Stonybrook Banneret MTG Card


Stonybrook Banneret excels in lowering spell costs, ramping up your Merfolk or Wizard plays. Increases gameplay flexibility with resource savings, leading to strategic instant-speed interactions. Limited utility in multicolored decks and requires careful hand management to maximize benefits.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Merfolk Wizard
Abilities Islandwalk,Landwalk
Power 1
Toughness 1

Text of card

Islandwalk Merfolk spells and Wizard spells you play cost less to play.

Made from trout scales and crawfish whiskers, merrows' shimmering banners flash in the water like lightning.


Cards like Stonybrook Banneret

Stonybrook Banneret has carved out its niche in Magic: The Gathering as an essential piece in the tribal support puzzle. Among tribal facilitators, it is closest to Sunscape Familiar, yet Stonybrook Banneret shines in Merfolk-based strategies specifically. While Sunscape Familiar discounts green and blue spells, it doesn’t cater to a particular creature type, unlike Stonybrook Banneret which makes Merfolk spells cost one less to cast, potentially speeding up gameplay significantly for that tribe.

Another kin in cost reduction is found in the goblin-tribe, with the card Goblin Warchief. While it cuts the mana cost of goblin spells, it also boosts their speed by granting them haste. Stonybrook Banneret, lacking this extra tactical advantage, still offers a sustainable cost advantage over several turns.

Tribal optimization is key in Magic: The Gathering and Stonybrook Banneret competes strongly within this category. The utility of this card in dedicated Merfolk decks exemplifies the importance of strategic synergy, standing out by making waves that ebb into a tide of summoning efficiency.

Sunscape Familiar - MTG Card versions
Goblin Warchief - MTG Card versions
Sunscape Familiar - MTG Card versions
Goblin Warchief - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Stonybrook Banneret can be a subtle but powerful addition to decks focusing on Merfolk or Wizard spells. While it doesn’t directly draw cards, it effectively reduces the cost of your spells, allowing you to play more cards from your hand in a shorter amount of time. This can lead to a qualitative increase in card advantage as you deploy more threats or answers than your opponent can handle.

Resource Acceleration: By making Merfolk and Wizard spells cost one less, the Banneret acts as a form of resource acceleration. In MTG, efficiently using mana can often make the difference between winning and losing. The ability to cast more spells or higher-cost spells earlier in the game can give you a significant edge, particularly in tribal synergistic strategies where every mana point counts.

Instant Speed: While Stonybrook Banneret itself is not an instant, it enables a strategy that can capitalize on instant speed interactions. With the mana savings, you can leave resources open to react to your opponent’s moves with instant speed spells in your newly accelerated Merfolk or Wizard deck. This adds a layer of flexibility and can catch opponents off guard, as they will have to account for more potential plays from you even during their turn.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Stonybrook Banneret offers advantages in merfolk or wizard-focused decks, it does not bypass the impediment of keeping a solid hand. Running out of cards to play can be detrimental, and this card does not alleviate that tension.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost to bringing the Stonybrook Banneret into play is uniquely blue. This specificity can potentially limit its integration into multicolored decks that require a wider range of mana accessibility, which may affect its versatility across different deck builds.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a card that’s primarily used to lower the cost of other creatures, the initial investment of two mana may seem steep, especially since it does not provide an immediate impact upon entering the battlefield. Players might prefer options that contribute more dynamically to their game strategy. Lower-cost alternatives may provide a quicker advantage or contribute to early game momentum.


Reasons to Include Stonybrook Banneret in Your Collection

Versatility: Stonybrook Banneret finds its place in blue and white Merfolk, Wizard, or hybrid decks. Its cost-reducing ability lets you cast more spells in a single turn, keeping up the pace in games where speed can determine the victor.

Combo Potential: This card excels in synergistic strategies and can be the linchpin in combos that revolve around casting numerous creatures rapidly. It can help establish a formidable presence on the board by effectively reducing mana costs for key tribal members.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where tribal decks rise in and out of favor, Stonybrook Banneret remains particularly useful. With creature-heavy strategies commonly seen across formats, its inclusion provides a lasting advantage for tribal enthusiasts striving to keep their decks competitive.


How to beat Stonybrook Banneret

Stonybrook Banneret is a key card for players who favor the Merfolk or Wizard tribal strategies in MTG. Its cost reduction effect for these creature types can accelerate a player’s game plan significantly. However, managing and countering this card is not insurmountable. One effective strategy against Stonybrook Banneret is using removal spells that can target creatures regardless of their mana cost or type, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile. Additionally, employing control elements like board wipes, which reset the playing field, can effectively counteract the advantage given by Stonybrook Banneret. With cards like Wrath of God or Damnation, the tempo gain from Stonybrook Banneret can be mitigated.

Another avenue to consider is using counter spells when the Banneret is cast. Counterspell or Mana Leak can nip the problem in the bud before it even begins. It’s often observed that disrupting an opponent’s early tribal development leads to a significant downturn in their momentum. Also, keep an eye on how your opponent is utilizing their mana; if they become too reliant on the cost reductions, strategically removing their Stonybrook Banneret can leave them unable to play their hand effectively. In essence, maintaining board control and preparing for early interruptions of your opponent’s game plan are the keys to overcoming the strategic advantages presented by Stonybrook Banneret.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delve deeper into the synergies and nuances of Stonybrook Banneret in your MTG collection. As we’ve seen, this merfolk card can tilt the scales in tribal decks, making your army of sea-dwelling folk and mystical wizards a force to be reckoned with. Efficient mana usage transforms the battlefield, and with the Banneret, you’re one step closer to outmaneuvering your opponent. But every card plays a part in the grander strategy. So, continue to enrich your gameplay and outsmart your competition. To enhance your deck further with nuanced strategies and card choices, journey with us through the depths of MTG wisdom and experience.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Stonybrook Banneret MTG card by a specific set like Morningtide and The List, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Stonybrook Banneret and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Stonybrook Banneret Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2008-02-01 and 2023-11-17. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-02-01MorningtideMOR 512003NormalBlackRalph Horsley
22020-09-26The ListPLST MOR-512003NormalBlackRalph Horsley
32023-11-17The Lost Caverns of Ixalan CommanderLCC 1732015NormalBlackErnanda Souza

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Stonybrook Banneret has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Stonybrook Banneret card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2008-04-01 A spell you cast that's both creature types costs less to cast, not less.
2008-04-01 The effect reduces the total cost of the spell, regardless of whether you chose to pay additional or alternative costs. For example, if you cast a Rogue spell by paying its prowl cost, Frogtosser Banneret causes that spell to cost less.