List of Magic: The Gathering characters: J

The fictional multiverse of the Wizards of the Coast Magic: The Gathering trading card game, introduced in 1993, has many characters. This alphabetic list includes characters to which the flavor text on the cards is atributted or who are mentioned in it, along with those referred in related games, novels, comics or short stories.

Jabari

A Zhalfirin soldier and philosopher, Jabari is the Sidar (leader) of Zhalfir’s largest and most experienced army, including several elite orders of knights (askari). He is a firm believer in Zhalfir’s right to rule. Driven by dreams and visions send by Teferi he united with the other leaders of Jamuura to rescue Mangara. Later he defeated Kaervek’s armies at Tefemburu.

Jace Beleren

A Human Planeswalker who uses Blue Magic. (Card: Jace Beleren, Jace, The Mind Sculptor, Jace, Memory Adept)

Jace's gifts all have to do with knowledge. He's a natural at magic having to do with thought and memory. With the application of a little effort, Jace can perceive flickers of imagery from the depths of other people's memories. He can get flashes of people's life stories, learn their most fervently held secrets, and even train in new skills right from the minds of others, given enough time and concentration. Jace has honed this talent for one reason: he's deeply curious. Knowledge is more than a hobby for Jace; it's an absolute longing. Jace's mind wants to pierce through ignorance, to learn the truth hidden under the layers of polite lies. Jace's rigorous devotion to knowledge probably prevents him from relating well to others. He'd rather think than talk, but no one else has his talent for seeing past the ephemeral world of emotion and sociality, which serves to isolate him from his peers. Plus, thanks to his gifts, he excels at anything he puts his mind to. There's another side to Jace's power, one that he never intended to use. Jace can not only read the memories of others—he can destroy them. With enough time and preparation, he could devastate entire minds, even on a massive scale.

He originally lived in a settlement called Silmot's Crossing on an unnamed plane. His teacher was a man named Alhammarret, who realized Jace was a planeswalker but chose to keep it secret from him. As a result, Jace accidentally crushed his mind while he was attempting to glean more from his master. Following that event, Jace fled to other planes, eventually settling on Ravnica for a time. He made his living by blackmailing rich people with secrets, using his gift to collect their secrets.

Eventually he caught the notice of Tezzeret and was inducted into the Infinite Consortium where he worked alongside an assassin named Kallist, who taught him how to fight. After a time, Tezzeret's insane demands and 'lessons' drove Jace away, taking Kallist along with him. While on the run, he encountered Liliana Vess, and kindled a romance with her. When the Consortium found them, Jace tried to save Kallist by absorbing his mind, but ended up switching bodies with him for six months. Believing himself to be Kallist, he and Liliana fled once more. Finally the spell was broken and Jace was back in his right mind. With Liliana's help and counsel from Nicol Bolas, Jace attacked the Ravnica cell of the Consortium, effectively wiping it out before tracking down Tezzeret's stronghold and dueling the other planeswalker, a duel which took them to Kamigawa where Tezzeret met his defeat.

Jace learned that Lilliana, though she cared for him, was manipulating him all along to position him to take Tezzeret out for Nicol Bolas in the hopes the dragon could free her from her debt to her demonic masters. Jace left her, promising that he would find a way to free her from her bargain. ((Agents of Artifice))

Garruk went to Ravnica and got Jace to reveal where Liliana was going next. It is also revealed that Jace was going to travel to Zendikar next. There Jace met Chandra and Sarkhan Vol, around an object known as The Eye of Ugin. This Eye was also the only thing holding back the Eldrazi, giant monsters who destroy planes. The Eye broke, and so the Eldrazi were Awakened.

In the "Test of Metal", Jace faces with his fated enemy, Tezzeret, again, and tastes his ultimated defeat.

Jack Chierdagh

The Kithkin scout of Mistmeadow in Shadowmoor era of Lorwyn. He accepted the quest to distract legendary giant Rosheen Meanderer from stomping the village. With the help of unexpected allies of Brigid, Maralen and Vendilion fairies, he was able to steal the prophetic scroll from Rosheen and made her follow the scroll instead. From this, he became a hero of Mistmeadow. He survived from the assault of the Extinguisher after that.

Jacques Le Vert

The revered defender of Pendelhaven (Legends) (see also Pendelhaven Elder)

Jaeuhl Carthalion

Juniper Order Advocate. As a fledgeling mage he helped Freyalise to end the Ice Age by banning Tevesh Szat to Shandalar. He became the husband of the elder druid Kaysa (Comics)

Jaffy

A child who visited the market festival at Rishada (Card: Balloon Peddler)

Jakkarak the Maimer

A dark assassin who used the bodies of his victims to build walls (Card: Wall of Bone)

Jamul

A Femeref Farmer (Card: Dwarven Miner)

Jandor

A man on the planes of Rabiah who owned a seal-ring which contained a djinn. He also owned saddlebags that filled themselves with whatever manner of food was desired. Arabian Nights

Janus

Speaker of the synod on Mirrodin

Jarad

A Devkarin, or dark elf of the Golgari, and brother of Savra. He became the Guildmaster after Savra's death at the hands of Szadek, for she had previously taken control from the Sisters of Stone Death with the help of the Golgari's original leader, Svogthir. He married Fonn and had a child, Myczil.

Jarad was later killed by Lyzolda of the Cult of Rakdos, but managed to reanimate himself, something very few Golgari necromancers had ever done.

(Ravnica)

Jaraku

Jaraku the Interloper is a legendary spirit on Kamigawa. (Card: Callow Jushi)

Jared Carthalion

Jared of Ephren. Shadowmage who battled Ravidel in Ephren. Wearing the sign of the elder druid. He almost killed Ravidel in 1276 (according to Minorad). He is at the time mentored by Ezer and Liana. In 1281 he became a planeswalker under the mentorship of his mentrix and lover Kristina. Liana managed to give the moxes to Jared before she dies at the hands of Ravidel. Jared then destroyed the Golgothian Sylex, Ravidel's doomsday relic.^[1]

Jareth

A legendary leonine titan on Otaria, Jareth lives in the Pit Arenas by fighting. (Onslaught) (Card: Jareth, Leonine Titan)

Jarkeld

The Arctic Fox, Kjeldoran General during the Ice Age who died with all his troops in the Adarkar Wastes. However he is quoted on several Ice Age cards, with his final words being on the Rally card.

Jarsyl

Grandson of planeswalker Urza, and great great grandfather of archmage Jodah. Jarsyl would become a master of magic, eventually travelling to the plane of Phyrexia, from which he would not return. (Card: Gate to Phyrexia)

Jasmine Boreal

A legendary woman, who knew no compromises. She was said to have come from Benalia, from the ranks of heroes, before she set out into the world in search of adventure. (Card: Jasmine Boreal)

Jason Carthalion

Fledgeling mage, mentored by Oriel Kjeldos. Brought up in Storgard, together with Freyalise (700 years after the Brother’s War). He fought his friend Freyalise when she by order of king Miko tried to prevent the leaving of clans emerald and pearl. (Comics)

Jaya Ballard

A fire-wielding task mage who lives during the time of (Ice Age). She and fellow adventurer Jodah were caught in the conflicts between Kjeldor, Balduvia and Tresserhorn. During that time, she found and took with her Lim-Dul's magical rings, but unfortunately, one of those rings caused Mairsil to take over her body. Jodah attempted to save her from Mairsil by using his magic mirror, which was enchanted by Freyalise. The events which followed soon after ignited Jaya's dormant planeswalker spark, and she finally becomes a planeswalker, as well as finishing Mairsil off. Over the years Jaya has been quoted on over twenty magic cards (examples include Inferno, Incinerate, Sizzle, Pyroblast, and Simian Spirit Guide), and her sarcastic wit gained her much fame among Magic fans. In Time Spiral she finally received her own card (Jaya Ballard, Task Mage), which ironically lacks any flavour text, but has the spellshaper abilities of cards in which she was quoted in the flavour text. She died in an alternate timeline, but according to the Jhoira is still alive in this one (from the Future Sight novel). She also founded the monastery that serves as the origin for the planeswalker Chandra Nalaar.

Jaeger Ojanen

A Cat Warrior. He was found in the plaza of Bryce by Hazezon Tamar. Somehow he fits into the prophecy of the "None, One and Two", as stated by a travelling seer.

Jedit Ojanen

Son of Jaeger and Musata, and considered to be the "Mightiest of the Cat Warriors".

He forsook the forests of his tribe and took service with the Robaran Mercenaries (like his father before him), rising through their ranks to lead them in the battle of Efrava. (Legends, Jedit Ojanen). In Planar Chaos, a different Jedit is shown, from an alternate reality in which he fought for Efrava instead of against it. (Card: Jedit Ojanen of Efrava)

Jefan

A Talas ship captain (Portal Second Age)

Jerran

A Zhalfirin warrior. One of Scalebane’s Elite, the three people who accompanied Rashida Scalebane, Asmira, Holy Avenger and Sisay to the Mwonvuli Jungle to free Mangara.

Jerrard of the Closed Fist

Legendary leader of the Order of the Closed Fist, and the only member left alive after Tobias Andrion ordered their destruction. (Legends)

Jeska

Jeska, Warrior Adept is the sister of Kamahl. She came to Cabal City with Balthor to find her missing brother, but returned to the Pardic Mountains when Kamahl was found. Later, after Kamahl had brought the mind-altering Mirari back to the mountains and tried to take control of the barbarian tribes, Jeska's intervention caused him to strike her down. Wracked with guilt, Kamahl brings her to the Krosan Forest hoping to heal her, but instead she falls into the hands of Braids, who brings her back to the Cabal and transforms her into Phage the Untouchable. Despite his attempts to save her, Kamahl is forced to strike her down again, but only succeeds in creating Karona, a living conduit of all magic on Dominaria. Karona in turn was slain by her two friends/prophets, Sash and Waistcoat, and finally reverted to Jeska. Jeska was finally healed by the planeswalker Karn, who took her away and revealed that she possessed her own planeswalker spark. Jeska spends the next two centuries as Karn's pupil and doesn't return to Dominaria until she feels Karn's sudden disappearance there. Despite her tremendous planeswalker powers, she still struggles with the memories of Phage and Karona, and has trouble even keeping her appearance that of the powerful Pardic barbarian she really is. On the advice of another planeswalker, Leshrac, she decides to continue the work of Karn in healing the rifts plaguing Dominaria, but her methods are brutal and thoughtless and go against everything Teferi, Jhoira and Venser have been trying to accomplish. She callously uses Radha as a living lens for the rifts and willingly sacrifices Multani to heal the Yavimayan phenomenon. Leshrac finally reveals that he had been using her to advance his own power and, seeing at last what it's like to be treated as a tool, Jeska agrees to work with the others to seal the final rift over Otaria, her home. In doing so she sacrifices her spark and her life and is finally reunited with her brother. (Card: Jeska, Warrior Adept), (Card: Phage the Untouchable), (Card: Karona, False God)

Jherana Rure

A member of the Order of the Ebon Hand. Commander of the Counter-Insurgency after the Thrull Rebellion. She was killed by Necrites (Fallen Empires)

Jhoira

A master artificer and the person who discovered the Ghitu tribe's renowned Thran metal. As a student of the Tolarian Academy she formed fast friendships with Karn and Teferi. She was caught in the temporal explosion that devastated the island and caused its evacuation. Left behind by herself, she helped Urza rebuild the Academy on his return ten years later. Tolaria's time-hindering "slow water" grants her extreme long life and though over 1000 years old, she still appears as a young, roughly nineteen-year-old girl. She later helped Urza and Karn when they discovered the mana-rig in Shiv. She was also the first captain of the Weatherlight, a ship constructed by Urza as part of the Legacy. Phased out by Teferi shortly after the Invasion began along with most of Shiv. Jhoira reappears in Time Spiral, where she joins Teferi in a quest to reintegrate Shiv back into the timeline. She then goes on to become the driving force behind the quest to heal the many time rifts plaguing Dominaria. Jhoira is pictured on Tinker, Slow Motion, Temporal Distortion, Confiscate, Blessed Reversal and Ghitu Fire, and is quoted on Alloy Golem, Bewilder, Careful Consideration, Jhoira's Toolbox, and Tribal Flames. (Card: Jhoira of the Ghitu).

Jiro

A Temple guardian on Kamigawa. (Card: Kami of the Hunt)

Jiwari

Jiwari, the Earth Aflame is a legendary spirit on Kamigawa. (Card: Jiwari, the Earth Aflame)

Jodah

see Jodah

Johan

Leader of Tirras. Johan is a powerful wizard bent on conquering Hazezon's Bryce. Though his card may not look it, he is an infamous master of disguise. (Card: Johan)

Jolrael

Empress of Beasts. A great but enigmatic and fickle female Zhalfirin mage with great empathy for animals, Jolrael turned her back on society. For years she remained isolated in a series of palaces built throughout the Mwonvuli Jungle, gradually becoming leader of her own empire of beasts. Her influence spreads through the Jamuraan animal kingdom and beyond to the sentient lizard people, the Viashino, and through them to the mighty dragons. With Mangara and Kaervek, Jolrael felt the phasing-out of Teferi’s Isle and went to investigate. Playing on Jolrael’s fears and her inability to understand the ambitions of humans, Kaervek convinced her that Mangara was a threat. Slowly, as Mangara’s benevolent influence took shape, Kaervek was able to draw the reclusive Jolrael into the politics of the region. In time, the two mages built covert armies of animals and spirits throughout Jamuura and eventually sent them to undermine Mangara's progress. The two mages trapped Mangara himself inside an Amber Prison set within one of Jolrael's palaces. As the war continued, Jolrael began to regret her alliance with the destructive and power-hungry Kaervek. She secretly tried and failed to release Mangara. Jolrael then discovered that Teferi's Isle had returned, and went there to seek Teferi's aid. Teferi helped to unite the native Jamuraans against Kaervek. Kaervek then set sail to confront Teferi, but was turned upon by Jolrael, who severely injured him in a heated arcane battle. Upon Kaervek's defeat, she returned to the Mwonvuli. Several years later Jamuraa was subject to an invasion by the Keldons. Jolrael formed an alliance with the Kipamu League and Barrin's army to repel the invaders. (Mirage, Prophecy)

Jorin

It suddenly dawned on Jorin that farming was quite a noble profession. (Card: Second Thoughts; Odyssey)

Joskun

An-Havva Constable (Homelands)

Josuri

A Ravnica native whose family is protected by the ghosts of their ancestor. (Cards: Benevolent Ancestor. Celestial Ancient)

Joven

Famous Thief of the Homelands, friend of Chandler and breeder of ferrets. Hated by Eron the Relentless. (Card: Joven)

Jugan

Jugan the Rising Star is the guardian dragon of the Jukai forest and the sanctum of Boseiju. During the Kami War Rokuan, the master monk of the Sacred Bell Order, summoned Jugan to aid in the defense of Boseiju and Jugan answered. Faced with an unlimited army of kami Jugan finally fell after battling for weeks. When dying Jugan transmuted his own power to the bodies of the Sacred Bell monks and thus began the Battle of the Silk, which would last six years.

Jula

A goblin raider (Urza’s Saga)

Justina

A female warrior who summoned a Wall of Swords, but in return killed herself in the process. (Card: Wall of Swords)

Juzba

An Izzet tinker of Ravnica. (Cards: Mizzium Transreliquat, Wee Dragonauts)

References

1. ^ Magic the Gathering: Shadow Mage #01 (1995)