Jackalope Herd MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Rabbit Beast |
| Released | 1998-06-15 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Exodus |
| Set code | EXO |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 5 |
| Number | 111 |
| Frame | 1997 |
| Layout | normal |
| Border | black |
| Illustred by | Ron Spencer |
Key Takeaways
- Provides card advantage by bouncing back to the hand, enabling repeated use and hand resource sustainability.
- Synergizes with instant speed cards for strategic flexibility and maintains board presence economically.
- Specific mana requirements and discard cost to activate its ability can be restrictive in gameplay.
Text of card
If you play any spell, return Jackalope Herd to owner's hand.
There's little more demeaning than getting your butt kicked by a bunch of bunnies.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Jackalope Herd provides repeated utility as it can return to your hand after being on the battlefield, thus offering multiple opportunities to trigger enter-the-battlefield effects or evade removal, ultimately sustaining your hand resources.
Resource Acceleration: While Jackalope Herd does not directly produce mana or treasure tokens, its recurring playability assists in maintaining a board presence without exhaustive investment. This creature can effectively serve as a continual blocker or attacker, managing your resources efficiently.
Instant Speed: Although Jackalope Herd itself does not operate at instant speed, it synergizes well with cards that can manipulate or bounce creatures at instant speed. This synergy allows for flexible responses during either player’s turn, contributing to its strategic advantage and versatility in various game scenarios.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One notable drawback of Jackalope Herd is the necessity to discard another creature card to activate its bounce-back mechanic upon dealing combat damage to a player. This can be disadvantageous when your hand is depleted or the creature cards in hand are too valuable to discard.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for Jackalope Herd is quite specific, necessitating two green mana. This can be restrictive and often requires a deck to be heavily green or have ample mana fixing to accommodate other colors consistently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost sitting at four mana, Jackalope Herd might be on the higher end for its creature stats and abilities. Players might prefer deploying other creatures or spells that provide more immediate board presence or impact at this cost threshold.
Reasons to Include Jackalope Herd in Your Collection
Versatility: Jackalope Herd is a card that seamlessly translates into various deck types. Its ability to bounce back to the owner’s hand upon being targeted makes it a resilient threat in environments where removal spells are prevalent.
Combo Potential: This card’s return-to-hand mechanic works well with strategies that capitalize on casting creatures or triggering enter-the-battlefield effects repeatedly, providing continuous value throughout the game.
Meta-Relevance: As the game environment shifts and adapts, a card like Jackalope Herd remains relevant. Its evasion in the face of targeted removal can give players an edge in matchups where controlling the board is key to victory.
How to beat
Jackalope Herd is an intriguing creature card that presents players with a unique challenge on the battlefield. With its ability to bounce back to the owner’s hand after a spell targets it, the card can be a persistent nuisance. To effectively combat this, pinpoint removal is less efficient, and it’s advisable to employ board wipes. Cards like Wrath of God or Doomskar can clear the field, including any elusive Jackalope Herds, without triggering their return ability.
Another tactic is to utilize counterspells. By intercepting Jackalope Herd before it hits the board, you prevent the need to deal with its bounce-back mechanism entirely. Cards like Counterspell or Mana Leak can provide the necessary control. Alternatively, using passive control strategies such as enchantments can be effective. Cards like Pacifism or Arrest can neutralize the creature without activating its ability, leaving it stranded helplessly on the battlefield.
When playing against Jackalope Herd, it’s crucial to consider the tempo of your strategies. Pacing your removal and control tools wisely will mitigate the card’s potential and help you maintain an advantage during your game.
Cards like Jackalope Herd
Jackalope Herd joins the ranks of intriguing green creatures within MTG that specialize in growth and resilience. A fitting comparison can be made with stampeding creatures such as Ripclan Crasher. Both share the dynamic rhythm of combat-centric green-red decks. Yet, the Jackalope Herd boasts an intriguing ability to bounce back to the owner’s hand upon being targeted, reminiscent of creatures like Wirewood Symbiote, but without the Elf synergy.
Exploring further, we encounter the likes of Scaled Wurm, another green creature noted for its sheer size. Unlike the Wurm, Jackalope Herd doesn’t shine with overwhelming power but offers the tactical advantage of evading single-target removal, making it a persistent threat on the board. Comparatively, the Pouncing Wurm also piqued the interest of players with its Kicker feature, yet it doesn’t offer the recurring value found in Jackalope Herd’s ability to return to its owner’s hand.
Ultimately, in the ecosystem of MTG creatures, Jackalope Herd presents itself as a unique blend of combat readiness and cunning survival, securing a niche role in decks that thrive on maintaining a presence on the battlefield while navigating through removal-heavy metagames.
Cards similar to Jackalope Herd by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Jackalope Herd MTG card by a specific set like Exodus, 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 Jackalope Herd 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Jackalope Herd has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Jackalope Herd card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | It will only return if it is still on the battlefield when the triggered ability resolves. |
