I'm the Tax-Man by user1046258

Format: Commander

Commander: Grand Arbiter Augustin IV

Bracket: 4

DeckCheck Threat Index: 40

Deck overview

This deck is an Azorius tax and stax control engine commanded by Grand Arbiter Augustin IV. Its strategy is to suffocate opponents' mana curves by stacking redundant taxing permanents while breaking parity through the commander's cost-reduction ability. Early acceleration through artifacts like Sol Ring, Azorius Signet, and Pearl Medallion enables a Turn 3 or 4 commander deployment, immediately increasing opposing spell costs by one and discounting friendly white and blue spells. The deck compounds this mana friction with layered noncreature and general taxes, including Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, Sphere of Resistance, Trinisphere, and God-Pharaoh's Statue, alongside creature and attack deterrents like The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale and Ghostly Prison. While the deck excels at establishing asymmetric resource denial, it lacks dedicated instant-win combos or fast tutoring engines. Victory is achieved through protracted combat attrition using disruptive utility creatures and animated lands over extended table rotations under complete tax suppression.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Academy Loremaster
  • 1 Adarkar Wastes
  • 1 Aether Barrier
  • 1 Ancient Tomb
  • 1 Anointed Peacekeeper
  • 1 Arachne, Psionic Weaver
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Archangel of Tithes
  • 1 Aura of Silence
  • 1 Aven Interrupter
  • 1 Azorius Signet
  • 1 Callaphe, Beloved of the Sea
  • 1 Castle Vantress
  • 1 Celestial Colonnade
  • 1 Chancellor of the Annex
  • 1 Charitable Levy
  • 1 Command Tower
  • 1 Curse of Silence
  • 1 Deserted Beach
  • 1 Dovin, Hand of Control
  • 1 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire
  • 1 Elspeth Conquers Death
  • 1 Esior, Wardwing Familiar
  • 1 Esper Sentinel
  • 1 Fellwar Stone
  • 1 Feroz's Ban
  • 1 Flooded Strand
  • 1 Floodfarm Verge
  • 1 Flusterstorm
  • 1 Ghostly Prison
  • 1 Glacial Fortress
  • 1 Glowrider
  • 1 God-Pharaoh's Statue
  • 1 Gold-Forged Thopteryx
  • 1 Grand Arbiter Augustin IV
  • 1 Hall of Heliod's Generosity
  • 1 Hallowed Fountain
  • 1 Hengegate Pathway // Mistgate Pathway
  • 1 Irrigated Farmland
  • 2 Island
  • 1 Isolation Cell
  • 1 Jubilant Skybonder
  • 1 Kasmina, Enigmatic Mentor
  • 1 Leonin Arbiter
  • 1 Lodestone Golem
  • 1 Magus of the Tabernacle
  • 1 Mana Leak
  • 1 Maze of Ith
  • 1 Meticulous Archive
  • 1 Midnight Clock
  • 1 Mind Stone
  • 1 Monastery Siege
  • 1 Mystic Gate
  • 1 Mystic Remora
  • 1 Mystic Sanctuary
  • 1 Nimbus Maze
  • 1 No More Lies
  • 1 Otawara, Soaring City
  • 1 Paladin Class
  • 1 Pearl Medallion
  • 1 Pippin, Guard of the Citadel
  • 3 Plains
  • 1 Port Town
  • 1 Prairie Stream
  • 1 Propaganda
  • 1 Reidane, God of the Worthy // Valkmira, Protector's Shield
  • 1 Reliquary Tower
  • 1 Restless Anchorage
  • 1 Rhystic Study
  • 1 Sapphire Medallion
  • 1 Sea Gate Restoration // Sea Gate, Reborn
  • 1 Sea of Clouds
  • 1 Skycloud Expanse
  • 1 Smothering Tithe
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Spell Pierce
  • 1 Spelltithe Enforcer
  • 1 Sphere of Resistance
  • 1 Sphere of Safety
  • 1 Squeeze
  • 1 Strict Proctor
  • 1 Suppression Field
  • 1 Syncopate
  • 1 Talisman of Progress
  • 1 Tax Collector
  • 1 Temple of Enlightenment
  • 1 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
  • 1 The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale
  • 1 The Water Crystal
  • 1 Thorn of Amethyst
  • 1 Thought Vessel
  • 1 Tithe Taker
  • 1 Trinisphere
  • 1 Unsettled Mariner
  • 1 Vryn Wingmare
  • 1 Wandering Archaic // Explore the Vastlands
  • 1 Winged Boots