Jhoira's Timebug MTG Card

Time Spiral (TSP)
2006-10-06 - Number 257

Jhoira's Timebug - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)

Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)
2021-03-19 - Number 269

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Artifact Creature — Insect
Power	1
Toughness	2

Key Takeaways

Enables quicker casting of suspended cards, altering the pace of the game.
Instant speed operation adds strategic depth in response to opponents.
Demands careful hand management due to no direct discard requirement.

Text of card

: Choose target permanent you control or suspended card you own. If that permanent or card has a time counter on it, you may remove a time counter from it or put another time counter on it.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Jhoira’s Timebug offers a unique avenue for card advantage in the form of time counter manipulation. Utilize this ability to hasten the arrival of suspended cards, effectively drawing into powerful spells quicker than the standard progression would allow.

Resource Acceleration: By tinkering with the flow of time counters on suspended cards, Jhoira’s Timebug accelerates your resource pipeline. This can enable casting of high-impact spells ahead of schedule, potentially swinging the game in your favor by bypassing conventional mana development.

Instant Speed: The Timebug’s ability to add or remove time counters at instant speed provides a layer of strategic depth. This flexibility lets you adapt to the pace of the game, responding to your opponent’s actions or end-of-turn windows to optimize the timing of your suspended cards’ entry onto the battlefield.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Jhoira’s Timebug doesn’t directly impose a discard requirement, but its ability to tinker with time counters often necessitates a strategic hand management. Discarding advantageous cards to make room for more immediate time manipulation can set you back in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: It demands both blue and red mana to cast, which can restrict deck-building options. Players using decks that lack one of these colors might be unable to benefit from its unique time-shifting abilities.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that consists of two specific mana types, it may be seen as a hefty investment, especially since the impact on the game isn’t immediate. Considering its potential late-game utility, players may prefer other options that confer immediate benefits.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Jhoira’s Timebug can be a key component in decks that manipulate time counters, adapting to various strategies that revolve around suspend mechanics.

Combo Potential: This little artifact creature shines when paired with cards that benefit from time counter adjustments, enabling intricate combos that could potentially accelerate big plays.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where suspend cards or time counter mechanics are prevalent, Jhoira’s Timebug can become an unexpectedly potent tool, giving you a nuanced edge over the competition.

How to beat

Jhoira’s Timebug is a unique card in Magic: The Gathering, recognized for its ability to manipulate time counters on suspended cards. At first glance, the Timebug might seem like a daunting adversary, especially if your opponent is using it to expedite the arrival of powerful suspended cards. Yet, there are effective strategies to mitigate the impact of Jhoira’s Timebug and tilt the match in your favor.

For starters, removing the Timebug itself is key. A simple removal spell can take care of it, considering its modest toughness. Engaging in direct creature combat is another route, taking advantage of its lower power. Additionally, it is essential to manage the suspended cards; cards like Timecrafting or Rift Elemental can reset or remove time counters and disrupt your opponent’s carefully laid plans. Interruption through counterplay is effective as well; Stifle and Trickbind can stop the Timebug’s abilities from triggering, negating its impact on the game.

Overall, understanding and disrupting your opponent’s strategy by targeting key elements like Jhoira’s Timebug can greatly improve your chances for success. Readjusting focus from merely surviving to actively countering makes a vital difference, showcasing the depth and interaction Magic: The Gathering offers.

Cards like Jhoira's Timebug

Jhoira’s Timebug stands out in the niche arena of time manipulation within Magic: The Gathering. It serves a singular purpose: tweaking time counters on permanents with suspended cards. This little insect is often compared to cards like Rift Elemental, which also allows for manipulation of time counters. However, Rift Elemental has a different approach, requiring a sacrifice in mana and the Elemental itself for each counter removed, making it a faster but more costly option.

Fury Charm embodies versatility, offering removal of time counters among other options, providing instant-speed interaction but without the repeatability offered by Jhoira’s Timebug. Conversely, Timecrafting is a one-time effect with a broader scope, able to add or remove multiple counters but lacking the staying power of Jhoira’s Timebug on the battlefield.

While not overly powerful on its own, Jhoira’s Timebug can be a vital component for decks designed to exploit the mechanics of suspending cards. It’s a subtle instrument in enabling prolonged gameplay strategies, which can make all the difference when it comes to outmaneuvering opponents who fail to recognize its potential utility in the long game.

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Jhoira's Timebug MTG card by a specific set like Time Spiral and Time Spiral Remastered, 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 Jhoira's Timebug and other MTG cards: