death and staxes by BIGCHODE

Format: Commander

Commander: Grand Arbiter Augustin IV

Bracket: 4

DeckCheck Threat Index: 42

Deck overview

This deck is an Azorius Stax and Prison strategy led by Grand Arbiter Augustin IV. It aims to slow down opposing game plans through heavy taxation and rule-setting permanents while accelerating its own development through asymmetric cost reduction. In the opening turns, the deck deploys cheap mana familiars and taxing creatures like Thalia, Guardian of Thraben and Drannith Magistrate. Deploying Grand Arbiter on Turn 3 or 4 establishes cost disparity, making friendly counterspells efficient while straining opposing mana. The midgame locks down resources using Rule of Law, Winter Moon, and God-Pharaoh's Statue. The deck secures victory by assembling a hard lock with Knowledge Pool alongside Drannith Magistrate, Lavinia, Azorius Renegade, or Rule of Law, completely preventing opponents from resolving spells. Alternate win paths include casting Approach of the Second Sun or generating infinite mana with High Tide and Palinchron.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Aang, Swift Savior // Aang and La, Ocean's Fury
  • 1 Absorb
  • 1 Approach of the Second Sun
  • 1 Aven Mindcensor
  • 1 Azor's Elocutors
  • 1 Azorius Signet
  • 1 Baral, Chief of Compliance
  • 1 Boromir, Warden of the Tower
  • 1 Cataclysm
  • 1 Containment Priest
  • 1 Counterbalance
  • 1 Cursed Totem
  • 1 Dauntless Bodyguard
  • 1 Dawn Charm
  • 1 Divert Disaster
  • 1 Dovin, Hand of Control
  • 1 Drannith Magistrate
  • 1 Echoing Truth
  • 1 Ethersworn Canonist
  • 1 Flagstones of Trokair
  • 1 Flow State
  • 1 Frozen Aether
  • 1 God-Pharaoh's Statue
  • 1 Grafdigger's Cage
  • 1 Grand Arbiter Augustin IV
  • 1 Hallowed Fountain
  • 1 High Tide
  • 1 Holy Day
  • 1 Hydro-Channeler
  • 1 Into the Flood Maw
  • 17 Island
  • 1 Jace, Unraveler of Secrets
  • 1 Kasmina, Enigmatic Mentor
  • 1 Knowledge Pool
  • 1 Lavinia, Azorius Renegade
  • 1 Logic Knot
  • 1 Magus of the Tabernacle
  • 1 Mana Tithe
  • 1 Narset, Parter of Veils
  • 1 Overburden
  • 1 Palinchron
  • 1 Peregrine Drake
  • 1 Phyrexian Censor
  • 13 Plains
  • 1 Razortide Bridge
  • 1 Reality Shift
  • 1 Refute
  • 1 Reprieve
  • 1 Rethink
  • 1 Rewind
  • 1 Riptide Gearhulk
  • 1 River's Rebuke
  • 1 Rule of Law
  • 1 Sea of Clouds
  • 1 Shore Up
  • 1 Silent Arbiter
  • 1 Spectacular Spider-Man
  • 1 Spell Pierce
  • 1 Stock Up
  • 1 Stormscape Familiar
  • 1 Strict Proctor
  • 1 Summary Dismissal
  • 1 Sunscape Familiar
  • 1 Supreme Verdict
  • 1 Suture Priest
  • 1 Swallowed by Leviathan
  • 1 Teferi, Hero of Dominaria
  • 1 Telepathy
  • 1 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
  • 1 Thorn of Amethyst
  • 1 Tranquil Cove
  • 1 Winter Moon