Jaya Ballard, Task Mage MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Human Spellshaper
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Jaya Ballard offers instant speed abilities for strategic flexibility and removal options.
  2. Her activated abilities can yield significant card advantage, albeit with a discard cost.
  3. A red mana-specific cost can limit Jaya’s inclusion in multi-color MTG decks.

Text of card

, , Discard a card: Destroy target blue permanent. , , Discard a card: Jaya Ballard, Task Mage deals 3 damage to target creature or player. A creature dealt damage this way can't be regenerated this turn. , , Discard a card: Jaya Ballard deals 6 damage to each creature and each player.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Jaya Ballard, Task Mage offers a variety of abilities that provide card advantage. Her ability to discard a card to deal damage can eliminate key threats on the board, effectively turning any card in your hand into a potential removal spell.

Resource Acceleration: Though Jaya herself does not directly provide resource acceleration, her ability to discard and draw allows you to sift through your deck, potentially drawing into acceleration tools faster. This can help set up for impactful plays sooner.

Instant Speed: Each of Jaya Ballard’s abilities can be activated at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to make decisions on the fly and adapt to the shifting battlefield. Whether it’s removing creatures on your opponent’s turn or finding that crucial card in response to an action, instant speed is a substantial strategic advantage.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Jaya Ballard is that activating any of her abilities involves discarding a card. This can potentially deplete your hand, leaving you vulnerable and without options if your resources are already stretched thin.

Specific Mana Cost: Jaya Ballard’s abilities require a combination of generic and specifically red mana to activate. This can make her a challenging fit in multi-color decks that might not always have the required red mana readily available when needed.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an activation cost that competes with other spells and abilities in the same mana range, players might find her less appealing. There are situations where you could cast spells with more immediate impact on the game rather than investing in Jaya Ballard’s variable outcomes.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Jaya Ballard, Task Mage offers a broad range of abilities that allow her to adapt to various situations on the battlefield. Her ability to act as removal, direct damage, and card advantage makes her a valuable addition to red decks that demand flexibility.

Combo Potential: With her array of activated abilities, Jaya Ballard works seamlessly with decks that capitalize on instants and sorceries. She can also be a key piece in combos that rely on discarding cards or sacrificing permanents for greater benefits.

Meta-Relevance: As the meta shifts, Jaya Ballard remains pertinent, particularly in environments where non-creature strategies thrive. Her ability to disrupt opponents while providing card advantage keeps her relevant in diverse meta scenarios.


How to beat

Jaya Ballard, Task Mage, is a formidable force within the MTG arena. Her ability to control the pace of play and disrupt opponents with her spell-like abilities can be overwhelming. To effectively counter this red mana Planeswalker, strategy is key. Cards with uncounterable spells, such as Banefire or Abrupt Decay, can deliver a blow that Jaya cannot prevent. Moreover, employing creatures with hexproof or shroud from cards like Invisible Stalker or Lightning Greaves can protect your assets from her targeted destruction abilities.

Keeping the pressure with aggressive creatures can also tilt the balance in your favor. As soon as Jaya hits the battlefield, it’s crucial to keep your foot on the gas and continuously present threats that require answers. This continuous pressure can prevent your opponent from maximizing Jaya’s potential. Dedication to board development and countering with instant removal when Jaya activates an ability can efficiently devalue her presence, shifting the tempo into your favor.

Consistently pressuring your opponent, diversifying your threats, and introducing resilient or uncounterable options will help ensure that Jaya Ballard, Task Mage, doesn’t derail your game plan and you retain control of the match.


Cards like Jaya Ballard, Task Mage

Jaya Ballard, Task Mage is a unique character card in Magic: The Gathering with a rich history and a diversity of abilities that exemplify the red mana’s chaotic and powerful nature. This card is comparable to other planeswalker-type cards, such as Chandra, Torch of Defiance. Both are fiery red-mana wielders with potent abilities that can disrupt the opponent’s strategy. Jaya comes with the flexible option to deal direct damage, disrupt spell casting or even act as a repeatable card advantage engine.

Another card that shares similarities with Jaya Ballard is Kumano, Master Yamabushi. Kumano also allows for pinpointed direct damage targets, though it lacks Jaya’s multifaceted spellcasting disruption and does not provide card draw utility. Meanwhile, the newer Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast, similarly offers a red-themed versatility but edges towards creature support and exile mechanics rather than Jaya’s spell-centric focus.

Assessing the gameplay impact, Jaya Ballard stands out as a highly versatile card for red players. Her multiple options offer a strong tactical edge in matchups, embodying the chaotic energy and direct damage that red mages relish in their MTG arsenal.

Chandra, Torch of Defiance - MTG Card versions
Kumano, Master Yamabushi - MTG Card versions
Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast - MTG Card versions
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Kaladesh (KLD)
Kumano, Master Yamabushi - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths Promos (PIKO)

Cards similar to Jaya Ballard, Task Mage by color, type and mana cost

Dwarven Warriors - MTG Card versions
Raging Bull - MTG Card versions
Wall of Lava - MTG Card versions
Brassclaw Orcs - MTG Card versions
Imperial Recruiter - MTG Card versions
Uthden Troll - MTG Card versions
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Nosy Goblin - MTG Card versions
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Stinkdrinker Daredevil - MTG Card versions
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Mudbutton Torchrunner - MTG Card versions
Dwarven Warriors - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Raging Bull - Legends (LEG)
Wall of Lava - Ice Age (ICE)
Brassclaw Orcs - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Imperial Recruiter - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Uthden Troll - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Hobgoblin Bandit Lord - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Goblin Rabblemaster - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Nosy Goblin - Onslaught (ONS)
Goblin Sky Raider - Onslaught (ONS)
Cosmic Larva - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)
Ghost-Lit Raider - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Goblin Chariot - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Balduvian Barbarians - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Basalt Gargoyle - Time Spiral (TSP)
Orcish Artillery - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Stinkdrinker Daredevil - Lorwyn (LRW)
Blind-Spot Giant - Lorwyn (LRW)
Mudbutton Torchrunner - Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins (DD1)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Jaya Ballard, Task Mage MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Time Spiral, 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 Jaya Ballard, Task Mage and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Jaya Ballard, Task Mage Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2006-10-06 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by Matt Cavotta.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 363122003normalblackMatt Cavotta
22006-10-06Time SpiralTSP 1662003normalblackMatt Cavotta
32007-01-01Resale PromosPRES A12003normalblackMatt Cavotta
42008-01-01Magic Premiere Shop 2008PMPS08 a1 20072003normalblackMatt Cavotta
52020-09-26The ListPLST TSP-1662003normalblackMatt Cavotta
62021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 1722015normalblackMatt Cavotta

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Jaya Ballard, Task Mage has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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