Chancellor of the Annex MTG Card


This card can disrupt opponents, giving you indirect card advantage by influencing your opponent’s tempo. Chancellor’s taxing effect acts as resource acceleration, deterring opponents from using their mana optimally. Its constant deterrent effect functions similarly to an instant, providing strategic advantages in gameplay.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Phyrexian Angel
Abilities Flying
Power 5
Toughness 6

Text of card

You may reveal this card from your opening hand. If you do, when each opponent casts his or her first spell of the game, counter that spell unless that player pays . Flying Whenever an opponent casts a spell, counter it unless that player pays .


Cards like Chancellor of the Annex

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Chancellor of the Annex finds its niche among cards that pose an impediment to your opponent’s strategy. A key parallel exists with Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, both making spells cost more to cast. Where Chancellor requires an additional tax unless your opponent opts to pay 1 life, Thalia consistently increases the cost of noncreature spells, taxing opponents’ resources with each spell they cast.

Another comparison is drawn with Damping Sphere. While Damping Sphere creates a prohibitive environment for decks relying heavily on spells each turn by escalating costs in a linear fashion, Chancellor of the Annex uses its ability as both a deterrent and a shield from the very first spell. It’s akin to an early warning system compared to the cumulative toll of the Damping Sphere.

Though each of these cards serves a similar purpose, Chancellor of the Annex offers the flexibility of being both an impactful creature and a form of soft control. It’s this adaptability that allows it to play a unique role in the arsenal of taxing and control within Magic: The Gathering, potentially impacting games from the first turn it’s revealed.

Thalia, Guardian of Thraben - MTG Card versions
Damping Sphere - MTG Card versions
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben - MTG Card versions
Damping Sphere - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Chancellor of the Annex by color, type and mana cost

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Elder Land Wurm - MTG Card versions
Seraph - MTG Card versions
Archangel - MTG Card versions
Ancestor's Chosen - MTG Card versions
Serra Avatar - MTG Card versions
Drogskol Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Eternal Dragon - MTG Card versions
Soul of Eternity - MTG Card versions
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite - MTG Card versions
Resolute Archangel - MTG Card versions
Crowd Favorites - MTG Card versions
Kami of the Honored Dead - MTG Card versions
Luminous Angel - MTG Card versions
Angel of Retribution - MTG Card versions
Ghosts of the Innocent - MTG Card versions
Angel of Glory's Rise - MTG Card versions
Windbrisk Raptor - MTG Card versions
Pale Wayfarer - MTG Card versions
Yoked Plowbeast - MTG Card versions
Vengeful Archon - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Chancellor of the Annex. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Mono-White InitiativeMono-White Initiative VintageMono-White InitiativeVintage Challenge 32 2024-04-28
Oops! All SpellsOops! All Spells VintageOops! All SpellsVintage Challenge 32 2024-05-09
Naya TempoNaya Tempo VintageBlue TempoVintage Challenge 32 2024-05-02
Mono-Green TronMono-Green Tron ModernMono-Green TronModern Preliminary 2024-04-29
Selesnya TronSelesnya Tron ModernMono-Green TronModern Preliminary 2024-04-30 (1)

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Chancellor of the Annex provides a unique form of card advantage by strategically disrupting your opponent’s plans. Each time an opponent casts a spell, they must pay an additional one mana or have the spell countered. This taxing effect can potentially force your opponent to lose tempo, indirectly acting as card advantage by preserving the cards in your hand while dealing with threats or key plays.

Resource Acceleration: Although Chancellor of the Annex doesn’t directly accelerate your resources in the traditional sense of adding mana, it does provide a form of resource acceleration by preserving your mana. Instead of having to cast a spell to counter an opponent’s actions, Chancellor of the Annex’s ability may deter them from casting an important spell or force them to overextend their mana, keeping your reserves intact for crucial turns.

Instant Speed: While Chancellor of the Annex isn’t an instant itself, its powerful preemptive ability is always “on” once in play, acting as a deterrent at instant speed before opponents even cast their spells. Its presence on the battlefield is akin to having a countermeasure ready at all times, giving you an omnipresent advantage, as opponents must weigh the cost of the Chancellor’s taxing effect with every spell they consider casting.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although not needing a direct discard, Chancellor of the Annex necessitates that you have it in your opening hand to utilize its early game counter ability. This can impede your options, especially if you’re aiming for a diversified hand to address various situations.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Chancellor of the Annex is specifically heavy on white, requiring three white mana and one colorless. This can be restrictive for multicolored decks that might struggle with consistently producing enough white mana early enough to make a timely play.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of four mana to cast, Chancellor of the Annex’s taxing ability may not always be easy to deploy. Considering other cards in the same mana range can provide immediate impacts or more substantial board presence, the mana investment can be steep for what it offers in certain gameplay scenarios.


Reasons to Include Chancellor of the Annex in Your Collection

Versatility: Chancellor of the Annex brings a level of adaptability to your game plan. Its ability to force an opponent to pay more mana or have their spell countered can be an effective disruption across a range of deck archetypes.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with strategies that thrive on tax effects or stalling opponents, fitting seamlessly into stax or control builds. Its preemptive counter ability when revealed at the beginning of the game can give combo decks that extra lead time they need.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames dominated by fast, spell-oriented decks, Chancellor of the Annex proves to be a formidable foe. Slowing down opponents from early turns can be crucial, and as such, incorporating this card can help tilt the scales in your favor against swift combos or storm decks.


How to beat

Chancellor of the Annex presents a unique challenge in MTG games, given its ability to force opponents to pay additional mana for each spell they cast. Skirting around this ability requires a careful game plan. Playing lands judiciously and managing mana reserves become critical strategies. It’s advisable to deploy low-cost spells as a way to bait the Chancellor’s taxing ability before casting more significant, game-impacting spells. Additionally, instant-speed removal or bounce spells can disrupt its presence on the battlefield, allowing you to regain control. Cards like Path to Exile or Unsummon can offer clean and efficient answers to this imposing threat.

Players might also consider using cards that negate the Chancellor’s ability or circumvent it entirely. Spells that provide cost reduction or alternative ways to cast spells, such as through suspend or alternate casting costs, are worth exploring. Moreover, accumulating a robust array of creatures on the board before the Chancellor hits play can minimize the impact of its disruptive ability, allowing you to apply pressure regardless of the additional cost of casting spells later on.

Therefore, to outmaneuver the Chancellor of the Annex, one must adapt their playstyle to the constraints it imposes, turning its power into an opportunity for strategic gameplay and smart resource management.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the nuances of Chancellor of the Annex is crucial for clever deck construction and gameplay in MTG. Its unique abilities provide both challenges and advantages, making it a card worth mastering. Whether you’re refining a control deck or incorporating tax strategies, this card demands a place in your collection for its disruptive presence. If you want to gain an edge against fast-paced decks or enhance your control strategies, learning to wield Chancellor of the Annex effectively is a game-changer. Dive deeper with us and discover strategic insights to turn this card from a simple play to a pivotal game decider.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Chancellor of the Annex MTG card by a specific set like New Phyrexia and Mystery Booster, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Chancellor of the Annex and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Chancellor of the Annex Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2011-05-13 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Min Yum.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-05-13New PhyrexiaNPH 62003NormalBlackMin Yum
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 542003NormalBlackMin Yum
32020-09-26The ListPLST NPH-62003NormalBlackMin Yum

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Chancellor of the Annex has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Chancellor of the Annex card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2011-06-01 If you reveal more than one Chancellor of the Annex from your opening hand, each will trigger when an opponent casts their first spell of the game. That player will have to pay that many times or the spell will be countered.
2011-06-01 In a multiplayer game, if you reveal Chancellor of the Annex from your opening hand, it will trigger each time an opponent casts their first spell of the game.
2021-03-19 A player’s “opening hand” is the hand of cards the player has after all players have taken mulligans. If players have any cards in hand that allow actions to be taken with them from a player’s opening hand, the starting player takes all such actions first in any order, followed by each other player in turn order. Then the first turn begins.