Kumena's Speaker MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	1
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Merfolk Shaman
Released	2017-09-29
Set symbol
Set name	Ixalan
Set code	XLN
Power	1
Toughness	1
Number	196
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Johann Bodin

Key Takeaways

Kumena’s Speaker excels in tribal synergy, smoothly integrating into Merfolk decks for early game dominance.
Considered a staple in green and blue MTG strategies due to its potential to escalate power rapidly.
Address Kumena’s Speaker promptly with removal or anti-synergy cards to mitigate its early threat.

Text of card

Kumena's Speaker gets +1/+1 as long as you control another Merfolk or an Island.

"The same power that drives the river ever onward flows through the roots and branches—to me."

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kumena’s Speaker may not directly allow you to draw additional cards, but as part of a synergistic Merfolk deck, it certainly helps in crowding the battlefield. This can lead to other cards in the deck providing card draw through various tribal interactions and combat tricks, ultimately giving you an edge over the opponent with a stronger board presence and potential draw mechanics.

Resource Acceleration: This one-drop creature can be key in accelerating your game resources. Kumena’s Speaker itself doesn’t produce additional mana, but its low cost and immediate impact on the board make it a solid choice for ramping up to larger threats swiftly. It sets an aggressive timeline, which can force your opponent to use resources inefficiently to keep up.

Instant Speed: While Kumena’s Speaker doesn’t operate at instant speed, its presence on the board supports a dynamic game where instant-speed interactions become more potent. With this powerful Merfolk creature in play, every spell cast afterward can be a potential game-changer, thanks to the pressure it helps to apply from turn one.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Kumena’s Speaker doesn’t have a direct discard requirement, the need to maintain other Merfolk or an Island to optimize its strength can feel like a strategic handicap, indirectly pressuring players to retain specific cards in their hand that they might otherwise want to cycle or play out.

Specific Mana Cost: Kumena’s Speaker demands both green and blue mana for it to be played, which can potentially complicate your mana base. If you’re running a multi-colored deck without a consistent mana fixing strategy, this can restrict its playability, especially early in the game when mana resources are critical.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although costing only one green mana seems efficient, to fully utilize Kumena’s Speaker’s abilities, substantial investment in a Merfolk-centered deck is necessary. This can be a limiting factor for deck building, as it often results in a higher overall mana cost for the deck to function at its best, compared to more versatile cards with broader synergies.

Reasons to Include Kumena’s Speaker in Your Collection

Versatility: Kumena’s Speaker offers fluid deck integration for those playing Merfolk or +1/+1 counter builds. Its ability to adapt to various synergistic strategies makes this card a staple in green and blue decks.

Combo Potential: This one-drop creature sets the stage for explosive turns alongside cards like Merfolk Mistbinder, enhancing an already fast tribal theme. It’s an essential piece in combos that can snowball to an overwhelming board presence in just a few turns.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment rich with tribal synergy, Kumena’s Speaker’s early game advantage can often mean the difference between victory and defeat. Its immediate impact maintains relevance in a rapidly shifting meta, providing a reliable and potent option for competitive play.

How to beat

Kumena’s Speaker is a formidable card often seen in MTG Merfolk decks, known for its ability to become a powerful creature early in the game. Being a one-mana creature, it can hit the battlefield on turn one, and when paired with another Merfolk, it quickly turns into a 2/2 threat. Addressing this card effectively requires a strategy focused on removal or hindering its ability to synergize with other Merfolk.

One approach is utilizing cheap removal spells that can take Kumena’s Speaker out before it can benefit from tribal bonuses. Cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile can efficiently deal with this creature without major resource investment. Another angle is to disrupt the Merfolk synergy with cards that can reset the board such as Wrath of God or hinder creature abilities with cards like Cursed Totem. It’s also critical to prevent the card’s escalation in power by keeping the opposing board clear of other Merfolk that would empower it further.

Being proactive in managing the board state and prepared to answer early threats like Kumena’s Speaker is key in ensuring it doesn’t lead to an overwhelming advantage in the hands of a skilled Merfolk deck pilot.

Cards like Kumena's Speaker

Kumena’s Speaker is a potent addition to the Merfolk tribe in MTG, boasting an early power boost. It parallels cards like Mist-Cloaked Herald in its ability to swiftly deal damage as a one-mana creature. Nevertheless, Kumena’s Speaker differentiates itself by potentially evolving into a 2/2 if you control another Merfolk or an Island, whereas Mist-Cloaked Herald remains a steadfast 1/1 with unblockable prowess.

In the company of similar creatures, we see Merfolk of the Pearl Trident. While this card is a straightforward one-mana 1/1 without extra abilities, Kumena’s Speaker eclipses it with the possibility of being a stronger force on the battlefield early in the game. Another comparison is with Jungleborn Pioneer, contributing a 2/2 body as well as a 1/1 token when it enters the battlefield. Although Jungleborn Pioneer brings more total power across multiple creatures, Kumena’s Speaker stands out for its single-card potential and synergy in a dedicated Merfolk deck.

Ultimately, when it comes to evaluating various Merfolk options available to MTG players, Kumena’s Speaker emerges as a notable contender. Its early game strength and synergetic boost make it a formidable play in many Merfolk decks.

Merfolk of the Pearl Trident - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Kumena's Speaker by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kumena's Speaker MTG card by a specific set like Ixalan, 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 Kumena's Speaker and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kumena's Speaker has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2017-09-29	Because damage remains marked on a creature until it’s removed as the turn ends, the damage Kumena’s Speaker takes during combat may become lethal if you no longer control a Merfolk or Island later in the turn.
2017-09-29	Kumena’s Speaker gets only +1/+1 from its ability, no matter how many Merfolk and Islands you control.
2017-09-29	Most nonbasic lands that produce blue mana aren’t Islands. For example, Glacial Fortress isn’t an Island. Some nonbasic lands (such as Irrigated Farmland from the Amonkhet set) do have basic land types printed on the type line and may be Islands.