Stax

Stax decks prevent opponents from playing the game normally. Tax effects make spells cost more. Denial effects prevent untapping, drawing, or searching. The goal is to slow the game to a crawl while you have a way to break parity and eventually win.

Fair warning: stax is polarizing. Some players enjoy the puzzle of playing through restrictions. Others find it miserable. Mention you're playing stax in the pregame conversation.

How it works

1. Deploy tax and denial effects early
2. Break parity (your deck functions under its own restrictions, opponents' decks don't)
3. Slowly accumulate advantage while opponents struggle to cast spells
4. Win through a slow clock or a combo once opponents are locked

Key cards

Tax effects (make things cost more):

• Thalia Guardian of Thraben — noncreature spells cost {1} more
• Sphere of Resistance — all spells cost {1} more
• Rhystic Study — opponents pay {1} extra or you draw (functions as a soft tax)
• Smothering Tithe — opponents pay {2} or you get a Treasure for each card they draw

Denial effects (prevent actions):

• Winter Orb — players untap only one land per turn
• Static Orb — players untap only two permanents per turn
• Drannith Magistrate — opponents can't cast spells from anywhere but their hand (Game Changer)
• Opposition Agent — you control opponents' searches (Game Changer)
• Rule of Law / Arcane Laboratory — only one spell per turn

Breaking parity:

• Urza Lord High Artificer — taps artifacts for mana, so your artifacts still produce under Stasis/Winter Orb
• Derevi Empyrial Tactician — untaps your permanents, negating your own orb effects
• Dockside Extortionist — generates Treasures regardless of how locked the game is

Strengths

Slows combo and aggro. Extra mana costs and spell restrictions slow fast decks dramatically.

Multiplayer leverage. One Sphere of Resistance taxes all three opponents. Your one card consumes three cards' worth of resources.

Control without counterspells. You don't need to counter spells if opponents can't cast them affordably.

Weaknesses

Social cost. People don't enjoy not playing Magic. You will become the archenemy. Plan accordingly.

Breaking parity is essential. If your own stax pieces hurt you as much as opponents, you're just making the game worse for everyone including yourself.

Artifact and enchantment removal. Most stax pieces are artifacts or enchantments. Opponents who pack Nature's Claim and Krosan Grip can dismantle your lock.

Popular commanders

Derevi Empyrial Tactician (W/U/G) — untaps your permanents on ETB and combat damage. Breaks parity on Winter Orb and Static Orb naturally.

Grand Arbiter Augustin IV (W/U) — your spells cost less, opponents' spells cost more. Built-in tax effect. Game Changer.

Urza Lord High Artificer (U) — creates a token, taps artifacts for mana, and has an activated ability that casts free spells. Functions under artifact-based stax.

Winota Joiner of Forces (R/W) — cheats creatures into play, bypassing mana costs entirely. Deploys threats without paying the taxes your opponents face.

Typical colors

White provides tax effects (Thalia, Smothering Tithe). Blue provides denial and card advantage. Green adds mana to break parity. Azorius (W/U) and Bant (W/U/G) are common.

Ratio adjustments