Grand Arbiter Augustin IV is a legendary creature from the Magic: The Gathering multiverse. Originally introduced in the Ravnica: City of Guilds expansion set, this Azorius (white-blue) creature has become a favorite among EDH (Elder Dragon Highlander) players. His ability to tax spells and abilities of your opponents makes him a formidable commander to play with. In this article, we will take a closer look at Grand Arbiter Augustin IV EDH, from his abilities, strengths and weaknesses, to the ideal decklist and strategies to win games.
Grand Arbiter Augustin IV: Abilities and Attributes
Grand Arbiter Augustin IV is a 2/3 legendary creature with flying and vigilance, which means he can block creatures with flying and attack and block at the same time. His real strength, however, lies in his ability to tax the spells and abilities of your opponents. Whenever an opponent casts a spell, that player must pay {2} more for each spell they cast after the first one each turn. Additionally, whenever an opponent activates an ability, that player must pay {2} more for each activation after the first one each turn. This means that your opponents will have to pay extra mana to cast spells and use abilities, which can slow them down and give you an advantage in the game.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Grand Arbiter Augustin IV EDH
Grand Arbiter Augustin IV is a great commander to play with if you want to control the game and slow down your opponents. His ability to tax spells and abilities can be very effective, especially in multiplayer games where there are multiple opponents to deal with. However, he is not without weaknesses. For one, he can be very expensive to cast, costing {W}{U}{U}, which means you will need to have a good mana base to play him early in the game. Additionally, since he is a creature, he is vulnerable to removal spells and board wipes. Lastly, his ability to tax spells and abilities can make you a target of your opponents, who may see you as a threat and try to eliminate you from the game.
Ideal Decklist for Grand Arbiter Augustin IV EDH
When building a Grand Arbiter Augustin IV EDH deck, there are several strategies you can use depending on your playstyle and the cards you have available. One popular strategy is to use his taxing ability to slow down your opponents and control the game. To do this, you can include cards that increase the cost of spells and abilities, such as Thalia, Guardian of Thraben and Sphere of Resistance. You can also include counterspells and removal spells to deal with threats on the board.
Another strategy is to use Grand Arbiter Augustin IV as a stax commander, which means you want to prevent your opponents from playing the game altogether. To do this, you can include cards that lock down the board, such as Winter Orb and Static Orb. You can also include cards that prevent your opponents from drawing cards, such as Narset, Parter of Veils, and cards that prevent them from searching their library, such as Aven Mindcensor.
Lastly, you can use Grand Arbiter Augustin IV as a combo commander, which means you want to win the game by assembling a powerful combo of cards. To do this, you can include cards that generate infinite mana, such as Basalt Monolith and Grim Monolith, and cards that allow you to draw your deck, such as Blue Sun’s Zenith. You can then use this mana and card draw to win the game with a powerful finisher, such as Walking Ballista or Stroke of Genius.
Strategies for Winning with Grand Arbiter Augustin IV EDH
When playing Grand Arbiter Augustin IV EDH, there are several strategies you can use to win games. One strategy is to play a control game, using his taxing ability to slow down your opponents and prevent them from playing their spells and abilities. You can then use your counterspells and removal spells to deal with any threats that do make it onto the board. Once you have control of the game, you can win with a powerful finisher, such as Aetherling or Sphinx’s Revelation.
Another strategy is to use Grand Arbiter Augustin IV as a stax commander, preventing your opponents from playing the game altogether. To do this, you can lock down the board with Winter Orb and Static Orb, preventing your opponents from tapping their lands and playing spells. You can then win the game with a powerful combo, such as Isochron Scepter and Dramatic Reversal, or by attacking with your creatures, such as Brago, King Eternal.
Lastly, you can use Grand Arbiter Augustin IV as a combo commander, assembling a powerful combo of cards to win the game. To do this, you can generate infinite mana with Basalt Monolith and Grim Monolith, and then use Blue Sun’s Zenith to draw your deck and win the game with a finisher, such as Walking Ballista or Stroke of Genius. You can also include cards that protect your combo, such as Pact of Negation and Force of Will.
Conclusion
Grand Arbiter Augustin IV is a powerful commander to play with in EDH. His ability to tax spells and abilities can be very effective, especially in multiplayer games. While he has some weaknesses, such as his high mana cost and vulnerability to removal spells, he can be a formidable opponent if played correctly. By building a strategic decklist and using the right strategies to win games, you can become a master of the Azorius guild and dominate the battlefield with Grand Arbiter Augustin IV.