Jaspera Sentinel MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Elf Rogue
Abilities Reach
Power 1
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Jaspera Sentinel converts creatures into mana, enhancing spell casting and driving card advantage.
  2. Its mana-tapping ability bolsters early-game speed and aids in meeting color-specific needs.
  3. Despite potential drawbacks, its instant-speed play offers unexpected versatility in combat.

Text of card

Reach , Tap an untapped creature you control: Add one mana of any color.

The arrows of the elvish elite strike as true and deadly as the fangs of the Cosmos Serpent they revere.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Jaspera Sentinel doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, this one-drop creature can effectively convert any creature into a mana source, helping you deploy your hand more efficiently. This increases your potential to play multiple spells in a turn and generate card advantage over your opponent by making every creature you control more valuable.

Resource Acceleration: Jaspera Sentinel shines in enabling early-game resource acceleration. By tapping another untapped creature you control, you can add one mana of any color to your mana pool. This ability grants a significant advantage, particularly in decks that aim to outpace the opponent with quick deployment of threats or needing specific color requirements.

Instant Speed: Although Jaspera Sentinel itself is not an instant, it enables instant-speed plays by untapping potential mana sources on your opponent’s turn. This flexibility allows you to keep up mana for reactionary spells while still progressing your board state—a tactical advantage that keeps opponents guessing.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Some players find Jaspera Sentinel’s necessity to tap another untapped creature you control as a sort of ‘discard’ in terms of combat potential. This requirement can be a drawback in scenarios where you need all your creatures ready for defense.

Specific Mana Cost: For decks that are color-intensive, Jaspera Sentinel’s single green mana cost might seem trivial. However, in multicolored or colorless decks, even this minimal requirement could pose a challenge when you’re in a tight spot for mana diversity.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the card itself is low-cost, the ability to add one mana of any color comes at the expense of not just tapping the Sentinel but another creature too. Some argue that this cost is comparatively high, considering there are numerous one-drop creatures that either tap for mana on their own or have more impactful abilities without additional requirements.


Reasons to Include Jaspera Sentinel in Your Collection

Versatility: Jaspera Sentinel is a flexible card that can seamlessly integrate into various deck builds, particularly those looking to establish early board presence. Its ability to tap another untapped creature you control for mana accelerates your plays, making it a utility piece in creature-heavy strategies.

Combo Potential: This one-drop creature offers combo synergies in decks that capitalize on tapping and untapping creatures. It can be a key component in creating intricate chains of actions enabling powerful payoffs for players who enjoy complex, interactive gameplay.

Meta-Relevance: Given its low mana cost and role in ramp strategies, Jaspera Sentinel remains relevant in metagames that favor quick development or go-wide strategies. It serves as a fundamental enabler in decks aiming to outpace opponents by deploying threats earlier than expected.


How to beat

Jaspera Sentinel has carved its niche as a reliable mana dork in the Magic: The Gathering arena. This unassuming one-mana green creature provides an additional resource by tapping another untapped creature you control. While not overwhelmingly powerful on its own, it can be an essential part of a ramp strategy, potentially accelerating the casting of high-cost cards ahead of normal progression.

To disrupt this advantage, prioritize removing the Sentinel as swiftly as possible. Direct damage spells, simple removals, or even sacrificing mechanics can be employed effectively to neutralize this creature early on. You could also hinder its abilities by incapacitating potential creatures it may tap for its ability, which not only limits Jaspera Sentinel’s utility but can stall your opponent’s overall game plan.

Remembering to keep control of the board early against decks that leverage Jaspera Sentinel can mean the difference between an opponent who’s ramping ahead or one that’s struggling to keep pace. Therefore, investing minimal resources to eliminate the Sentinel often yields a considerably high return, throttling your opponent’s ramp and setting the stage for your victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the dimensions of Magic the Gathering is a strategy game with endless possibilities. Jaspera Sentinel, a humble yet potent card, offers advantages with its versatile mana-tapping abilities, setting the groundwork for a formidable deck. Whether you’re revolutionizing your strategic play, seeking to optimize your deck’s performance, or simply wish for a richer collection, understanding the dynamics of cards like Jaspera Sentinel is crucial. Continue your journey to MTG mastery with us as we dive deeper into deck-building strategies, uncover synergies, and provide insights to stay ahead. Enhance your dueling prowess—learn more with BurnMana and ascend as a formidable player in the MTG realm.


Cards like Jaspera Sentinel

Jaspera Sentinel stands as an intriguing option for players needing a low-cost creature that can accelerate mana in Magic: The Gathering. It finds kinship with cards like Llanowar Elves, a classic mana dork famed for its simplicity and efficiency in mana generation. While Llanowar Elves provide a straightforward tap for green mana, Jaspera Sentinel requires another creature to be tapped in order to produce one mana of any color. This versatility in color provides an advantage in multicolored decks compared to Llanowar Elves’ limitation to green mana.

Another relative in this arena is Avacyn’s Pilgrim, which also costs a single mana but provides white mana when tapped. Distinctly, Avacyn’s Pilgrim does not need additional creatures to do so, giving it an edge in early game scenarios. Conversely, Jaspera Sentinel’s ability to tap another creature can be tactically used, especially when coupled with cards that benefit from being tapped or untapped.

Overall, when placed alongside its counterparts, Jaspera Sentinel offers a blend of mana flexibility and potential synergistic play that certain decks might find exceedingly beneficial. It’s this blend of utility and tactical interaction that could make Jaspera Sentinel a strategic choice in the appropriate MTG build.

Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Avacyn's Pilgrim - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Avacyn's Pilgrim - Innistrad (ISD)

Cards similar to Jaspera Sentinel by color, type and mana cost

Scryb Sprites - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Ghazbán Ogre - MTG Card versions
Shanodin Dryads - MTG Card versions
Wall of Wood - MTG Card versions
Village Elder - MTG Card versions
Spike Drone - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Elite - MTG Card versions
Elvish Berserker - MTG Card versions
Tree Monkey - MTG Card versions
Wild Dogs - MTG Card versions
Elvish Herder - MTG Card versions
Pouncing Jaguar - MTG Card versions
Taunting Elf - MTG Card versions
Scavenger Folk - MTG Card versions
Willow Geist - MTG Card versions
Fyndhorn Elves - MTG Card versions
Nimble Mongoose - MTG Card versions
Sylvan Safekeeper - MTG Card versions
Elvish Lyrist - MTG Card versions
Scryb Sprites - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Llanowar Elves - 30th Anniversary History Promos (P30H)
Ghazbán Ogre - Masters Edition (ME1)
Shanodin Dryads - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Wall of Wood - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Village Elder - Mirage (MIR)
Spike Drone - Tempest (TMP)
Skyshroud Elite - Exodus (EXO)
Elvish Berserker - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Tree Monkey - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Wild Dogs - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Elvish Herder - Urza's Saga (USG)
Pouncing Jaguar - Urza's Saga (USG)
Taunting Elf - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Scavenger Folk - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Willow Geist - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Fyndhorn Elves - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Nimble Mongoose - The List (PLST)
Sylvan Safekeeper - World Championship Decks 2002 (WC02)
Elvish Lyrist - Eighth Edition (8ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Jaspera Sentinel MTG card by a specific set like Secret Lair Drop and Kaldheim, 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 Jaspera Sentinel and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Jaspera Sentinel Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-12-02 and 2021-02-05. Illustrated by Raoul Vitale.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 7702015normalblackRaoul Vitale
22021-02-05KaldheimKHM 1782015normalblackRaoul Vitale

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Jaspera Sentinel has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2021-02-05 You can tap any untapped creature you control, including one you haven’t controlled continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn, to pay the cost of Jaspera Sentinel’s activated ability. You must have controlled Jaspera Sentinel continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn, however.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks