Today we are going to be looking at a deck that continues to
win in every (non-rotating) format it is viable in. Having had many iterations
throughout the years, it has evolved and taken on different names in present
times. With its origins in aggro abandoned, at least in modern formats, it has
adjusted to attacking the opponent’s mana base to destroy them. It also has
some famous supporters as none other than Benjamin Frankline once wrote, “in
this world nothing can be said to be certain, except [WB] death and taxes”.
While most iterations of the deck are simply mono-white,
there are a couple variants that exist. I decided to take the WB route, as it
offers a decent amount of support to our main strategy – mana denial. While
black tends to attack the opponent’s land directly, it adds some nice synergy
and options that a mono-white deck does not.
Speaking of mana, I decided to go with plain (pun) old mana lands
as opposed to fetch lands. This might seem odd in a bi-colour deck, but I just
don’t think that the deck thinning strategy is worth the drop in mana-producing
lands. Also, without a really viable way to cheat creatures into play, Mercadian
Lift doesn’t count, it’s not how we win with WB D&T. Why? Because this deck
uses a high number of mana to both lock down their opponent’s while beating
them down with creatures/man lands.
Sol lands? This was a tough call and one you might want to
consider. Sol lands and Mox Diamond means you can in theory cast T1 Glowrider
or Spheres pretty consistently. The reason I didn’t choose this path is because
a Force of Will by your opponent can really ruin this, and I wanted the deck to
have some versatility. WB D&T can cast T1 Sphere with Diamond, but it can also
choose to Encroach or Verdict them as well. Because this is a game of choices,
I prefer that my T1 have options, which this deck certainly allows.
While Hymn is obviously better than Gerrard’s Verdict, the
deck does not play a high number of swamps, so the BB just isn’t smart to play.
The 4 Mox Diamond can help cast them, however I chose to use Verdict simply because
WB is a heck of a lot easier to play in this version D&T. You might decide
to go the Hymn route and it could very well be the superior choice.
Other choices. One think I had actually considered when
writing about today’s deck was whether or not to go WG instead. While it
doesn’t really add the land destruction support that B does, it can lend
options to the other aspects that are also important. Skyshroud Cutter can be a
0-cost creature, and Hunting Grounds is many options that allow you to ‘cheat’
creatures into play. Who knows, I might even write about a WG D&T deck at
some point. Happy Brewing!
WB Death and Taxes
Land
7 Plains
1 Swamp
4 Scrubland
1 Kjeldoran Outpost
4 Mishra’s Factory
4 Wasteland
4 Rishadan Port
Total: 25
Creatures
4 Mother of Runes
4 Glowrider
Total: 8
Spells
4 Mox Diamond
4 Swords to Plowshares
1 Vendetta
4 Sphere of Resistance
4 Encroach
1 Gerrard’s Verdict
1 Disenchant
4 Duress
4 Vindicate
Total: 27
Sideboard
4 Tormod’s Crypt
4 Defense Grid
1 Disenchant
2 Wrath of God
4 Orim’s Chant
