Our further Rivals of Ixalan review begins with Jadelight Ranger
If there is one thing Mike is famous for, it's playing some goofball green three drops over the years.
Gnarled Mass is one such green creature; but at 3/3 for three mana -- and essentially no other capabilities it is a head scratcher that someone would be able to win with it. The secret, of course, is that Gnarled Mass was never "good" per se. But a 3/3 for three mana could slow down an opposing 2/2 Bushido.
Ditto on Borderland Ranger. And by "Borderland Ranger" we mean Civic Wayfinder. So deep was Mike's love of three mana creatures that could search up a land, when he won with U/R Splinter Twin, he did so with a Pilgrim's Eye in his main.
But what about the belle of this week's ball?
How does Jadelight Ranger compare?
Jadelight Ranger versus Gnarled MassJadelight Ranger seems like a generally stronger card than Gnarled Mass.
Gnarled Mass was a Spirit -- which was good, but could also be a liability in Kamigawa Block -- but was basically always a 3/3 for three mana.
If you're going for size, Jadelight Ranger can be a 4/3 (2/1 with two +1/+1 counters) for the same casting cost. The superior size (sometimes) comes with two Scry triggers! So... Secelction as well as size.
Obvious point: If you want to have a large Jadelight Ranger, and you are lucky enough to "miss" on your first trigger, you can just leave the card on top, guaranteeing you will grow on the second trigger as well.
Jadelight Ranger versus Borderland RangerBorderland Ranger has a couple of advantages over Jadelight Ranger.
For one, 2G is easier to cast than 1GG... But not so much easier.
Borderland Ranger also offers true selection. If you have one Island in your library, you can go find it every single time rather than waiting for your White Knight. Jadelight Ranger lacks that level of precision.... lacks this certainty. But it makes up with sheer potential card advantage.
Just as Jadelight Ranger can be bigger than Gnarled Mass sometimes, it can produce more lands than Borderland Ranger sometimes, too! Instead of just one land, it can draw more than one. Compare to: Divination.
Jadelight Ranger versus Rogue RefinerSo sometimes Jadelight Ranger is a 4/3. If you have a Winding Constrictor in play, that might actually jump to, say, 6/5.
And sometimes, it stays 2/1 but draws two lands.
In both cases, you get to scry twice, which is powerful.
But in the middle? It is just a 3/2 that draws you one additional land.
You know what we call a 3/2 creature that produces one extra card? Rogue Refiner.
And while Jadelight Ranger is probably not "better" than Rogue Refiner (less control on size, never draws into a spell, doesn't make energy) even being in the same conversation with one of the best creatures in Standard is significant.
This Merfolk Scout is only the first card we discuss!
More Rivals of Ixalan than you can shake a stick at, right here.
