Jund Battlemage MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Shaman
Released	2008-10-03
Set symbol
Set name	Shards of Alara
Set code	ALA
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	106
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Vance Kovacs

Key Takeaways

Card Advantage: Generates creature tokens, enhancing your board presence and doubling the utility of your spells.
Resource Acceleration: Efficient mana use enables quicker and stronger plays, bolstering your game strategy early on.
Instant Speed: Casting at the end of an opponent’s turn offers surprise tactics and uninterrupted strategy execution.

Text of card

, : Target player loses 1 life. , : Put a 1/1 green Saproling creature token into play.

"Of your blood I will make my mead, an offering to the thirsty jungle."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Jund Battlemage provides a steady flow of creature tokens, which are instrumental in maintaining board presence. This can tip the scales in your favor, turning each of your spells into potential double threats – both the spell itself and the token it generates.

Resource Acceleration: The battlemage excels at fast-tracking your game strategy. By efficiently using mana to create a stream of tokens, Jund Battlemage accelerates your resource development, setting you up for more formidable plays earlier in the game.

Instant Speed: The ability to operate at instant speed gives players an incredible tactical edge. Casting a creature spell like Jund Battlemage at the end of an opponent’s turn can be a surprise that shifts the momentum in your favor, making for unexpected blocks or setting up for your next move without interruption.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: As an integral aspect of Jund Battlemage’s abilities, discarding a card can present a hurdle especially when your hand is closer to empty. This ability forces you to weigh the value of the creatures you’re creating against the potential future use of the cards in your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: A precise blend of mana is necessary to summon Jund Battlemage. Requiring black, red, and green mana, it demands a dedicated Jund deck or a robust mana-fixing setup to be played consistently and effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that may stretch your mana resources, Jund Battlemage can fall behind in the curve against more mana-efficient creatures. In a game where speed and efficiency are key, the cost to casting and activating the abilities of this card might just be on the higher side.

Reasons to Include Jund Battlemage in Your Collection

Versatility: Jund Battlemage thrives in any deck strategy that leverages token generation or needs a foothold in the mid-game. Its ability to create multiple creature types is invaluable in diversifying your battlefield presence.

Combo Potential: Paired with cards that synergize with token generation or sacrifice, Jund Battlemage acts as an engine to power up a multitude of combo tactics. It’s a key piece in unlocking greater board control and resource manipulation.

Meta-Relevance: With a shifting meta that occasionally favors creature-heavy decks, Jund Battlemage offers a solid inclusion that can consistently dispatch threats or create them. Recognize its potential to shake up the board and tip the scales in matches that demand versatility and adaptability.

How to Beat Jund Battlemage

Jund Battlemage is a versatile MTG card that can present a challenge on the battlefield with its ability to create tokens. The key to beating this card lies in managing the tokens that this card can produce and disrupting your opponent’s strategy. Since the Battlemage’s strength grows with a well-established board presence, using removal spells to keep the field clear is an effective tactic. Cards like Wrath of God or Doomskar, spells that clear the entire board of creatures, can neutralize the advantage gained by the Battlemage.

Another strategy is to preemptively deal with the Battlemage itself before tokens can be created. Instant-speed removal like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can be used in response to the token generation abilities, thereby limiting the impact of the Battlemage. Additionally, considering this card’s reliance on mana, denying your opponent resources through land destruction or counterspells like Mana Leak can also be a viable countermeasure.

In essence, focusing on maintaining clear board conditions, using timely removal, and disrupting mana can tilt the scales in your favor when facing off against Jund Battlemage. Engaging in these tactics will help ensure that the advantage of token generation this card presents is mitigated, securing your path to victory.

Cards like Jund Battlemage

Jund Battlemage is a versatile creature in Magic: The Gathering that finds its niche within decks that enjoy casting multiple types of spells. A direct comparison to other creature cards such as Rakdos Cackler reveals the Battlemage to be a more mana-flexible option, despite a higher initial casting cost. The Cackler can hit the battlefield quickly due to its lower cost, however, it lacks the utility that Jund Battlemage provides.

Examining a card like Bloodbraid Elf, which also heralds from the Jund card multiverse, shows that while both can provide immediate value upon hitting the field, the Elf’s cascade ability contrasts with the Battlemage’s capacity to repeatedly create creature tokens or force opponent creatures to attack. Adding to this variety is Sprouting Thrinax, another card that can be a significant presence on the board, producing tokens upon death rather than through an activated ability.

Each card serves a different strategy, but Jund Battlemage stands out for its ability to affect the board state in multiple ways, making it an adaptable choice in MTG’s ever-evolving meta.

Cards similar to Jund Battlemage by color, type and mana cost

Thunderscape Battlemage - MTG Card versions

Gyrus, Waker of Corpses - MTG Card versions

Henzie "Toolbox" Torre - MTG Card versions

Indoraptor, the Perfect Hybrid - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Jund Battlemage MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara, 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 Jund Battlemage and other MTG cards: