Jhessian Infiltrator MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Human Rogue
Released	2008-10-03
Set symbol
Set name	Shards of Alara
Set code	ALA
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	174
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Donato Giancola

Key Takeaways

Offers card advantage through its elusiveness and ability to impact opponents’ hands.
May constrict deck-building due to its specific blue and green mana requirement.
Unblockability makes it a consistent combat damage threat in various formats.

Text of card

Jhessian Infiltrator is unblockable.

The Jhessian navy makes successful raids on Valeron's coastal towns thanks to their spies planted during peacetime.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Jhessian Infiltrator can efficiently keep your hand filled. As a two-cost creature with an elusive nature, it challenges your opponent to have the right answer immediately or risk falling behind as you continue to deal damage and draw into more threats or answers yourself.

Resource Acceleration: While not direct acceleration, the mere presence of Jhessian Infiltrator forces your opponent to potentially misplay, holding back vital resources in anticipation of its attacks. This can put you ahead as you develop your board unimpeded.

Instant Speed: While the card itself is not instant speed, it synergizes well with cards that are. The threat of unblockable damage can cause opponents to operate inefficiently, saving removal or tricks for the infiltrator, which in turn can allow you to respond with your instant-speed interactions more effectively.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: If you’re keeping a tight hand, the infiltrator’s ability might force you to discard valuable cards, putting you at a strategic disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Jhessian Infiltrator demands both green and blue mana, which can complicate your mana base and restrict deck-building flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing two mana might be a bit steep for a 2/2 creature, especially when other cards at similar costs might provide greater immediate impact on the game.

Reasons to Include Jhessian Infiltrator in Your Collection

Versatility: Jhessian Infiltrator’s two-color alignment allows it to be a flexible component in multicolor decks. Its unblockability ensures it has a consistent impact on the game, serving as a reliable source of combat damage to an opponent.

Combo Potential: With its ability to hit opponents each turn, Jhessian Infiltrator can be instrumental in triggering various card abilities or synergies within a deck, such as those that activate upon dealing combat damage to a player.

Meta-Relevance: Given its role in evasion strategies, Jhessian Infiltrator is particularly useful in formats where the board can become cluttered with creatures. It’s a solid choice against control decks that seek to lock down the battlefield but often leave themselves vulnerable to unblockable creatures.

How to beat

Jhessian Infiltrator is a stealthy card that can slip through an opponent’s defenses in the world of Magic: The Gathering. Its blend of unblockable prowess and modest power makes it a noteworthy threat in a duel. The key to neutralizing this card’s effectiveness lies in understanding its weaknesses and planning a strategic response.

One effective approach to overcome Jhessian Infiltrator is by employing spot removal spells. Cards that can target and remove creatures from the battlefield without needing to block, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, can efficiently handle the Infiltrator before it becomes unmanageable. Additionally, utilizing board wipes like Wrath of God, which clear out all creatures regardless of their abilities, can reset the playing field and remove the Infiltrator along with any other threats.

It’s also valuable to work around the Infiltrator by focusing on your own winning strategies. Enhancing your deck with quick and aggressive creatures, or constructing combos that can win the game without interacting with enemy creatures, are both viable tactics. In conclusion, by prioritizing the removal of key threats or advancing your own game plan effectively, Jhessian Infiltrator can be rendered less problematic.

Cards like Jhessian Infiltrator

When delving into the realm of unblockable creatures within Magic: The Gathering, Jhessian Infiltrator presents a subtle yet impactful statement. It stands alongside cards such as Invisible Stalker, which shares the trait of being difficult for opponents to block. However, Jhessian Infiltrator is distinct with its pairing of colors, costing both blue and green mana while Invisible Stalker demands only blue. Additionally, while the Infiltrator doesn’t bring superior abilities like hexproof, its dual-color identity can be strategically leveraged in multicolored decks.

Comparatively, Thieves’ Guild Enforcer elicits a more prevailing board presence with its rogue synergy and ability to grow in power. Though it doesn’t inherently possess the unblockable status, the Enforcer’s potential to disrupt the opponent’s graveyard and augment its stats gives it a diversified role in deck building schemes. Another comparable creature is Blighted Agent, which also cannot be blocked, but with the upside of infect, posing a different kind of threat on its trajectory to victory. However, Blighted Agent’s restriction to blue mana decks only, unlike the flexible nature of Jhessian Infiltrator.

If we consider the intricacies of deck construction and meta adaptability, Jhessian Infiltrator holds its ground with a unique blend of evasion, multicolor adaptability, and seamless integration into decks that benefit from the influx of both blue and green mana.

Thieves' Guild Enforcer - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Jhessian Infiltrator 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 Jhessian Infiltrator and other MTG cards: