Hate Universes Beyond? Play Jackal — the 2‑mana Simic commander that copies any creature
The newest Magic: The Gathering expansion doesn’t include any pre-made Commander decks, but it does add a surprising number of Spider-Man cards that look useful in Commander play. For example, the set includes the “Amazing” Spider-Man, Norman Osborn/Green Goblin, and a quirky Spider-Ham. However, one of the set’s more interesting options for Commander players is a lesser-known character: Jackal, Genius Geneticist.
Why Jackal stands out
Jackal, Genius Geneticist is a Simic (blue-green) 1/1 creature with trample that costs two mana. Its printed ability reads exactly: “Whenever you cast a creature spell with mana value equal to Jackal’s power, copy that spell, except the copy isn’t legendary. Then put a +1/+1 counter on Jackal. (The copy becomes a token.)” This wording creates a clear and repeatable interaction: as Jackal grows, it can copy ever-larger creatures, and it gains counters when the trigger resolves.
Because Jackal is cheap and enters the battlefield early, it can start generating value quickly. Moreover, the ability copies the spell as it’s cast and produces a token copy that is explicitly non-legendary, which avoids the usual legendary rule issues when copying powerful legends.
Deck strategy and card interactions
One straightforward build approach is a mana-value curve keyed to Jackal’s power: play creatures whose mana values match Jackal’s current power so you trigger copies consistently. However, there is a notable alternative. An EDHREC article points out a reliable loophole: creatures with an “X” in their mana cost use whatever value you pay into X as their mana value. Therefore, by including X-cost creatures you can always choose a mana value that equals Jackal’s power and trigger the copy.
Consequently, many X-cost green creatures across Magic’s history are natural inclusions. In addition, the deck benefits from standard Simic tools: blue counterspells and interaction to protect Jackal while you set up plays, plus green ramp and ways to add +1/+1 counters. Examples of supportive cards mentioned in reporting include Forgotten Ancient, The Ozolith, Hardened Scales, and Loading Zone. These cards increase Jackal’s counters or take advantage of counters, which strengthens the copy triggers and scales the deck’s late game.
High-cost finishers like Ghalta, Primal Hunger or other big green threats can be included, but building around X-cost options offers more consistency since you can set X to match Jackal’s power. The article’s author reports practical outcomes from playtesting, such as using counters and copies to reach very large Jackal power levels and producing game-ending turns.
Why it appeals to non-Universes Beyond fans
Unlike some cards that lean heavily into cross-franchise mechanics, Jackal’s design reads like a conventional Magic commander. The character has limited appearances outside of Magic — brief spots in some animated shows and a PlayStation 2-era video game — so the card doesn’t immediately pull players into the Marvel universe. For players who prefer a more “Magic-native” feel, Jackal offers a clear mechanical identity that fits existing Simic archetypes.
Finally, the set does offer other Spider-Man-themed options, and the expansion’s many legendary creatures (roughly 80) provide alternatives for players who want to lean fully into the crossover. A community list of the set’s legendary creatures can be found on Reddit.
In short, Jackal is a low-cost commander with a clear, repeatable copying mechanic and natural synergies with X-cost creatures and +1/+1 counter strategies. Therefore, it works well for players who want a Spider-Man-era card that plays like a standard Magic commander.
