Jackal Pup MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 8 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Jackal
Power 2
Toughness 1

Key Takeaways

  1. Jacks into high-cost card trades, Jackal Pup is valuable in resource disruption strategies.
  2. Perfect for Red Deck Wins, it pressures opponents from early turns, accelerating gameplay.
  3. Demanding instant removal, Jackal Pup forces opponents to react, offering strategic advantage.

Text of card

For each 1 damage dealt to Jackal Pup, it deals 1 damage to you.

The first morning after acquiring her familiar, the wizard awoke with fleabites and mange.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Jackal Pup doesn’t directly provide card advantage, its aggressive stats mean it often trades with higher-cost cards, potentially disrupting your opponent’s strategy.

Resource Acceleration: This card excels in fast-paced Red Deck Wins strategies, effectively putting pressure on the opponent right from the start, potentially accelerating the game towards a quick win.

Instant Speed: Though Jackal Pup is a creature and doesn’t operate at instant speed, its presence demands an immediate answer, forcing opponents to potentially use their instant speed removal prematurely, which can be tactically advantageous.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: This card does not require a discard when played, making it an efficient play in terms of card economy.

Specific Mana Cost: Jackal Pup requires a single red mana, making it exclusive to mono-red or red-inclusive multicolor decks, limiting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not applicable in the case of Jackal Pup due to its low casting cost, the effectiveness of other cards with higher mana requirements should be considered in deck-building.


Reasons to Include Jackal Pup in Your Collection

Versatility: Jackal Pup might seem straightforward, but it’s a staple for red aggro decks. Its low mana cost allows for an aggressive early game, making it ideal for players seeking to pressure their opponents right from the start.

Combo Potential: This fiery little creature can synergize well in strategies that benefit from early damage output. Use it alongside cards that capitalize on dealing damage or sacrificing creatures for bigger gains.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where the early turns can dictate the outcome, Jackal Pup maintains its relevance. Facing down a meta dominated by slower ramp or combo decks, the swift damage it delivers can give you the upper hand, asserting significant pressure early on.


How to beat

Jackal Pup, a staple from the early days of Magic: The Gathering, presents a unique challenge with its aggressively costed body. Initially printed in Tempest, this red one-drop creature can deal sizable early game damage that puts opponents on a tight clock. However, its strength comes with a drawback – it can backfire on the controlling player.

To effectively counter this fiery canine, consider employing creatures that can block and dispatch it without much hassle. A card like Wall of Blossoms not only blocks Jackal Pup with ease but also offers card draw. Another strategy involves leveraging removal spells that can dispose of it before it inflicts significant damage. Additionally, passive damage prevention measures such as the enchantment Circle of Protection: Red can render the Pup’s attacks futile, effectively negating its threat while avoiding its penalty.

It’s essential to avoid trading multiple cards to deal with this single-threat card. Instead, focus on one-for-one trades or better, and use the self-damaging characteristic of Jackal Pup to your advantage, turning the opponent’s aggressive strategy into a drawback. Thus, managing early aggression will prevent Jackal Pup from becoming a true threat, maintaining an upper hand in the match.


Cards like Jackal Pup

Jackal Pup is a classic creature from Magic: The Gathering that offers aggressive players an early advantage on the battlefield. It’s akin to other one-mana red creatures, like Monastery Swiftspear, which also provides a quick offensive option. Monastery Swiftspear carries the prowess mechanic, potentially increasing its power as you play noncreature spells, whereas Jackal Pup doesn’t have this capability.

Furthermore, there’s the recently printed Fervent Champion, which boasts both haste and a buff to other attacking knights, making it a versatile choice in knight or equipment-focused decks. In contrast, Jackal Pup’s straightforward approach comes with a drawback—it deals damage to you whenever it takes damage, making it a risky bet against opponents with plenty of removal.

Despite these differences, Jackal Pup remains a noteworthy card for any player looking to apply early pressure in a match. Its cost-efficient power level makes it a formidable contender when evaluating one-drop creatures in Red’s MTG arsenal, appealing to those who prefer a direct and aggressive gameplay strategy.

Monastery Swiftspear - MTG Card versions
Fervent Champion - MTG Card versions
Monastery Swiftspear - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Fervent Champion - Throne of Eldraine Promos (PELD)

Cards similar to Jackal Pup by color, type and mana cost

Goblin Balloon Brigade - MTG Card versions
Hurr Jackal - MTG Card versions
Primordial Ooze - MTG Card versions
Gorilla Shaman - MTG Card versions
Goblin Swine-Rider - MTG Card versions
Mons's Goblin Raiders - MTG Card versions
Orcish Conscripts - MTG Card versions
Mountain Goat - MTG Card versions
Flailing Soldier - MTG Card versions
Branded Brawlers - MTG Card versions
Scarred Puma - MTG Card versions
Mogg Fanatic - MTG Card versions
Grim Lavamancer - MTG Card versions
Kessig Wolfrider - MTG Card versions
Skirk Prospector - MTG Card versions
Crazed Goblin - MTG Card versions
Akki Avalanchers - MTG Card versions
Mons's Goblin Waiters - MTG Card versions
Mogg Sentry - MTG Card versions
Goblin Mountaineer - MTG Card versions
Goblin Balloon Brigade - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Hurr Jackal - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Primordial Ooze - Chronicles (CHR)
Gorilla Shaman - Alliances (ALL)
Goblin Swine-Rider - Visions (VIS)
Mons's Goblin Raiders - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Orcish Conscripts - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Mountain Goat - Portal (POR)
Flailing Soldier - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Branded Brawlers - Prophecy (PCY)
Scarred Puma - Invasion (INV)
Mogg Fanatic - Tenth Edition (10E)
Grim Lavamancer - Torment (TOR)
Kessig Wolfrider - Innistrad: Crimson Vow (VOW)
Skirk Prospector - Vintage Masters (VMA)
Crazed Goblin - Darksteel (DST)
Akki Avalanchers - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Mons's Goblin Waiters - Unhinged (UNH)
Mogg Sentry - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Goblin Mountaineer - Ninth Edition (9ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Jackal Pup MTG card by a specific set like Tempest and World Championship Decks 1998, 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 Jackal Pup and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Jackal Pup Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 1997-10-14 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-10-14TempestTMP 1831997normalblackSusan Van Camp
21998-08-12World Championship Decks 1998WC98 br1831997normalgoldSusan Van Camp
31999-08-04World Championship Decks 1999WC99 mlp1831997normalgoldSusan Van Camp
42001-01-01Friday Night Magic 2001F01 81997normalblackSusan Van Camp
52002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 360561997normalblackSusan Van Camp
62018-03-16Masters 25A25 1392015normalblackKev Walker
72019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 9852015normalblackKev Walker
82020-09-26The ListPLST A25-1392015normalblackKev Walker

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Jackal Pup has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks