Jabari's Banner MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact
Released	1997-06-09
Set symbol
Set name	Weatherlight
Set code	WTH
Number	150
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Mark Harrison

Key Takeaways

Provides consistent card advantage, ensuring players always have strategic options available.
Enables early deployment of larger threats, giving players a competitive edge.
Its instant-speed activation offers tactical flexibility, often surprising opponents.

Text of card

o1, oc T: Target creature gains flanking until end of turn. (Whenever a creature without flanking is assigned to block this creature, the blocking creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Jabari’s Banner is designed to offer consistent card advantage. By effectively bridging gaps in your strategy, it helps you to continually have options in your hand and on the battlefield, ensuring you’re never falling behind in card quantity and quality.

Resource Acceleration: This card effortlessly excels in resource acceleration. It can potentially supercharge your mana reserves, allowing you to cast more spells or deploy larger threats ahead of the normal mana curve, giving you a significant leg up on the competition.

Instant Speed: The fact that Jabari’s Banner operates at instant speed means it can be activated precisely when you need it. This flexibility allows you to adapt to the flow of the game, making tactical decisions on the fly and catching opponents off-guard with sudden power shifts.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Jabari’s Banner demands the discard of another card as part of its casting cost. This could pose a disadvantage, particularly in the late game when your hand is already depleted, or you’re striving to keep critical strategies concealed from opponents.

Specific Mana Cost: The artifact requires a specific arrangement of mana to cast, including a fixed amount of white mana. This can be restrictive, limiting the card’s inclusion only to decks that heavily feature white mana sources, potentially sidelining it from more diverse mana base decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost positioned on the higher side, Jabari’s Banner competes with other key four-mana plays within the format. Players may find that other cards at this mana slot are more impactful and provide immediate value as opposed to the setup required for Jabari’s Banner to pay off.

Reasons to Include Jabari’s Banner in Your Collection

Versatility: Jabari’s Banner is a flexible card that enhances various deck types in MTG. It can boost creature-based strategies while also providing a degree of resiliency against board wipes with its ‘untap all creatures’ ability.

Combo Potential: This card opens up a realm of possibilities for combo enthusiasts. Its capacity to untap creatures can lead to unexpected win conditions and synergize with cards that capitalize on creatures being untapped or used multiple times in a turn.

Meta-Relevance: With a dynamic competitive scene, having Jabari’s Banner in your arsenal means you’re prepared to face decks that rely on creature suppression. In an environment where establishing and maintaining a board presence is vital, Jabari’s Banner can be a game-changer.

How to beat

Jabari’s Banner is a unique card that empowers creatures with an impassioned rally cry on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This artifact can indeed give players a tactical advantage with its ability to bolster your creatures’ strength. But like all cards in MTG, there are effective strategies to counter its effects and maintain the upper hand. To tackle this challenge, consider incorporating artifact destruction spells into your deck like Naturalize or Disenchant, which can remove Jabari’s Banner from play immediately.

The use of countermagic such as Negate or Mana Leak can also be crucial in preventing Jabari’s Banner from ever hitting the field. Timing is everything, so stay vigilant and keep blue mana untapped to counteract when your opponent attempts to cast it. Additionally, controlling the board with board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation can negate the advantage that Jabari’s Banner provides by clearing all creatures from the battlefield, minimizing the impact of its buffing capabilities.

Adopting these strategies ensures you won’t be caught off guard by the rallying power of Jabari’s Banner. A well-prepared deck, mindful of potential threats and equipped with the right answers, can navigate around it and secure victory.

Cards like Jabari's Banner

Jabari’s Banner enriches the approach to creature enhancement in Magic: The Gathering by providing a unique buff to warrior creatures. A similar card in function is Honor of the Pure, which also amplifies the might of your creatures, specifically white ones, by increasing their power and toughness. Although Honor of the Pure has a broader scope, Jabari’s Banner focuses on a tribal effect, boosting only warrior creatures, potentially making it more powerful in warrior-centric decks.

Another comparable card is Radiant Destiny. Like Jabari’s Banner, Radiant Destiny also targets a specific creature type for its buffs. However, it comes with the added advantage of the ascend mechanic, which can provide a significant boost to creatures once the city’s blessing is attained. Moreover, Radiant Destiny affects creature toughness in addition to power, whereas Jabari’s Banner strictly increases attacking warriors’ power, encouraging an aggressive gameplay strategy.

Jabari’s Banner occupies an interesting niche, particularly in decks that favor warrior synergy. Its tribal focus contrasts with the wider range of creature enhancement cards available in Magic: The Gathering. Within the context of warrior tribal themes, this card not only strengthens your forces but also celebrates the rich lore and strategy associated with the warrior class in the game.

Cards similar to Jabari's Banner by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Jabari's Banner MTG card by a specific set like Weatherlight, 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 Jabari's Banner and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Jabari's Banner has restrictions

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

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Jabari'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
2008-04-01	Giving a creature flanking after blockers have been declared won’t have any effect. Specifically: — If you give flanking to an attacking creature after blockers have been declared, it’s too late for flanking to trigger. — If you give flanking to a creature that’s blocking an attacking creature with flanking, it’s too late to prevent the blocking creature from getting -1/-1, even if the attacker’s flanking ability hasn’t resolved yet.