Jace, Vryn's ProdigyJace, Vryn's Prodigy | Art by Wayne Reynolds

With the release of Reality Fracture, there's one man on the mind of every Magic player: Jace. Yes, the boy in blue, one of the original Lorwyn Five, and the leader of the Jastice League. You may know him, and some of you may even love him, but have you ever ranked him? I thought, "Which Jace is Best for Commander?" and I aim to answer that very question here today.

I have divided the seventeen planeswalkers and the single flip-walker into three distinct and scientific categories: The Bad, The Medium, and The Best. I ran the numbers and reviewed all the data available to me. My conclusion is, without a doubt, my personal ranking of these cards, and the community should fully back it.

Without further preamble, I present to you the Janking List ranking: Which Jace is Best for Commander?

The Bad

Jace, Arcane StrategistJace, Arcane Strategist

Within each category, these cards aren't ranked, but we start with one of the worst. Jace, Arcane StrategistJace, Arcane Strategist is just a bad card. It's expensive, slow, and not very flashy. When a card's best part is its passive ability, you might think it's powerful, but not here. This is just a very bland card that even a new player can see isn't worth including in a deck — a fantastic start to the category, but an equally terrible start for the best Jace around.

Jace, Memory AdeptJace, Memory Adept

I was not around when this card graced the Standard format, but I have heard tales of players trying to make it work in 60-card formats. I think one reason it might be only tales is that, you guessed it, this card is also bad. With a smaller deck size, I can see how having a +0 ability to mill ten might matter. Except that, in those formats, I can get that effect for the low cost of two mana with Glimpse the UnthinkableGlimpse the Unthinkable.

In Commander, that ability might empower my opponents rather than help me. This Jace should stay only as a memory.

Jace, Ingenious Mind-MageJace, Ingenious Mind-Mage

If there has to be a worst of the worst, then it's certainly Jace, Ingenious Mind-MageJace, Ingenious Mind-Mage. This card is almost an affront to what it means to be a Jace planeswalker. Unless you have an entire deck that wants every conceivable way to untap all your creatures, you'll never have a reason to play this card. I'd say more, but like The Professor always says, "reading the card explains the card," and you can read it and see why you shouldn't sleeve it up.

Jace, Mirror MageJace, Mirror Mage

This is the Jace that I wish was a bit better. Calling it bad is harsh, but it also isn't good enough to reach the Medium category. Jace, Mirror MageJace, Mirror Mage is undoubtedly a cool card. Sadly, it just ends up not sticking around for very long. One way or another.

Jace, the Living GuildpactJace, the Living Guildpact

As we fight through the bottom-tier Jaces, we do hit a few bright spots. Jace, the Living GuildpactJace, the Living Guildpact is one of those spots. While none of these abilities translate well to multiplayer, they at least do something relevant. Card filtering, limited bounce, and an ultimate that can affect every player are the bare minimum for a card to matter in a free-for-all setting. This card is the bare minimum for Jace.

Jace, Cunning CastawayJace, Cunning Castaway

Jace, Cunning CastawayJace, Cunning Castaway is in The Bad for its abilities, but for the Jace with the least amount of shirt, it's the best, no contest. This Jace can do some fun things when combined with the ability to make copies of himself, like Nicol Bolas, Dragon-GodNicol Bolas, Dragon-God. Outside of that single scenario or ones similar, he doesn't do anything. If you ordered the Bad tier from worst to best, he would be closer to the best for combo potential, but that still says little.

Jace, the Perfected MindJace, the Perfected Mind

Last up, when talking about The Bad, we have Jace, the Perfected MindJace, the Perfected Mind. This Jace hurts people both in story and gameplay. Still, it hurts me that, when it comes to Commander, if one Jace focused on mill isn't enough, we get a second one. This Jace is also worse at milling out even just one opponent without a good amount of help. Worse on multiple levels.

The Medium

Jace ReawakenedJace Reawakened

A great start for our middle-of-the-road Jaces. While it might not be Commander, I have played a lot of Jace ReawakenedJace Reawakened in Brawl. The card is better than I first gave it credit for. Sure, it has the Serra AvengerSerra Avenger restriction, but it comes in and gives you card advantage in multiple different ways. The best part is that people will leave it alone because it looks like a waste of space in the 99.

If you do find your way to ultimate this card, it will copy every spell you cast for the rest of the turn. At worst, you plot a bunch of cards and save on mana with a big turn, casting a mess of spells for essentially free.

Jace, the Mind SculptorJace, the Mind Sculptor

This is possibly the hottest take on the list, but hear me out. Jace, the Mind SculptorJace, the Mind Sculptor isn't better than all when it comes to Commander. I defend this card as better than it seems, and maybe even on the rise in Commander, but you need to break out of the 60-card mindset when looking at JTMS. I'd never put this in the Bad tier, but I can't separate it from the Medium.

Jace BelerenJace Beleren

Party Jace does what Party Jace does. Jace BelerenJace Beleren is possibly the only planeswalker that a table would want to see someone play, because they think you will let them draw cards. You might, but only if they ask real nice. What often happens with this card, however, is that you're the only one drawing cards, and the other three players will try very hard to convince you otherwise.

Space BelerenSpace Beleren

In space, no one can decide which sector creatures go into. Full transparency, I have never played against or with this card before. That said, this card has a fair amount of words and a rarely seen effect, looking at you, Raging RiverRaging River. I have a sneaky suspicion this card should see more play, but a combination of factors (the set, the gimmick, and players' general distaste for this card) keeps it from doing so.

Jace, Architect of ThoughtJace, Architect of Thought

Do you like Fact or FictionFact or Fiction? What about your opponents forgetting that their creatures get smaller when they attack you? Or maybe even BriberyBribery times four? Then you, like me, should be a fan of Jace, Architect of ThoughtJace, Architect of Thought. A game-winning ultimate and two solid effects get you a solid nod and a firm handshake. This is very close to breaking into the Best category, but it falls just a bit short.

Jace, Reality SculptorJace, Reality Sculptor

One of the newest entries into the long list of different Jaces, we have Jace, Reality SculptorJace, Reality Sculptor. This Jace also comes with a bonus Jace thanks to the Empower Jace mechanic. The -5 to attacking creatures is devastating, and trust me: this card's win-the-game mechanic isn't as hard to pull off as it seems.

Jace, Unraveler of SecretsJace, Unraveler of Secrets

Rounding out the Medium section is a Jace we haven't seen in quite a while: Jace, Unraveler of SecretsJace, Unraveler of Secrets. This card can be a menace. If you ever reach the ultimate on this card, the table has very little to stop you. I have to actively tell people about this card when I play it because catching players off guard with the emblem is devastating. The other two abilities are just okay, but this card should instill a healthy fear when it hits the table.

The Best

Jace, Vryn's ProdigyJace, Vryn's Prodigy

This card can be your commander. That is honestly the main reason it made this ranking. Having a Merfolk LooterMerfolk Looter in the command zone with huge upside once you flip it just rules. Jace, Vryn's ProdigyJace, Vryn's Prodigy might be when Jace is at his youngest, but it's clearly not when he is at his weakest. Not to mention, the back of this card has solid abilities and a game-winning ultimate with some help.

Jace, Wielder of MysteriesJace, Wielder of Mysteries

The last Jace with a game-winning ultimate is Jace, Wielder of MysteriesJace, Wielder of Mysteries. Call it a version of Laboratory ManiacLaboratory Maniac or a fill-in for Thassa's OracleThassa's Oracle, but either way, you are trying to win the game with this card. This may also be the only card in the game with two different abilities on it that say "you win the game." I guess once you unravel the secrets, you get to wield the mysteries.

Jace, Multiverse ArchitectJace, Multiverse Architect

Can you be the best at something without being the best? If anyone can do it, then Jace, Multiverse ArchitectJace, Multiverse Architect is the guy — one of, if not the single best, PolymorphPolymorph commanders ever printed. The Ghostly PrisonGhostly Prison static ability makes him hard to kill, and like the baby Jace version of himself, the ability to be your commander takes it over the top.

The Answer

The Theorist, Jace BelerenThe Theorist, Jace Beleren

Here it is. This card right here is the answer to the question: Which Jace is the Best for Commander? The Theorist, Jace BelerenThe Theorist, Jace Beleren, is truly a crazy card. Outside of this card getting removed right away or countered, you can pretty reliably get either a 1/1 token or three UnsummonUnsummon plus three cards drawn before it gets back to your turn. That's too much value to pass up. This card is making waves in any format that can get their hands on it, and if you haven't played with it, treat yourself today and sleeve it up or pop it into a deck online.

This is the best Jace and earned the top spot on the Janking List.

Wrap Up

There you have it, folks: the Jaces have been ordered, and the science has been done. The top spot goes to The Theorist; if you think otherwise, let me know why. Maybe you are a fan of party Jace or even baby Jace. Maybe you can't escape the 60-card mindset, and JTMS, combined with Squadron HawkSquadron Hawk, fills you with glee. Whatever you think about Jace, I want to hear it until next time, when they do a set focused mainly on a single planeswalker, or at least until my next article.