Art by Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
Commander deckUW
Grand Arbiter Augustin IV
Taxes opponents' spells and locks down their gameplans with disruptive hatebears and stax pieces, breaking parity with Grand Arbiter's cost reduction to slowly grind out an overwhelming victory.
Asked for“A stax/hatebear deck with $200 budget”
Deck anatomy
What this list actually runs on: how cheaply it casts things, and whether it has enough ramp, card draw and interaction to keep up at the table. Each block is one card — hover for its name.
Mana curve · 60 nonland cards
The working parts
Counted from Scryfall’s community card tags, not from the builder’s own labels. A card that does two jobs counts twice, so these add up to more than the deck. The hatched band is a common rule of thumb, not a law — combo decks run leaner, battlecruiser decks heavier.
Colored mana symbols
Commander
1Grand Arbiter Augustin IV
2WULegendary Creature — Human Advisor
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
9
Liquimetal Torque
2Artifact
Provides mana and turns problem permanents into artifacts for removal.
Card Draw
10
Welcoming Vampire
2WCreature — Vampire
Triggers card draw whenever hatebears enter the battlefield.
Mentor of the Meek
2WCreature — Human Soldier
Draws cards for cheap when casting low-power hatebears.
Verity Circle
2UEnchantment
Draws cards whenever taxed opponents tap creatures for mana or abilities.
Tocasia's Welcome
2WEnchantment
Consistent card draw off small creature spells each turn.
Reconnaissance Mission
2UUEnchantment
Draws cards when hatebears connect with opponents.
Midnight Clock
2UArtifact
Early mana rock that eventually shuffles and wheels a fresh hand.
Removal
11
Supreme Verdict
1WWUSorcery
Uncounterable board wipe when the board gets out of hand.
Time Wipe
2WWUSorcery
Bounces the commander or a key hatebear back to hand before sweeping.
Return to Dust
2WWInstant
Two-for-one artifact and enchantment exile at sorcery speed.
Wash Away
UInstant
One-mana counter against commanders cast from the command zone.
Threats/Wincons
21
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
1WLegendary Creature — Human Soldier
Iconic hatebear that taxes all noncreature spells.
Archon of Emeria
2WCreature — Archon
Enforces a one-spell limit and enters opposing nonbasics tapped.
Spirit of the Labyrinth
1WEnchantment Creature — Spirit
Shuts down opposing burst card draw engines.
Eidolon of Rhetoric
2WEnchantment Creature — Spirit
Strict Rule of Law effect on a resilient body.
Aven Mindcensor
2WCreature — Bird Wizard
Hatebird that restricts library searches to top four cards.
Hushbringer
1WCreature — Faerie
Suppresses enter-the-battlefield and death triggers across the table.
Containment Priest
1WCreature — Human Cleric
Punishes cheat-into-play and reanimation strategies by exiling creatures.
Strict Proctor
1WCreature — Spirit Cleric
Taxes permanent enter-the-battlefield abilities.
Alms Collector
3WCreature — Cat Cleric
Steals card draw value whenever opponents try to draw extra cards.
Tithe Taker
1WCreature — Human Soldier
Increases spell and ability costs on your turn and leaves a token.
Doorkeeper Thrull
1WCreature — Thrull
Shuts down creature and artifact ETB value engines.
Dauntless Dismantler
1WCreature — Human Artificer
Forces opposing artifacts to enter tapped and offers mass artifact destruction.
Reidane, God of the Worthy // Valkmira, Protector's Shield
2WLegendary Creature — God // Legendary Artifact
Taxes expensive noncreature spells and snow lands.
Archon of Absolution
3WCreature — Archon
Taxes attacks directed at you or your planeswalkers.
Baird, Steward of Argive
2WWLegendary Creature — Human Soldier
Imposes an attack tax on aggressive opponents.
Angel of Jubilation
1WWWCreature — Angel
Shuts down sacrifice outlets and paying life while pumping your hatebears.
Leonin Arbiter
1WCreature — Cat Cleric
Requires mana payment before players can search libraries.
Sun Titan
4WWCreature — Giant
Recurs fallen hatebears and rocks while presenting a strong clock.
Ghostly Prison
2WEnchantment
Classic pillowfort piece protecting your life total from wide swings.
Utility
9
Mother of Runes
WCreature — Human Cleric
Grants targeted protection to keep key stax pieces alive.
Selfless Spirit
1WCreature — Spirit Cleric
Sacrifices to grant your creature base indestructible against board wipes.
Swiftfoot Boots
2Artifact — Equipment
Protects Grand Arbiter from targeted removal with hexproof.
Lightning Greaves
2Artifact — Equipment
Free equip cost offering shroud to safeguard critical pieces.
Aura of Silence
1WWEnchantment
Taxes opponents' artifacts and enchantments and provides instant removal.
Rest in Peace
1WEnchantment
Completely nullifies graveyard strategies and recursion loops.
Cursed Totem
2Artifact
Shuts off activated abilities of opposing creatures entirely.
Grafdigger's Cage
1Artifact
Stops library casting and graveyard reanimation at just one mana.
Deafening Silence
WEnchantment
One-mana enchantment limiting noncreature spells per turn.
