Kemba's Banner MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip,For Mirrodin!

Key Takeaways

  1. Provides card draw and token generation, enhancing creature-based strategies and board presence in MTG.
  2. Equipping cost and specific mana needs may limit flexibility, potentially hindering some deck builds.
  3. Kemba’s Banner boosts tribal decks, potentially elevating your MTG gameplay in a creature-focused meta.

Text of card

For Mirrodin Equipped creature gets +1/+1 for each creature you control. Equip


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Kemba’s Banner equips to increase the potential for card draw by boosting the power of your equipped creature. This synergizes well with strategies that reward you for dealing combat damage to a player by drawing cards, often essential for maintaining a robust hand throughout the match.

Resource Acceleration: Alongside amplifying creature statistics, equipping Kemba’s Banner to a creature can generate additional Cat creature tokens, especially when paired with a commander like Kemba, Kha Regent. This ability feeds into resource acceleration by expanding your battlefield presence without expending cards from your hand.

Instant Speed: Whilst Kemba’s Banner itself doesn’t directly operate at instant speed, its support for creature-focused decks enables a more dynamic response capacity. With stronger, more diversified creatures, you’re better prepared to use instant speed removals, countermagic or combat tricks at crucial junctures, knowing that your battlefield position is secure and pressure is maintained.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Kemba’s Banner can be an asset in Cat tribal decks, equipping it requires pitching another card from your hand which can set you back, especially during critical turns where every card in hand counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Playing this artifact necessitates a specific mana combination, which can clash with multicolored deck strategies. It limits deck building to only those which can accommodate its white mana cost without hurting mana consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The three mana required to cast Kemba’s Banner, followed by the additional cost to equip, can be steep compared to other equipment cards that provide immediate benefits. In fast-paced games, committing this much mana can put you at a disadvantage against more tempo-driven strategies.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Kemba’s Banner is especially adaptable, seamlessly slotting into equipment-focused decks or those led by token-generating commanders. Its ability to boost the power of multiple creatures doesn’t simply pertain to one subclass of creature either—it caters to an entire tribe of your choice, allowing for strategic diversity and adaptability.

Combo Potential: In combination with cards that produce numerous creature tokens, Kemba’s Banner amplifies your board presence drastically. It also synergizes well with abilities that trigger upon creatures getting buffed, or with commanders renowned for creating copies of themselves.

Meta-Relevance: With creature-based strategies often occupying a significant portion of the competitive scene, Kemba’s Banner aligns well with the current meta. By granting you the power to bulk up an entire tribe, it helps to combat widespread sweepers and dominate multiplayer tables, keeping your army one step ahead.


How to beat Kemba’s Banner

Kemba’s Banner is a unique artifact in Magic: The Gathering that can quickly turn games in favor of those who command a sweeping array of creatures. The artifact provides a considerable bonus to equipped creatures, potentially snowballing into a formidable force that’s tough to handle. Resolving the issue requires a strategy that can halt the amassed board presence or negate the artifact’s benefits.

Targeted removal spells are key to disarming Kemba’s Banner’s effect. Artifact destruction spells like Naturalize or Shatter can easily dispatch the Banner, stripping opponents of their advantage. Enchantment-based alternatives such as Disenchant or Release to the Wind are similarly effective, allowing you to bypass the need for a confrontational creature showdown. Board clears like Wrath of God or Damnation also reset the playing field, eradicating both the creatures and the cumulative benefits provided by the Banner.

It’s important to act swiftly against Kemba’s Banner, as it can quickly escalate a player’s board state if left unchecked. Therefore, incorporating efficient removal options in your deck can help mitigate the threat and maintain the balance of power throughout your MTG matches.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the nuances of effective deck building in MTG is vital to outmaneuver your opponents. Kemba’s Banner stands out as an intriguing card to consider, with its unique potential for card advantage and resource acceleration. Maximizing its benefits requires strategic finesse and a deck well-suited to exploit its tribal synergy. If you’re looking to integrate this artifact into your gameplay or find yourself curious about the best ways to counteract it, we’re here to guide you. Expand your MTG skillset and evolve your strategies by diving deeper into the intricate dynamics of card interactions and deck construction. Ready for the next step in your MTG journey? Seek out our insights and ensure your decks are battlefield-ready.


Cards like Kemba's Banner

In the strategic world of Magic: The Gathering, Kemba’s Banner stands out among artifacts designed to empower your creatures. Much like the renowned Honor of the Pure, this artifact increases the power of your creatures, though it’s specifically tailored to Cats. In contrast, Honor of the Pure provides a buff to all white creatures, not limiting its scope to a single tribe.

Another artifact that draws parallels is Coat of Arms, which benefits each creature depending on the number of others sharing its type, potentially offering a larger boost in a well-synergized tribal deck. However, Kemba’s Banner also gives Cat creatures the added ability of intimidating opponents by making them tougher to block. This can sometimes be more decisive in battle than the sheer power increase provided by Coat of Arms.

When considering these cards’ impact on gameplay, players should weigh the tribal exclusivity and additional combat edge Kemba’s Banner provides against the broader, sometimes more powerful, effects of other tribal artifacts. Each artifact has its unique advantages that cater to different strategic approaches within Magic: The Gathering, making Kemba’s Banner a valuable tool in the right context.

Honor of the Pure - MTG Card versions
Coat of Arms - MTG Card versions
Honor of the Pure - MTG Card versions
Coat of Arms - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Kemba's Banner MTG card by a specific set like Phyrexia: All Will Be One Commander and Phyrexia: All Will Be One Commander, 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 Kemba's Banner and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Kemba's Banner Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2023-02-03 and 2023-02-03. Illustrated by Wisnu Tan.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One CommanderONC 452015NormalBlackWisnu Tan
22023-02-03Phyrexia: All Will Be One CommanderONC 72015NormalBlackWisnu Tan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Kemba's Banner has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2023-02-04 If the Rebel is destroyed, the Equipment stays on the battlefield. Similarly, you may pay its equip cost to move it from the Rebel token to another creature you control.
2023-02-04 If the ability causes two Rebel tokens to be created (due to an effect such as that of Mondrak, Glory Dominus), the Equipment becomes attached to only one of them.
2023-02-04 The Rebel enters the battlefield as a 2/2 creature, then the Equipment becomes attached to it. Abilities that trigger when a creature enters the battlefield see that a 2/2 creature entered the battlefield.