Coalition Flag MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant
Released	2001-06-04
Set symbol
Set name	Apocalypse
Set code	APC
Number	2
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Darrell Riche

Key Takeaways

Coalition Flag can deter targeting of key creatures, influencing combat and strategic plays.
Its specific mana cost and discard requirement can be restrictive in certain decks.
Thoughtful artifact inclusions, like Coalition Flag, can pivot games in Commander format.

Text of card

Coalition Flag can enchant only a creature you control. Enchanted creature's type is Flagbearer. If an opponent plays a spell or ability that could target a Flagbearer in play, that player chooses at least one Flagbearer as a target.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Coalition Flag offers a strategic edge by allowing players to protect key creatures from being targeted by opponents’ spells. By ensuring the longevity of powerful creatures or essential combo pieces on the battlefield, this card indirectly contributes to maintaining card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: Despite not directly ramping up mana, Coalition Flag can be a form of resource acceleration by saving on mana and resources that would otherwise be spent on protecting valuable creatures. It facilitates a more efficient allocation of mana over successive turns.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Coalition Flag at instant speed gives players the flexibility to respond to threats at a moment’s notice. It can be a surprise element during combat or in response to an opponent’s removal, potentially disrupting their plans and preserving your strategic assets.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Coalition Flag card necessitates parting with another card from your hand, which can put you at a disadvantage, particularly if your hand is already running low on options or if you’re attempting to maintain card advantage over your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: Using Coalition Flag means committing to a particular mana arrangement. This card requires a precise combination of colors to cast, which can be challenging if your deck isn’t tuned to consistently produce the right mana. This can make the card less versatile and potentially a dead card in hand in some game scenarios.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Aligning with a sizable investment of three mana, the Coalition Flag may strain your resources, especially when you consider other action plans or cards that could potentially deliver more impact or better suit your strategic goals for a similar, if not lower, mana cost.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Coalition Flag is a unique artifact that can be seamlessly integrated into a variety of Commander decks. Its ability to protect a key creature from being the target of spells or abilities makes it valuable in decks that rely on particular creatures to execute their strategy.

Combo Potential: Within decks that focus on creature synergies or those utilizing +1/+1 counters, Coalition Flag enhances combo interactions by safeguarding crucial combo pieces, allowing players to advance their board state without disruption.

Meta-Relevance: As player interaction and removal spells are prevalent in most metagames, having a card like Coalition Flag can be essential. It ensures that fundamental creatures survive to maintain control and ultimately lead the player to victory.

How to beat

Coalition Flag, a niche but noteworthy artifact in MTG, offers a layer of protection to allied forces on the battlefield. When it comes to neutralizing Coalition Flag’s influence, efficient removal of artifacts becomes a priority. Naturalize, often a staple in green decks, offers a straightforward resolution by allowing players to destroy it without much cost or complication. Diversifying your deck with flexible answers, such as Disenchant, ensures that you’re ready not just for Coalition Flag but for a wide range of potential threats.

Another strategic approach is countering the card’s effect directly. Placing emphasis on controlling the board with spells like Wrath of God can sweep protected creatures aside, sidestepping the Flag’s protection. For more pinpoint precision, Red elemental blast can be an unexpected and effective answer due to its ability to counter blue spells, the typical color for artifact synergy. Additionally, incorporating versatile creatures with abilities to deal with artifacts, Shattergang Brothers, for instance, helps maintain board advantage.

Always consider the meta and flexibility within your deck. By including versatile removals and being proactive in board control, Coalition Flag’s impact can be significantly diminished, ensuring your path to victory remains unobstructed.

Cards like Coalition Flag

Coalition Flag is a unique artifact in Magic: The Gathering that serves a specific defensive purpose. It bears resemblance to other cards that protect creatures, such as the well-known Lightning Greaves. Lightning Greaves is sought after for its ability to grant not only protection from targeted spells but also to endow creatures with haste. Coalition Flag differs in that it doesn’t provide haste, but it offers an unorthodox shield by making a targeted creature a lower priority for the opponent’s spells and abilities.

Looking at other parallels, there’s the intriguing Magebane Armor. This equipment grants protection similar to Coalition Flag, though with the added benefit of preventing all noncombat damage to the equipped creature. In deck building spaces, Magebane Armor can often substitute for Coalition Flag where players seek both protection and damage immunity. While the focus of Coalition Flag is on diversion, Magebane Armor maintains a creature’s battle prowess while shielding it from various harm.

In the arena of MTG artifacts dedicated to defense, Coalition Flag emerges with a rarely seen tactical advantage placing it interestingly among its peers. While not a universally applicable artifact, in the right situation, Coalition Flag can be the linchpin in preserving your key creatures on the battlefield.

Cards similar to Coalition Flag by color, type and mana cost

Mask of Law and Grace - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Coalition Flag MTG card by a specific set like Apocalypse, 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 Coalition Flag and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Coalition Flag has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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