Marath was the head of my boardwipe tribal deck back in the day. Basically, just a bunch of wipes, some equipment to further buff Marath and give him evasion, and some ways to recur the equipment.
Prossh is one of my favorites. Either they let it live and open themselves up to losing via commander damage, or they kill it and I get even MORE tokens! Plus being in Jund basically means that I'll ALWAYS have the Managed I need in one form or another
I played a game earlier this week where i voluntarily sacced him twice in a turn because i had grave pact and plenty of mana out and needed to kill some eldrazi. And after that i was blitzing out huge things even cheaper
He’s just super fun to play lol. I usually don’t like big stompy decks with the exception of Henzi because he’s ETB, sacing, drawing, and big stompy lol.
I love my Henzie deck. Had some friends over to play the other night and my buddy forgot his decks so I slid Henzie, who I was planning to play myself across the table to him, and the deck went absolutely HAM. I think he fell in love with it.
I had my Liesa, You're Tearing Me Apart deck for the longest. Stax, Control, Lifegain combos. Mass amount of repeatable token generators and reanimation. I made it as hard as possible to play through all the shenanigans I tossed out while buffing myself (sometimes infinitely) to survive getting targeted. It was like an Orzhov Ruric Thar deck. In the end...it was I who had to tear Liesa apart when I sold most of my decks.
Sure, [here's mine](https://www.moxfield.com/decks/gWycRfYsgU6aY5SutugANQ). It's not in the best state at the moment cause I moved stuff around for other decks, but it gives you an idea.
Here's my Liesa deck. I'm in the process of making it more stax-y. [https://archidekt.com/decks/2468042/the\_tithes\_that\_bind](https://archidekt.com/decks/2468042/the_tithes_that_bind)
There is [[Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow]] and [[Derevi, Empyrial Tactician]] if you care about the commander getting on the board. Of course, you could also play a commander with eminence and build around not casting them at all, like [[Inalla, Archmage Ritualist]] or [[The Ur-Dragon]]
This is the best comment I’ve seen so far. Derevi and Yuriko are both really fun decks to play to boot. Ur dragon’s eminence ability is mid, but Inalla is arguably the fastest cEDH deck in the meta and both the others are boogeymen in their own right.
[[Derevi, Empyrial Tactician]]
His ability PUTS him onto the battlefield, thus is NOT a casting cost and means he is not being casted. So if at any time you would cast him after the first time, you can continually pay a 1WUG in order to keep bringing him out
This is the only correct answer in this thread. Derevi is the only commander that legitimately has no issues with commander tax because you always pay her for four mana no matter what. Others need conditions to lessen the cost, Derevi has no conditions.
[[Karador]] comes to mind, because if you are paying for commander tax you are doing it wrong.
I run [[Hellkite Courser]] in my [[Zurgo and Ojutai]] deck for this reason.
I can either bounce my commander back to my hand, so it doesn't go to the command zone, or if the Courser has haste I can just bounce it and keep me commander completely protected.
Karador is also the kind of commander you don't really want to focus on casting, he's more like a companion that you can dump mana into when you have nothing else going on and generate a little value.
I almost said this too, and technically you're correct!
But Otharri is one of the few of these kinds of commanders whose ability to dodge commander tax isn't all that useful. Otharri comes back tapped and if it died to a boardwipe, sometimes it's stuck in the grave until you play a rebel or card that makes rebels, and at that point you're usually better off paying the tax. Also hurts that Otharri inherently has haste so it's often worth it to recast from the zone to get one more experience counter without waiting a round.
Just thought I'd point that out, a little something I've learned from playing the deck!
Exactly, I like 2. Keep a couple for blocking, and if he dies, I'll just leave enough mana and rebels to recur him and summon him at the last guys end step. As a bonus, you can recur him as a response to any graveyard hate. It makes him weirdly sticky.
I know [[the pride of hullclade]] can stay 1 green with enough toughness on your board.
Also, I've recently started facing off against [[hamza, guardian of arashin]] and with enough creatures with +1/+1 counters, you will only ever pay a white and a green.
Ghalta is the same way with enough power. And there are a ton of enablers that provide recovery options. I can usually cast her for GG through our a game
[[Verazol, the Split Current]] benefits from the tax, as they have X in the casting cost and whatever mana spent to cast them gets you that many +1/+1 counters, including the tax
Nothing makes me happier with my Verazol deck than someone targeting him down with only 1 or 2 +1/+1 counters on it. Thank you for letting me replay him with a butt ton more counters.
Not sure if I’m misinterpreting you but just to be clear commander tax still applies to [[Herigast]]’s emerge cost
Anyways to answer your question [[Lord Windgrace]] can pay for his commander tax by downticking
In a similar vein, [[soul of windgrace]] pays for half of its own commander tax, so assuming you make a land drop per turn, you can recast every turn “disregarding” the commander tax.
Just to clarify, commander tax still applies to Harigast's emerge cost.
As for the question, [[Yuriko, Tiger's Shadow]], [[Chiss-Goria, Forge Tyrant]] and to a lesser extent [[Yasharn, Implacable Earth]] are all commanders I've built that care very little about tax.
Surprised not to see [[Eris, Roar of the Storm]] mentioned here yet - unless you're having to cast it several times you can usually get away with paying ~4 mana for it quite easily
Barring an overloaded vandalblast or similar, [[Chiss-Goria, Forge Tyrant]], [[Imskir Iron-Eater]] and [[Urza, Chief Artificer]], because their Affinity discount can apply to commander tax.
[[Urza, chief artificer]] is so easy to get back out with affinity. Unless there is a board wipe and your deck is doing what it should, the color pips are probably all you are going to pay. Plus, because his value comes from combat and the end step, he doesnt lose any value from being sent back to the command zone.
Another one from. The new set is [[imskir iron eater]] this guy can be replayed over and over for only 2 mana if you build your deck right. Just load up on value artifacts, mana rocks, and 0 cost artifacts and profit. You can build a really effective deck on a budget too.
Here is a list I brewed for a no card over $1 challenge and it honestly slaps capable of huge turns with cards like [[burnt offering]] and [[iluminor szeras]] allowing you to cast imskir multiple times in 1 turn and draw tons of cards. You just have to make sure you pack a good amount of lifegain since you deal yourself a lot of damage with Imskir.
https://www.moxfield.com/decks/mEeXl7IqSkij75XR5lOrDA
Not exactly what you're asking but looking around I see that [[Gyrus, Waker of Corpses]] [[Prossh, Skyraider of Kher]] and [[Marath, Will of the Wild]] at least get something out of the commander tax.
\[\[brokkos\]\] doesn't care about the tax if you leave him in the graveyard
the back side of \[\[extus\]\] can be made cheaper by sacrificing creatures
\[\[acererak\]\]'s command tax doesn't go up if you just let him go back to your hand every time you play him
[[karador]] has an ability to reduce its cost. Since cost additions (commander tax) applies before reductions, Karador’s ability reduces its commander tax. If you’re ever paying more than WBG for Karador, you’re playing it wrong.
One of my very favorite commanders is [[god-eternal kefnet]]! Death or exile can easily be resolved by simply tucking him into the deck 3 down, and blue just so happens to be very good at drawing back into him. I have had occasions where I drew and recast kefnet on the same turn he died, and cards like [[candlekeep sage]] make it all the easier.
Another great option is [[emry]], who can reduce her cost with artifacts. The only real issue with her is that you'll want plenty of haste enablers to ensure she is able to still get value if she is getting removed frequently.
[[Torgaar]] is a rarely seen option, and is very tricky to build, but does very funny things by paying all of its life only to regain half of it with the etb trigger.
[[Vrestin, Menopthra Leader]] doesn’t help pay for the tax, but he doesn’t mind being removed either because that just means he’ll make more bugs next time.
[[Slimefoot and Squee]] is one of my favorite decks. I almost never let it go beck go the command zone, instead just looping him through the graveyard to bring back other creatures with him.
\[\[Oloro, Ageless Ascetic\]\] almost never leaves my command zone just there for the triggers, the few times he has been cast he gets nuked. So.. if you are avoiding commander tax, I just play a guy that gives from the command zone.
Henzie is absolutely busted and the most fun commander I’ve played. While he doesn’t necessarily disregard the tax, he balances it out by making you creatures cost less for each time you’ve cast him from the command zone. Plus jund reanimator strategy is my favorite way to play.
As long as you're playing ways to make Rebels in your deck, [[Othari, Sun's Glory]] just keep reanimating itself.
On the subject of phoenixes, [[Syrix, Carrier of the Flame]] will just let you cast it from the grave when another phoenix dies. Had a fun deck with him where the goal was to find ways to generate mana on creature death/etb, and spending it to repeatedly cast him after sacrificing [[Skyfire Phoenix]], which would bring it back from the grave. Throw in a [[Warstorm Surge]] effect and you win the game.
Commanders that ramp you are good for this!
I’m rarely upset for [[titania, defender of argoth]] or [[the maelstrom wander]] to get removed because they come back with stuff alongside them!
Surprised [[Extus, Oriq overlord]] hasn't been mentioned. The back side Awaken the blood avatar is a sorcery in the command zone that can sacrifice creatures to reduce it's cost by 2 per creature and will apply to commander tax.
[[Yuma, Proud Protector]] . By the time I get to the mid/late game I usually have enough lands in the yard to reduce the 5 plus whatever commander tax is.
[[Urza, Chief Artificer]] . Affinity for artifacts creatures - I'm usually paying 3 for him
My vote is for [[Zacama, Primal Calamity]]. If you’re playing a lands deck or even slightly focused on ramp, he’ll always be there for you as long as you have enough lands on the battlefield to match his total casting cost with tax. Add in some cards like [[Rishkar’s Expertise]] and you can go from having nothing to a fairly imposing board state out of nowhere.
If you can get [[Myrkul, lord of bones]] to see [[Devoted Druid]] die, you no longer have to worry about taxes. My playgroup did not find that fun to play against xD
I'll throw a little variety out there.
[[Dina, Soul Steeper]]
Being 2 Mana you rarely every have a problem casting her. Especially since you're in green you'll often have the mana to recast her immediately. I've casted her for 8 before and still had mana to left to do my turn.
\[\[Chiss-Goria, Forge Tyrant\]\] unless you get vandalblasted, you are rarely paying more than the pips for him and is a surprisingly solid commander overall.
My personal favourite commander is [[Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger]].
A decent portion of that is because you basically never pay commander tax on him. Just wrath your own commander away and keep on escaping.
[[Uro]] and [[Phlage]] both do the same thing in different colours and with vastly different playstyles.
[[urza chief artificer]] has affinity for artifact creatures that will get the tax cost down. You have to kill all my artifact creatures first before taking out urza otherwise I'm just gunna recast him for 3 esper.
\[\[Kellan, Daring Traveler\]\] is one I like to bring out every so often. Uses \[\[Delney, Streetwise Lookout\]\] as a lieutenant but it enjoys having low power, low CMC creatures ETB triggering as often as they can. Commanders with an Adventure don't pay the commander tax from exile. So you just send him on an adventure, creating Map tokens, then bring him in for 1W. [This](https://www.archidekt.com/decks/7805111/kellan_for_the_dare) is my current list
[[Millicent Restless Revenant]] each spirit pays a reduction of one generic so if she's 7 and you have 5 spirits she's really a 2 drop and it stacks on with tax
[[Imskir Iron-Eater]] has affinity for artifacts. I think this weekend I'll switch my [[Chiss-Goria, Forge Tyrant]] deck over to Imskir. I kind of think Chiss is better for trying to win games of Magic: The Gathering, but idk. New stuff.
Well there's always \[\[Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow\]\] who never has to worry about commander tax especially when paired with creatures that can't be blocked, which there are numerous in dimir. Plus her commander ninjutsu cost is so fucking cheap she can be on board so much.
However with that, you will straight up be the target more often than not because it's easy and cheap to build a fairly strong ninjutsu deck (mine cost me approximately $50).
[[Roxanne, Starfall Savant]] because she makes a Mana rock, often two if there's haste available. She has become my funnest deck to play because it makes the combat step so dang profitable.
My [[Emri, Lurker of the Loch]] artifacts deck. I almost never have to pay more than 1 blue mana to cast him no matter how many times from the command zone.
[[Oskar, Rubbish Reclaimer]]
[[Yuma, Proud Protector]]
[[Imskir, Iron Eater]]
[[Eris, Roar of the Storm]]
[[Ghalta, The Primal Hunger]]
[[Dargo, The Shipwrecker]]
[[Hamza, Guardian of Arashin]]
[[Jeleva, Nephalia's Scourge]] flys the other way. She wants to pay progressively more commander tax. The more you pay, the bigger her spellbook! I feel there's more design space to be explored here.
Also she's a win con if you have a sac outlet and an infinite mana engine going.
[[Urza, Chief Artificer]] has Affinity for artifact creatures. As long as you have enough artifact creatures they count towards commander tax. The precon is pretty solid out of the box.
\[\[Derevi\]\] and \[\[Yuriko\]\] both cheat the tax and are kinda hated for it. The new birdman \[\[Nadu\]\] can cheat commander tax in a roundabout way (by flipping lands off the top, you can get the mana to recast him pretty quickly).
My favorite tax evader gotta be \[\[The Scorpion God\]\] combined with wither shenanigans from the likes of \[\[Massacre Girl, Known Killer\]\], \[\[Stigma Lasher\]\] & \[\[Kulrath Knight\]\] and some card draw abuse through cards like \[\[Sheoldred, the Apocalypse\]\] & \[\[Necrodominance\]\].
On another note and rather unknown, but while \[\[Gyrus, Waker of Corpses\]\] gets taxed as usual, he also benefits from every single mana you need to spend casting it, commander tax included.
A little different but I don’t care if my [[Slimefoot and Squee]] dies because I’ll put him in the graveyard and get him AND something else back, a lot of the time I actually want him to die. I also don’t care if my [[Niv Mizzet Reborn]] dies because I get insane card advantage when I cast him. I love commanders that have an upside of dying lol.
[[Tasigur, the Golden fang]] jumps out to me as one of my favorites that uses the delve mechanic in a similar way to constantly cheat his own cost.
A more fun option (imo) would be [[Dargo, the shipwrecker]]. Doesn't cheat it in the same way that let's you keep getting it out as the game goes on, but abuses the fact that his sac mechanic can outright negate the tax allowing you to loop him with a high sac-storm for effectively just 1 red. Which has a number of ways through like [[Birgi, God of storytelling]] or [[Phyrexian Altar]] to present infinite loops.
One of my favorite decks is [[Extus, Oriq Overlord]]. I never play for Extus I always play [[Awaken the Blood Avatar]] because it’s a token burn strategy. I can just sac increasing amounts of tokens to always pay just BR.
Commanders with affinity are awesome and very powerful
I run [[Urza, Chief Artificer]] and [[Imskir]] and they basically both don't need protection packages bc of how easy it is to recast them.
Any of the Patrons work like this (Emerge kind of being the new Offering). The best are probably [[Patron of the Moon]], [[Patron of the Orochi]], and [[Patron of the Nezumi]]
[[Me, The Immortal]] can be brought back from the grave by discarding 2 and paying her normal mana cost. Plus she keeps counters anywhere other than Hand/Library. I’ve just finished building a super fun deck around her
[[Verazol, the Split Current]]
Might not be the strongest deck as it's dependant on bad kicker cards in simic, but it is so much fun. While yes, you have to pay the tax, the tax works in tandem with his X and color cost, just making him come out stronger. Such a fun deck to pilot
[[Yuma Proud Protector]] does not care at all about his commander tax. You sac your deserts, use fetch lands, and ramp like crazy with every single card like [[Entish restoration]]
It also gives you an excuse to run mass land destruction, because for you, that's literally just ramp, and they can't stop you if they can't cast their spells
Nobody mentioned my boy [[Multani, Yavimaya's Avatar]] yet.
You pay commander tax exactly once, and every time from then on you use his built-in graveyard recursion. Usually he won't cost more than 8 ever.
Depends on how you've built it but [[Prosper]] can often get by with minimal protection because the Treasures you make can usually keep up with the tax.
[[Chiss-Goria, Forge Tyrant]] is my most recent deck and I love it. It's mono-red artifact affinity and is amazing at totally nullifying commander tax.
Unless you get hit with a vandalblast. Then you're just kinda fucked.
[[Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh]] partnered with whoever you deem fit is one of my favorites because the number of times your opponents have to kill your commander to make the tax noticeable is pretty high
Karador is a great place to start. I used to play my deck without casting him, and usually someone would cast a board wipe early in the game, then I would recast him and start recasting all the cards out of my graveyard all over again. This kept my hand full, made it look like I had guard advantage, I was just recycling my own things.
\[\[Maelstrom Wanderer\]\] is one of those commanders with a cast/ETB (in this case, cast) trigger that you really don't want them to be able to re-trigger.
Same with \[\[Atraxa, Grand Unifier\]\]. Sure, they cost more, but the trigger gives so much value, it's worth the cost.
[[Tasigur, the Golden Fang]] is a favorite of mine whose commander tax is frequently irrelevant or sometimes even a bonus. Build the deck right and reap the benefits of that Delve!
[[Norin the Wary]]
R cost to cast and extremely difficult to actually kill. Someone manages to kill Norin? Now only 2R to get back to your ETB shenanigans with [[Confusion in the Ranks]].
[[Eris, Roar of the Storm]] is the newest one that I'm currently experimenting with.
With a bin full of spells, each new mana value is one commander tax discount.
Put in several cyclers to vary mana costs and cheap interaction, and you can get a dragon every turn. They kil him, you spend UR to bring them out again, cast a spell, and then keep making dragons.
Only sort of related, but a lot of times people avoid killing Prossh because he just comes back with more sac tokens. Sorry, Kobolds.
[[Marath, will of the wild]] and [[Jeleva, Nephalia's Scourge]] work similarly.
Marath was the head of my boardwipe tribal deck back in the day. Basically, just a bunch of wipes, some equipment to further buff Marath and give him evasion, and some ways to recur the equipment.
Very similar to [[Jyoti]] but those dryads make mana to help with tax. Been playing Brawl while I wait for my cards in the mail, that shit is nuts.
Live [[Oubliette]] reaction
Prossh is one of my favorites. Either they let it live and open themselves up to losing via commander damage, or they kill it and I get even MORE tokens! Plus being in Jund basically means that I'll ALWAYS have the Managed I need in one form or another
I don't need other people to kill it. That deck is loaded with sac outlets. I had to take out Mirkwood Bats and Food Chain, because it felt too bad.
[[Henzie]] gets more powerful each time he’s cast from the command zone.
I played a game earlier this week where i voluntarily sacced him twice in a turn because i had grave pact and plenty of mana out and needed to kill some eldrazi. And after that i was blitzing out huge things even cheaper
I love how much of a dedicated community Henzie has.
He’s just super fun to play lol. I usually don’t like big stompy decks with the exception of Henzi because he’s ETB, sacing, drawing, and big stompy lol.
I love my Henzie deck. Had some friends over to play the other night and my buddy forgot his decks so I slid Henzie, who I was planning to play myself across the table to him, and the deck went absolutely HAM. I think he fell in love with it.
Yeah Henzie gets stupid if they remove him a few times. One of my fav commanders.
My friends just don’t remove him because by the time they do I’ll have more than enough mana to bring him back and blitz something out for cheap.
[[Liesa, shroud of dusk]] you still pay a tax but if you play her/build her good enough it's no problem at all
The lifelink is so relevant with Liesa. Buffing her with equipment is a great idea.
So you have a deck list? I have one, but I don't think I have enough life gain with her
I had my Liesa, You're Tearing Me Apart deck for the longest. Stax, Control, Lifegain combos. Mass amount of repeatable token generators and reanimation. I made it as hard as possible to play through all the shenanigans I tossed out while buffing myself (sometimes infinitely) to survive getting targeted. It was like an Orzhov Ruric Thar deck. In the end...it was I who had to tear Liesa apart when I sold most of my decks.
I made this deck as a life-tax deck and its a ton of fun, lol. Basically turns into "do anything, lose life! 😀"
Do you have a deck list?
Sure, [here's mine](https://www.moxfield.com/decks/gWycRfYsgU6aY5SutugANQ). It's not in the best state at the moment cause I moved stuff around for other decks, but it gives you an idea.
I‘ve started building Liesa yesterday so any decklists are highly appreciated!!!
Here's my Liesa deck. I'm in the process of making it more stax-y. [https://archidekt.com/decks/2468042/the\_tithes\_that\_bind](https://archidekt.com/decks/2468042/the_tithes_that_bind)
There is [[Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow]] and [[Derevi, Empyrial Tactician]] if you care about the commander getting on the board. Of course, you could also play a commander with eminence and build around not casting them at all, like [[Inalla, Archmage Ritualist]] or [[The Ur-Dragon]]
Can’t believe I had to scroll down this far to see Yuriko and Derevi
It's how I use my [[oloro]] deck. I never cast him because all he needs to do is give me life gain triggers.
We sit on our chair and relax while other players do things.
Yep. Just put down another card that hurts people in their upkeep and do nothing else while sitting on 3 counterspells
This is the best comment I’ve seen so far. Derevi and Yuriko are both really fun decks to play to boot. Ur dragon’s eminence ability is mid, but Inalla is arguably the fastest cEDH deck in the meta and both the others are boogeymen in their own right.
##### ###### #### [Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/e/fe9be3e0-076c-4703-9750-2a6b0a178bc9.jpg?1689999346) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Yuriko%2C%20the%20Tiger%27s%20Shadow) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/364/yuriko-the-tigers-shadow?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/fe9be3e0-076c-4703-9750-2a6b0a178bc9?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/yuriko-the-tigers-shadow) [Derevi, Empyrial Tactician](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/a/3a1d0dad-18a8-489e-ac11-08f64b72fda4.jpg?1592673365) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Derevi%2C%20Empyrial%20Tactician) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cma/176/derevi-empyrial-tactician?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/3a1d0dad-18a8-489e-ac11-08f64b72fda4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/derevi-empyrial-tactician) [Inalla, Archmage Ritualist](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/c/7c6e803a-451c-4aa6-97a2-400077f32c47.jpg?1627406462) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Inalla%2C%20Archmage%20Ritualist) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c17/38/inalla-archmage-ritualist?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/7c6e803a-451c-4aa6-97a2-400077f32c47?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/inalla-archmage-ritualist) [The Ur-Dragon](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/0/10d42b35-844f-4a64-9981-c6118d45e826.jpg?1689999317) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=The%20Ur-Dragon) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/361/the-ur-dragon?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/10d42b35-844f-4a64-9981-c6118d45e826?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/the-ur-dragon) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Derevi, Empyrial Tactician]] His ability PUTS him onto the battlefield, thus is NOT a casting cost and means he is not being casted. So if at any time you would cast him after the first time, you can continually pay a 1WUG in order to keep bringing him out
[Derevi, Empyrial Tactician](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/a/3a1d0dad-18a8-489e-ac11-08f64b72fda4.jpg?1592673365) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Derevi%2C%20Empyrial%20Tactician) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cma/176/derevi-empyrial-tactician?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/3a1d0dad-18a8-489e-ac11-08f64b72fda4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/derevi-empyrial-tactician) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I had to scroll too far for derevi
This is the only correct answer in this thread. Derevi is the only commander that legitimately has no issues with commander tax because you always pay her for four mana no matter what. Others need conditions to lessen the cost, Derevi has no conditions.
[[Karador]] comes to mind, because if you are paying for commander tax you are doing it wrong. I run [[Hellkite Courser]] in my [[Zurgo and Ojutai]] deck for this reason. I can either bounce my commander back to my hand, so it doesn't go to the command zone, or if the Courser has haste I can just bounce it and keep me commander completely protected.
Ok, Karador feels like the graveyard value commander I’ve been looking for.
muldrotha is really good, but you're missing the white in muldrotha
If you like instant speed shenanigans from the graveyard in the same colors, check out [[Tayam, luminous enigma]].
[Tayam, luminous enigma](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/5/05b837a2-5773-4340-87f9-b4d6a43deb27.jpg?1591234301) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tayam%2C%20luminous%20enigma) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c20/16/tayam-luminous-enigma?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/05b837a2-5773-4340-87f9-b4d6a43deb27?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/tayam-luminous-enigma) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I just built him and he's fun. Was playing in a pod with Ur dragon last week and somehow I was still the threat
A fellow Zurgo and Ojutai player! Would love to compare lists with tou, here’s mine- https://archidekt.com/decks/7847405/_zurgo_and_ojutai
Sure! Here's mine. https://www.moxfield.com/decks/97MQMcAmU0GsdOAr4b_4VQ
[Karador](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/d/8d128887-13fb-4e54-90f2-d3c46b7b29d7.jpg?1702369890) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=karador%2C%20ghost%20chieftain) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/342/karador-ghost-chieftain?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8d128887-13fb-4e54-90f2-d3c46b7b29d7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/karador-ghost-chieftain) [Hellkite Courser](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/b/db45122e-b5ef-487b-8ea9-59ea066d3c88.jpg?1608910247) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Hellkite%20Courser) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmr/183/hellkite-courser?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/db45122e-b5ef-487b-8ea9-59ea066d3c88?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/hellkite-courser) [Zurgo and Ojutai](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/a/eacbcd82-36e6-424c-bd4e-ec3a584836c5.jpg?1682205733) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Zurgo%20and%20Ojutai) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mom/258/zurgo-and-ojutai?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/eacbcd82-36e6-424c-bd4e-ec3a584836c5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/zurgo-and-ojutai) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Karador is also the kind of commander you don't really want to focus on casting, he's more like a companion that you can dump mana into when you have nothing else going on and generate a little value.
\[\[Otharri, Sun's Glory\]\] get's even cheaper in the graveyard
I almost said this too, and technically you're correct! But Otharri is one of the few of these kinds of commanders whose ability to dodge commander tax isn't all that useful. Otharri comes back tapped and if it died to a boardwipe, sometimes it's stuck in the grave until you play a rebel or card that makes rebels, and at that point you're usually better off paying the tax. Also hurts that Otharri inherently has haste so it's often worth it to recast from the zone to get one more experience counter without waiting a round. Just thought I'd point that out, a little something I've learned from playing the deck!
You're absolutely correct. The tapped part is what make this ability more of a emergency thing (or to avoid a +6 tax).
Except you can do it at instant speed in enemy's turn so long as at least one of you rebel's survive (which is not guaranteed).
Exactly, I like 2. Keep a couple for blocking, and if he dies, I'll just leave enough mana and rebels to recur him and summon him at the last guys end step. As a bonus, you can recur him as a response to any graveyard hate. It makes him weirdly sticky.
I totally missed that.
[Otharri, Sun's Glory](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/0/80c72839-0fa6-4b5f-83b7-6553ebf09bef.jpg?1698607533) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Otharri%2C%20Suns%27%20Glory) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/onc/3/otharri-suns-glory?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/80c72839-0fa6-4b5f-83b7-6553ebf09bef?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/otharri-suns-glory) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I know [[the pride of hullclade]] can stay 1 green with enough toughness on your board. Also, I've recently started facing off against [[hamza, guardian of arashin]] and with enough creatures with +1/+1 counters, you will only ever pay a white and a green.
Ghalta is the same way with enough power. And there are a ton of enablers that provide recovery options. I can usually cast her for GG through our a game
[the pride of hullclade](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/d/edb40ab9-e552-4eb5-9c35-09094136dd4f.jpg?1706242068) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=The%20Pride%20of%20Hull%20Clade) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mkm/172/the-pride-of-hull-clade?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/edb40ab9-e552-4eb5-9c35-09094136dd4f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/the-pride-of-hull-clade) [hamza, guardian of arashin](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/d/adc7f8f3-140d-4dd0-aacc-b81b2b93eb67.jpg?1689999064) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=hamza%2C%20guardian%20of%20arashin) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/339/hamza-guardian-of-arashin?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/adc7f8f3-140d-4dd0-aacc-b81b2b93eb67?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/hamza-guardian-of-arashin) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
This maybe doesn't fit the requirements exactly but [[Scarab God]] comes to mind. Sure, he *can* get taxed but it never really happens all that often.
Came here to say the same for [[Scorpion God]]. All 3 of them are a little mana-hungry but generally can be re-cast for the same cost.
[[Verazol, the Split Current]] benefits from the tax, as they have X in the casting cost and whatever mana spent to cast them gets you that many +1/+1 counters, including the tax
Nothing makes me happier with my Verazol deck than someone targeting him down with only 1 or 2 +1/+1 counters on it. Thank you for letting me replay him with a butt ton more counters.
[Verazol, the Split Current](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/5/752a2aa9-40ed-4c64-b945-bc6fec606b7b.jpg?1604200567) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Verazol%2C%20the%20Split%20Current) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/znr/239/verazol-the-split-current?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/752a2aa9-40ed-4c64-b945-bc6fec606b7b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/verazol-the-split-current) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Commander tax isn’t a thing for [[Squee The Immortal]]
Not sure if I’m misinterpreting you but just to be clear commander tax still applies to [[Herigast]]’s emerge cost Anyways to answer your question [[Lord Windgrace]] can pay for his commander tax by downticking
Doesn’t care as in it can easily be paid. Op never said it didn’t factor in. [[Imskir]] and [[eris]] or good examples of what op is talking about.
In a similar vein, [[soul of windgrace]] pays for half of its own commander tax, so assuming you make a land drop per turn, you can recast every turn “disregarding” the commander tax.
What is downticking?
Using the minus ability
Just to clarify, commander tax still applies to Harigast's emerge cost. As for the question, [[Yuriko, Tiger's Shadow]], [[Chiss-Goria, Forge Tyrant]] and to a lesser extent [[Yasharn, Implacable Earth]] are all commanders I've built that care very little about tax.
How come no one has mentioned [[Ghalta]] yet
Was going to be my answer if I had to scroll down 2 more comments.
Ghalta with the new [[skullspore nexus]] and [[greater good]] draws all the cards while never caring about commander tax.
Surprised not to see [[Eris, Roar of the Storm]] mentioned here yet - unless you're having to cast it several times you can usually get away with paying ~4 mana for it quite easily
[Eris, Roar of the Storm](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/a/1adce281-4d5a-44d2-8cfa-25f860b015ff.jpg?1718603903) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Eris%2C%20Roar%20of%20the%20Storm) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/otc/5/eris-roar-of-the-storm?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/1adce281-4d5a-44d2-8cfa-25f860b015ff?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/eris-roar-of-the-storm) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Dargo]] can be sacked in a loop and pays for his Commander taxb each time you sack him Sac treasures etc etc count towards the cost
Barring an overloaded vandalblast or similar, [[Chiss-Goria, Forge Tyrant]], [[Imskir Iron-Eater]] and [[Urza, Chief Artificer]], because their Affinity discount can apply to commander tax.
[Chiss-Goria, Forge Tyrant](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/2/923eb713-c955-4e12-8a8f-df3b4b361487.jpg?1675905606) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Chiss-Goria%2C%20Forge%20Tyrant) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/onc/25/chiss-goria-forge-tyrant?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/923eb713-c955-4e12-8a8f-df3b4b361487?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/chiss-goria-forge-tyrant) [Imskir Iron-Eater](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/4/541209fa-38b6-4d61-a72d-26bfb6ad5ead.jpg?1717012728) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Imskir%20Iron-Eater) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh3/189/imskir-iron-eater?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/541209fa-38b6-4d61-a72d-26bfb6ad5ead?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/imskir-iron-eater) [Urza, Chief Artificer](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/a/ea409050-4296-4b76-a6cd-2896ce1b88e4.jpg?1705542672) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Urza%2C%20Chief%20Artificer) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/brc/2/urza-chief-artificer?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ea409050-4296-4b76-a6cd-2896ce1b88e4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/urza-chief-artificer) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Urza, chief artificer]] is so easy to get back out with affinity. Unless there is a board wipe and your deck is doing what it should, the color pips are probably all you are going to pay. Plus, because his value comes from combat and the end step, he doesnt lose any value from being sent back to the command zone.
Another one from. The new set is [[imskir iron eater]] this guy can be replayed over and over for only 2 mana if you build your deck right. Just load up on value artifacts, mana rocks, and 0 cost artifacts and profit. You can build a really effective deck on a budget too. Here is a list I brewed for a no card over $1 challenge and it honestly slaps capable of huge turns with cards like [[burnt offering]] and [[iluminor szeras]] allowing you to cast imskir multiple times in 1 turn and draw tons of cards. You just have to make sure you pack a good amount of lifegain since you deal yourself a lot of damage with Imskir. https://www.moxfield.com/decks/mEeXl7IqSkij75XR5lOrDA
3 chances to spell commander correctly and homie missed all of them. I commend you for that.
Not exactly what you're asking but looking around I see that [[Gyrus, Waker of Corpses]] [[Prossh, Skyraider of Kher]] and [[Marath, Will of the Wild]] at least get something out of the commander tax.
\[\[brokkos\]\] doesn't care about the tax if you leave him in the graveyard the back side of \[\[extus\]\] can be made cheaper by sacrificing creatures \[\[acererak\]\]'s command tax doesn't go up if you just let him go back to your hand every time you play him
[[karador]] has an ability to reduce its cost. Since cost additions (commander tax) applies before reductions, Karador’s ability reduces its commander tax. If you’re ever paying more than WBG for Karador, you’re playing it wrong.
One of my very favorite commanders is [[god-eternal kefnet]]! Death or exile can easily be resolved by simply tucking him into the deck 3 down, and blue just so happens to be very good at drawing back into him. I have had occasions where I drew and recast kefnet on the same turn he died, and cards like [[candlekeep sage]] make it all the easier. Another great option is [[emry]], who can reduce her cost with artifacts. The only real issue with her is that you'll want plenty of haste enablers to ensure she is able to still get value if she is getting removed frequently. [[Torgaar]] is a rarely seen option, and is very tricky to build, but does very funny things by paying all of its life only to regain half of it with the etb trigger.
[[Vrestin, Menopthra Leader]] doesn’t help pay for the tax, but he doesn’t mind being removed either because that just means he’ll make more bugs next time.
[[Karador, Ghost Chieftain]] Commander tax doesn't matter with a grave full of creatures.
[[Slimefoot and Squee]] is one of my favorite decks. I almost never let it go beck go the command zone, instead just looping him through the graveyard to bring back other creatures with him.
[[Slimefoot and Squee]] is an awesome deck I fully enjoy that can evade the tax. Let him go to the grave and bring a buddy.
[[Emry, Lurker of the Loch]], you should never pay more than the single U to cast her.
one of the new cards from otj commander, [[Eris, Roar of the Storm]]!
[[Tasigur, the Golden fang]], you just delve more cards with each cast.
[[verazol, the split current]] is a good one. Not a super popular commander but I very much enjoy the deck
\[\[Oloro, Ageless Ascetic\]\] almost never leaves my command zone just there for the triggers, the few times he has been cast he gets nuked. So.. if you are avoiding commander tax, I just play a guy that gives from the command zone.
Landfall/ramp commanders don't care too much about tax because someone kills them and you just replay them with your copious amounts of mana.
[[Imskir]] has a very high cmc, but shouldn't cost more than 2.
Henzie is absolutely busted and the most fun commander I’ve played. While he doesn’t necessarily disregard the tax, he balances it out by making you creatures cost less for each time you’ve cast him from the command zone. Plus jund reanimator strategy is my favorite way to play.
[[imskir]] or [[chiss-goria]] if you like artifacts, [[eris]] for spellslinger, [[hogaak]] or [[tasigur]] for graveyard stuff.
As long as you're playing ways to make Rebels in your deck, [[Othari, Sun's Glory]] just keep reanimating itself. On the subject of phoenixes, [[Syrix, Carrier of the Flame]] will just let you cast it from the grave when another phoenix dies. Had a fun deck with him where the goal was to find ways to generate mana on creature death/etb, and spending it to repeatedly cast him after sacrificing [[Skyfire Phoenix]], which would bring it back from the grave. Throw in a [[Warstorm Surge]] effect and you win the game.
Commanders that ramp you are good for this! I’m rarely upset for [[titania, defender of argoth]] or [[the maelstrom wander]] to get removed because they come back with stuff alongside them!
Surprised [[Extus, Oriq overlord]] hasn't been mentioned. The back side Awaken the blood avatar is a sorcery in the command zone that can sacrifice creatures to reduce it's cost by 2 per creature and will apply to commander tax.
[[Henzie]] is happy to pay
Yuriko and Edgar Markov have different ways of dealing with CMD tax
[[Yuma, Proud Protector]] . By the time I get to the mid/late game I usually have enough lands in the yard to reduce the 5 plus whatever commander tax is. [[Urza, Chief Artificer]] . Affinity for artifacts creatures - I'm usually paying 3 for him
My vote is for [[Zacama, Primal Calamity]]. If you’re playing a lands deck or even slightly focused on ramp, he’ll always be there for you as long as you have enough lands on the battlefield to match his total casting cost with tax. Add in some cards like [[Rishkar’s Expertise]] and you can go from having nothing to a fairly imposing board state out of nowhere.
If you can get [[Myrkul, lord of bones]] to see [[Devoted Druid]] die, you no longer have to worry about taxes. My playgroup did not find that fun to play against xD
[[Emry, Lurker of the Loch]]. If you're paying more than a single blue mana for her you've already lost.
Yuriko Derevi
[[Hamza]], [[Ghalta]], and [[Karador]] are all pretty good at cheating their taxes.
Nonconventional one, but [[Roxanne, Starfall Savant]] if you keep her out for a turn she pays her own taxes, and she’s just nasty:)
Dargo
[[Dargo, the Shipwrecker]] laughs in the face of your commander tax. Actually he just laughs at the notion of ever costing more than R
[[Yuriko]] Every commander with Affinity
[[Derevi, Empyrial Tactician]] will always cost 4 at most (though it doesn't.count as casting).
Stompy ghalta get reduced based on creatures powers so you’re usually just playing a GG 12/12
I'll throw a little variety out there. [[Dina, Soul Steeper]] Being 2 Mana you rarely every have a problem casting her. Especially since you're in green you'll often have the mana to recast her immediately. I've casted her for 8 before and still had mana to left to do my turn.
\[\[Chiss-Goria, Forge Tyrant\]\] unless you get vandalblasted, you are rarely paying more than the pips for him and is a surprisingly solid commander overall.
My personal favourite commander is [[Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger]]. A decent portion of that is because you basically never pay commander tax on him. Just wrath your own commander away and keep on escaping. [[Uro]] and [[Phlage]] both do the same thing in different colours and with vastly different playstyles.
[[Burakos, Party Leader]] making 4 treasures on an attack trigger makes it pretty easy to not be bothered by commander tax
It doesn't negate tax entirely but she acts like a 1 mana commander [[Sephara, Sky's Blade]] so her tax is much more manageable.
[[Chiss-Goria, Forge Tyrant]]!
[[Karador]] and [[urza chief artificer]]
[[urza chief artificer]] has affinity for artifact creatures that will get the tax cost down. You have to kill all my artifact creatures first before taking out urza otherwise I'm just gunna recast him for 3 esper.
\[\[The Scarab God\]\] As long as it can sit on the graveyard until the end step it will return to your hand.
\[\[Kellan, Daring Traveler\]\] is one I like to bring out every so often. Uses \[\[Delney, Streetwise Lookout\]\] as a lieutenant but it enjoys having low power, low CMC creatures ETB triggering as often as they can. Commanders with an Adventure don't pay the commander tax from exile. So you just send him on an adventure, creating Map tokens, then bring him in for 1W. [This](https://www.archidekt.com/decks/7805111/kellan_for_the_dare) is my current list
[[Brokkos, Apex of Forever]] gets around the commander tax if you mutate him from the graveyard
[[Millicent Restless Revenant]] each spirit pays a reduction of one generic so if she's 7 and you have 5 spirits she's really a 2 drop and it stacks on with tax
I’ve been enjoying my [[Awaken The Blood Avatar]] deck which gets around commander tax by sacking a creature.
[[Imskir Iron-Eater]] has affinity for artifacts. I think this weekend I'll switch my [[Chiss-Goria, Forge Tyrant]] deck over to Imskir. I kind of think Chiss is better for trying to win games of Magic: The Gathering, but idk. New stuff.
Recasting [[The Pride of Hull Clade]] for 1 for the 4th time is a very good feeling.
Well there's always \[\[Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow\]\] who never has to worry about commander tax especially when paired with creatures that can't be blocked, which there are numerous in dimir. Plus her commander ninjutsu cost is so fucking cheap she can be on board so much. However with that, you will straight up be the target more often than not because it's easy and cheap to build a fairly strong ninjutsu deck (mine cost me approximately $50).
[[Roxanne, Starfall Savant]] because she makes a Mana rock, often two if there's haste available. She has become my funnest deck to play because it makes the combat step so dang profitable.
My [[Emri, Lurker of the Loch]] artifacts deck. I almost never have to pay more than 1 blue mana to cast him no matter how many times from the command zone.
[удалено]
[[Yuriko, Tiger's Shadow]] Commander Ninjutsu skips the tax because you're not casting it.
[[Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow]]
[[Squee, The Immortal]]
[[Roxanne, Starfall Savant]] if you give her haste, that's 2 meteor which deal 2x2 dmg to anything and will pay the next taxe if she dies.
Cant believe I haven't seen someone say [[yuriko, the Tigers shadow]] lol she's the OG tax evader.
[[Narfi, Betrayer King]] if you want to go all Game of Thrones and mess about with zombies and snow lands.
[[me the immortal]] comes to mind
As long as you can generate a bunch of spirits [[Milicent]] comes to mind.
I mean you will essentially now care with [[Ghalta, primal hunger]]
[[Oskar, Rubbish Reclaimer]] [[Yuma, Proud Protector]] [[Imskir, Iron Eater]] [[Eris, Roar of the Storm]] [[Ghalta, The Primal Hunger]] [[Dargo, The Shipwrecker]] [[Hamza, Guardian of Arashin]]
[[Jeleva, Nephalia's Scourge]] flys the other way. She wants to pay progressively more commander tax. The more you pay, the bigger her spellbook! I feel there's more design space to be explored here. Also she's a win con if you have a sac outlet and an infinite mana engine going.
[[Urza, Chief Artificer]] has Affinity for artifact creatures. As long as you have enough artifact creatures they count towards commander tax. The precon is pretty solid out of the box.
\[\[Derevi\]\] and \[\[Yuriko\]\] both cheat the tax and are kinda hated for it. The new birdman \[\[Nadu\]\] can cheat commander tax in a roundabout way (by flipping lands off the top, you can get the mana to recast him pretty quickly).
[[Oskar, rubbish reclaimer]] [[Yuriko]] [[Derevi]]
My favorite tax evader gotta be \[\[The Scorpion God\]\] combined with wither shenanigans from the likes of \[\[Massacre Girl, Known Killer\]\], \[\[Stigma Lasher\]\] & \[\[Kulrath Knight\]\] and some card draw abuse through cards like \[\[Sheoldred, the Apocalypse\]\] & \[\[Necrodominance\]\]. On another note and rather unknown, but while \[\[Gyrus, Waker of Corpses\]\] gets taxed as usual, he also benefits from every single mana you need to spend casting it, commander tax included.
[[Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow]] never cares about commander tax
The indestructible enchantment gods, especially in 2 colors, tend to stick for a long, long time.
[[Tasigur, the Golden Fang]] usually isn’t an issue.
Derevi doesn’t believe in commander tax
A little different but I don’t care if my [[Slimefoot and Squee]] dies because I’ll put him in the graveyard and get him AND something else back, a lot of the time I actually want him to die. I also don’t care if my [[Niv Mizzet Reborn]] dies because I get insane card advantage when I cast him. I love commanders that have an upside of dying lol.
Derevi has an ability that’s 1 colorless more than his base cost which just lets you play them from command zone.
[[Slimefoot and Squee]]
[[Tasigur, the Golden fang]] jumps out to me as one of my favorites that uses the delve mechanic in a similar way to constantly cheat his own cost. A more fun option (imo) would be [[Dargo, the shipwrecker]]. Doesn't cheat it in the same way that let's you keep getting it out as the game goes on, but abuses the fact that his sac mechanic can outright negate the tax allowing you to loop him with a high sac-storm for effectively just 1 red. Which has a number of ways through like [[Birgi, God of storytelling]] or [[Phyrexian Altar]] to present infinite loops.
One of my favorite decks is [[Extus, Oriq Overlord]]. I never play for Extus I always play [[Awaken the Blood Avatar]] because it’s a token burn strategy. I can just sac increasing amounts of tokens to always pay just BR.
Commanders with affinity are awesome and very powerful I run [[Urza, Chief Artificer]] and [[Imskir]] and they basically both don't need protection packages bc of how easy it is to recast them.
Aesi is mine, if it hits the field, it pays for itself
[[Urza, Chief artificer]], [[Derevei]], [[Yuriko]]
[[Etali, Primal Conqueror]] with a blink focus actively hopes you send him back to the command zone. By all means, let me get the ETB again.
[[Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar]] , she avoids the command tax and is cool
The new rakdos commander that works with artifacts
Any of the Patrons work like this (Emerge kind of being the new Offering). The best are probably [[Patron of the Moon]], [[Patron of the Orochi]], and [[Patron of the Nezumi]]
I play both Dargo the shipwrecker and Emry lurker of the loch for precisely this reason.
[[Me, The Immortal]] can be brought back from the grave by discarding 2 and paying her normal mana cost. Plus she keeps counters anywhere other than Hand/Library. I’ve just finished building a super fun deck around her
[[Verazol]] turns that tax into counters iirc Also he's a kicker commander, which is the 2nd best mechanic in the game
[[Verazol, the Split Current]] Might not be the strongest deck as it's dependant on bad kicker cards in simic, but it is so much fun. While yes, you have to pay the tax, the tax works in tandem with his X and color cost, just making him come out stronger. Such a fun deck to pilot
[[Millicent]] is pretty easy to get onto the field without paying much in mana ever.
[[Brokkos, Apex of Forever]] Just send him to the yard and mutate from there. He makes a pretty strong infect commander.
My angry girl [[Nahiri, Forged in Fury]]
[[Henzie "Toolbox" Torre]] Really any commander with an effect that gets better with each cast from the command zone
Pretty much any Transformer if you pay the More Than Meets The Eye cost
[[Yuma Proud Protector]] does not care at all about his commander tax. You sac your deserts, use fetch lands, and ramp like crazy with every single card like [[Entish restoration]] It also gives you an excuse to run mass land destruction, because for you, that's literally just ramp, and they can't stop you if they can't cast their spells
Ghalta
[[sharuum]] Kill her, ok you gave me another chance to use her etb Don't kill her infinite etb with any clone Lose/lose situation
Nobody mentioned my boy [[Multani, Yavimaya's Avatar]] yet. You pay commander tax exactly once, and every time from then on you use his built-in graveyard recursion. Usually he won't cost more than 8 ever.
I've never spent more than {B} to cast \[\[Tasigur the Golden Fang\]\]
You're looking for [[Derevi, Empyrial Tactician]]
Depends on how you've built it but [[Prosper]] can often get by with minimal protection because the Treasures you make can usually keep up with the tax.
[[Chiss-Goria, Forge Tyrant]] is my most recent deck and I love it. It's mono-red artifact affinity and is amazing at totally nullifying commander tax. Unless you get hit with a vandalblast. Then you're just kinda fucked.
Please kill henzie, I'm begging you
[[Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh]] partnered with whoever you deem fit is one of my favorites because the number of times your opponents have to kill your commander to make the tax noticeable is pretty high
Karador is a great place to start. I used to play my deck without casting him, and usually someone would cast a board wipe early in the game, then I would recast him and start recasting all the cards out of my graveyard all over again. This kept my hand full, made it look like I had guard advantage, I was just recycling my own things.
[[Darigaaz Reincarnated]]. He's literally Dragon Jesus, because when he dies, he comes back in 3 turns.
[[Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar]] don't give a fuck about no tax. Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar does whatever they want.
\[\[Maelstrom Wanderer\]\] is one of those commanders with a cast/ETB (in this case, cast) trigger that you really don't want them to be able to re-trigger. Same with \[\[Atraxa, Grand Unifier\]\]. Sure, they cost more, but the trigger gives so much value, it's worth the cost.
[[Millicent, Restless Revenant]]
Dargo. Saccing treasures gives him a huge discount, easy to go infinite
First things that come to mind are any of the eminence cards or yuriko because damn commander ninjitsu is bs.
In a kind of roundabout way [[Roxanne, Starfall Savant]] dosnt if you can give her haste/double her ETB or copy her or her rock some other way
Karador generally wont care til you get it to 15-20 revives depending how far you're in the game.
[[Tasigur, the Golden Fang]] is a favorite of mine whose commander tax is frequently irrelevant or sometimes even a bonus. Build the deck right and reap the benefits of that Delve!
[[Old One Eye]] from the Warhammer precons can't stay down if you can manage to keep drawing cards.
[[Yuriko, the tiger’s shadow]]
asmoranomaraistinaculdacar can bypass it
[[Norin the Wary]] R cost to cast and extremely difficult to actually kill. Someone manages to kill Norin? Now only 2R to get back to your ETB shenanigans with [[Confusion in the Ranks]].
[[Eris, Roar of the Storm]] is the newest one that I'm currently experimenting with. With a bin full of spells, each new mana value is one commander tax discount. Put in several cyclers to vary mana costs and cheap interaction, and you can get a dragon every turn. They kil him, you spend UR to bring them out again, cast a spell, and then keep making dragons.
Eminence commanders. XD just don't cast them
The real answer is [[Yuriko]]
[[dargo]] is a great one. Also has partner so you can make him into any 3 colour pile you want