Sephara, Sky’s Blade is a legendary angel creature card from the Magic: The Gathering Core Set 2020. It has a casting cost of 4 white mana and has a flying ability, along with a powerful effect that can protect your creatures from harm.
When you cast Sephara, Sky’s Blade as your commander, you’ll need to be aware of the commander tax. This rule requires you to pay an additional 2 mana for each time you want to cast your commander from the command zone, beyond the first time.
Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the cost of casting Sephara, Sky’s Blade and avoid paying the commander tax. For example, you could use cards like Pearl Medallion or Urza’s Incubator to reduce the cost of casting your creatures. These cards will also reduce the cost of the commander tax, allowing you to cast Sephara multiple times without breaking the bank.
It’s worth noting that the commander tax only applies to casting your commander as a spell. If you have a card like Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow, whih has a commander ninjutsu ability, you won’t need to pay the commander tax to activate that ability. Additionally, activating Yuriko’s commander ninjutsu ability won’t increase the commander tax for later casts of the same commander.
While the commander tax can be an annoying obstacle to overcome, there are ways to reduce its impact on your deck. With the right combination of cost-reducing cards, you can cast your commander multiple times and keep the pressure on your opponent. Sephara, Sky’s Blade is a powerful commander option, and with the right strategy, you can make the most of its abilities and lead your army of angels to victory.
How Much Is The Commander Tax?
The commander tax is a mechanic in the Commander format of Magic: The Gathering that requires you to pay an additional 2 mana on top of the casting cost of your commander for every time beyond the first you cast it from the command zone. This means that the first time you cast your commander, you pay its regular casting cost, but every subsequent time you cast it, you must pay an additional 2 mana. For example, if your commander costs 3 mana to cast, the secnd time you cast it, you would need to pay 5 mana (3 + 2), and the third time you cast it, you would need to pay 7 mana (3 + 2 + 2). The commander tax continues to increase by 2 for each subsequent casting from the command zone.
Does Yuriko Avoid Commander Tax?
Yuriko’s commander ninjutsu ability allows you to put her onto the battlefield from your hand or command zone without having to pay her mana cost and without being affected by commander tax. This means that you can activate her ability multiple times without having to pay more for each activation. However, it’s important to note that Yuriko’s commander tax will still increase if you choose to cast her from your hand or command zone instead of using her ninjutsu ability.
Does Millicent Reduce Commander Tax?
Millicent, the Midnight Duelist, reduces the commander tax for casting any applicable spell. This means that if you have already cast your commander multiple times, and it has become more expensive to cast, Millicent’s ability will reduce that additional cost. Additionally, this cost reduction applies to any other mana costs associated with casting the spell, such as kicker costs or additional colored mana requirements. Millicent’s ability can be a valuable asset in reducing the overall cost of casting your commander and other spells.
Does Urza’s Incubator Affect Commander Tax?
Urza’s Incubator affects the commander tax. However, it is important to note that the effect of the Incubator depends on whether you are using the normal cost or any alternate costs for your commander. If you are using the normal cost, the Incubator will reduce the cost of your commander by two colorless mana for each creature type you choose. Then, the commander tax will be applied on the reduced cost. On the other hand, if you are using any alternate costs for your commander, such as its morph cost or its suspend cost, the Incubator will still reduce the cost by two colorless mana for each creature type you choose, but the commander tax will be applied on the full cost of the alternate cost, not the reduced cost. Therefore, wile the Incubator can help reduce the commander tax, it does not fully negate its effect.
Conclusion
Sephara, Sky’s Blade is a powerful commander in the Magic the Gathering game. With its flying ability, indestructible nature and the ability to reduce its cost through creature spells, Sephara can be a formidable force on the battlefield. However, it is important to note that the commander tax must be paid for each subsequent casting of Sephara, which can make it more difficult to cast as the game progresses. Nevertheless, with careful strategy and wise use of resources, Sephara can be a valuable asset in any deck.
