MTG Wiki
Advertisement

Taxing is a slang term used to describe spells that stop an opponent from doing something unless they pay a price (usually extra mana).[1] Taxing cards are most often creatures and enchantments, but occasionally are done as one-shot spells.

Description[ | ]

Taxing is a white mechanic. Most of blue's taxing has gone to white (it used to be primary in blue), but blue still gets taxing counterspells (such as Mana Leak).[2][3] Taxing cards are most often creatures and enchantments, but occasionally are done as one-shot spells or colored artifacts.[4][5]

A small number uses on-board counters as taxing, given that a player can't tax a spell already paid for. Another form makes the tax penalty in the form of drawn cards. A new effect is to tax a specific card in an opponent's hand, as Elite Spellbinder or Anointed Peacekeeper.

Examples are Kataki, War's Wage, Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, Archangel of Tithes, Frontline Medic, Esper Sentinel

Test card[ | ]

Tax was consolidated in rules tekst on the 2024 Mystery Booster 2 test card Tax Taker ([...] each time a spell you control or an ability of a permanent you control causes an opponent to pay extra mana.)

See also[ | ]

References[ | ]

Advertisement