Command Beacon’s Jumpstart Top Picks

Published July 21st, 2020 | 3 Comments

Aaron

With the release of the Jumpstart set there has been a ton of great reprints for Commander staples. Whether you’re starting out, or on a budget, now is a great time to pick up those staples you might have been holding out on or had a hard time finding. So this article today is to go over some a selection of great picks from the set that you should add to your collection, especially if you don’t have them already.

Card Name: Cathars' Crusade. Mana Cost: {3}{W}{W}. Card Oracle Text: Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.

Cathars’ Crusade

You’ll be surprised how much it scales your creature’s power. Unlike anthem effects the boost is not immediate but as creatures come down and triggers resolve you will see just how massive the results are of all the +1/+1 counters. A great synergy combo piece with a number of Commanders (Ghave, Guru of Spores, Marath, Will of the Wild).

Card Name: Emiel the Blessed. Mana Cost: {2}{W}{W}. Card Oracle Text: {3}: Exile another target creature you control, then return it to the battlefield under its owner's control.Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, you may pay {G/W}. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on it. If it's a Unicorn, put two +1/+1 counters on it instead. ({G/W} can be paid with either {G} or {W}.). Power/Toughness: 4/4

Emiel the Blessed

They’ve finally given us a legendary unicorn. Emiel the Blessed is at the helm of a brand new Selesnya flicker deck. Lots of hype on the internet and her price reflects that.

Card Name: Linvala, Keeper of Silence. Mana Cost: {2}{W}{W}. Card Oracle Text: FlyingActivated abilities of creatures your opponents control can't be activated.. Power/Toughness: 3/4

Linvala, Keeper of Silence

Holding a solid price even after a second reprint and for good reason. If you’ve never gotten to play or pick one up it can single handedly disable an opponent’s board. It does not specify non-mana abilities so all the mana dorks are off. It shuts off sacrifice outlets and all sorts of win condition / combo piece creatures.

Card Name: Path to Exile. Mana Cost: {W}. Card Oracle Text: Exile target creature. Its controller may search their library for a basic land card, put that card onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle their library.

Path to Exile

One of the staple one drop white removal cards back with the classic art. Along with Swords to Plowshare the reason players must be wary of one white mana removal. At worse you can target your own creature and have a ramp spell perhaps for colour fixing. One basic land for your opponent seems like a good trade to exile something like Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger.

Card Name: Kira, Great Glass-Spinner. Mana Cost: {1}{U}{U}. Card Oracle Text: FlyingCreatures you control have

Kira, Great Glass-Spinner

A classic blue defense creature that just flat out counters any attempts to target your creatures for the first time each turn. It does not state opponents though so be wary of things like trying to equip things to your creatures.

Card Name: Rhystic Study. Mana Cost: {2}{U}. Card Oracle Text: Whenever an opponent casts a spell, you may draw a card unless that player pays {1}.

Rhystic Study

Rhystic Study is an incredible staple and can provide a ton of draw. It could also slow down opponents who decide to pay the tax, making their spells more expensive. Your opponents may get tired of hearing “Do you pay 1 for Rhystic?”

Card Name: Black Market. Mana Cost: {3}{B}{B}. Card Oracle Text: Whenever a creature dies, put a charge counter on Black Market.At the beginning of your precombat main phase, add {B} for each charge counter on Black Market.

Black Market

This card gets more than a little out of hand. It doesn’t count just your creatures either. Against creature heavy decks a board wipe can make those charge counters skyrocket. This could be a Dark Ritual each turn or enough mana to constantly dump your hand.

Card Name: Blood Artist. Mana Cost: {1}{B}. Card Oracle Text: Whenever Blood Artist or another creature dies, target player loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.. Power/Toughness: 0/1

Blood Artist

The best in show for watching things die and bleed out. While alternatives exist and a non-creature option in Bastion of Remembrance just recently nothing like having your opponents creatures die, having them lose life for it, and then gaining life in the end. Insult to injury and all.

Card Name: Drana, Liberator of Malakir. Mana Cost: {1}{B}{B}. Card Oracle Text: Flying, first strikeWhenever Drana, Liberator of Malakir deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on each attacking creature you control.. Power/Toughness: 2/3

Drana, Liberator of Malakir

Fast, evasive, and great at boosting attackers. Drana, Liberator of Malakir hits your opponent with first strike and gives all your attacking creatures a bit more punch for normal damage. I am a fan of any commander I can Dark Ritual in turn one.

Card Name: Exquisite Blood. Mana Cost: {4}{B}. Card Oracle Text: Whenever an opponent loses life, you gain that much life.

Exquisite Blood

The other half of what seems to be classic now Sanguine Bond combo in its first ever reprint. Even by itself this enchantment is a great reward for damaging your opponents or when they use their life as a resource. I’d like to try this nowadays with Aetherflux Reservoir. I don’t think I need to tell a lot of people to pick this one up, they’ve probably been waiting for it for years.

Card Name: Ghoulcaller Gisa. Mana Cost: {3}{B}{B}. Card Oracle Text: {B}, {T}, Sacrifice another creature: Create X 2/2 black Zombie creature tokens, where X is the sacrificed creature's power.. Power/Toughness: 3/4

Ghoulcaller Gisa

When one zombie becomes two and when one blocker becomes an army of zombies, Ghoulcaller Gisa is more than happy to oblige in creating a horde. With effects like Illusionist Bracers and maybe a Phyrexian Dreadnought you’ll be swarming with zombies in no time.

Card Name: Gonti, Lord of Luxury. Mana Cost: {2}{B}{B}. Card Oracle Text: DeathtouchWhen Gonti, Lord of Luxury enters the battlefield, look at the top four cards of target opponent's library, exile one of them face down, then put the rest on the bottom of that library in a random order. You may look at and cast that card for as long as it remains exiled, and you may spend mana as though it were mana of any type to cast that spell.. Power/Toughness: 2/3

Gonti, Lord of Luxury

Want to play with your opponent’s deck? Gonti, Lord of Luxury keeps games fresh and fun by adding lines to gameplay. Once in a while you can hit combo pieces but be sure to leave them exiled. Why play your deck when you can just play your opponents?

Card Name: Kels, Fight Fixer. Mana Cost: {2}{B}{B}. Card Oracle Text: MenaceWhenever you sacrifice a creature, you may pay {U/B}. If you do, draw a card. ({U/B} can be paid with either {U} or {B}.){1}, Sacrifice a creature: Kels, Fight Fixer gains indestructible until end of turn.. Power/Toughness: 4/3

Kels, Fight Fixer

An interesting Dimir commander candidate supporting two new creature sub-types. Kels, Fight Fixer is combat and death focused with a draw engine attached.

Card Name: Reanimate. Mana Cost: {B}. Card Oracle Text: Put target creature card from a graveyard onto the battlefield under your control. You lose life equal to its converted mana cost.

Reanimate

Reanimate is the best option in any format that can run it. Life is a resource and it uses it to its full extent. I wouldn’t want to think about how many turn 1 reanimations have happened because of this card. Don’t have one? Get one.

Card Name: Rise of the Dark Realms. Mana Cost: {7}{B}{B}. Card Oracle Text: Put all creature cards from all graveyards onto the battlefield under your control.

Rise of the Dark Realms

A great spell to get a reprint, Rise of the Dark Realms is the best mass reanimation out there. I don’t believe there is anything bad to say about the effect itself. Playing against people who use their graveyard like a second hand? This will punish them for it.

Card Name: Sheoldred, Whispering One. Mana Cost: {5}{B}{B}. Card Oracle Text: Swampwalk (This creature can't be blocked as long as defending player controls a Swamp.)At the beginning of your upkeep, return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.At the beginning of each opponent's upkeep, that player sacrifices a creature.. Power/Toughness: 6/6

Sheoldred, Whispering One

The Phyrexian Praetors are all terrifying and Sheoldred, Whispering One is no different. It doesn’t matter how indestructible your opponents creatures are, sacrifice them.

Card Name: Witch of the Moors. Mana Cost: {3}{B}{B}. Card Oracle Text: DeathtouchAt the beginning of your end step, if you gained life this turn, each opponent sacrifices a creature and you return up to one target creature card from your graveyard to your hand.. Power/Toughness: 4/4

Witch of the Moors

Witch of the Moors should easily find some homes in decks that can easily gain life (Oloro, Ageless Ascetic). What value and pain this card brings.

Card Name: Dualcaster Mage. Mana Cost: {1}{R}{R}. Card Oracle Text: FlashWhen Dualcaster Mage enters the battlefield, copy target instant or sorcery spell. You may choose new targets for the copy.. Power/Toughness: 2/2

Dualcaster Mage

The Reverberate on a creature can get you all sorts of value and help in strange situations. As a body and copy effect it’s pretty much always a two for one card.

Card Name: Etali, Primal Storm. Mana Cost: {4}{R}{R}. Card Oracle Text: Whenever Etali, Primal Storm attacks, exile the top card of each player's library, then you may cast any number of spells from among those cards without paying their mana costs.. Power/Toughness: 6/6

Etali, Primal Storm

While Etali, Primal Storm has just made another appearance in Commander 2020 it just shows how powerful and fun this dino is. A solid 6/6 for 6 mana body with the strongest red exile effect. Punish your opponents by using their own cards against them and have some fun during combat as Etali ignores timing restrictions to cast everything.

Card Name: Immolating Gyre. Mana Cost: {4}{R}{R}. Card Oracle Text: Immolating Gyre deals X damage to each creature and planeswalker you don't control, where X is the number of instant and sorcery cards in your graveyard.

Immolating Gyre

Immolating Gyre is an amazing addition in Izzet spells decks. The work needed to make this card good is something your deck is already doing and the damage doesn’t affect your board. Damage is also extended to planeswalkers so you will have an answer to those pesky superfriends decks.

Card Name: Krenko, Mob Boss. Mana Cost: {2}{R}{R}. Card Oracle Text: {T}: Create X 1/1 red Goblin creature tokens, where X is the number of Goblins you control.. Power/Toughness: 3/3

Krenko, Mob Boss

Krenko, Mob Boss is the reason you will find hundreds of thousands of goblins on a board. This constant doubling of goblin bodies is ridiculous to say the least. If you’re looking to swarm a board or just end the game with goblins pick one up and grab a calculator while you’re at it.

Card Name: Allosaurus Shepherd. Mana Cost: {G}. Card Oracle Text: Allosaurus Shepherd can't be countered.Green spells you control can't be countered.{4}{G}{G}: Until end of turn, each Elf creature you control has base power and toughness 5/5 and becomes a Dinosaur in addition to its other creature types.. Power/Toughness: 1/1

Allosaurus Shepherd

The creature itself can’t be countered, an effect that is sometimes not included even recently (Destiny Spinner). It says green spells not just creatures, which is just crazy. Lastly more relevant to elf decks it can turn your elves into 5/5 dinosaurs. Whether as a win condition or an expensive way to dodge a Lightning Bolt this is just a lot of text on a card.

Card Name: Craterhoof Behemoth. Mana Cost: {5}{G}{G}{G}. Card Oracle Text: HasteWhen Craterhoof Behemoth enters the battlefield, creatures you control gain trample and get +X/+X until end of turn, where X is the number of creatures you control.. Power/Toughness: 5/5

Craterhoof Behemoth

The hoof is back for its first reprint since Modern Masters 2017. A game ender that’s best in class in turning a board full of small creatures into game ending bodies. This is currently the lowest cost version of the card so if you need a finisher for your green deck here’s a big one.

Card Name: Elvish Archdruid. Mana Cost: {1}{G}{G}. Card Oracle Text: Other Elf creatures you control get +1/+1.{T}: Add {G} for each Elf you control.. Power/Toughness: 2/2

Elvish Archdruid

An elf deck staple as a Priest of Titania with an anthem effect even decks who might only be half elves may be running him. Solid mana dork that boosts most other mana dorks in the game.

Card Name: Lurking Predators. Mana Cost: {4}{G}{G}. Card Oracle Text: Whenever an opponent casts a spell, reveal the top card of your library. If it's a creature card, put it onto the battlefield. Otherwise, you may put that card on the bottom of your library.

Lurking Predators

A cute enchantment that can bring in waves of creatures from your deck. In a multiplayer Commander game you could build an army off of nothing by the time your turn comes back around.

Card Name: Oracle of Mul Daya. Mana Cost: {3}{G}. Card Oracle Text: You may play an additional land on each of your turns.Play with the top card of your library revealed.You may play lands from the top of your library.. Power/Toughness: 2/2

Oracle of Mul Daya

Oracle of Mul Daya’s first reprint is an important one. The best Exploration creature that helps filter your draws by playing land from the top. Synergizes with Sylvan Library and Sensei’s Divining Top. If you don’t own an Oracle of Mul Daya, I would highly recommend it.

Card Name: Primeval Bounty. Mana Cost: {5}{G}. Card Oracle Text: Whenever you cast a creature spell, create a 3/3 green Beast creature token.Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, put three +1/+1 counters on target creature you control.Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you gain 3 life.

Primeval Bounty

Primeval Bounty gives you extra value for doing pretty much anything in the game. Extra bodies, more power, and even life gain. Turning everything into a two for one advantage can put you completely out of range for your opponents to deal with.

Card Name: Selvala, Heart of the Wilds. Mana Cost: {1}{G}{G}. Card Oracle Text: Whenever another creature enters the battlefield, its controller may draw a card if its power is greater than each other creature's power.{G}, {T}: Add X mana in any combination of colors, where X is the greatest power among creatures you control.. Power/Toughness: 2/3

Selvala, Heart of the Wilds

Selvala, Heart of the wilds is a huge mana engine with a great draw ability synergizing heavily with big mono green decks. She also does very well in multi colored decks as the mana ability adds any combination of X mana.

Card Name: Ulvenwald Hydra. Mana Cost: {4}{G}{G}. Card Oracle Text: ReachUlvenwald Hydra's power and toughness are each equal to the number of lands you control.When Ulvenwald Hydra enters the battlefield, you may search your library for a land card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle your library.. Power/Toughness: */*

Ulvenwald Hydra

One of the stronger utility hydras out there with scaling power/toughness equal to your lands in play. The main purpose though is Ulvenwald Hydra can tutor a land from your deck and put it into play. Unlike most other green ramp creatures (the legal ones at least) it can search for any land, not just basics. Does this deserve a spot in your deck?

Card Name: Herald's Horn. Mana Cost: {3}. Card Oracle Text: As Herald's Horn enters the battlefield, choose a creature type.Creature spells you cast of the chosen type cost {1} less to cast.At the beginning of your upkeep, look at the top card of your library. If it's a creature card of the chosen type, you may reveal it and put it into your hand.

Herald’s Horn

An immediate tribal deck staple, Herald’s Horn is both a discount and a card advantage engine. Regardless of what tribe you are playing the potential extra card every upkeep makes this artifact a must play.

Card Name: Phyrexian Tower. Mana Cost: . Card Oracle Text: {T}: Add {C}.{T}, Sacrifice a creature: Add {B}{B}.

Phyrexian Tower

An incredible sacrifice outlet land and arguably the best out there. Providing two black mana is a welcome bonus of course. With it’s last printing being Ultimate Masters it was not as accessible but with Jump Start hopefully the newly printed supply will help encourage you to pick one up.

Card Name: Riptide Laboratory. Mana Cost: . Card Oracle Text: {T}: Add {C}.{1}{U}, {T}: Return target Wizard you control to its owner's hand.

Riptide Laboratory

A very abusable land for all your favorite wizards whether a Trinket Mage or a Snapcaster Mage this land can net a ton of extra value. This is the first reprinting so if you want a newer border version now’s your chance.

 

Command Beacon’s Jumpstart Top Picks

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Cathars’ Crusade
Emiel the Blessed
Linvala, Keeper of Silence
Path to Exile
Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
Rhystic Study
Black Market
Blood Artist
Drana, Liberator of Malakir
Exquisite Blood
Ghoulcaller Gisa
Gonti, Lord of Luxury
Kels, Fight Fixer
Reanimate
Rise of the Dark Realms
Sheoldred, Whispering One
Witch of the Moors
Dualcaster Mage
Etali, Primal Storm
Immolating Gyre
Krenko, Mob Boss
Allosaurus Shepherd
Craterhoof Behemoth
Elvish Archdruid
Lurking Predators
Oracle of Mul Daya
Primeval Bounty
Selvala, Heart of the Wilds
Ulvenwald Hydra
Herald’s Horn
Phyrexian Tower
Riptide Laboratory

If you feel I’ve left a card out, let me know in the comments. I’m very interested to hear any stories about your experiences in the set. Prices are pulled at the time of writing. Selecting a name from the above list of cards will direct you to TCG Player for a current pricing of these cards. If you enjoy our content and wish to support us use our affiliate links to make your TCG Player. Thanks for reading!

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Article by Aaron

A writer at command beacon, Aaron helps readers navigate this format by honing their deck building skills, finding their play style, and using politics to navigate commander games in their favour.

About Aaron