailer. Conversely, cards like Silent Arbiter limit the battle to a single creature per combat, a direct but different approach to controlling combat dynamics compared to Mogg Jailer’s conditional yet powerful lockdown ability.

Examining the utility these cards provide, Mogg Jailer excels in scenarios where keeping specific creatures at bay is crucial without needing to invest in more restrictive, often more costly control measures. Its unique blend of cost-effectiveness and creature combat manipulation makes Mogg Jailer a strategic choice in certain MTG deck builds.

Cards similar to Mogg Jailer by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Mogg Jailer MTG card by a specific set like Planeshift, 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 Mogg Jailer and other MTG cards: