In the last episode, we took a look at the different types of resources in Commander, and how to convert one type of resource to another. In this episode, we’re going to look at what can go wrong when you’re trying to convert one resource to another. How can we throw a wrench into a finely-tuned machine, so to speak.

Not every deck is like pzlob’s Karametra deck – racing to amass huge amounts of mana, permanents on the battlefield, and cards in hand. Some decks look to deny their opponents access to resources. Reddit user /u/razzliox put it really clearly when he said:

“In two-player games, having a resource is generally identical to denying your opponent the same resource. Similarly, allowing your opponent [access to] a resource and receiving the same resource is generally a net-0 action.”

In this article we’re not going to be talking about two-player games, because I think plenty has already been written about the dynamics of 1v1 Magic with respect to resource parity and card advantage. Razzliox goes on to write:

“In four-player games, this is not so. Me drawing a card and you drawing a card does not maintain card parity or generate resources equally, since now there are two players that have drawn a card and two players that haven’t. To maintain parity, all players must draw a card. Similarly, if I use my Strip Mine on you, I’m now down a land and so are you, but the other two players are fine. In these examples, there must be a really good reason to Strip you, like you have a Gaea’s Cradle. The general principle is that giving me more resources at the cost of one of my opponents having just as many additional resources is a good thing.”

There are generally 3 ways that you can approach resource denial: Removing resources that people have already amassed (Stax)

Preventing people from amassing new resources (Lock)

Interfering with resource conversion (Tax) A good resource denial deck combines these elements in a way that allows them to deny access to resources at any point in the game, no matter who is ahead.

In today’s article, we’re going to be looking at a resource denial deck submitted by TappedOut user elpollo66. He told me he wants this deck to be absolutely ruthless when it comes to denying resources, because he is feeling threatened by fast combo decks in his meta:

Chainer, Dementia Master Resource Denial

And that’s it for this week! Let me know in the comments what you think of this list, or if you would have taken it in a different direction. What do you think of the Necrotic Ooze finisher? Would you have gone with Mike and Trike, or Helm / Leyline? Something else entirely? Next episode we’re going to talk stax and how it works, and how you can adapt if someone brings a deck like this to your table. Thanks and I’ll see you next time!