Jwar Isle Avenger MTG Card


Surge mechanic provides significant mana efficiency and board presence when casting multiple spells. Jwar Isle Avenger’s versatility shines in spell-heavy and flying-oriented blue strategies. Despite its merits, weigh Avenger against creatures with similar mana costs and utilities.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Sphinx
Abilities Flying,Surge
Power 3
Toughness 3

Text of card

Surge (You may cast this spell for its surge cost if you or a teammate has cast another spell this turn.) Flying

Though solitary by nature, the sphinxes did not hesitate to join in the fight against the Eldrazi.


Cards like Jwar Isle Avenger

Jwar Isle Avenger finds its niche within the sprawling array of creatures in Magic: The Gathering. Its surge ability allows it to be a formidable flyer at a reduced cost, akin to the well-known Drake creatures such as Wind Drake. The difference lies in the increased power that Jwar Isle Avenger offers, bringing a stronger presence to the skies. In contrast, Wind Drake maintains a simpler casting requirement without depending on the surge mechanic.

An alternative comparison can be made with cards like Spire Monitor. This creature not only flies but also flashes into the battlefield, offering surprise defense or an end-of-turn threat. While Jwar Isle Avenger can be cast for less under the right conditions, Spire Monitor provides a more flexible defensive strategy at instant speed. Then we consider Aven Surveyor, which also flies and brings an additional benefit of bouncing an opponent’s creature upon entering the battlefield, albeit at a higher mana cost overall.

Evaluating Jwar Isle Avenger against its peers, it’s clear that while it may not have the utility of flash or bounce effects, its potential for aggressive play at reduced costs makes it a competitive option for players aiming to dominate the aerial battlefield in Magic: The Gathering.

Drake - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Spire Monitor - MTG Card versions
Aven Surveyor - MTG Card versions
Drake - MTG Card versions
Wind Drake - MTG Card versions
Spire Monitor - MTG Card versions
Aven Surveyor - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Jwar Isle Avenger offers a unique Surge mechanic, significantly reducing its casting cost when another spell is cast the same turn, effectively allowing you to extend your plays and develop a more imposing board presence for less mana.

Resource Acceleration: The cost-effectiveness of Jwar Isle Avenger, primarily when Surge is activated, means that players can deploy other resources or hold mana for reactive spells, optimizing their turn’s strategic impact.

Instant Speed: Despite being a creature, Jwar Isle Avenger synergizes with decks that play at instant speed. Casting a cheap instant early in your turn lowers the Avenger’s cost, capitalizing on your tempo and outpacing your opponent’s developments.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Jwar Isle Avenger can put players at a card disadvantage by necessitating the discard of another card from the hand. This can be a strategic setback, especially when you need all available cards to maintain momentum against your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both blue and generic mana, Jwar Isle Avenger demands a commitment to blue mana resources, potentially constricting its integration into multicolor decks that are not heavily blue.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that’s relatively elevated, there are other creatures or spells at a similar mana range that may give you a better board presence or utility. It’s essential to evaluate whether the aerial advantage it provides justifies its place in your deck over lower-cost alternatives.


Reasons to Include Jwar Isle Avenger in Your Collection

Versatility: Jwar Isle Avenger offers strategic flexibility with its Surge ability, allowing you to cast it for a reduced cost. It can slip into decks that revolve around casting multiple spells in a turn and is an excellent addition to blue-centric flying strategies.

Combo Potential: This creature can synergize with decks aiming to maximize spell casting each turn. Utilizing the Avenger in combo decks that manipulate casting costs can turn it into a formidable force.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment heavy with aggressive strategies, Jwar Isle Avenger serves as a robust blocker and a credible threat. Its relevance increases within metas favoring tempo plays and spell-based synergies.


How to beat

Jwar Isle Avenger is a creature card that can impact the battlefield by providing a cost-efficient flying threat. Being affordable through its surge cost, it enables players to cast another spell in the same turn and then play Jwar Isle Avenger for just three mana—a true value if you can meet its conditions. With its decent stats, it can be a challenge to overcome for unprepared opponents.

To effectively combat Jwar Isle Avenger, consider using removal spells that can eliminate threats without requiring specific conditions, such as Murder, which can destroy any creature for three mana. Another strategy is to use counter spells when your opponent casts their first spell in an attempt to achieve the cost reduction for the Avenger. Essence Scatter works well in this case, as it targets creatures specifically for two mana. If Jwar Isle Avenger does hit the board, you can also employ board wipes like Day of Judgment to reset the playing field. Lastly, leverage reach or flying creatures of your own to block and mitigate its aerial advantage. Obviously, timing and resource management play crucial roles in defeating a Jwar Isle Avenger, and keeping a versatile and ready removal suite is essential.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Jwar Isle Avenger MTG card by a specific set like Oath of the Gatewatch and Mystery Booster, 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 Jwar Isle Avenger and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Jwar Isle Avenger Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-01-22 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Ryan Pancoast.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-01-22Oath of the GatewatchOGW 582015NormalBlackRyan Pancoast
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 4122015NormalBlackRyan Pancoast
32020-09-26The ListPLST OGW-582015NormalBlackRyan Pancoast

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Jwar Isle Avenger has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Jwar Isle Avenger card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2016-01-22 Casting a spell for its surge cost doesn’t change its mana cost or its converted mana cost.
2016-01-22 For some cards, surge represents only an alternative cost, a discount that applies if you or a teammate has cast another spell this turn. Other cards, like Reckless Bushwhacker, have additional abilities or effects if you paid the surge cost to cast the spell.
2016-01-22 If an instant or sorcery spell cast for its surge cost is copied, the copy is also considered to have had its surge cost paid.
2016-01-22 The other spell that you or a teammate cast can be one that’s resolved, one that was countered, or (for instants with surge) one that’s still on the stack.