Eternal Death and Taxes

Commander / EDH Death and Taxes Hatebears Mono-White Pillow Fort Theme/Gimmick Tokens

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Creature (32)

• 1x Aven Mindcensor
• 1x Bounty Agent
• 1x Bygone Bishop
• 1x Crashing Drawbridge
• 1x Dawnglare Invoker
• 1x Devoted Caretaker
• 1x Eight-and-a-Half-Tails
• 1x Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
• 1x Emancipation Angel
• 1x Giver of Runes
• 1x Grand Abolisher
• 1x Jeskai Barricade
• 1x Kami of False Hope
• 1x Kor Skyfisher
• 1x Linvala, Keeper of Silence
• 1x Loxodon Gatekeeper
• 1x Mangara, the Diplomat
• 1x Mentor of the Meek
• 1x Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker
• 1x Mother of Runes
• 1x Odric, Lunarch Marshal
• 1x Ranger of Eos
• 1x Ranger-Captain of Eos
• 1x Recruiter of the Guard
• 1x Selfless Spirit
• 1x Serra Ascendant
• 1x Spelltithe Enforcer
• 1x Stonecloaker
• 1x Stonecoil Serpent
• 1x Weathered Wayfarer
• 1x Whitemane Lion
• 1x Windborn Muse

Artifact (15)

• 1x Aether Vial
• 1x Akroma's Memorial
• 1x Arcane Signet
• 1x Cloudstone Curio
• 1x Endless Atlas
• 1x Mazemind Tome
• 1x Mind Stone
• 1x Oketra's Monument
• 1x Pearl Medallion
• 1x Sol Ring
• 1x Star Compass
• 1x Sword of Feast and Famine
• 1x Sword of the Animist
• 1x Thran Dynamo
• 1x Wayfarer's Bauble

Instant (8)

• 1x Enlightened Tutor
• 1x Forsake the Worldly
• 1x Generous Gift
• 1x Path to Exile
• 1x Scapegoat
• 1x Swords to Plowshares
• 1x Teferi's Protection
• 1x Unbreakable Formation

Sorcery (3)

• 1x Cleansing Nova
• 1x Hour of Revelation
• 1x Winds of Abandon

Commander (1)

Land (36)

• 1x Blasted Landscape
• 1x Desert of the True
• 1x Drifting Meadow
• 1x Emeria, the Sky Ruin
• 1x Field of Ruin
• 27x Plains
• 1x Rogue's Passage
• 1x Sea Gate Wreckage
• 1x Secluded Steppe
• 1x Terrain Generator

Enchantment (5)

• 1x Anointed Procession
• 1x Aura of Silence
• 1x Land Tax
• 1x Smothering Tithe
• 1x The Birth of Meletis

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Maybeboard

Creature (14)

• 1x Aegis of the Gods
• 1x Alms Collector
• 1x Angelic Arbiter
• 1x Containment Priest
• 1x Dauntless Bodyguard
• 1x Eidolon of Obstruction
• 1x Emeria Shepherd
• 1x Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker
• 1x Northern Paladin
• 1x Order of the Sacred Torch
• 1x Restoration Angel
• 1x Sanctum Prelate
• 1x Stoneforge Mystic
• 1x Thraben Inspector

Instant (8)

• 1x Abolish
• 1x Dawn Charm
• 1x Illumination
• 1x Lapse of Certainty
• 1x Mana Tithe
• 1x Rebuff the Wicked
• 1x Teferi's Protection
• 1x Tithe

Sorcery (1)

• 1x Wrath of God

Land (1)

• 1x Arch of Orazca

Artifact (5)

• 1x Arcane Encyclopedia
• 1x Mask of Memory
• 1x Mind's Eye
• 1x Norn's Annex
• 1x The Immortal Sun

Enchantment (3)

• 1x Crackdown
• 1x Martyr's Bond
• 1x Nevermore

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Preface

I have always liked the idea of oppressive strategies in Magic. Since I started playing about 4 years ago, I have played against and piloted some of the most ruthless, soul crushing decks imaginable. This deck is less about hard locking your opponents out of the game turn two and more about (reads notecard) ...having fun? This is my first attempt writing whatever this thing is, so, tell me what you think, Thanks!

For a civilization to flourish there must be order. God-Eternal Oketra has unified us and prosperity is soon to follow. We do this for God, glory, and gold!

The idea of this deck is to slow down our opponents with oppressive creatures (not quite hate bears, not quite weenies) until we can create a suitable environment to cast God-Eternal Oketra. Once our commander is out, we'll use multiple avenues to bounce cheap creatures back to our hand to recast and get multiple triggers from Oketra, overloading the board with 4/4 Vigilant Zombies and swinging out on our opponents.

This deck is different from the standard build by trading spike-like efficiency for a "Death and Taxes" theme, an archetype typically seen in 60-card formats.

Conquest (Ramp and Tutor)

To enact our plan of aggressive expansion, we'll need to pool our resources. The tools we have are few and simple but effective nonetheless.

This deck has a reasonably low CMC and runs more than enough lands, so, "ramp" isn't a priority. However, we look to cheapen our spells with Oketra's Monument and Pearl Medallion and the obligatory Sol Ring. See the Notable Exclusions section regarding white creature ramp. Mind Stone and Solemn Simulacrum are included since they serve multiple purposes as both ramp and card draw. Or just luck out with a turn one Aether Vial. Don't let the vial go passed four, an instant speed Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker can be devastating to more aggressive strategies.

Fam. Does white even need card draw with this many tutor effects ? I mean, yeah it does, but still this suite of tutors has worked pretty well. Ranger-Captain of Eos and Ranger of Eos put in the work being able tutor up protection creatures like Mother of Runes, Giver of Runes,Devoted Caretaker, or Kami of False Hope. Other targets include Serra Ascendant and Stonecoil Serpent more on that later.

Recruiter of the Guard functions similarly but has a lot more targets since it looks at toughness instead of CMC. I like to go for Grand Abolisher or Mentor of the Meek.

...oh yeah, Terrain Generator is a thing. Use it my dudes, especially if you decide to run Land Tax.

Martyrs (Protection)

Creatures in this category serve a dual purpose as protection and easily recastable spells once our commander is out. Bounty Agent is good here for taking out other commanders or important value engines.

Kami of False Hope is a simple fog effect that has proven crucial in key moments, same with Angel's Grace. Feel free to make these flex slots.

Scapegoat is in this category because it can save almost our whole board as well as set up a win by allowing us to recast creatures.

Oketra's Chosen (Card Draw)

It is said that those with a better lot in life than us are favored by god and so are "chosen". It's almost as if they have some type of advantage... I've attacked this from many angles and it takes all of them to attain card advantage. Mentor of the Meek and Bygone Bishop can't do all of the lifting.

We're running all (?) of the cycle lands Desert of the True, Drifting Meadow, Secluded Steppe and Blasted Landscape. In case of discard effects or bad luck, Sea Gate Wreckage.

Due to the homogeneity of our land, we have access to Endless Atlas. Play Endless Atlas. Play. Endless Atlas.

Low cost creatures with plenty of protection enable equipment like Rogue's Gloves. Infiltration Lens is more circumstantial but is too cheap to pass up.

Oblation. Say it with me, this is not removal. Do not use this as removal. Protect our permanents, draw cards.

Oppression (Yup)

Notice there are zero symmetrical effects that could possibly slow down our game plan. Whether it's the innocuous Binding Mummy or the harsh Linvala, Keeper of Silence, attempts to rise against our interest will be obstructed.

Most of these are your typical choices with the exception of Dawnglare Invoker. This card ends stalemates, you know, when you're most likely to have eight generic mana open. Spelltithe Enforcer is just rude. This card is new to me and I love it in this deck.

Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker in my current meta, there are a lot of decks that seek to win through attrition. Nekusar, the Mindrazer wheel the table for seven triggers? Neat. Sac seven permanents.

Death (It sure is)

Crashing Drawbridge is a newly printed card that gives all of our creatures haste and is a low costed, four toughness defender. This works well early, mid and late game.

Nothing too fancy or different with removal. Cleansing Nova is here for its flexibility. Forsake the Worldly, targeted exile to ensure opponents don't recur important combo pieces...ahem...and cycling.

Odric, Lunarch Marshal paired with Stonecoil Serpent or any creature with keyword abilities (roughly half) can make Oketra's zombies more of a hassle. Flying, Double strike, indestructible, lifelink, reach, vigilance are the applicable terms here.

Akroma's Memorial is here in the event Oketra becomes unreasonably costed. Like any good commander deck, this deck can function without its commander.

Taxes (Yup)

Just like in real life, taxes are a part of life that I refuse to pay. Our opponents, however, will have to pay up. Chancellor of the Annex, Tithe Taker, Windborn Muse, Archangel of Tithes and Spelltithe Enforcer are the chosen creature features. Aura of Silence is a non-creature tax but it also serves as targeted removal. That's two things. VALUE

RIP Baird, Steward of Argive. Creature formerly in the deck but swapped with Truth Seeker.

This section contains the most flex slots. Outside of Spelltithe Enforcer and Aura of Silence I can see most of these cards replaced with "strictly better" whatever your heart desires.

Shepherds (Bounce)

If I was Food Network's Guy Fieri, this is the part where I'd say something vaguely sexual about Flavortown or in this case, Valuetown. Instead, I'll just use regular people words like, "cast this white gargoyle spell at instant speed to bounce the legendary zombie god because elder dragon highlander". Anyway

Cloudstone Curio is the primary piece for this deck since not all of our creatures have an etb that bounces a target. This is another flex slot heavy section as there are various creatures/artifacts that have this ability. I tried to stay low to the ground including cards like Shepherd of the Flock and Jeskai Barricade.

Blood Clock and Umbilicus are two other essential pieces that bounce creatures and function as oppressive tax effects. Note: through my playtesting, I actually haven't seen too much value in having either out much less both. Perhaps only run one or the other.

Nation and Resurrection (Land)

We will rewrite history and our tales of conquest in the name of God-Eternal Oketra will be remembered as a triumph for the greater good. Stay true to the land and Emeria, The Sky Ruin will reward your devotion.

Let's get excited about BASIC PLAINS.

Maybeboard and Notable Exclusions

The maybeboard is a list for you to consider when substituting the many flex slots in the deck. There are many more mono-white tax spells but I tried to keep things balanced. There are some "cute" cards too like Order of the Sacred Torch and Illumination for your viewing pleasure.

Exclusions

I avoided symmetrical tax effects almost entirely. I didn't want to add cards that would require us to work around them. The idea is to slow the board down juuust enough while gaining momentum for ourselves until we can start raining down an unholy fire upon the opponents.

Thalia, Guardian of Thraben . There are important non-creature spells in this deck like Scapegoat or Anointed Procession .

Thalia, Heretic Cathar . This card may eventually find its way into the deck, however, I chose Loxodon Gatekeeper instead since he hits just one more thing. Feel free to play both if you want redundancy.

Hokori, Dust Drinker : Slows the game down too much.

Kataki, War's Wage : 14 artifacts in this deck, so, no.

Vryn Wingmare : Similar ability explained already.

Spirit of the Labyrinth : We need to draw as often as we can.

Leonin Arbiter : Symmetrical effect

Glowrider : Symmetrical effect

Hushbringer : Symmetrical effect

Angel of Jubilation : Symmetrical effect, doesn't buff zombies and won't allow us to play Scapegoat.

Eidolon of Rhetoric : Symmetrical effect, playing multiple creatures a turn is kind of the point.

Hushwing Gryff : Symmetrical effect

Fiend Hunter and similar cards: Temporary effect on the most vulnerable card type.

Oreskos Explorer and similar cards: add these as you see fit. Personally, I don't think ramp is a must-have, at least in this deck. Plus, they are typically circumstantial thus rendering them dead cards.

Date added	4 years
Last updated	3 years
Legality	This deck is Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	10 - 0 Mythic Rares 31 - 0 Rares 19 - 0 Uncommons 13 - 0 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	2.67
Tokens	Clue, Elephant 3/3 G, Treasure, Wall 0/4 C, Warrior 1/1 W w/ Vigilance, Zombie Warrior 4/4 B
Folders	Tokens Deck, premadeCommander