Jewel Thief MTG Card


Jewel Thief grants card draw and treasure tokens, providing both card advantage and resource acceleration. The card demands precise mana and a card to discard, potentially limiting its inclusion in various decks. Versatile and combo-friendly, Jewel Thief remains relevant in evolving metagames and diverse strategies.
Jewel Thief - Streets of New Capenna
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Cat Rogue
Abilities Trample,Treasure, Vigilance
Released2022-04-29
Set symbol
Set nameStreets of New Capenna
Set codeSNC
Power 3
Toughness 3
Number151
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJoe Slucher

Text of card

Vigilance, trample When Jewel Thief enters the battlefield, create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color.")

"They can afford the loss. They build it into their prices."


Cards like Jewel Thief

Jewel Thief swiftly joins the lineup of green creature cards, drawing close parallels with the likes of Tireless Tracker. Both cards excel at providing incremental value through their connections to the game’s resources. While Tireless Tracker rewards you with Clue tokens for land drops, enabling card draw, Jewel Thief takes a more direct route. The latter brandishes its ability to generate Treasure tokens whenever it deals combat damage, giving you a versatile mana boost without the wait.

Brigand of Valor strides into the fray, offering another intriguing comparison. This creature also nets you Treasure upon dealing damage. However, Jewel Thief edges out with its capacity to produce multiple Treasures with multiple combatants, a potential cascade of resources not mirrored by Brigand of Valor’s one-time boon. Another notable comparison is with Rampaging Ferocidon. While not a direct source of Treasure or resources, its ability to control the board and penalize opponents can swing the game’s momentum in your favor, akin to the tactical advantage the multiple Treasures from Jewel Thief could provide.

The strategic depth of MTG means comparing cards involves more than just their immediate effects. Jewel Thief stands out by not only offering immediate mana flexibility but also by potentially altering the battlefield dynamics, an aspect savvy players will leverage to their advantage.

Tireless Tracker - MTG Card versions
Rampaging Ferocidon - MTG Card versions
Tireless Tracker - MTG Card versions
Rampaging Ferocidon - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Jewel Thief. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Golgari MidrangeGolgari Midrange GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 12 2024
Temur rampTemur ramp PauperTappa Lega Pauperissima "Road to Pisa" @Magic Akiba
Temur PonzaTemur Ponza PauperTemur PonzaPauper League 2024-03-23
BGBG PauperPauper League 2024-04-15
BRGBRG PauperPauper League 2024-04-07
Gruul AggroGruul Aggro StandardGruul AggroStandard $1k RCQ Invite Cyphacon MTG Weekend
Gruul RampGruul Ramp PauperGruul PonzaOgonyok
Gruul PonzaGruul Ponza PauperGruul PonzaPauper Challenge 32 2024-03-10
Temur RampTemur Ramp PauperTemur PonzaSprint Wheel Event - Geddon Series 1^ tappa PISA 2024
Five-color MidrangeFive-color Midrange GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 13 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Jewel Thief card provides an excellent opportunity to pull ahead in the match by generating valuable card advantage. Whenever it deals combat damage to a player, you get to draw a card, replenishing your hand and giving you more options to outmaneuver your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: Not only does the Jewel Thief help in terms of card advantage, it also aids in resource acceleration. As a creature that produces Treasures upon dealing combat damage, it bolsters your mana pool, effectively accelerating your play and allowing you to cast more costly spells ahead of schedule.

Instant Speed: Although Jewel Thief itself is not an instant, it benefits from the actions you can take at instant speed. With the Treasure tokens it provides, you maintain the flexibility to cast spells at instant speed, keeping your opponents guessing and your strategies versatile. This interaction emphasizes strategic depth and reactive gameplay, holding true to the dynamic nature of high-level MTG play.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Jewel Thief card necessitates discarding a card to engage its abilities. For players with a depleted hand, this could mean sacrificing crucial strategic options or losing momentum, which is detrimental during crucial phases of the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a precise combination of mana types makes Jewel Thief a challenging fit for decks that are not tailored around its color identity. This attribute can be restrictive and potentially impede the smooth execution of a multi-colored deck’s game plan.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Jewel Thief’s effectiveness is brought into question when considering its mana value relative to other options available. Players might find that its cost-to-benefit ratio is less appealing when compared to other cards of similar or lower mana value that provide similar or greater impact, thereby reducing its desirability for deck inclusion.


Reasons to Include Jewel Thief in Your Collection

Versatility: Jewel Thief fits seamlessly into multicolored decks, offering both a creature presence and mana fixing potential. Its ability to generate Gem tokens upon dealing combat damage means it can be a valuable asset in both aggressive and ramp-focused strategies.

Combo Potential: Those Gem tokens aren’t just for show. They can be intrinsic to combos that rely on tokens or artifacts. Jewel Thief could be the linchpin in an engine that proliferates tokens or perhaps in a strategy that sacrifices artifacts for gain.

Meta-Relevance: With a format that continually evolves, having Jewel Thief in your collection means you’re prepared for metas that favor midrange playstyles. Its versatility can help adapt to various opponents, giving it a consistent edge in games that go beyond the early turns.


How to beat

Jewel Thief, a multifaceted card in Magic: The Gathering, is an asset for those looking to augment their resource pool. Unique in its capabilities, this creature comes equipped with the potential to acquire treasure tokens upon dealing combat damage. A card like Jewel Thief can greatly advance your board position if left unchecked. To counter this, removal spells are your best defense.

Exile-based removal offers the most definitive solution to combat Jewel Thief’s presence on the battlefield. Spells like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares can handle the problem with minimal downside. For those operating within the red spectrum of the color pie, direct damage spells such as Lightning Bolt provide a swift response to the thief’s moderate toughness, eliminating the threat before the opponent can capitalize on the treasure generation.

In essence, swift elimination or neutralization of Jewel Thief before it can attack is crucial. Utilizing efficient removal or tapping into strategies that prevent the altercation entirely, like Pacifism or board control through enchantments and artifacts, will ensure Jewel Thief doesn’t turn into an insurmountable obstacle. As always, remaining vigilant about threats and having applicable countermeasures can protect your game from the surprising value a card like Jewel Thief can offer.


BurnMana Recommendations

Discovering the full potential of Jewel Thief within MTG can be a rewarding venture for any player. Recognizing its ability to provide both card advantage and resource acceleration, it’s an enticing choice for decks that thrive on versatility and strategic depth. However, its specific mana requirements and potential discard cost should not be overlooked when integrating it into your strategy. For those curious to explore the synergy and combo possibilities that this card offers, or if you’re simply aiming to refine your multicolored deck, Jewel Thief could very well be the piece you need. Dive deeper into the game’s intricacies and join us to enhance your collection with this dynamic card.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Jewel Thief MTG card by a specific set like Streets of New Capenna, 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 Jewel Thief and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Jewel Thief has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal
Vigilance card art

Guide to Vigilance card ability

In the strategic universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the vigilance ability stands out as a powerful tool for players. This potent keyword allows creatures to attack without tapping, keeping them ready and alert to defend against incoming threats. It represents a perfect balance between aggression and defense, offering a dynamic approach to gameplay. Lets dive deeper into how vigilance shapes the battlefield.