Why Is Kenrith 5 Colors? Unpacking a Magic: The Gathering Mystery
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Kenrith, the Returned King, is five colors not because of his casting cost, but because of the activated abilities he possesses. Each ability requires a different color of mana to activate (White, Blue, Black, Red, and Green). In Commander, or EDH, the color identity of a card is determined by any colored mana symbols found on the card, including in its casting cost and activated abilities. Thus, despite being a mono-white card to cast, Kenrith’s ability to use all five colors classifies him as a five-color commander option.
Understanding Color Identity vs. Color
It’s crucial to distinguish between a card’s color and its color identity. Kenrith is a white card because his casting cost only includes white mana. However, his color identity is all five colors, determined by the presence of each color’s mana symbol within his activated abilities. This distinction is primarily relevant in the Commander format, where deck construction is heavily influenced by the commander’s color identity.
The Commander Rules and Color Identity
The Commander format has specific rules about deck construction. Every card in your deck must share a color with your commander’s color identity. This means that a Kenrith deck can include any card with white, blue, black, red, or green mana symbols, providing a vast and flexible card pool. This makes Kenrith a popular and powerful commander choice.
The Power of Kenrith’s Abilities
Kenrith’s popularity also stems from the versatility of his abilities. Each ability offers a unique advantage, allowing him to adapt to different game states and strategies.
- White: Puts a +1/+1 counter on a creature. Great for boosting your own threats or, in some political plays, helping an opponent.
- Blue: Grants a creature trample until end of turn. Helps push through damage and can be used offensively or defensively.
- Black: Grants a creature menace until end of turn. Makes creatures harder to block, ideal for aggressive strategies.
- Red: Gives all players a life, perfect for playing for board-state advantage while gaining favor.
- Green: Returns a creature from your graveyard to the battlefield. Powerful recursion, enabling you to reuse key creatures.
The fact that these abilities require different colored mana is the sole reason Kenrith is considered a five-color card under the Commander format’s rules.
Why Five-Color Commanders Are Appealing
Five-color commanders, like Kenrith, offer unparalleled flexibility in deck building. They allow access to the entire card pool of Magic: The Gathering, leading to unique and powerful deck strategies. However, building a five-color deck can be mana intensive, requiring careful attention to mana fixing to ensure you can consistently cast your spells and activate your commander’s abilities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Kenrith and Color in Magic
1. Is Kenrith a mono-white commander?
No. While Kenrith’s mana cost is only white, his color identity is five colors due to the colored mana symbols in his activated abilities. Therefore, he is not a mono-white commander.
2. Can I put non-white cards in a Kenrith Commander deck?
Yes! Because Kenrith has a five-color identity, you can include cards of any color (white, blue, black, red, and green) in your deck. This makes him incredibly versatile.
3. Does Kenrith’s color identity affect his casting cost?
No. Kenrith’s color identity only affects which cards you can include in your Commander deck. His casting cost remains one white mana and three generic mana.
4. What is the difference between color and color identity in Magic: The Gathering?
A card’s color is determined by the colors of mana required in its casting cost. Color identity is determined by the mana symbols in both the casting cost and any abilities on the card. This is particularly relevant in Commander.
5. Why is color identity important in Commander?
In Commander, you may only include cards in your deck that share a color with your commander’s color identity. This is a fundamental rule of the format.
6. How do I build a mana base for a five-color Commander deck?
Building a five-color mana base requires careful planning. Include dual lands, fetch lands, ramp spells, and mana rocks that produce multiple colors of mana. Prioritize lands that can produce all five colors effectively.
7. What are some good strategies for playing a Kenrith Commander deck?
Kenrith can be built in many different ways. Some strategies include:
- Goodstuff: Playing the most powerful cards from all five colors.
- Combo: Utilizing Kenrith’s abilities to enable game-winning combos.
- Reanimator: Using Kenrith’s recursion ability to bring back powerful creatures from the graveyard.
- Political: Using Kenrith’s abilities to help opponents, creating alliances to advance your game state.
8. Can Kenrith be removed with a spell that targets only white creatures?
Yes. Even though Kenrith’s color identity is five colors, he is a white creature, which he can be targeted by a spell that targets a white creature.
9. What happens if Kenrith is targeted by a card that removes all colors?
If a card like “Turn to Dust” is used, Kenrith’s color will be voided and the card will be placed into the graveyard.
10. Is Kenrith a good commander for beginners?
Kenrith can be a good commander for beginners because his abilities are straightforward and versatile. However, building a five-color deck can be challenging due to the complex mana base required. New players should consider starting with a simpler color combination before tackling a five-color deck.
11. What are the five colors of Magic: The Gathering and what do they represent?
The five colors are white, blue, black, red, and green. They each represent different philosophies and playstyles:
- White: Order, law, and community. Focuses on protection, efficiency, and mass effects.
- Blue: Knowledge, intellect, and control. Emphasizes card draw, counterspells, and manipulation.
- Black: Power, ambition, and self-interest. Utilizes discard, life loss, and reanimation.
- Red: Emotion, chaos, and freedom. Relies on direct damage, impulsive actions, and aggressive strategies.
- Green: Nature, growth, and harmony. Focuses on creatures, ramp, and efficient value.
12. Are there any other cards with a five-color identity but a different casting cost?
Yes, Morophon the Boundless is a card with a five-color identity because of its ability, but a colorless casting cost.
13. Is it possible for a card to have no color?
Yes. Colorless cards exist and typically have a casting cost of generic mana.
14. Why is mana fixing so important in Magic: The Gathering, especially in five-color decks?
Mana fixing ensures you can consistently cast your spells by providing the correct colors of mana when you need them. This is especially crucial in five-color decks because you need to have access to all five colors throughout the game.
15. Where can I learn more about Magic: The Gathering and its strategies?
You can find resources on the official Magic: The Gathering website, various Magic-related websites and forums, and through educational organizations like the Games Learning Society, which explores the educational applications of games. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about games and learning.