Once upon a time, in the early tournament scene, decks had quirky names—Napster, The Rock, Stax, Sligh. If you’re an old-school player, you know exactly what those meant. Over time, Magic deck naming got more straightforward—RUG Delver, BUG Delver—and color shorthand from Ravnica and Tarkir blocks helped streamline things further. Nowadays, something like “Orzhov Blink” tells you both the colors and the strategy.
But one archetype has never quite fit that mold: Death & Taxes.
So, what is Death & Taxes (aka D&T)? The name plays on the old saying: “nothing is certain except death and taxes,” with a third certainty for Magic: white weenie decks. These archetypes have existed as long as Savannah Lions has been roaring.
Modern Death & Taxes has evolved into a white prison strategy that uses small creatures with disruptive abilities and cheap spot removal to lock down the game.
🧾 Sample Decklist: Modern Death & Taxes
Main Deck (60):
1 Blast Zone
3 Castle Ardenvale
1 Crucible of Worlds
4 Demolition Field
1 Emeria's Call
4 Field of Ruin
2 Ghost Quarter
2 Mana Tithe
4 March of Otherworldly Light
2 Mazemind Tome
4 Path to Exile
8 Plains
4 Reprieve
1 Sevinne's Reclamation
4 Skyclave Apparition
4 Solitude
2 Sunken Citadel
4 White Orchid Phantom
1 Witch Enchanter
2 Wrath of God
2 Wrath of the Skies
Sideboard (15):
2 Aven Mindcensor
2 Blossoming Calm
2 Disruptor Flute
1 Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
1 Ghost Quarter
2 Relic of Progenitus
3 Rest in Peace
1 Wrath of God
1 Wrath of the SkiesAny deck still trying to run Mana Tithe is okay in my book.
🔍 Strategy & Analysis
This build is laser-focused on attacking Modern’s mana bases. With full playsets of Field of Ruin and Demolition Field, plus support from Sunken Citadel and White Orchid Phantom, this deck punishes greedy nonbasic mana plans—looking at you, Eldrazi and Tron players.
It’s rare to see white take the land destruction route, but this version makes it work. With plenty of removal—Path to Exile, Solitude, and March of Otherworldly Light—plus control tools like Reprieve and Sevinne’s Reclamation, the deck can apply both pressure and disruption.
Interestingly, it omits Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, likely because the deck leans heavier on noncreature spells. Another missing staple is Emeria, the Sky Ruin, which could be a strong consideration if the mana allows.
That said, it’s still a bit rough around the edges—two Mazemind Tomes? Singleton Crucible of Worlds? Only two Mana Tithe? You could tune it further or merge the land destruction core with a more traditional, Thalia-centered Death & Taxes shell. Cards like Skyclave Apparition and Solitude help carry the load in either build.
Just be aware that this version shines brightest in metas filled with nonbasic-heavy decks. If your local meta is packed with Burn, Prowess, or Basics-focused decks, it could get outpaced.
🏁 Final Thoughts
This deck might look like a pet project, but a 5–0 finish in a Modern league is no joke. Whether it’s a metagame call, a lucky run, or the beginning of a new white-based prison archetype, it's definitely worth watching. If you’re a budget-minded Modern player or just love saying “no” with style—this version of Death & Taxes might be just what you’re looking for.