Heraldic Banner MTG Card


Improves board presence by boosting creature power, leading to indirect card advantage. Provides immediate color-specific mana acceleration, invaluable for maintaining consistency. Demands three generic mana upfront, potentially hindering early game strategies.
Heraldic Banner - Throne of Eldraine
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeArtifact
Released2019-10-04
Set symbol
Set nameThrone of Eldraine
Set codeELD
Number222
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byRavenna Tran

Text of card

As Heraldic Banner enters the battlefield, choose a color. Creatures you control of the chosen color get +1/+0. : Add one mana of the chosen color.


Cards like Heraldic Banner

Heraldic Banner is a unique mana-generating artifact in Magic: The Gathering, often compared to other mana acceleration tools in the game. One similar card is Manalith, which also provides one mana of any color when tapped. However, the Heraldic Banner goes a step further by boosting the power of creatures you control of the chosen color, giving it an edge in creature-centric decks.

Another counterpart is the renowned artifact, Marble Diamond, which taps for white mana. While Marble Diamond serves mono-white decks well, Heraldic Banner’s flexibility in choosing any color and its creature power buff make it versatile in multi-color and aggressive strategies. Additionally, considering Fire Diamond and its equivalents for other colors, these artifacts enter the battlefield tapped, whereas Heraldic Banner is ready to use immediately, a crucial factor in fast-paced games.

Assessing these aspects, Heraldic Banner claims its rightful place, especially in decks that aim to combine mana acceleration with increased combat prowess, making it a two-in-one solution that’s hard to match.

Manalith - MTG Card versions
Marble Diamond - MTG Card versions
Fire Diamond - MTG Card versions
Manalith - MTG Card versions
Marble Diamond - MTG Card versions
Fire Diamond - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Heraldic Banner by color, type and mana cost

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Celestial Prism - MTG Card versions
Sunglasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Ebony Horse - MTG Card versions
Runed Arch - MTG Card versions
Arena of the Ancients - MTG Card versions
Bösium Strip - MTG Card versions
Clay Pigeon - MTG Card versions
Ashnod's Altar - MTG Card versions
Jalum Tome - MTG Card versions
Static Orb - MTG Card versions
Patchwork Gnomes - MTG Card versions
The Stasis Coffin - MTG Card versions
Captain's Hook - MTG Card versions
Wall of Spears - MTG Card versions
Spellweaver Helix - MTG Card versions
Scale of Chiss-Goria - MTG Card versions
Lightning Coils - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Shackles - MTG Card versions
Loxodon Warhammer - MTG Card versions
Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Heraldic Banner. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
BB PioneerPioneer Challenge 64 2024-05-19
Gruul AggroGruul Aggro PioneerGruul GoblinsPeasant Pioneer Showdown - A Josh and Pat's MTG Bazaar Sponsored Event

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Heraldic Banner may not directly draw you cards, but by boosting the power of your creatures, it can help maintain board presence. Improved board state often translates to indirect card advantage, as your threats require answers from your opponents.

Resource Acceleration: As a mana rock, Heraldic Banner offers a mana boost the turn it comes into play. Additionally, it can provide color-specific mana acceleration, critical for decks needing consistency in their colored mana sources.

Instant Speed: While Heraldic Banner isn’t an instant itself, it supports instant speed play by freeing up mana. With the additional mana provided, you can cast more instant speed interactions or flash creatures, keeping opponents guessing and allowing for reactive plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Heraldic Banner doesn’t directly have a discard requirement, it can indirectly pressure a player to drop cards due to the need for maintaining mana curve efficiency. This can lead to a tricky balancing act, especially in decks that are low on card draw options.

Specific Mana Cost: Heraldic Banner demands a commitment of three generic mana, which can be a bottleneck in early turns. Although this cost can be met with any type of mana, it still requires a dedicated chunk of your resources in the setup phase.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a mana acceleration card, three mana might come across as steep, particularly when you compare Heraldic Banner to other artifacts or ramp options available. This seems even more pronounced in formats where mana efficiency is key, and other lower-cost artifacts or enchantments could fulfill similar roles more effectively.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: The Heraldic Banner offers a straightforward buff to creatures of a chosen color, making it a flexible addition to mono-colored decks or those focusing on a specific color theme. Its adaptability allows it to support a variety of strategies from aggressive to midrange decks.

Combo Potential: This artifact doesn’t just boost attack power; it also provides additional mana of the chosen color. This opens up opportunities for combo plays, particularly in decks that thrive on casting consecutive spells or activating abilities that require color-specific mana.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where speed and color consistency are crucial, Heraldic Banner fits perfectly. It helps streamline your deck’s performance by ensuring you have the mana and power needed to maintain pressure on your opponents.


How to beat Heraldic Banner

Heraldic Banner is a potent artifact that strengthens creatures and ramps mana, making it a formidable tool in MTG. This card can quickly tip the scales in your opponent’s favor, particularly in mono-colored decks where it boosts both power and mana efficiency. To successfully counteract Heraldic Banner, efficient artifact removal is key. Engaging cards such as Naturalize or Disenchant can dismantle this advantage, swiftly removing the Banner from play and stymieing your adversary’s plans.

Another effective approach is to exert pressure early in the game. By maintaining a faster pace and presenting threats that demand immediate answers, you can force the opponent to react defensively, limiting their ability to benefit from Heraldic Banner’s mana acceleration. Aggressive strategies that build momentum and disrupt your opponent’s setup could overshadow the incremental advantages provided by this artifact.

Lastly, remember that Heraldic Banner caters predominantly to a single color. Exploiting its lack of versatility with multi-colored or diverse threats can render its effects less impactful. Adaptability in your gameplay, coupled with direct responses to artifacts, allows you to undermine the strategic value of Heraldic Banner in an MTG match, maintaining control and paving the way to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Wrapping up our exploration of the strategic asset that is Heraldic Banner, we recognize the depth it adds to MTG gameplay. This versatile artifact not only amplifies your creatures’ strength but also accelerates your mana capabilities, an invaluable dual function. Harnessing its full potential involves keen deck construction and precise timing, which can ultimately pay off by enhancing your board state. We encourage you to delve deeper into the tactical applications of this card and others like it. Join our community of avid players where you can discover strategies and uncover synergies that could shape the tide of your next battle. Immerse yourself in the MTG realm with us and let’s journey toward undisputed victory together.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Heraldic Banner MTG card by a specific set like Throne of Eldraine, 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 Heraldic Banner and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Heraldic Banner has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-10-04 If there is somehow no chosen color, Heraldic Banner's static ability has no effect, and its mana ability produces no mana if you activate it. Colorless creatures won't get +1/+0, and you won't add .
2019-10-04 You must choose white, blue, black, red, or green for Heraldic Banner's ability. You can't choose “multicolor,” “gold,” or “colorless.”