Jade Mage MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Human Shaman
Power 2
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Generates Saproling tokens for board presence and strategic pressure using mana resources efficiently.
  2. Instant speed ability of Jade Mage allows tactical flexibility and unpredictable, responsive plays.
  3. Demands mana investment for token generation but can be restrictive due to color specificity.

Text of card

: Put a 1/1 green Saproling creature token onto the battlefield.

"We are one with the wild things. Life blooms from our fingertips and nature responds to our summons." —Jade creed


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Jade Mage creature card boosts your strategy by enabling you to consistently generate creature tokens. This allows for a steady expansion of your board presence, giving you the power to apply pressure or create valuable blockers turn after turn.

Resource Acceleration: With the Jade Mage, you have the ability to utilize excess mana each turn to churn out Saproling tokens. This converts spare resources into potential threats, leveraging your mana pool for incremental in-game advantages.

Instant Speed: Jade Mage’s activated ability can be used at instant speed, providing flexibility during the game. You can end your opponent’s turn by creating a token or hold mana for potential interaction, making your plays less predictable and more strategic.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Jade Mage doesn’t directly require a discard, but this may be implied as you must manage your resources carefully to leverage its ability. Consistently activating the mage’s ability necessitates a steady flow of cards, which can strain your hand size and compel trade-offs where you might discard cards to maintain board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: Nestled snugly in a green mana requirement, the Jade Mage demands decks that are either mono-green or adept at managing multiple mana sources. This can restrict its integration into various multi-colored decks where green is not a primary focus, potentially sidelining it in favor of more adaptable creatures.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: To get the most from Jade Mage’s ability, a considerable amount of mana investment is needed. While two mana for a 1/1 creature token is fair, having to invest three mana every time can add up, making it less mana-efficient compared to other cards that might offer token generation at a lower opportunity cost.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Jade Mage offers adaptability to commander and token-focused decks. The ability to consistently create creatures ensures that you can defend yourself, pressure opponents, or build an army over time.

Combo Potential: In combination with cards that benefit from creature tokens or sacrifice mechanics, Jade Mage becomes a valuable engine. Its ability to generate saprolings can feed into numerous synergistic strategies, bolstering your board presence turn after turn.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where board presence and incremental advantages are king, Jade Mage proves to be a useful tool. It thrives in environments where stabilizing the board and creating recurring value is essential for success.


How to Beat

Jade Mage is an intriguing card that offers players in MTG the ability to steadily populate the battlefield with 1/1 Saproling creature tokens. At first glance, this may seem like an innocuous threat, but the capacity for token generation can quickly overwhelm an unprepared opponent. The key to countering Jade Mage lies in disrupting its mana-dependent ability.

Removal spells are the most direct method to handle Jade Mage. Instant-speed removal like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can efficiently dispose of the Mage before its ability is used excessively. Board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation are also effective, clearing away generated tokens alongside the Mage itself.

Alternatively, strategies that limit the Jade Mage’s ability activation can suppress its effectiveness. Cards like Linvala, Keeper of Silence prevent activated abilities from being used, while Cursed Totem serves a similar function for all creatures. Moreover, countering Jade Mage during the casting phase with spells like Counterspell ensures that it never becomes a threat on the board.

In any case, recognizing the potential for exponential token generation Jade Mage brings to the table is paramount. Effective counters focus on removal, disabling abilities, or preventing the Mage from entering the battlefield altogether—thus maintaining control and preventing the green tide from taking over the game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Gathering the right MTG cards is a craft, and Jade Mage is a gem to consider for your green-centric or token-producing decks. Recognizing its strengths, such as endless token creation and instant-speed play, can give you an edge in developing a sustainable board state. But also heed its mana demands and plan your deck’s economy accordingly. For those looking to refine their deck with this versatile card or discover counter-strategies, diving deeper into strategic deck building is key. Enhance your gameplay and optimize your deck’s performance by learning more about these dynamic strategies with us.


Cards like Jade Mage

Jade Mage offers a unique strategic advantage within Magic: The Gathering’s roster of mana sinks and creature creators. This card draws parallels to Imperious Perfect, another card that can consistently generate creatures. Both are similar in their ability to create 1/1 tokens, however, Jade Mage is more versatile, thanks to its ability to produce them at any time as long as you have mana, which is valuable in any stage of the game.

Merfolk Looter is another card worth comparing. While it doesn’t provide creature tokens, it does offer a continuous ability to improve the player’s hand by drawing and discarding cards. This, in turn, can provide indirect creature benefits by digging for essential creatures in your deck. Additionally, Selesnya Guildmage stands out with its comparable ability to Jade Mage – offering not only creature creation but also a mass buff to creatures, enhancing their combat capabilities significantly.

Assessing Jade Mage against its similar cards reveals its strength as a consistent token generator. This ability to fill the board with creature tokens can be invaluable for attrition strategies, assuring that this card can hold its own in the diverse eco-system that is MTG.

Imperious Perfect - MTG Card versions
Merfolk Looter - MTG Card versions
Selesnya Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Imperious Perfect - Champs and States (PCMP)
Merfolk Looter - Exodus (EXO)
Selesnya Guildmage - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)

Cards similar to Jade Mage by color, type and mana cost

Wyluli Wolf - MTG Card versions
Whirling Dervish - MTG Card versions
River Boa - MTG Card versions
Albino Troll - MTG Card versions
Silverglade Pathfinder - MTG Card versions
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Blurred Mongoose - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Loamspeaker - MTG Card versions
Genesis Hydra - MTG Card versions
Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse - MTG Card versions
Scavenging Ooze - MTG Card versions
Heir of the Wilds - MTG Card versions
Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - MTG Card versions
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Utopia Tree - MTG Card versions
Bloodline Shaman - MTG Card versions
Sakura-Tribe Elder - MTG Card versions
Stonewood Invoker - MTG Card versions
Oran-Rief Survivalist - MTG Card versions
Wyluli Wolf - Arabian Nights (ARN)
Whirling Dervish - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
River Boa - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Albino Troll - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Silverglade Pathfinder - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Quirion Elves - Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. the Coalition (DDE)
Blurred Mongoose - Invasion (INV)
Llanowar Loamspeaker - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Genesis Hydra - Iconic Masters (IMA)
Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Scavenging Ooze - Modern Masters 2017 (MM3)
Heir of the Wilds - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Wren's Run Vanquisher - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Muscle Sliver - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Utopia Tree - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Bloodline Shaman - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Sakura-Tribe Elder - Junior APAC Series (PJAS)
Stonewood Invoker - Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins (DD1)
Oran-Rief Survivalist - Zendikar (ZEN)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Jade Mage MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2012 and Duel Decks: Ajani vs. Nicol Bolas, 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 Jade Mage and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Jade Mage Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2011-07-15 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-07-15Magic 2012M12 1812003normalblackIzzy
22011-09-02Duel Decks: Ajani vs. Nicol BolasDDH 72003normalblackIzzy
32013-11-01Commander 2013C13 1512003normalblackIzzy
42023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 2982015normalblackMilivoj Ćeran

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Jade Mage has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

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