Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur 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
Flash At the beginning of your end step, draw seven cards. Each opponent's maximum hand size is reduced by seven.
Complete guide
Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur is a powerhouse of card advantage and hand disruption, perfect for Blue mages who love control. As a Phyrexian Praetor, he offers a massive influx of resources for you while leaving your opponents with almost nothing to work with. His high mana cost is balanced by the ability to enter the battlefield at any time thanks to Flash.
Understanding the Praetor's Reach
Jin-Gitaxias has two primary abilities that dictate the flow of the game. First, at the beginning of your end step, you draw seven cards. Second, your opponents' maximum hand size is reduced by seven. Normally, a player's maximum hand size is seven, which means Jin-Gitaxias typically reduces it to zero, forcing your opponents to discard their entire hand during their cleanup step.
The Timing of the Cleanup Step
It is crucial to remember that maximum hand size is only checked during a player's cleanup step. When you draw seven cards at your end step, you might exceed your own hand size limit. Because your cleanup step follows your end step, you may have to discard down to seven cards immediately after drawing. Conversely, your opponent only discards at the end of their own turn, meaning they can still cast spells during their turn before being forced to discard.
Interaction with Other Effects
If an opponent has an effect that increases their hand size or states they have no maximum hand size, these effects are additive or substitutive. If an ability says they have no maximum hand size, reducing it by seven has no effect. If they have a Reliquary Tower, they still have no maximum hand size. However, if they have an effect that gives them +2 hand size (total 9), Jin-Gitaxias will reduce that total to 2.
When to Flash in Jin-Gitaxias
Because of the Flash ability, you can cast Jin-Gitaxias at the end of an opponent's turn. This allows you to untap all your lands immediately after he enters, protecting him with counterspells or utility before you reach your own end step to trigger the draw effect. This minimizes the window your opponents have to remove him before you gain value.
Interaction examples
You pass the turn to your end step. Jin-Gitaxias's triggered ability goes on the stack. Upon resolution, you draw seven cards. If you now have 12 cards in hand, you move to the cleanup step. Since your maximum hand size is still seven, you must discard five cards of your choice to the graveyard.
During your opponent's turn, they hold five cards. On their end step, nothing happens yet. When they move to their cleanup step, the game checks their maximum hand size (7 - 7 = 0). They are forced to discard all five cards. If they had a card like Kozilek, Butcher of Truth in hand, it would hit the graveyard now, triggering a shuffle of their graveyard into their library.
Summon: BahamutIf you control a Summon: Bahamut on its third lore counter at the start of your turn, you draw two cards in your pre-combat main phase. Later, at your end step, Jin-Gitaxias triggers, drawing you seven more. This sequence ensures you have a massive hand to find protection for your Saga before it reaches its final chapter.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If a player has more cards in their hand than their maximum hand size during the cleanup step of that player's turn, that player discards until they have that many cards. A player's maximum hand size isn't checked at any time other than their own cleanup step.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Jin-Gitaxias doesn't affect the maximum hand size of its controller. Because the cleanup step is after the end step, its controller may have to discard some of the cards that were just drawn.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
Unless another spell or ability is affecting your opponent's maximum hand size, Jin-Gitaxias's ability will result in your opponent having a maximum hand size of zero. They will discard each card from their hand during their cleanup step.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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