[scd] Jaya Ballard, Task Mage

[Lurker101]

She only costs  for a 2/2 and has some great utility features. For  and discarding a card she blows up any blue permanent. For  and a card she kills most threatening hate bears, small goyfs, confidants, Lodestones, goblins, etc.  I don't find her third ability all that relevant but for all this utility why isn't she seeing some amount of play? Not even in sideboards. She seems like a good option for red based aggro decks, at least to me. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

[GrandpaBelcher]

I had her as a one-of in a UBR Tezzeret List for a while.  Her cost was prohibitive, but once she was in play and active ("active" also being key) she was pretty good.  I could draw extra cards with Bob and pitch the lands to Jaya.  I think in the end I switched her out for another Lightning Bolt since it cost two less and did most of what I wanted.

Plus, A+ on artwork!

[BruiZar]

There are no blue permanents to destroy, not even Jace..

[madmanmike25]

Could be useful in monored Painter when every permanent is blue.  Might be too janky though.  Also compare her 2nd ability to Grim Lavamancer who doesn't even see much play really.

[RecklessEmbermage]

Could be useful in monored Painter when every permanent is blue.  Might be too janky though.  Also compare her 2nd ability to Grim Lavamancer who doesn't even see much play really.

She is fetchable with imperial recruiter too.

I got the impression that she was somewhat popular in the deck back when it was played (2 years ago?) but that the 3-drop slot was really cramped by recruiters and magi of the moon, so she was seldom more than a 2-of. There should be some decklists here or on deckcheck.

[Qube]

There are no blue permanents to destroy, not even Jace..

Why not? Doesn't Jace count as a blue permanent?

But with Painter set on blue, you can destroy a permanent every turn, even lands...

[Jo84]

I think BruiZar meant, that Jaya has no haste and so Jaya is to Jace what Trygon Predator is to Oath. When Oath hits the table first, Predator isn´t that good anymore.

[Qube]

Of course. But in difference to Oath/Trygon, Jaya is cheaper than Jace. (Not that this would make a huge difference but still  )