Jaya Ballard, Task Mage

Jaya Ballard is a discard-fueled utility engine that rewards you for pitching cards. Her three activated abilities give you answers to problem permanents (especially blue ones), direct damage to creatures or players, and a sweeping finisher that can close out games. The deck wants to fill your hand with cheap, impactful spells and creatures, then use Jaya to convert those cards into damage and removal. You're not trying to win through combat—Jaya is your primary damage source, and her scalable abilities let you adapt to whatever threats opponents throw at you.

Build around efficient discard outlets and high-impact cards that are happy in the graveyard. Young Pyromancer effects turn your spellcasting into tokens, while artifact creatures and cheap red rituals give you plenty of fodder to pitch. Since Jaya wants you discarding, lean into looting effects and wheels that refill your hand while fueling her abilities. The deck is part control (using Jaya's first ability), part burn (stacking up her damage), and part midrange tempo. Games end when you've whittled opponents down with repeated activations and surprise burst damage from Jaya's ultimate.

Strategy generated by Tapped Decks AI. Not affiliated with Wizards of the Coast.