Jace, Arcane Strategist MTG Card
2019-05-03 - Number 270
2022-12-02 - Number 310
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Mythic |
| Type | Legendary Planeswalker — Jace |
| Loyalty | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Jace ensures a full hand, granting continuous card advantage as creatures engage in combat.
- Mana and strategic consideration are required to unlock Jace’s full potential on the battlefield.
- Integrating Jace can tip the balance in prolonged matches through his loyalty abilities.
Text of card
Whenever you draw your second card each turn, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control.
+1: Draw a card.
-7: Creatures you control can't be blocked this turn.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Jace, Arcane Strategist excels in providing sustained card advantage. Through his ability that allows you to draw a card each time a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, he makes sure your hand remains full of options, giving you the upper hand consistently over the course of the match.
Resource Acceleration: His loyalty abilities are adept at ramping up your resources. By carefully navigating your strategy around Jace, you can harness his powers to craft the perfect battlefield state, ensuring that you are steps ahead of your opposition in terms of both board presence and available options.
Instant Speed: While Jace himself doesn’t operate at instant speed, he opens the door for powerful instant-speed play opportunities. His strategic depth empowers players to build their deck with reactive spells that can be used to protect him and maintain control, waiting for the right moment to turn the tide in your favor without compromising on card advantage or board development.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Jace, Arcane Strategist requires a strategic approach since using his abilities often means prioritizing certain cards in hand over others. This can sometimes lead to a difficult decision of discarding valuable cards to fully utilize his potential.
Specific Mana Cost: Jace, Arcane Strategist comes with a blue-heavy mana cost, which means he fits primarily in blue-centric or blue-supporting decks, possibly limiting his versatility in varied deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of six mana to cast, Jace, Arcane Strategist is considered a later game play. This can be a downside as it requires a significant mana investment and may come into play after peak turns of other lower-cost planeswalkers or impactful spells.
Reasons to Include Jace, Arcane Strategist in Your Collection
Versatility: Jace, Arcane Strategist fits seamlessly into a variety of blue-based control and midrange decks. His abilities allow for consistent card draw, which is crucial in maintaining hand advantage and navigating through your deck to find key pieces.
Combo Potential: With Jace’s ability to scry and draw extra cards, he empowers combo decks by helping cycle through the deck faster to assemble combo pieces. Furthermore, his static ability could be a stepping stone in creature-focused strategies, making each creature draw a card upon dealing combat damage.
Meta-Relevance: Given his role in bolstering creature strategies and providing sustained card advantage, Jace, Arcane Strategist remains relevant in metas dominated by creature decks or ones where long game strategies prevail. His loyalty abilities can turn the tide in a protracted game, making him a worthwhile addition to your arsenal.
How to beat Jace, Arcane Strategist
Overcoming the challenges posed by Jace, Arcane Strategist requires strategic deck building and a keen sense of timing. As a card that can tilt the flow of the game by drawing additional cards with every creature attack, nullifying Jace’s influence becomes crucial. One effective method is to control the battlefield with removal spells or board wipes to prevent the opponent from attacking and triggering Jace’s ability. Instant-speed removal like Murder or Lightning Strike can be pivotal the moment Jace hits the table, disrupting your opponent’s plan before it unfolds.
Counter magic also serves as an efficient solution to preclude Jace from entering the battlefield altogether. Counterspells like Mana Leak or Negate are valuable tools in blue’s arsenal to keep Jace at bay. In case Jace does become active, pressure can be applied through aggressive plays, forcing the opponent to deploy resources defensively rather than optimizing Jace’s strategic advantage. Additionally, cards that strip the opponent’s hand, such as Thoughtseize or Duress, can preemptively address Jace before your opponent ever has the chance to cast him, thus maintaining your upper hand.
Focusing on efficient execution and robust disruption can shift a match back into your favor, ensuring that Jace, Arcane Strategist, while a formidable opponent, will not dictate the course of the game.
Cards like Jace, Arcane Strategist
Jace, Arcane Strategist finds its niche within the pantheon of planeswalker cards in Magic the Gathering. One card that stands shoulder to shoulder with Jace is Jace Beleren, another version of our famed mind mage. While Jace Beleren focuses on symmetrical card draw, Jace, Arcane Strategist allows for singular advantage by letting its controller draw a card whenever one of their creatures deals combat damage.
Adjacent to these cards is Teferi, Timebender. This planeswalker also offers card draw but with a wider array of utilities, including untapping artifacts and even taking an extra turn with its ultimate ability. However, the strategic advantage of Jace, Arcane Strategist lies in its ability to continuously foster card draw turn after turn, aligning with a more aggressive creature strategy in comparison to Teferi’s versatility.
Overall, Jace, Arcane Strategist stands out for its synergy with creature-based tactics, encouraging an active board presence. While other planeswalkers like Teferi and Jace Beleren provide various benefits, the constant card advantage gained from Jace, Arcane Strategist’s ability proves to be a potent tool for players aiming to maintain a steady flow of resources in the heat of battle.
Cards similar to Jace, Arcane Strategist by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Jace, Arcane Strategist MTG card by a specific set like War of the Spark and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Jace, Arcane Strategist and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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 Magic products
Printings
The Jace, Arcane Strategist Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-05-03 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Kieran Yanner.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-05-03 | War of the Spark | WAR | 270 | 2015 | normal | black | Kieran Yanner | |
| 2 | 2022-12-02 | Jumpstart 2022 | J22 | 310 | 2015 | normal | black | Kieran Yanner |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Jace, Arcane Strategist has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Jace, Arcane Strategist card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-05-03 | If a spell or ability causes you to put cards into your hand without specifically using the word “draw,” it’s not a card drawn. |
| 2019-05-03 | If an effect instructs you to draw multiple cards, Jace’s first ability triggers after you draw whichever is the second one for the turn (if any). You choose a target for the ability after you’ve drawn all of the cards. |
| 2019-05-03 | Jace’s first ability can trigger only once each turn. It doesn’t matter whether Jace was on the battlefield when the first card was drawn. |
| 2019-05-03 | Once Jace’s last ability has resolved, its effect applies even if Jace has left the battlefield. |
