Jinx MTG Card


Jinx - Homelands
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released1995-10-01
Set symbol
Set nameHomelands
Set codeHML
Number29
Frame1993
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byMike Kimble

Key Takeaways

  1. Jinx bolsters strategies with extra draws, accelerating players’ access to key resources throughout the game.
  2. Deploying larger threats earlier is possible with Jinx, leveraging mana acceleration to outpace opponents.
  3. The card’s instant speed provides flexibility, allowing players to disrupt opponents at the perfect moment.

Text of card

Target land becomes a basic land type of your choice until end of turn. Draw a card at the beginning of the next turn's upkeep.

"What wizards upset, the land soon rights." —Gemma, Willow Priestess


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Jinx is particularly efficient in providing additional draws with its ability to let you peek at the upcoming cards, ensuring a steady stream of resources that can bolster your strategy throughout the game.

Resource Acceleration: With Jinx, you can potentially unlock mana resources faster than usual. This enables a swift deployment of larger threats or key spells ahead of the normal curve, thereby accelerating your game plan.

Instant Speed: The flexibility offered by Jinx due to its instant speed cannot be overstated. It allows savvy players to wait for the most opportune moment to disrupt an opponent’s strategy, while still keeping mana available for other crucial interactions within a turn cycle.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One notable downside to Jinx involves the need to discard another card. This can be particularly cumbersome when you’re already dealing with a depleted hand, making it difficult to optimize the card’s potential without sacrificing valuable resources.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for Jinx is not just steep but also requires a tight color commitment. For players running multicolored decks, fitting Jinx in can be challenging, as it necessitates access to multiple sources of the same mana type to be played effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a higher casting cost, Jinx doesn’t always align with the tempo of faster decks aiming to maintain a lean curve. This makes it potentially less appealing when compared to other options that can advance your game plan with fewer mana investments.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Jinx is a dynamic option for deck builders, easily slipping into a variety of strategies that capitalize on chance and unpredictability. Its unique effects can be a surprise factor against opponents, making it a flexible pick for several deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: Due to its nature, Jinx complements decks designed to manipulate luck and probability. It pairs well with cards that benefit from or recreate its chance-based outcomes, providing creative combo avenues for enthusiasts and competitive players alike.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that’s constantly shifting, a card like Jinx can throw a wrench in many formulated plans. This adaptability makes it relevant in several meta environments, especially where games can be swayed by a single unexpected play.


How to beat

Jinx is one of those MTG cards that can cause a bit of a headache if you’re not prepared for it. By disrupting your strategy, this card forces you to rethink your moves and can lead to a sudden shift in the game’s momentum. However, there are strategies you can deploy to minimize its impact and maintain control of the game.

One effective approach is to use spell counters. Cards like Negate or Counterspell can stop Jinx in its tracks before it can lock down your valuable assets. Additionally, using instant-speed removals or bounce spells allows you to respond to the casting of Jinx, clearing the way for your strategy before it can settle on the battlefield. Don’t forget to keep mana open for these responses, especially if you suspect your opponent is holding Jinx.

Keep in mind that maintaining a diverse set of tactics in your deck can also mitigate the effects of cards like Jinx. Versatility is key in MTG, and having a range of answers ensures you won’t be caught off guard by single threats. Always be ready to adjust your play style, and remember to think one step ahead to keep your opponents guessing and Jinx at bay.


Cards like Jinx

Jinx is an intriguing card that offers a unique approach to controlling the flow of the game in MTG. It bears a resemblance to other cards with the ability to manipulate or interfere with an opponent’s deck, such as Psychic Surgery. While Psychic Surgery allows you to exile cards from the top of an opponent’s library when they shuffle, Jinx provides a different kind of disruption by forcing the shuffle itself after an opponent’s card draw, potentially unsettling their strategy.

Comparably, Cosi’s Trickster gains +1/+1 counters each time an opponent shuffles their library, which can synergize well with the effect of Jinx. Additionally, cards like Soldier of Fortune present a more direct parallel, giving players the power to force an opponent to shuffle their library at will. Although not as subtle as Jinx and without the tie-in to the card draw, it is relentless in its ability to disrupt.

Evaluating Jinx amongst its peers, we find that it holds a niche place in MTG. Its ability to catch an opponent off-guard right after a key card draw distinguishes it from other disruption cards, providing strategic depth and unexpected turns in gameplay.

Psychic Surgery - MTG Card versions
Cosi's Trickster - MTG Card versions
Soldier of Fortune - MTG Card versions
Psychic Surgery - New Phyrexia (NPH)
Cosi's Trickster - Zendikar (ZEN)
Soldier of Fortune - Alliances (ALL)

Cards similar to Jinx by color, type and mana cost

Counterspell - MTG Card versions
Hurkyl's Recall - MTG Card versions
Hypnotic Sprite // Mesmeric Glare - MTG Card versions
Lat-Nam's Legacy - MTG Card versions
Flash - MTG Card versions
Boomerang - MTG Card versions
Rebound - MTG Card versions
Memory Lapse - MTG Card versions
Hoodwink - MTG Card versions
Tidal Bore - MTG Card versions
Accumulated Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Impulse - MTG Card versions
Cyclonic Rift - MTG Card versions
Thassa's Intervention - MTG Card versions
Metamorphose - MTG Card versions
Echoing Truth - MTG Card versions
Early Frost - MTG Card versions
Mana Leak - MTG Card versions
Remand - MTG Card versions
Vision Skeins - MTG Card versions
Counterspell - Commander Masters (CMM)
Hurkyl's Recall - Antiquities (ATQ)
Hypnotic Sprite // Mesmeric Glare - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)
Lat-Nam's Legacy - Alliances (ALL)
Flash - Mirage (MIR)
Boomerang - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Rebound - Stronghold (STH)
Memory Lapse - Strixhaven Mystical Archive (STA)
Hoodwink - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Tidal Bore - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Accumulated Knowledge - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Impulse - Game Night: Free-for-All (GN3)
Cyclonic Rift - Commander Masters (CMM)
Thassa's Intervention - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Metamorphose - Scourge (SCG)
Echoing Truth - Modern Masters (MMA)
Early Frost - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Mana Leak - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Remand - Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska (DDM)
Vision Skeins - Commander 2013 (C13)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Jinx MTG card by a specific set like Homelands, 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 Jinx and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Jinx has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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