Decree of Justice in Premodern: the cycling-token win condition and why Replenish needs it post-ban

What it does

Decree of Justice has two modes: cast it for 2XX (two white mana plus X generic twice) to create X 4/4 Angel tokens, or cycle it for 2X and a white mana to create X 1/1 Soldier tokens. The cycling mode requires only one white mana plus one generic per Soldier created — this is the primary play pattern. By cycling Decree of Justice for four mana (two white, two generic), you draw a card and create two 1/1 Soldiers. By cycling for six mana, you create three Soldiers. The cycling mode generates bodies and triggers any “when you cycle” effects — particularly Astral Slide and Lightning Rift.

When it’s played

Decree of Justice is a key piece in white-based control and cycling-based strategies.

• Replenish adopted Decree of Justice after the Parallax Tide ban as a primary alternate win condition and finisher. With enough enchantments in play, Serra’s Sanctum generates mana to cast Decree for large X values, creating multiple 4/4 Angels.
• Astral Slide runs Decree of Justice as a primary cycling enabler that also creates tokens for the win. Cycling it triggers Astral Slide and deals damage via Lightning Rift.
• Mono-White Control includes Decree as a finisher that generates an army in one cast.

The math / interaction worth knowing

The cycling mode is most efficient for 1/1 Soldiers. Cycling for {2}{W} creates one Soldier, draws one card. Cycling for {4}{W} creates two Soldiers, draws one card. Each additional {2} creates one additional Soldier. In Astral Slide, each cycling creates one Slide trigger and one Rift trigger (one damage) per card cycled. The Soldier creation is a bonus that accumulates tokens over multiple turns.

The cast mode creates 4/4 Angels, which end the game faster. Casting Decree for {2}{4}{4} (a ten-mana investment) creates four 4/4 Angels — 16 power that attacks for lethal in one or two turns. With Serra’s Sanctum providing enormous white mana, Replenish decks can reach this X value through the enchantment engine.

Decree of Justice in post-ban Replenish. The January 2026 banning of Parallax Tide removed the land-locking mechanism from Replenish decks. Decree of Justice compensates by providing an alternative win condition that does not require opponent’s lands to be locked — instead, you create a swarm of Angels that wins through combat. The post-ban Replenish build is slower but still competitive by leveraging Decree as both a win condition and a card to discard to Frantic Search for graveyard setup.

Decklists worth studying

When deck data populates, look for Replenish and Astral Slide lists from MTGO Premodern Challenges. The Decree count and the X values piloted in games reveals the adaptation strategy post-Parallax Tide ban.

Related cards

• Serra’s Sanctum — Provides the white mana for large Decree of Justice X values in Replenish.
• Replenish — The mass enchantment recursion that Decree of Justice supports as a post-ban win condition.
• Astral Slide — Triggers from each cycling activation; Decree cycling is the primary Slide trigger.
• Lightning Rift — Deals one damage per cycling; Decree cycling contributes to the Rift’s damage output.
• Akroma’s Vengeance — The sweeper in the same Astral Slide archetype; both cycle.
• Parallax Wave — The remaining enchantment that protects your creatures while Decree attacks.