Honestly, if you told me a few years ago that we'd be discussing Mary Jane Watson’s "stats" in the context of a competitive card game, I’d have probably laughed. But here we are in 2026, and the crossover between Marvel and Magic: The Gathering (MTG) has completely reshaped how we look at Peter Parker’s social circle. Specifically, everyone is talking about Spider-Man MJ Rising Star, a card that has gone from a "flavor win" to a legitimate powerhouse in the Marvel's Spider-Man: Eternal-Legal set.
It’s kind of wild.
Most people see MJ as the supportive girlfriend or the brave investigative journalist. In the MTG universe, however, she’s a Legendary Creature — Human Performer with a very specific, very annoying (for your opponents) ability set. If you've been playing in the Commander or Legacy scenes lately, you've likely seen her face popping up more than a New York City billboard.
What Exactly is the Spider-Man MJ Rising Star Card?
Let’s get the basics out of the way. Spider-Man MJ Rising Star is a white mana card ($2W$ cost) with a base power and toughness of 2/3. It’s an uncommon, but don't let the rarity fool you. The card features Vigilance, meaning she doesn't tap when she attacks. That’s cool and all, but the real "sauce" is her triggered ability: "Whenever you gain life, put a +1/+1 counter on MJ."
Think about that for a second.
In a set packed with Peter Parker variants and high-tech gadgets, MJ scales. She’s a "Rising Star" literally. The flavor text—“Will they? Won’t they? Find out next time, on the season finale of Secret Hospital”—is a nod to her acting career, but in-game, she’s less about drama and more about becoming an unstoppable beatstick.
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Why the Gaming Community is Obsessed
I’ve spent the last week looking at decklists on EDHREC, and MJ is sitting in a surprising number of builds. Why? Because lifegain is one of the easiest mechanics to trigger in Magic. You pair her with something like Aunt May, Benevolent Relative (who, let's be real, is a lifegain engine) or any creature with Lifelink, and MJ becomes a 10/11 before your opponent even realizes they should have used their removal.
One thing people often get wrong is thinking her ability triggers for each point of life gained. It doesn't. If you gain 5 life at once, she gets one counter. But if you have five different creatures with Lifelink dealing damage? That’s five separate events. Five counters.
The math gets scary fast.
The Synergy: MJ, Peter, and the Eternal-Legal Meta
What’s interesting about the Spider-Man MJ Rising Star card is how it reflects the current state of Marvel media. We’re currently seeing a huge push for MJ as a hero in her own right—just look at the Death Spiral comic event where she’s actually bonded with a symbiote. The card captures that "rising" energy.
If you're building a deck around her, you're basically looking for "Soul Warden" effects. Basically, anything that says "whenever a creature enters, you gain 1 life."
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- Pro Tip: Use her in a "Blink" deck.
- The Combo: Every time a creature enters the battlefield, you gain life, MJ grows.
- The Result: A board state that your friends will probably hate you for.
Is It Just a Gimmick?
A lot of "old school" Magic players were skeptical of the Universes Beyond sets. They thought adding Spider-Man characters would ruin the "vibe" of the game. But honestly? The mechanics for Spider-Man MJ Rising Star feel very "White Weenie" in a way that respects the game's history. She isn't broken like some of the older Power Nine cards, but she’s efficient.
In the 2026 meta, efficiency is everything.
The card is currently legal in Legacy, Vintage, and Commander. While it hasn't completely overtaken the top-tier competitive Legacy decks, it’s a staple in casual-competitive Commander pods. If you’re playing a "Spidey-Tribal" deck, she’s an auto-include. You can’t really run a Peter Parker commander without his star actress backing him up.
Misconceptions and Rule Clarifications
I’ve seen some heated arguments at local game stores about how MJ interacts with certain effects. Let’s clear some stuff up because the rulings from September 2025 were pretty specific.
First off, if MJ takes lethal damage at the same time you gain life (maybe from a board wipe or a complex combat phase), she dies. The counter doesn't hit her in time to save her. I’ve seen people try to argue the "state-based actions" logic, but the judges have been firm: she’s gone.
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Secondly, in Two-Headed Giant, your teammate gaining life doesn't help you. MJ only cares about your life gain. Sorry, no cheating the system there.
How to Get Your Hands on the Card
Since this is an uncommon from the Spider-Man: Eternal-Legal set, it’s not going to break the bank. You can usually find a near-mint copy for under a dollar on TCGplayer or eBay. However, the Foil versions and the Alt-Art Promo versions (often featuring her in different outfits from her various "acting roles" in the comics) are starting to creep up in price as collectors realize how playable she actually is.
If you're a Marvel fan who just wants the art, the illustration by Bachzim is fantastic. It captures that classic MJ confidence without feeling like a generic "damsel" pose.
Actionable Next Steps for Players
If you want to actually win with Spider-Man MJ Rising Star, don't just throw her into a random pile of cards.
- Prioritize Multi-Instance Lifegain: Don't go for big "gain 10 life" spells. Go for "gain 1 life whenever X happens" cards. This maximizes the +1/+1 counters.
- Protect the Star: She’s an uncommon with no ward or hexproof. You need to run protection like Spider-Sense (which gives her flash and hexproof in this set) to keep her on the board.
- Watch the Market: If you're looking for the alternate art, buy it now. With the Spider-Man: Brand New Day movie hype building for the July 2026 release, MJ-related merchandise is likely to see a price spike.
The beauty of the MJ card is that it doesn't try to be Spider-Man. It doesn't have web-swinging or wall-crawling. It represents her character: she starts small, gains momentum, and eventually becomes a force that can't be ignored. Whether you're a hardcore MTG grinder or just a Spidey fan, it's a piece of the lore that's actually fun to play with.
To get the most out of your deck, pair her with "Heliod, Sun-Crowned" for a devastating infinite-counter combo that will turn your "Rising Star" into a supernova.