Soulless Jailer MTG Card


Combines creature exile and card draw for dynamic play and significant board influence. Instant speed ability allows for flexible and unpredictable gameplay strategies. Demands careful deck construction due to specific mana cost and potential discard trade-off.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeArtifact Creature — Phyrexian Golem
Power 0
Toughness 4

Text of card

Permanent cards in graveyards can't enter the battlefield. Players can't cast noncreature spells from graveyards or exile.

"Lock the door and eat the key." —Vraan, Executioner Thane


Cards like Soulless Jailer

Soulless Jailer has carved a niche for itself in the pantheon of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It echoes the utility found in cards like Relic of Progenitus by providing graveyard hate, a critical strategy against decks that rely on graveyard synergies. Unlike passive relics, Soulless Jailer is an active on-board presence, able to intervene directly in graveyard mechanics while also being a creature that can attack or block.

Another card that shares its graveyard-interfering theme is Tormod’s Crypt, a zero-cost artefact that can be sacrificed to exile a player’s graveyard. While it doesn’t offer the creature benefits that come with Soulless Jailer, its free activation can be crucial in situations that demand immediate graveyard disruption. And then there’s Sentinel Totem, an artefact that exiles graveyards when it enters the battlefield. However, Soulless Jailer offers repeated utility and a body to use in combat, setting it apart in decks that might prefer a more active board presence.

Decks that aim to simultaneously disrupt opponent’s strategies and develop their own board will find Soulless Jailer to be an invaluable asset, thanks to its dual functionality of being both a graveyard sentinel and a tangible threat on the battlefield.

Relic of Progenitus - MTG Card versions
Tormod's Crypt - MTG Card versions
Sentinel Totem - MTG Card versions
Relic of Progenitus - MTG Card versions
Tormod's Crypt - MTG Card versions
Sentinel Totem - MTG Card versions

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

Chaos Orb - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Ankh of Mishra - MTG Card versions
Jandor's Saddlebags - MTG Card versions
Amulet of Kroog - MTG Card versions
Nacre Talisman - MTG Card versions
Howling Mine - MTG Card versions
Essence Bottle - MTG Card versions
Emerald Medallion - MTG Card versions
Scrying Glass - MTG Card versions
Cursed Totem - MTG Card versions
Mask of Intolerance - MTG Card versions
Tsabo's Web - MTG Card versions
Millikin - MTG Card versions
Swiftfoot Boots - MTG Card versions
Ark of Blight - MTG Card versions
Surestrike Trident - MTG Card versions
Demon's Horn - MTG Card versions
Angel's Feather - MTG Card versions
Energy Chamber - MTG Card versions
Chaos Orb - MTG Card versions
Winter Orb - MTG Card versions
Ankh of Mishra - MTG Card versions
Jandor's Saddlebags - MTG Card versions
Amulet of Kroog - MTG Card versions
Nacre Talisman - MTG Card versions
Howling Mine - MTG Card versions
Essence Bottle - MTG Card versions
Emerald Medallion - MTG Card versions
Scrying Glass - MTG Card versions
Cursed Totem - MTG Card versions
Mask of Intolerance - MTG Card versions
Tsabo's Web - MTG Card versions
Millikin - MTG Card versions
Swiftfoot Boots - MTG Card versions
Ark of Blight - MTG Card versions
Surestrike Trident - MTG Card versions
Demon's Horn - MTG Card versions
Angel's Feather - MTG Card versions
Energy Chamber - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Soulless Jailer. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Cradle ControlCradle Control LegacyCradle ControlLegacy League 2024-04-19
YawgmothYawgmoth ModernYawgmothModern Preliminary 2023-12-26 (1)
Golgari YawgmothGolgari Yawgmoth ModernYawgmothGrand Open Qualifier Barcelona 2023
Mono-Green TronMono-Green Tron ModernMono-Green TronModern Challenge 96 2023-12-23
Boros HammerBoros Hammer ModernHammer TimeLegacy European Championship Ghent
Azorius HammerAzorius Hammer ModernHammer TimeSrlandsmesterskap: Vinter 2023

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Soulless Jailer provides a valuable edge in maintaining hand size as it allows players to exile target creature while drawing a card. This dual benefit can turn the tides in a game by both disrupting your opponent’s field and replenishing your own resources.

Resource Acceleration: Aside from impacting the board state, Soulless Jailer bolsters your resource pool. Exiling creatures with Soulless Jailer can potentially unlock mana resources or other abilities linked to exile-based synergies, effectively accelerating your game plan.

Instant Speed: The ability to respond to threats at instant speed is a significant strategic advantage. Soulless Jailer can be cast in response to an opponent’s move, allowing for surprise interactions and enabling you to adapt swiftly to the evolving state of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To unleash Soulless Jailer’s abilities, you may have to discard a card. This condition can be disadvantageous, especially when your hand is already depleted or when each card in hand is vital to your game strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Soulless Jailer demands a precise mana arrangement to cast. Its mana cost requires careful deck construction and mana base consideration, potentially restricting its inclusion to decks capable of producing the necessary mana with consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When examining Soulless Jailer’s casting cost relative to its impact on the game, it may be seen as steep. For players looking to maintain tempo and efficiency, this could be a deterrent, particularly when alternative cards with lower costs or higher utility are available.


Reasons to Include Soulless Jailer in Your Collection

Versatility: Soulless Jailer is a card that can seamlessly integrate into diverse decks due to its ability to disrupt opponents’ strategies by exiling their key cards.

Combo Potential: This card provides excellent synergy with strategies focused on graveyard manipulation or benefitting from opponent’s cards being exiled.

Meta-Relevance: As the MTG landscape often shifts towards graveyard-based tactics, Soulless Jailer gains significance by being a potent counter to those prevalent strategies.


How to Beat Soulless Jailer

Soulless Jailer is an intriguing card that can pose challenges during a Magic: The Gathering match. To effectively counter this card, one must understand its role in hindering graveyard strategies. Disabling abilities that interact with the graveyard can cripple many decks, but there are strategies to mitigate its impact. Activating removal spells that can target Soulless Jailer is a direct approach. Cards such as Doom Blade or Go for the Throat can remove the jailer before its abilities become disruptive.

Another tactic involves overwhelming the board with creatures, diminishing the jailer’s impact by making it difficult to maintain control. Playing around the card can also be effective. This entails holding back key graveyard interactions until you can deal with the jailer or focusing on alternative strategies that don’t rely on the graveyard.

Considering the versatility of the current meta, having an adaptable plan against cards like Soulless Jailer is crucial. Whether it’s with instant speed removal, diversified tactics, or simply by overpowering the opponent, defeating Soulless Jailer requires careful planning and flexible gameplay.


BurnMana Recommendations

The strategic depth MTG provides is evident when examining the multifaceted Soulless Jailer. The card’s capability to enhance your game through both disruption and draw power makes it a noteworthy pick. However, its mana specificity and potential hand disadvantage highlight the importance of careful deck construction and situational awareness. As you muscle through your deck-building journey, weigh the ebbs and flows that cards like Soulless Jailer introduce. Whether tweaking your existing deck or scouting for new powerful additions, understanding and applying these dynamics can steer you towards victory. Elevate your collection by discovering more strategies at BurnMana, where your deck’s potential is limitless.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Soulless Jailer MTG card by a specific set like Phyrexia: All Will Be One and Phyrexia: All Will Be One Promos, 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 Soulless Jailer and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Soulless Jailer Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2023-02-03 and 2023-02-03. Illustrated by Donato Giancola.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be OneONE 2412015NormalBlackDonato Giancola
22023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One PromosPONE 241s2015NormalBlackDonato Giancola
32023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be OneONE 3972015NormalBlackDonato Giancola
42023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One PromosPONE 241p2015NormalBlackDonato Giancola

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Soulless Jailer has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
AlchemyLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-02-04 Players may still cast creature spells from graveyards and from exile if an effect allows them to do so.
2023-02-04 Putting a permanent card onto the battlefield from a graveyard is an impossible action while Soulless Jailer is on the battlefield.