[Deck] Death and Taxes

[DarthVicious]

Unexpectedly Absent

Just an idea I'll be testing in my fairly stock mono white list. (3 Mirran, 3 Avenger, 2 Mangara, 21 land)

Points of interest:
It messes with miracle cards and counterbalance triggers.
It messes with cascade triggers.
It gets stronger in response to a fetch/tutor effect.
It can save a creature from removal.
It can get any targetable nonland permanent off the field.

Loads of interactions for such a simple effect... :)


Edit: Just picked up the deck a few weeks ago and loving it.

[Esper3k]

Out of selfish curiosity since my meta is infested with D&T right now, what do you guys feel are your worst matchups?

I know Elves is one of the worst ones, but I'm curious to hear the perspective from the D&T side. Thanks!

[Arsenal]

I dislike seeing Shardless BUG. They run maindeck sweepers (and usually more of the same in the sb) that get around our traditionally Mom protection, they run basics + DRS to play around our mana denial plan and it's hard to swing past stuff like Baleful Strix and Goyf. Definitely a matchup a hope to avoid if possible.

[Barook]

I dislike seeing Shardless BUG. They run maindeck sweepers (and usually more of the same in the sb) that get around our traditionally Mom protection, they run basics + DRS to play around our mana denial plan and it's hard to swing past stuff like Baleful Strix and Goyf. Definitely a matchup a hope to avoid if possible.

While it isn't as good as it used to be, Mirran Crusaser is still excellent in this match-up. If you expect lots of Shardless, SB Wilt-Leaf Liege is probably a good idea, too.

[Arsenal]

Agreed. I've moved to 2 maindeck Mirran Crusader for that very reason. Surprisingly, my 3 sb Warping Wail do major work vs. Shardless as many of their high impact spells, especially postboard, are sorceries. Also neatly deals with their DRS and Baleful Strix if nothing else.

[iatee]

Imperial Taxes is pretty thrilled to see Shardless, it always felt like a fair matchup when I played Mono-W.

The worst D+T matchups are:

- Combo decks that go off on t1, as there's no room for interaction
- Combo decks that are creature-based not spell based (Infect, Elves) as we're removal-light
- Decks with an insane amount of removal (Jund, Aggro Loam)
- For mono-W, 12-Post generally can out-mana the tax effects pretty quickly and just needs to resolve one threat to effectively win

Creature-based decks that do fair-but-unfair things (Knight of the Reliquary, TNN, etc.) and play a lot of lands can be slightly unfavored depending on the build.

[Adastreia]

I have a question about side boarding.
My current 15 card sb is:
1 containment priest
2 cataclysm
2 canonist
1 needle
2 rip
1 enlightened tutor
2 wilt-leaf liege
1 seal of cleansing
2 council's judgement
1 Grafidiggers cage
This sidebaord has served me very well against lots of matchups, i do however run into some problems dealing with entreat the angels and elves (although i am already aware this is a horrible matchup). I was thinking of dropping the containment priest and 1 other card for 2 hallowed moonlights. My friends believe its a bit too narrow as having a card to deal with a specific situation is wrong, which i agree with. There are other situations the card is useful, it effectively counters GSZ and NO, as well as empty the warrens and other things of a similar nature. There is a large possibility I'm playing the match up wrong and I need more practice, but i would appreciate your thoughts on the matter.
Cheers

[Arsenal]

Warping Wail is your friend. Counters Entreat and Terminus (the primary Miracles tool that wrecks us), and then deals with effectively every card in Elves (hits virtually all their dudes + counters their NO, GSZ and Glimpse). This is also a boon in the mirror as it hits virtually every D&T dude and gets around Mom protection.

[Barook]

Warping Wail is your friend. Counters Entreat and Terminus (the primary Miracles tool that wrecks us), and then deals with effectively every card in Elves (hits virtually all their dudes + counters their NO, GSZ and Glimpse). This is also a boon in the mirror as it hits virtually every D&T dude and gets around Mom protection.

I agree from my experience with Eldrazi that Warping Wail is a quite flexible tool. But what does your manabase look like to support it? 8 colorless sources clearly isn't enough to properly support Wail.

[Koke_MTG]

This is the reason that stops me to give Warping Wail a try. We have a low number of colorless sources and we want to play aggresively with them. There are a very little room for reactive plays on D&T.

On the other hand, I agree with iatee words about worse matchups. I would include classic UWR Delver that could see more play on the actual metagame and has one of the best wincons against us (TNN + Umezawa's Jitte) apart from a bunch of removal. Other matchups like Jund can be improved with more Crusaders or WLL. I am running 4 x Mirran Crusader and feel the matchup really close if they don't see Punishing Fire early. Same for 4C Loam which without PF I feel a bit favorable because they have a manabase that can be attacked easily by us. This last matchup depends a lot on the number of sideboard slots they dedicate to D&T as well because there are lists with between 2-4 sweepers and others with flex slots like Null Rod or Sulfur Elemental. They run a lot of meat because they feel the D&T matchup is not good and as a 4C Loam player I share this thought too. But as in other matchups like Lands or Storm, I think we don't depend on ourselves to win because of some high-impact hate cards.

[Arsenal]

I agree from my experience with Eldrazi that Warping Wail is a quite flexible tool. But what does your manabase look like to support it? 8 colorless sources clearly isn't enough to properly support Wail.

I'm usually at 9-10, depending on how I'm feeling that day.

1 Horizon Canopy
1 Cavern of Souls
1 Flagstones of Trokair (this slot is the 2nd Cavern if I decide to go with 1 sb Cataclysm instead of 2 that day)
3 Karakas
4 Wasteland
4 Rishadan Port
9 Plains

[Esper3k]

Thanks for the info, guys! It jives with about what my thoughts were but I figured it's always best to ask the experts!

[caprino]

Yesterday I played another small event at my LGS winning it with 4-0. I am really happy with latest tournaments I've played (my overall record in the last 4 events is 15-2-2).

This time I won 2 Shardless BUG, BUG Control and Esper Stoneblade.

I changed a bit the way to go with my list, focusing games a bit less on the mana denial plan because of the change of the metagame caused by Eldrazi.

Right now I'm trying to focus the list in grindy matchups that are increasing in quantity, getting a bit worse Delver matchups (still being good matchups in general) and Infect, that is the matchup in which I see the change worse but if you know how to play the matchup you have a real chance.

Well, this is the most recent list I'm running:

MAINDECK:

4 x Mother of Runes
4 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
4 x Stoneforge Mystic
4 x Phyrexian Revoker
2 x Serra Avenger
4 x Flickerwisp
2 x Mirran Crusader
2 x Mangara of Corondor

4 x Aether Vial
4 x Swords to Plowshares
1 x Batterskull
1 x Sword of Fire and Ice
1 x Umezawa's Jitte

4 x Wasteland
4 x Rishadan Port
7 x Plains
4 x Flagstones of Trokair
3 x Karakas
1 x Cavern of Souls

SIDEBOARD:

2 x Council's Judgment
2 x Cataclysm
2 x Pithing Needle
2 x Mirran Crusader
3 x Ethersworn Canonist
1 x Sword of War and Peace
3 x Rest in Peace

I left out the set of Vryn Wingmare to improve specially against Shardless BUG and Eldrazi (although I had a great record against Eldrazi even with Vryn Wingmare version) among others, having also a maindeck solution against new hate cards as Moat could be, but probably I'd return to 4 x Vryn Wingmare for a major event because there are a lot of Delver decks in those tournaments as they are super consistent. Other options could be Ratchet Bomb or Dismember as sideboard cards. I really like that we have different options for flex slots for lots of different situations and metagames and they change the playstyle a lot, letting you to improve with your deck and in general as a Legacy player.

Nice list.. Matchup Vs eldrazi is difficult?

[Koke_MTG]

Nice list.. Matchup Vs eldrazi is difficult?

It's not too much difficult. IMO is a 60%-40% in our favor. They have to draw really well in the first few turns in addition to their opening hand to don't let you stabilize the game putting an unstopable clock. Once you stabilize you only can lose through an animal topdeck like Endbringer, Reality Smasher or Umezawa's Jitte.

In our side Stoneforge and StP are really good of course, and Flickerwisp and Mirran Crusader are really helpful as well. These are the key cards for us. A T2 Stoneforge can be killed but you will have your Batterskull down winning the game for you if you get the long game we want. Flickerwisp could break Endless One or CotV allowing you to use your StP and in addition is a 3/1 body with flight. Mirran Crusader cannot be killed by the usual spot removal they run, only post-board if they run Spatial Contortion. Equiped with any equipment is probably game, kills TKS without a double chump-block and is really useful to have controlled creatures like Mimic, 2/2 Endless One, Revokers and Matter Reshaper until you stabilize the game. I think the mana denial plan is a bit worse here because they run a lot of lands, you should try it on the play with Vial only, otherwise save your Wasteland for the Eye or even a Mishra's Factory that can be a bit annoying. Don't worry about dead cards like Mother of Runes, they have theirs too with CotV (it's not too good specially on the draw) and Thorn of course.

I board as follows with my list:

-4 x Mother of Runes
-2 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-1 x SoFaI
+2 x Council's Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+1 x SoWaP

I think the outs don't need explanation as Judgments and Crusaders. Pithing Needles are for wincons like Endbringer or Jitte and could be for Mishra's Factory too. I think is more important to close the opponent's Jitte than keep our Jitte open because it is not our main option but if they charge it, it could be game, and I think Revokers are not enough against a deck with 7+ spot removals post-board. Don't worry about CotV, opponent probably side out at least a couple of them depending on who starts. And finally I change the equipment because I feel that SoWaP is better to race a deck like Eldrazi giving us a difference of lifes that we need.

[caprino]

It's not too much difficult. IMO is a 60%-40% in our favor. They have to draw really well in the first few turns in addition to their opening hand to don't let you stabilize the game putting an unstopable clock. Once you stabilize you only can lose through an animal topdeck like Endbringer, Reality Smasher or Umezawa's Jitte.

In our side Stoneforge and StP are really good of course, and Flickerwisp and Mirran Crusader are really helpful as well. These are the key cards for us. A T2 Stoneforge can be killed but you will have your Batterskull down winning the game for you if you get the long game we want. Flickerwisp could break Endless One or CotV allowing you to use your StP and in addition is a 3/1 body with flight. Mirran Crusader cannot be killed by the usual spot removal they run, only post-board if they run Spatial Contortion. Equiped with any equipment is probably game, kills TKS without a double chump-block and is really useful to have controlled creatures like Mimic, 2/2 Endless One, Revokers and Matter Reshaper until you stabilize the game. I think the mana denial plan is a bit worse here because they run a lot of lands, you should try it on the play with Vial only, otherwise save your Wasteland for the Eye or even a Mishra's Factory that can be a bit annoying. Don't worry about dead cards like Mother of Runes, they have theirs too with CotV (it's not too good specially on the draw) and Thorn of course.

I board as follows with my list:

-4 x Mother of Runes
-2 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-1 x SoFaI
+2 x Council's Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+1 x SoWaP

I think the outs don't need explanation as Judgments and Crusaders. Pithing Needles are for wincons like Endbringer or Jitte and could be for Mishra's Factory too. I think is more important to close the opponent's Jitte than keep our Jitte open because it is not our main option but if they charge it, it could be game, and I think Revokers are not enough against a deck with 7+ spot removals post-board. Don't worry about CotV, opponent probably side out at least a couple of them depending on who starts. And finally I change the equipment because I feel that SoWaP is better to race a deck like Eldrazi giving us a difference of lifes that we need.

I explain how to do the side and out side in against bugs, elves, rug, ant, mud, miracle, omnitell, sneak attack, infect etc ... against the tier that are found in the big tournaments.

so I write them for the next tournament I make ends meet, and I would like to take your lista.è the first time that this type of game deck

[iatee]

So I was goldfishing a mono-humans tribal build with Mentor of the Meek in it. In the context of the deck, the card felt extremely strong. Obviously that's the type of card that looks better when you're goldfishing, but I was considering testing it as a 1-of in Imperial SB for fair decks.

It's better in Imperial than it would be in Mono-W because it passes the crucial tests (2 power, human) and also actually rewards you for playing a build with almost nothing but 1/2 power creatures. The games also go longer than Mono-W games, for related reasons. It is a bit win-more and doesn't absolutely destroy anyone in particular. But as a pure value card for grindy/fair g2s, it seems like there's potential.

I might try something like this sideboard for a while:

1 Mentor of the Meek
1 Fireslinger
1 Containment Priest
1 Manic Vandal
1 Pia and Kiran Nalaar
1 Standard Bearer
1 Devout Witness
2 Mirran Crusader
3 Ethersworn Canonist
2 Rest in Peace
1 Path to Exile

[Koke_MTG]

I explain how to do the side and out side in against bugs, elves, rug, ant, mud, miracle, omnitell, sneak attack, infect etc ... against the tier that are found in the big tournaments.

so I write them for the next tournament I make ends meet, and I would like to take your lista.è the first time that this type of game deck

Here you have some tips about how I board against some of the most common archetypes with this list. Questions or advices from anyone would be appreciated.


U/W/R Miracles

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Cataclysm
+2 x Pithing Needle
+1 x Sword of War and Peace
------------------------------
-1 x Mirran Crusader
-4 x Swords to Plowshares
-1 x Umezawa’s Jitte
-1 x Plains

Storm

+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+3 x Ethersworn Canonist
+3 x Rest in Peace
------------------------------
-3 x Flickerwisp
-2 x Mangara of Corondor
-4 x Swords to Plowshares
-1 x Plains

Grixis Delver

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+2 x Rest in Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Phyrexian Revoker
-2 x Mangara of Corondor

Shardless BUG

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+3 x Rest in Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-2 x Phyrexian Revoker
-1 x Swords to Plowshares
-1 x Umezawa’s Jitte
-1 x Flagstones of Trokair

RG Lands

+2 x Cataclysm
+2 x Pithing Needle
+3 x Rest in Peace
------------------------------
-2 x Phyrexian Revoker
-4 x Swords to Plowshares
-1 x Umezawa’s Jitte

4C AggroLoam

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+1 x Sword of War and Peace
+3 x Rest in Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-1 x Phyrexian Revoker
-2 x Mangara of Corondor
-1 x Sword of Fire and Ice

Sneak & Show

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+1 x Sword of War and Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Swords to Plowshares
-1 x Umezawa’s Jitte

UG Infect

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+3 x Ethersworn Canonist
------------------------------
-2 x Phyrexian Revoker
-4 x Flickerwisp
-2 x Mangara of Corondor
-1 x Batterskull

Burn

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+3 x Ethersworn Canonist
+1 x Sword of War and Peace
------------------------------
-2 x Phyrexian Revoker
-2 x Mangara of Corondor
-1 x Sword of Fire and Ice
-1 x Karakas

Reanimator

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+3 x Rest in Peace
------------------------------
-2 x Stoneforge Mystic
-4 x Flickerwisp
-1 x Umezawa’s Jitte

Jund

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+3 x Rest in Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-2 x Phyrexian Revoker
-2 x Mangara of Corondor
-1 x Flagstones of Trokair

RUG Delver

+1 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+3 x Rest in Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Phyrexian Revoker
-2 x Mangara of Corondor

MUD

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Cataclysm
+2 x Pithing Needle
+1 x Sword of War and Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Mother of Runes
-2 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-1 x Umezawa’s Jitte

Eldrazi Stompy

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+1 x Sword of War and Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Mother of Runes
-2 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-1 x Sword of Fire and Ice

Merfolks

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
------------------------------
-4 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-2 x Mangara of Corondor

Death & Taxes

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+1 x Sword of War and Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-2 x Mangara of Corondor
-1 x Sword of Fire and Ice

BUG Delver

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+3 x Rest in Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-2 x Phyrexian Revoker
-2 x Mangara of Corondor
-1 x Sword of Fire and Ice

Elves

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+3 x Ethersworn Canonist
------------------------------
-4 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-2 x Flickerwisp
-2 x Mangara of Corondor
-1 x Batterskull

U/W/R Stoneblade

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+1 x Sword of War and Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-2 x Swords to Plowshares
-1 x Umezawa’s Jitte

Deathblade

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+1 x Sword of War and Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-2 x Swords to Plowshares
-1 x Plains

[caprino]

Here you have some tips about how I board against some of the most common archetypes with this list. Questions or advices from anyone would be appreciated.


U/W/R Miracles

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Cataclysm
+2 x Pithing Needle
+1 x Sword of War and Peace
------------------------------
-1 x Mirran Crusader
-4 x Swords to Plowshares
-1 x Umezawa’s Jitte
-1 x Plains

Storm

+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+3 x Ethersworn Canonist
+3 x Rest in Peace
------------------------------
-3 x Flickerwisp
-2 x Mangara of Corondor
-4 x Swords to Plowshares
-1 x Plains

Grixis Delver

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+2 x Rest in Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Phyrexian Revoker
-2 x Mangara of Corondor

Shardless BUG

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+3 x Rest in Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-2 x Phyrexian Revoker
-1 x Swords to Plowshares
-1 x Umezawa’s Jitte
-1 x Flagstones of Trokair

RG Lands

+2 x Cataclysm
+2 x Pithing Needle
+3 x Rest in Peace
------------------------------
-2 x Phyrexian Revoker
-4 x Swords to Plowshares
-1 x Umezawa’s Jitte

4C AggroLoam

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+1 x Sword of War and Peace
+3 x Rest in Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-1 x Phyrexian Revoker
-2 x Mangara of Corondor
-1 x Sword of Fire and Ice

Sneak & Show

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+1 x Sword of War and Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Swords to Plowshares
-1 x Umezawa’s Jitte

UG Infect

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+3 x Ethersworn Canonist
------------------------------
-2 x Phyrexian Revoker
-4 x Flickerwisp
-2 x Mangara of Corondor
-1 x Batterskull

Burn

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+3 x Ethersworn Canonist
+1 x Sword of War and Peace
------------------------------
-2 x Phyrexian Revoker
-2 x Mangara of Corondor
-1 x Sword of Fire and Ice
-1 x Karakas

Reanimator

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+3 x Rest in Peace
------------------------------
-2 x Stoneforge Mystic
-4 x Flickerwisp
-1 x Umezawa’s Jitte

Jund

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+3 x Rest in Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-2 x Phyrexian Revoker
-2 x Mangara of Corondor
-1 x Flagstones of Trokair

RUG Delver

+1 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+3 x Rest in Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Phyrexian Revoker
-2 x Mangara of Corondor

MUD

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Cataclysm
+2 x Pithing Needle
+1 x Sword of War and Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Mother of Runes
-2 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-1 x Umezawa’s Jitte

Eldrazi Stompy

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+1 x Sword of War and Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Mother of Runes
-2 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-1 x Sword of Fire and Ice

Merfolks

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
------------------------------
-4 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-2 x Mangara of Corondor

Death & Taxes

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+1 x Sword of War and Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-2 x Mangara of Corondor
-1 x Sword of Fire and Ice

BUG Delver

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+3 x Rest in Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-2 x Phyrexian Revoker
-2 x Mangara of Corondor
-1 x Sword of Fire and Ice

Elves

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+3 x Ethersworn Canonist
------------------------------
-4 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-2 x Flickerwisp
-2 x Mangara of Corondor
-1 x Batterskull

U/W/R Stoneblade

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+1 x Sword of War and Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-2 x Swords to Plowshares
-1 x Umezawa’s Jitte

Deathblade

+2 x Council’s Judgment
+2 x Pithing Needle
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+1 x Sword of War and Peace
------------------------------
-4 x Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
-2 x Swords to Plowshares
-1 x Plains

Thanks, one question why 3 karakas main deck? 1 or 2 karakas main deck is not good?

[nevilshute]

Storm

+2 x Pithing Needle?
+2 x Mirran Crusader
+3 x Ethersworn Canonist
+3 x Rest in Peace
------------------------------
-3 x Flickerwisp
-2 x Mangara of Corondor
-4 x Swords to Plowshares
-1 x Plains

Why bring in needle vs Storm?

[Quasim0ff]

Thanks, one question why 3 karakas main deck? 1 or 2 karakas main deck is not good?

No, 3 is good. Both 1 and 2 is too few.

*You want them for your own Thalia, Your own Mangaara. Opponents Griselbrands. You basically always want a karakas, and you don't really draw any cards, hence the three copies.