Dear Jace Beleren,

<3

I am not the biggest fan of Planeswalkers. Especially in the beginning there was so little ‘destroy a Planeswalker’ removal available that Magic just hadn’t adapted to you guys yet. That made you guys a design challenge in Cubes. For the longest time Planeswalkers dominated and I played Magic intensively during that time. There is a really good reason why Chapin titled his song ‘Jace the Mindsculptor, better than all’. 

But I didn’t mind you first 5. You were reasonably balanced, not stretching the power level of Planeswalkers like Jace, the Mindsculptor or Oko, Thief of Crowns did. You first 5 saw a whole lot of play, taking both Standard and Extended by storm, but you first 5 didn’t dominate those formats, you were nice additions. At first I was more into Garruk Wildspeaker and Liliana Vess because of my love for Death Cloud, my love for you came a couple of years later Jace Beleren. 

Back in those days the Legend rule was different. At the time I fell in love with you, it was so that if a second ‘Jace’ Planeswalker would hit the battlefield, both would be put in the Graveyard. For example: for the longest time, the best removal for Umezawa’s Jitte, was an Umezawa’s Jitte. And the same was the case for Jace the Mindsculptor (better than all). The best removal for that guy was you, Jace Beleren, and we together took full advantage of that. You come down a turn earlier than your bigger alter ego, even when on the draw, and have netted some card advantage at that point. I remember playing at a Pro Tour Qualifier in Amsterdam. On turn 3 on the draw I played you, Jace Beleren, and drew a card. It was a control mirror and my opponent went in the tank on turn 4, only to result in a big sigh and they went on to cast their Jace the Mindsculptor on turn 4 to kill you. “Such a waste” my opponent remarked. But you were no waste for me. No. On the contrary, you were my favourite thing to have in the graveyard. Because there is till this day nothing better to recur with a Sun Titan. Which I did on turn 6, my opponent stating that he could not battle through that and promptly losing the game. 

The only problem I found out while writing this love letter, that in none of my 19 Cubes, both you, Jace Beleren, and Sun Titan are in there together. I guess it’s a good thing reader Joe gave me the very good idea of building a Cube combining all the cards from the 365 love letters I am going to write. Because with this letter, I’ve got that problem solved. Thanks Joe! 

With love, 

Hanjo