Last updated on November 2, 2023
Jace Beleren, Gideon Jura, Chandra, Torch of Defiance, and Rest in Peace | Illustrations by Aleksi Briclot, Magali Villeneuve, and Jason Rainville
Every now and then WotC releases a product unlike anything else they’ve ever done. Magic used to only sell boosters and a couple of starter decks but now we’ve got things like Secret Lair, Commander Collection, and Signature Spellbooks.
Naturally you’ll start asking yourself some questions. What in the world are Signature Spellbooks? Are they overrated? Underrated? Can I even buy one anymore? Fear not! I'm going to teach you everything you need to know about Signature Spellbooks, right here, right now.
Let’s take a look!
What is Signature Spellbook?
Pyroblast | Illustration by Yongjae Choi
Signature Spellbook is a product that contains a handful of cards thematically tied to an iconic Magic character. It’s a bit like From the Vault, if you remember those releases. Every single one of these cards is a reprint, but what makes them special is the new art and special borders they all get.
Each Signature Spellbook has nine cards: eight pre-determined reprints along with a random foil copy of one of those cards. Each is related to an iconic Magic character.
So far the spotlight has been put on Jace Beleren in 2018, Gideon Jura in 2019, and Chandra Nalaar in 2020. We’ll get to the finer details in a bit, though.
Is Signature Spellbook Discontinued?
Not officially. There won’t be a Signature Spellbook in 2021 but the reason behind that could be any number of things. There’s a very real possibility that Wizards doesn’t ever plan on releasing any new Signature Spellbooks, but it’s also possible that the design team ran into some unexpected problems and had to delay their release.
Whatever the reason, don’t count on any new ones being released anytime soon. If you’re a fan of the series, just be happy if it returns in 2022.
What’s the Purpose of Signature Spellbooks Anyways?
Fiery Confluence | Illustration by Micah Epstein
To pimp out your deck, yo! Special sets like this only exist because their cards look cool. That’s it, really.
For some players (which might be you), building a fine-tuned, functional deck to take down your LGS isn’t enough. You need your cards to feature never-before-seen art that throws your opponent off and shows any spectators how cool and full of personality you really are. If you’re looking to upgrade your already-optimal deck, Signature Spellbook is one of the first places I’d look.
List of Signature Spellbook Products
Signature Spellbook: Jace (2018)
You guessed it, Signature Spellbook: Jace is all about Jace Beleren. You know, the planeswalker that’s only been printed about seven hundred times? Anyways, all the cards in this Signature Spellbook are popular blue spells that have been reprinted with a new style and Jace art.
You’ll love the art on these cards if you’re a Jace fan. Each one has seen competitive play and will likely be run in future constructed decks. Brainstorm may be the most played card in Legacy right now, Counterspell is just a good card (whether you like it or not), and Mystical Tutor is a must-have in your blue EDH decks. What I’m trying to say is that these cards won’t just look pretty in your binder, you might actually want to sleeve them up for your next tournament.
These are the cards included in Jace's Signature Spellbook:
- Blue Elemental Blast
- Brainstorm
- Counterspell
- Gifts Ungiven
- Jace Beleren
- Mystical Tutor
- Negate
- Threads of Disloyalty
- Call on the power of Jace Beleren and control the game with this collection of essential blue spells, now with a stunning new look
- Signature Spellbook: Jace - Magic the Gathering MtG TCG
- Language: English
- Signature Spellbook: Jace; Contents:
Signature Spellbook: Gideon (2019)
2019’s Signature Spellbook was all about Gideon Jura. With white being white, there are a few more enchantments and artifacts here than in the other Signature Spellbooks.
I don’t think this is as exciting as the Jace Spellbook simply because it doesn’t feature as many playable cards. Sure, Path to Exile and Rest in Peace see quite a bit of play in Modern, but that’s about it.
Take a look at what you can expect if you pick up Gideon's Signature Spellbook:
- Blackblade Reforged
- Gideon Jura
- Martyr's Bond
- Path to Exile
- Rest in Peace
- Shielded by Faith
- True Conviction
- Worship
- The product contains eight cards, plus one bonus foil, all featuring the powerful planeswalker Gideon Jura!
Signature Spellbook: Chandra (2020)
And then there’s Chandra. This one’s all about fire and, I must say, the card treatment for this Spellbook is awesome.
Honestly this might be worth it just because of how awesome Chandra, Torch of Defiance looks with that new border treatment, even though the art itself hasn’t changed. I also know of some players who just love their Young Pyromancers, though getting a playset of these might get a little pricey.
Check out what you get with Chandra's Signature Spellbook:
- Cathartic Reunion
- Chandra, Torch of Defiance
- Fiery Confluence
- Past in Flames
- Pyroblast
- Pyromancer Ascension
- Rite of Flame
- Young Pyromancer
- Package dimensions: 3 x 12.9 x 17.1 cm
- Magic The Gathering
- A great gift for any magic player.
- Package weight: 0.07 kilograms
Are Signature Spellbooks Worth It? Which is the Best Value?
Threads of Disloyalty | Illustration by Tyler Jacobson
From a purely competitive standpoint, no, the Signature Spellbooks aren’t worth it. But if you want to look at things that way, is anything worth it?
Saying Signature Spellbook isn’t worth it because you can get the same cards with different art or borders for cheaper is like saying an original Picasso painting isn’t worth it because you can buy a print copy for cheaper. Sure, you’re probably right, but not all financial decisions have to be entirely rational. If you wanted to be completely rational about your spending, you wouldn’t even be playing Magic in the first place.
If you’re looking for which of the Signature Spellbooks is the best in terms of value, then I’ve got to go with Jace’s book. Mystical Tutor alone gets you your money back if you pay MSRP and everything else is a bonus since none of the other cards sell for much.
But don’t forget the random foil, which can potentially net you a nice profit. The foil Mystical Tutor is quite valuable, of course, but Counterspell and Brainstorm foils also do pretty well on the market.
- Call on the power of Jace Beleren and control the game with this collection of essential blue spells, now with a stunning new look
- Signature Spellbook: Jace - Magic the Gathering MtG TCG
- Language: English
- Signature Spellbook: Jace; Contents:
Are Signature Spellbook Cards Legal?
Signature Spellbook reprints are legal if the card is already legal in that format.
But Signature Spellbook reprints don’t count as sets being released, so they don’t automatically make the card legal in Standard or any other rotating formats. It’s purely by coincidence if a card in one of the Signature Spellbooks is also legal in Standard.
For the non-rotating formats, though, the cards in Signature Spellbooks are legal as long as they’re not banned or restricted.
Wrap Up
Path to Exile | Illustration by Daarken
Special products like these are always interesting to review because they remind you that aesthetics are important, too. I (and many others) are often too caught up in the mechanics and strategy aspect of Magic to appreciate what drew me into the game in the first place: the beauty of Magic cards. I’ve never been one to foil up my decks but I’ve always appreciated misprints, alters, and alternate art cards.
Before I go off on a tangent about deck pimping, let me wrap this up. Let me know which Signature Spellbook is your favorite and what iconic Magic character you’d like to see next in the series! You can pop into the comments down below or even visit us on social media, whether that’s Twitter, Facebook, or even Reddit.
As always, let us know if you have any questions. I’ll see you next time!
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