Ertha Jo, Frontier Mentor is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
When Ertha Jo enters, create a 1/1 red Mercenary creature token with ": Target creature you control gets +1/+0 until end of turn. Activate only as a sorcery." Whenever you activate an ability that targets a creature or player, copy that ability. You may choose new targets for the copy.
Complete guide
Ertha Jo, Frontier Mentor is a powerful legendary Kor Advisor who excels at leading her team to victory through coordinated efforts. By bringing a Mercenary companion to the field and doubling the impact of your focused abilities, she turns small tactical advantages into overwhelming board presence. Understanding how to maximize her ability to copy activated effects is key to mastering this Boros commander.
What Ertha Jo Does
Ertha Jo has two distinct roles on the battlefield. First, she provides immediate board presence by creating a 1/1 red Mercenary token when she enters. Second, she acts as a force multiplier for activated abilities. Whenever you activate an ability that targets at least one creature or player, Ertha Jo triggers and creates a copy of that ability. You can then choose new legal targets for the copy, allowing you to double your buffs, damage, or utility effects.
How It Resolves Step by Step
When you activate an ability that targets a creature or player, Ertha Jo's triggered ability goes on the stack on top of that original ability. When Ertha Jo's trigger resolves, it creates a copy of the original ability. You decide at that moment whether to change the targets for the copy. The copy then resolves first, followed by your original activation. Note that since the copy is created directly on the stack, it is not considered 'activated,' so it won't cause Ertha Jo to trigger again in an infinite loop.
Common Mistakes
A frequent error is trying to copy triggered abilities or static effects; Ertha Jo only copies activated abilities, which are always formatted as '[Cost]: [Effect].' Additionally, the ability must target a creature or a player. If an ability targets a planeswalker, an enchantment, or doesn't target anything at all, Ertha Jo will not trigger. Finally, remember that if an ability requires a cost like sacrificing a creature, you do not pay that cost again for the copy; the copy simply uses the information from the original payment.
When to Play It
Ertha Jo is most effective when your deck is built around utility creatures and equipment. Since she provides a Mercenary token herself, you always have a targetable ability ready to go. She shines in the mid-to-late game when you have multiple creatures with activated abilities, allowing you to extract double value from every point of mana or tap symbol spent.
Interaction examples
MercenaryWith Ertha Jo on the battlefield, you activate the {T} ability of your Mercenary token targeting Ertha Jo. Because this ability targets a creature, Ertha Jo's ability triggers. You can choose a new target for the copy, such as the Mercenary itself. As a result, Ertha Jo gets +1/+0 and the Mercenary gets +1/+0, doubling the effectiveness of a single tap.
Roaming ThroneIf you control Roaming Throne and chose 'Kor' or 'Advisor' as it entered, Ertha Jo's triggered ability will trigger an additional time. If you then activate an ability targeting a creature, Ertha Jo will trigger twice, resulting in the original ability and two copies on the stack for a total of three effects.
Solemn SimulacrumIf Solemn Simulacrum enters the battlefield, its ability to search for a land triggers. Because this is a triggered ability (starting with 'When') and not an activated ability (containing a colon), Ertha Jo will not copy it. Ertha Jo only interacts with abilities you actively pay for or initiate that specifically target a creature or player.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Ertha Jo, Frontier Mentor
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Activated abilities contain a colon. They're generally written "[Cost]: [Effect]." Some keyword abilities (such as equip) are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
The source of the copy is the same as the source of the original ability.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
The copy will have the same targets as the ability it's copying unless you choose new ones. You may change any number of the targets, including all of them or none of them. The new targets must be legal.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If the ability is modal (that is, if it says, "Choose one —" or similar), the mode is copied and can't be changed.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
If the ability divides damage or distributes counters among a number of targets, the division and number of targets can't be changed. If you choose new targets, you must choose the same number of targets.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If the activated ability's cost contains a choice, such as a creature to sacrifice or a number of counters to remove, the copy uses that same information. You can't pay the cost again, even if you want to.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
Any choices made when the ability resolves won't have been made yet when it's copied. Any such choices will be made separately when the copy resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
The copy made by Ertha Jo's triggered ability is created on the stack, so it's not "activated."
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #9· Wizards of the Coast
If an ability is linked to a second ability, copies of that ability are also linked to that second ability. If the second ability refers to "the exiled card," it refers to all cards exiled by the ability and the copy. For example, if one of Helvault's activated abilities is copied and two cards are exiled, they both return when Helvault is put into a graveyard from the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
The Jolly Balloon Man + Ertha Jo, Frontier Mentor + Zealous Conscripts
- 1Activate a mana-producing creature by tapping it, adding at least
. - 2Activate The Jolly Balloon Man by paying and tapping it, targeting the mana-producing creature.
- 3Ertha Jo triggers, copying The Jolly Balloon Man's ability, targeting Zealous Conscripts.
- 4Resolve the copy of The Jolly Balloon Man's ability, creating a token copy of Zealous Conscripts that is a 1/1 Balloon with haste.
- 5When Zealous Conscripts enters the battlefield, it triggers, untapping The Jolly Balloon Man.
- 6Resolve the Jolly Ballon Man ability from step 2, creating a token copy of the mana-producing creature that is a 1/1 Balloon with haste.
- 7Activate the mana-producing creature token by tapping it, adding at least .
- 8Repeat from step 2.
The Jolly Balloon Man + Ertha Jo, Frontier Mentor + Restoration Angel
- 1Activate a mana-producing creature by tapping it, adding at least .
- 2Activate The Jolly Balloon Man by paying and tapping it, targeting the mana-producing creature.
- 3Ertha Jo triggers, copying The Jolly Balloon Man's ability, targeting Restoration Angel.
- 4Resolve the copy of The Jolly Balloon Man's ability, creating a token copy of Restoration Angel that is a 1/1 Balloon with haste.
- 5When Restoration Angel enters the battlefield, it triggers, blinking The Jolly Balloon Man.
- 6Resolve the Jolly Ballon Man ability from step 2, creating a token copy of the mana-producing creature that is a 1/1 Balloon with haste.
- 7Activate the mana-producing creature token by tapping it, adding at least .
- 8Repeat from step 2.
The Jolly Balloon Man + Ertha Jo, Frontier Mentor + Felidar Guardian
- 1Activate a mana-producing creature by tapping it, adding at least .
- 2Activate The Jolly Balloon Man by paying and tapping it, targeting the mana-producing creature.
- 3Ertha Jo triggers, copying The Jolly Balloon Man's ability, targeting Felidar Guardian.
- 4Resolve the copy of The Jolly Balloon Man's ability, creating a token copy of Felidar Guardian that is a 1/1 Balloon with haste.
- 5When Felidar Guardian enters the battlefield, it triggers, blinking The Jolly Balloon Man.
- 6Resolve the Jolly Ballon Man ability from step 2, creating a token copy of the mana-producing creature that is a 1/1 Balloon with haste.
- 7Activate the mana-producing creature token by tapping it, adding at least .
- 8Repeat from step 2.
The Jolly Balloon Man + Ertha Jo, Frontier Mentor + Sparring Mummy
- 1Activate a mana-producing creature by tapping it, adding at least .
- 2Activate The Jolly Balloon Man by paying and tapping it, targeting the mana-producing creature.
- 3Ertha Jo triggers, copying The Jolly Balloon Man's ability, targeting Sparring Mummy.
- 4Resolve the copy of The Jolly Balloon Man's ability, creating a token copy of Sparring Mummy that is a 1/1 Balloon with haste.
- 5When Sparring Mummy enters the battlefield, it triggers, untapping The Jolly Balloon Man.
- 6Resolve the Jolly Ballon Man ability from step 2, creating a token copy of the mana-producing creature that is a 1/1 Balloon with haste.
- 7Activate the mana-producing creature token by tapping it, adding at least .
- 8Repeat from step 2.
The Jolly Balloon Man + Ertha Jo, Frontier Mentor + Icewind Stalwart
- 1Activate a mana-producing creature by tapping it, adding at least .
- 2Activate The Jolly Balloon Man by paying and tapping it, targeting the mana-producing creature.
- 3Ertha Jo triggers, copying The Jolly Balloon Man's ability, targeting Icewind Stalwart.
- 4Resolve the copy of The Jolly Balloon Man's ability, creating a token copy of Icewind Stalwart that is a 1/1 Balloon with haste.
- 5When Icewind Stalwart enters the battlefield, it triggers, blinking The Jolly Balloon Man.
- 6Resolve the Jolly Ballon Man ability from step 2, creating a token copy of the mana-producing creature that is a 1/1 Balloon with haste.
- 7Activate the mana-producing creature token by tapping it, adding at least .
- 8Repeat from step 2.
Ertha Jo, Frontier Mentor + Aphetto Alchemist
- 1Activate Aphetto Alchemist by tapping it, targeting itself.
- 2Ertha Jo's second ability triggers, copying Aphetto Alchemist's ability, targeting any other creature or artifact.
- 3Resolve both Aphetto Alchemist abilities, untapping it and the other targeted creature or artifact.
- 4Repeat.
The Jolly Balloon Man + Ertha Jo, Frontier Mentor + Hyrax Tower Scout
- 1Activate a mana-producing creature by tapping it, adding at least .
- 2Activate The Jolly Balloon Man by paying and tapping it, targeting the mana-producing creature.
- 3Ertha Jo triggers, copying The Jolly Balloon Man's ability, targeting Hyrax Tower Scout.
- 4Resolve the copy of The Jolly Balloon Man's ability, creating a token copy of Hyrax Tower Scout that is a 1/1 Balloon with haste.
- 5When Hyrax Tower Scout enters the battlefield, it triggers, untapping The Jolly Balloon Man.
- 6Resolve the Jolly Ballon Man ability from step 2, creating a token copy of the mana-producing creature that is a 1/1 Balloon with haste.
- 7Activate the mana-producing creature token by tapping it, adding at least .
- 8Repeat from step 2.
The Jolly Balloon Man + Ertha Jo, Frontier Mentor + Wispweaver Angel
- 1Activate a mana-producing creature by tapping it, adding at least .
- 2Activate The Jolly Balloon Man by paying and tapping it, targeting the mana-producing creature.
- 3Ertha Jo triggers, copying The Jolly Balloon Man's ability, targeting Wispweaver Angel.
- 4Resolve the copy of The Jolly Balloon Man's ability, creating a token copy of Wispweaver Angel that is a 1/1 Balloon with haste.
- 5When Wispweaver Angel enters the battlefield, it triggers, blinking The Jolly Balloon Man.
- 6Resolve the Jolly Ballon Man ability from step 2, creating a token copy of the mana-producing creature that is a 1/1 Balloon with haste.
- 7Activate the mana-producing creature token by tapping it, adding at least .
- 8Repeat from step 2.
Related cards and tokens
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Ertha Jo, Frontier Mentor
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