Heavenly Taxes by Rowdy_Runaround

Format: Commander

Commander: Grand Arbiter Augustin IV

Bracket: 4

DeckCheck Threat Index: 26

Deck overview

This deck blends an Azorius tax shell with an Angel tribal midrange beatdown plan. Commanded by Grand Arbiter Augustin IV, the strategy establishes asymmetric mana advantage early by taxing opposing spells and discounting your own white and blue spells. Early turns focus on deploying cost reducers, mana rocks, and disruptive hatebears like Thalia, Guardian of Thraben and Aven Mindcensor. Defensive enchantments such as Ghostly Prison and Propaganda protect your life total while stunting opposing combat plans. Once the game slows, the deck transitions into dropping powerful flying threats like Lyra Dawnbringer, Righteous Valkyrie, and Archangel of Thune, which quickly grow into a lethal aerial clock. Alternative lines include the hard lock of Teferi, Time Raveler alongside Knowledge Pool and the alternate win condition of Approach of the Second Sun. The deck excels at grinding opponents down under heavy taxes while closing through resilient flying combat.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 An Offer You Can't Refuse
  • 1 Angelic Field Marshal
  • 1 Approach of the Second Sun
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Archangel of Thune
  • 1 Archangel of Tithes
  • 1 Aura of Silence
  • 1 Avacyn, Angel of Hope
  • 1 Aven Mindcensor
  • 1 Azor's Elocutors
  • 1 Blinding Angel
  • 1 Bruna, the Fading Light
  • 1 Cavern of Souls
  • 1 Chancellor of the Annex
  • 1 Chronicle of Victory
  • 1 Counterspell
  • 1 Emeria, the Sky Ruin
  • 1 Exalted Sunborn
  • 1 Filigree Angel
  • 1 Ghostly Prison
  • 1 Giada, Font of Hope
  • 1 Gisela, the Broken Blade
  • 1 Grand Arbiter Augustin IV
  • 1 Guardian of the Gateless
  • 1 Hallowed Fountain
  • 1 Heliod, Sun-Crowned
  • 1 Herald of Eternal Dawn
  • 1 Herald of War
  • 1 Idyllic Beachfront
  • 1 Illusory Angel
  • 1 Iridescent Angel
  • 1 Irrigated Farmland
  • 1 Ishgard, the Holy See // Faith & Grief
  • 7 Island
  • 1 Kasmina, Enigmatic Mentor
  • 1 Knowledge Pool
  • 1 Kor Haven
  • 1 Leonin Arbiter
  • 1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence
  • 1 Linvala, the Preserver
  • 1 Luminarch Ascension
  • 1 Lyra Dawnbringer
  • 1 Metropolis Reformer
  • 1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge
  • 1 Mycosynth Lattice
  • 1 Norn's Annex
  • 1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
  • 1 Pearl Medallion
  • 9 Plains
  • 1 Prairie Stream
  • 1 Propaganda
  • 1 Resolute Archangel
  • 1 Resplendent Angel
  • 1 Reya Dawnbringer
  • 1 Rhystic Study
  • 1 Righteous Valkyrie
  • 1 Sapphire Medallion
  • 1 Sephara, Sky's Blade
  • 1 Seraph of Dawn
  • 1 Serra's Emissary
  • 1 Serra's Guardian
  • 1 Shark Typhoon
  • 1 Shattered Angel
  • 1 Smothering Tithe
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Spell Rupture
  • 1 Spell Swindle
  • 1 Spell Syphon
  • 1 Sphinx of the Second Sun
  • 1 Summon: Yojimbo
  • 1 Sunblast Angel
  • 1 Swords to Plowshares
  • 1 Teferi, Time Raveler
  • 1 Temple of the False God
  • 1 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
  • 1 The Ozolith
  • 1 The Water Crystal
  • 1 The Wind Crystal
  • 1 Thraben Watcher
  • 1 Three Tree City
  • 1 Tundra
  • 1 Urza's Incubator
  • 1 Valkyrie Harbinger
  • 1 Vryn Wingmare
  • 1 Windborn Muse
  • 1 Youthful Valkyrie