
About the deck
- Blue-black control. Tasha, Unholy Archmage is a planeswalker commander: her +1 shrinks every creature that attacks her or me, her −2 takes the best creature from an opponent's graveyard, and her −6 takes three creatures from their library.
- 26 instants and 20 sorceries: counterspells (Counterspell, Memory Lapse, Remand, Drown in the Loch, Pact of Negation, Spell Pierce), removal (Fatal Push, Cut Down, Bitter Triumph, Murderous Cut, Damnation) and discard (Thoughtseize, Thought Erasure, Divest).
- Planeswalkers and proliferate: Narset, Parter of Veils, Ashiok, Dream Render, Karn, the Great Creator and Vraska, Betrayal's Sting; Contentious Plan, Tezzeret's Gambit, Drown in Ichor and Whisper of the Dross proliferate their loyalty.
- The Brawl-legal list: Alrund's Epiphany and Drown in the Loch replace the banned Time Warp and Wash Away.
Gameplan
- Early: discard and cheap answers; counter only what matters.
- Midgame: Tasha on four mana with a counterspell held up; her −2 takes their best dead creature.
- Card flow: The One Ring, Dig Through Time, Treasure Cruise, Sea Gate Restoration, Palantír of Orthanc.
- Win: Sheoldred, the Apocalypse, Troll of Khazad-dûm, stolen creatures, the extra turns of Karn's Temporal Sundering and Alrund's Epiphany, or Tasha's −6.
- Reset: Damnation, River's Rebuke, Cyclonic Rift with overload.
Weaknesses
Power and numbers
| Speed | ★★★★★ |
| Resilience | ★★★★★ |
| Interaction | ★★★★★ |
| Card flow | ★★★★★ |
| Difficulty | ★★★★★ |
Counterspells, removal and discard around a planeswalker commander; wins late with Sheoldred, stolen creatures and extra turns
How hard is it to play? Every turn: hold up a counterspell or tap out? Which threat to counter, which to kill, which to ignore. Planeswalker loyalty, delve and proliferate to manage on top.
Colors: U 26 sources for 48 blue symbols · B 24 sources for 33 black symbols.
Lands: 33 lands + 5 ramp (5 mana rocks). 71% of opening hands have 2–4 lands (2: 32%, 3: 26%, 4: 13%). Chance to have 3 lands by turn 3: 63%, 4 by turn 4: 44%, 5 by turn 5: 28% (going first, no mulligan).
Mana curve and more
Power and difficulty are my own estimates from the decklists, compared with my other decks.
Sample hand
Seven random cards from the 99 (the commander waits in the command zone). Every visit deals a new hand.
Decklist
Search tips
Plain words search the name (English, German or Japanese). Filters can be combined: t:creature or t:merfolk (type line), c:g / c:wb (has these colors), c:c (colorless), mv<3 / mv=2 / mv>=5, r:rare (or r:m r:u r:c), s:xln (set code), lang:de, pow>=4, tou<2. Example: t:creature c:g mv<3.
Commander (1)

Artifacts (10) ≈ €122.40

The One Ring
DE Der Eine RingJP 一つの指輪

Arcane Signet
DE Arkanes PetschaftJP 秘儀の印鑑

Astral Cornucopia
DE Astrales FüllhornJP 霊(れい)体(たい)のヤギ角(づの)

Key to the Archive

Midnight Clock
DE MitternachtsuhrJP 真夜中の時計

Mind Stone
DE GedankensteinJP 精神石

Mishra's Bauble
DE Mishras BroscheJP ミシュラのガラクタ

Palantír of Orthanc
DE Palantír von OrthancJP オルサンクのパランティール

Staff of Compleation
DE Stab der VollendungJP 完全化の杖

Wishclaw Talisman
DE Wunschkrallen-TalismanJP 願い爪のタリスマン
Planeswalkers (4) ≈ €6.83

Ashiok, Dream Render
DE Ashiok die TraumverzerrungJP 夢を引き裂く者、アショク

Karn, the Great Creator
DE Karn, der Große SchöpferJP 大いなる創造者、カーン

Narset, Parter of Veils
DE Narset, Lüfterin der SchleierJP 覆いを割く者、ナーセット

Vraska, Betrayal's Sting
DE Vraska, Stachel des VerratsJP 裏切りの棘、ヴラスカ
Instants (26) ≈ €59.55

Bitter Triumph
DE Bitterer TriumphJP 苦々しい勝利

Brainstorm
DE GedankenwirbelJP 渦まく知識

Censor
DE ZensierenJP 検閲

Cling to Dust
DE An Staub klammernJP 塵へのしがみつき

Commit // Memory
DE Commit // Memory // Commit // MemoryJP Commit // Memory // Commit // Memory

Confounding Riddle
DE Verwirrendes RätselJP 困惑の謎掛け

Consider
DE AbwägenJP 考慮

Counterspell
DE GegenzauberJP 対抗呪文

Cut Down
DE Niederstrecken

Cyclonic Rift
DE Rift des SturmtiefsJP サイクロンの裂け目

Dark Ritual
DE Schwarzer RitusJP 暗黒の儀式

Dig Through Time
DE In den Zeiten wühlenJP 時を越えた探索

Experimental Augury
DE Experimentelle WeissagungJP 実(じっ)験(けん)的(てき)占(うらな)い

Fatal Push
DE Tödlicher StoßJP 致命的な一押し

Jwari Disruption // Jwari Ruins
DE Jwarische Störung // Jwarische RuinenJP ジュワー島の撹乱 // ジュワー島の遺跡

Memory Lapse
DE GedächtnislückeJP 記憶の欠落

Murderous Cut
DE Mörderischer SchnittJP 残忍な切断

Opt
DE OptionenJP 選択

Pact of Negation
DE Pakt der VerneinungJP 否定の契約

Serum Snare
DE SerumschlingeJP 血清の罠

Sheoldred's Edict
DE Sheoldreds EdiktJP シェオルドレッドの勅令

Spell Pierce
DE ZauberdurchbohrungJP 呪文貫き

Remand
DE ZurückverweisenJP 差し戻し

Drown in the Loch
DE Im See ertrinkenJP 湖での水難

Whisper of the Dross
DE Flüstern des DrossJP ドロスの囁き

Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs
DE In Stumpfsinn verfallen // Betäubende QuellenJP 朦朧への没入 // 催眠の泉
Sorceries (20) ≈ €92.64

Bone Shards
DE KnochensplitterJP 骨の破片

Boon of the Wish-Giver
DE Segen des WunscherfüllersJP 願い与えの加護

Contentious Plan
DE Umstrittener PlanJP 論議を呼ぶ計画

Divest
DE EntreißenJP 抜去

Drown in Ichor
DE Ertrinken in WundsekretJP 胆液まみれ

Extract the Truth
DE Die Wahrheit extrahierenJP 真実の抽出

Karn's Temporal Sundering
DE Karns temporale SchneiseJP カーンの経時隔離

Damnation
DE VerdammungJP 滅び

Lórien Revealed
DE Offenbarungen in LórienJP ロリアンの発見

River's Rebuke
DE Zurückweisung des FlussesJP 川の叱責

Sea Gate Restoration // Sea Gate, Reborn
DE Seetors Restaurierung // Seetor, neu erbautJP 海門修復 // 再誕の海門

Solve the Equation
DE Die Gleichung lösenJP 方程式の求解

Tezzeret's Gambit
DE Tezzerets GambitJP テゼレットの計(けい)略(りゃく)

The Elderspell
DE Der Zauber des ÄltestenJP 古呪

Thought Erasure
DE GedankenlöschungJP 思考消去

Thoughtseize
DE GedankenergreifungJP 思考囲い

Alrund's Epiphany
DE Alrunds EingebungJP アールンドの天啓

Treasure Cruise
DE Lohnende AusfahrtJP 宝船の巡航

Agadeem's Awakening // Agadeem, the Undercrypt
DE Agadeems Erwachen // Agadeems UnterkryptaJP アガディームの覚醒 // 地下遺跡、アガディーム

Pelakka Predation // Pelakka Caverns
DE Pelakka-Jagdbeute // Pelakka-GewölbeJP ペラッカの捕食 // ペラッカの洞窟
Creatures (4) ≈ €136.64

Rusko, Clockmaker

Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
DE Sheoldred die ApokalypseJP 黙示録、シェオルドレッド

Tishana's Tidebinder
DE Tishanas GezeitenbändigerinJP ティシャーナの潮縛り

Troll of Khazad-dûm
DE Troll von Khazad-dûmJP カザド=ドゥームのトロール
Enchantments (2) ≈ €1.90

Search for Azcanta // Azcanta, the Sunken Ruin
DE Suche nach Azcanta // Azcanta, die versunkene RuineJP アズカンタの探索 // 水没遺跡、アズカンタ

Witness Protection
DE ZeugenschutzJP 証人保護
Lands (33) ≈ €104.63

Lilypad Village
DE SeerosendorfJP 蓮葉村

Clearwater Pathway // Murkwater Pathway
DE Klarwasser-Höhenweg // Trübwasser-HöhenwegJP 清水の小道 // 泥水の小道

Command Tower
DE BefehlsturmJP 統率の塔

Darkslick Shores
DE DunkelschlickküsteJP 闇滑りの岸

Demolition Field
DE AbrisszoneJP 解体爆破場

Drowned Catacomb
DE Versunkene KatakombenJP 水没した地下墓地

Fabled Passage
DE Sagenumwobener DurchgangJP 寓話の小道

Field of Ruin
DE Schauplatz der VerheerungJP 廃墟の地

Gate of the Black Dragon

Hall of Storm Giants
DE Halle der SturmriesenJP ストーム・ジャイアントの聖堂

Ifnir Deadlands
DE Ifnir-ÖdnisJP イフニルの死界

Interplanar Beacon
DE Interplanarer SignalturmJP 次元間の標

6×Island
DE InselJP 島

Karn's Bastion
DE Karns BastionJP カーンの拠(きょ)点(てん)

Mirrex
DE MirrexJP ミレックス

Otawara, Soaring City
DE Otawara, die schwebende StadtJP 天上都市、大田原

Shipwreck Marsh
DE Schiffswrack-MorastJP 難破船の湿地

5×Swamp
DE SumpfJP 沼

Takenuma, Abandoned Mire
DE Takenuma, verlassenes SchlammlochJP 見捨てられたぬかるみ、竹沼

Underground River
DE Unterirdischer FlussJP 地底の大河

Watery Grave
DE Nasses GrabJP 湿(しめ)った墓(はか)

Undercity Sewers
DE Unterstadt-KanalisationJP 地底街の下水道

Forsaken Crossroads

Multiversal Passage
DE Durchgang ins MultiversumJP マルチバースへの通り道
Keywords and rules terms
Tasha, Unholy Archmage — Blue-black control
Everything on Tasha's cards that has a name, in English, German and Japanese, for playing Arena in another language. Japanese: reading first, then the printed form.
Keywords and ability words
| EN | DE | JP | What it does | Cards in this deck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proliferate | Wucherung | ぞうしょく(増殖) | Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there. | Contentious Plan, Drown in Ichor, Experimental Augury, Karn's Bastion, Serum Snare, Staff of Compleation, Tezzeret's Gambit, Vraska, Betrayal's Sting, Whisper of the Dross |
| Surveil N | Überwachen N | ちょうほう(諜報)N | Look at the top N cards of your library; put any of them into your graveyard and the rest back on top in any order. | Lilypad Village, Consider, Search for Azcanta, Thought Erasure, Undercity Sewers |
| Cycling | Umwandlung | サイクリング | [Cost], discard this card: draw a card. | Boon of the Wish-Giver, Censor, Lórien Revealed, Troll of Khazad-dûm |
| Delve | Wühlen | たんさ(探査) | Each card you exile from your graveyard while casting this spell pays for {1}. | Dig Through Time, Murderous Cut, Treasure Cruise |
| Mill N | N Karten millen | N枚をせっさく(切削)する | Put the top N cards of a library into its owner's graveyard. | Ashiok, Dream Render, Palantír of Orthanc, Takenuma, Abandoned Mire |
| Scry N | Hellsicht N | せんじゅつ(占術)N | Look at the top N cards of your library, then put any number of them on the bottom and the rest on top in any order. | Opt, Palantír of Orthanc, Forsaken Crossroads |
| Channel | Blutzoll | こんりき(魂力) | Discard this card from your hand and pay the cost to get its effect (the lands with channel are lands otherwise). | Otawara, Soaring City, Takenuma, Abandoned Mire |
| Islandcycling, Swampcycling | Inselumwandlung, Sumpfumwandlung | しまサイクリング(島サイクリング)、ぬまサイクリング(沼サイクリング) | {cost}, discard this card: search your library for an Island (or Swamp) card and put it into your hand. | Lórien Revealed, Troll of Khazad-dûm |
| Aftermath | Nachhall | よは(余波) | Cast the second half only from your graveyard; then the card is exiled. | Commit |
| Compleated | Vollendet | かんせいか(完成化) | Phyrexian mana in the cost can be paid with 2 life each; for each one paid with life, the planeswalker enters with two fewer loyalty counters. | Vraska, Betrayal's Sting |
| Conjure (Arena only) | – | – | Create a new card out of nothing (not from your library) and put it where the card says. | Rusko, Clockmaker |
| Deathtouch | Todesberührung | せっし(接死) | Any amount of damage this deals to a creature is enough to destroy it. | Sheoldred, the Apocalypse |
| Draft from a spellbook (Arena only) | – | – | Choose one of three random cards from the card's own list (its spellbook) and put it into your hand. | Key to the Archive |
| Escape | Befreiung | だっしゅつ(脱出) | Cast it from your graveyard by paying its escape cost and exiling other cards from your graveyard. | Cling to Dust |
| Flash | Aufblitzen | しゅんそく(瞬速) | You may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant. | Tishana's Tidebinder |
| Indestructible | Unzerstörbar | はかいふのう(破壊不能) | Damage and effects that say "destroy" don't destroy this. | The One Ring |
| Overload {cost} | Überlast {Kosten} | ちょうか(超過){コスト} | Cast it for its overload cost: every "target" in its text becomes "each". | Cyclonic Rift |
| Revolt | Rebellion | ふんそう(紛争) | Gets better if a permanent you controlled left the battlefield this turn. | Fatal Push |
| Seek (Arena only) | – | – | Put a random card that matches the description from your library into your hand. | Gate of the Black Dragon |
| Transform | transformieren | へんしん(変身) | Turn a double-faced card to its other face. | Search for Azcanta |