Jabari's Influence MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Instant
Released	1996-10-08
Set symbol
Set name	Mirage
Set code	MIR
Number	24
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Gerry Grace

Key Takeaways

Jabari’s Influence excels in card advantage, simultaneously recuperating a creature and bolstering hand presence.
Instant speed allows swift reactions to opponents, making it a valuable combat trick or protective response.
Casting cost and specific mana requirements suggest careful deck integration to harness its full potential.

Text of card

Play only after combat. Gain control of target nonartifact, nonblack creature that attacked you this turn and put a -1/-0 counter on it.

"Common soldiers can't understand what a sidar knows: the enemy can be a resource." —Sidar Jabari

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Jabari’s Influence shines in the arena of card advantage, offering a unique twist on this concept. It allows players not only to return a creature to their hand upon cast but also to potentially cast that creature immediately if it shares a color with the spell. This chain of actions effectively nets card utility and maintains hand presence, a subtle yet powerful form of advantage.

Resource Acceleration: The card takes resource acceleration to a strategic level. By returning creatures to your hand, it can free up the mana initially spent on them. This mana can then be reused to deploy other spells or abilities, thus optimizing your resources per turn and potentially leading to a more commanding board state.

Instant Speed: The instant speed nature of Jabari’s Influence offers a tactical edge, allowing players to react to opponents’ moves with precision. This quality enables it to function as a surprise combat trick or as a means to rescue and reuse your creature in response to an elimination threat, adding layers of flexibility and surprise to your game plan.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Jabari’s Influence can set you back by making you discard a card, which can hamper your hand if you’re already facing resource shortages.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Jabari’s Influence includes a more restrictive white mana requirement, which might not effortlessly slot into multicolored or off-theme decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Its casting cost sits at a premium price point, requiring a hefty amount of mana that could be arguably utilized for other potent spells or creatures that offer immediate impact on the game board.

Reasons to Include Jabari’s Influence in Your Collection

Versatility: Jabari’s Influence provides a unique blend of combat trickery and permanent control, making it a clutch play in various decks that want to swing the tide of battle in their favor and capitalize on opponents’ threats.

Combo Potential: This card allows you to gain command of opponent’s creatures, setting up potential synergies with your deck’s sacrifice or flicker effects to exploit repeatedly every turn.

Meta-Relevance: With a game environment that highlights creature-based strategies, this spell can act as a key disruptive tool, turning enemy forces into your assets and disrupting their plans mid-combat.

How to beat

Jabari’s Influence is a powerful card that can tip the scales in your opponent’s favor in Magic: The Gathering. This unique card allows players to take control of the battlefield by potentially redirecting the course of combat. Understanding its mechanics is key to navigating around its game-altering ability effectively.

To successfully counter Jabari’s Influence, consider employing instant speed removal spells that can preemptively take out critical creatures before the Influence can be used, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, depending on the color of mana you are playing with. Furthermore, keeping up counter spells like Negate or Dovin’s Veto can also thwart your opponent’s attempt to cast Jabari’s Influence, maintaining your hold on the board.

Additionally, since Jabari’s Influence requires a hefty mana investment, utilizing land destruction strategies or limiting your opponent’s mana generation can be effective. With timely disruption and keen awareness of when your opponent might have enough mana to cast Jabari’s Influence, you can maintain the upper hand and ensure that this formidable card doesn’t sway the game out of your favor.

Cards like Jabari's Influence

Jabari’s Influence claims its unique spot in the pantheon of MTG control cards. At its core, it echoes the tactical redirection seen in cards like Deflecting Palm, which also twists the course of combat by turning an opponent’s attack back onto themselves. However, Jabari’s Influence ups the ante by taking permanent control of a creature, an ability not found in the more reactionary Deflecting Palm.

Cards like Ray of Command also flirt with a similar idea, temporarily seizing another creature during combat, providing a surprise swing in board state. Jabari’s Influence, in contrast, offers a lasting change, as the stolen creature becomes a new ally for the remainder of the game. Mind Control is another comparable card that exerts long-term control over another’s creature, yet does so without the situational requirement of combat engagement that Jabari’s Influence has.

Considering these comparisons, Jabari’s Influence stands out for players seeking enduring battlefield influence in MTG. Its mix of immediate impact during combat and the long-term advantage of commandeering an enemy creature carves a niche for it among creature control spells.

Cards similar to Jabari's Influence by color, type and mana cost

Scars of the Veteran - MTG Card versions

Charge Across the Araba - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Jabari's Influence MTG card by a specific set like Mirage, 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 Jabari's Influence and other MTG cards: