Sultai BannerHow it works & interactions with other cards

What it does

Sultai Banner has two distinct activated abilities. The first is a mana ability that allows you to tap the artifact to add one mana of either Black, Green, or Blue to your mana pool. The second is a tactical sacrifice ability that costs three mana (one of each Sultai color), requires tapping the artifact, and sacrificing it to draw a card.

How it resolves step by step

When you use the mana ability, it does not use the stack and resolves immediately, providing mana for your spells. To use the draw ability, you must first pay the cost of one Black, one Green, and one Blue mana, then tap the artifact, and finally move it from the battlefield to your graveyard. Once these costs are paid, the ability goes on the stack, and you will draw a card upon resolution.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is trying to use both abilities at once. Because both abilities require the artifact to tap, you cannot tap it for mana and then immediately sacrifice it for a card unless you have a way to untap it in between. Additionally, remember that sacrificing the artifact is a cost; if a spell like 'Disallow' counters the ability, the Banner remains in the graveyard and you do not get to draw a card.

When to play it

Sultai Banner is best played in the early turns of a Commander or Limited game to ensure you can cast your high-cost spells. In the late game, when you have an abundance of lands and mana sources, it is often better to use its sacrifice ability during your opponent's end step to dig deeper into your deck for a win condition.

Interaction examples

Mana Fixing Strategy

Arcane Signet

If you have both Sultai Banner and Arcane Signet on the battlefield in a Sultai Commander deck, you have access to two mana of any combination of Black, Green, or Blue. While Arcane Signet is more efficient at two mana, Sultai Banner provides the insurance of being able to replace itself with a new card later in the game.

Immediate Utility

Swiftfoot Boots

If you cast Sultai Banner while you have Swiftfoot Boots equipped to a creature, the Boots do not grant haste to the Banner because it is an artifact, not a creature. The Banner must wait until your next turn to be tapped for mana or sacrificed, unless you have an effect that specifically gives artifacts haste.

Solo Efficiency

On turn three, you play Sultai Banner. On turn four, you now have access to five mana total (assuming four lands). Later, on turn eight, if you have no cards in hand, you can pay BGU and tap/sacrifice the Banner to find a new threat, effectively preventing a 'dead draw' situation.