[Deck] Armageddon Stax

[Otter]

Exactly what matchups do the people that have been playing Suppression Field board them in for? Or if you maindeck them, where do you board them out? I'm guessing it's good against AEther Vial, but I'd be interested in some specifics and what people have found to be really impressive about that, what gets boarded in/out for them, etc.

[4zureSky]

Hmmmmm damp matrix.. seems real good against qasali which I hate A LOT. I would include both damping matrix and suppression field in my sb but I have no idea what to take out.

My sb:
1 Trinisphere
3 Choke
3 Krosan Grip
3 Suppression Field
2 Tormod's Crpyt
1 Aura of Silence
2 Sphere of Law

My metagame is full of dtb's and old dtbs like ichorid so this is what my sb became. I am thinking of cutting an Aura of Silence and one suppression field for Damping Matrix. Not totally sure yet since facing enchantress is annoying if I only have 3 things to annihilate enchantments.

[Al-ucard]

Exactly what matchups do the people that have been playing Suppression Field board them in for? Or if you maindeck them, where do you board them out? I'm guessing it's good against AEther Vial, but I'd be interested in some specifics and what people have found to be really impressive about that, what gets boarded in/out for them, etc.

As I say in my post I put them for trinispheres I quit 4 spheres md and put md 3 spheres and the fourth oblivion stone. I seriously recommend that people try this change. (MD fields and SD trinispheres)

[Q-Ball]

This list has been working rather well, I'm not a fan of the WW exalted angel and baneslayer, as it can falter.
Juggernauts and Lodestone provide real smashing damage, especially with Lodestone's ability often playing well and unsymmetrically. Versus control matchups it can be a turn two win, first turn Trini or Chalice and second turn Lodestone, if it's not forced it'll just begin rampaging.
Originally I had this list entirely brown, and it worked great. But armageddon really can be amazing, the Darksteel's have been early ditchers to Mox, and bring back late before you Geddon, especially if you sideboard in Magus or own the real thing.

As much as I love factory, I am however considering dropping some or all in favor of another double colorless source (Crystal vein) as the density of 4 mana on turn 2 could be improved.

For the most part the normal lock pieces are there, Prison's in sideboard for more aggro based matches, however Magus normally is enough. I like main deck powder keg's as they can be fatal without the issues with EE. I also prefer Tangle wire in the build as it is totally unsymmetrical, especially with a smokestack (Sac first, then tap; on your turn Tap first, then sac).

http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/deck.asp?deck_id=527573

3 Juggernaut
3 Lodestone Golem

3 Armageddon
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Crucible of Worlds
4 Mox Diamond
3 Powder Keg
4 Smokestack
4 Tangle Wire
4 Trinisphere

4 Ancient Tomb
3 City of Traitors
2 Darksteel Citadel
2 Flagstones of Trokair
2 Horizon Canopy
3 Mishra's Factory
3 Plains
4 Wasteland
1 Kabira Crossroads

Thoughts?

[GoldenCid]

A brown stax?? What about metal worker??

[Q-Ball]

Drop Geddon and sure you can do it.
Bring it Metal worker, full factory, 4 of's, more darksteel citadels and you'll empty your lock components assuming MW doesn't get... annihalated? Meh I think the chance of him letting you drop all of a set of lock components is nice, but takes out quite a bit.

[4zureSky]

Brown stax doesn't have the resources without green since it provides choke and krosan grip =/ Other than that it seems pretty nice to play with, but arent you scared of disk?

[Q-Ball]

Sideboard deals with that, and most of the time it's a non issue. O-rings and what not.
People go for disc and tap out for 4? Smokestack and tangle wire will destroy them. Not that many people run our kind of acceleration.

And you can still access those thru Horizon canopy.
Just cause the deck is mainly brown isn't a biggy. The main part of this deck will always be brown.

[Q-Ball]

Of course considering a playset of Mox and the ability to get rid of your own lands, a Riftstone Portal might not be a bad idea. Or two. Or even three. Fully support W/G then.

[4zureSky]

You guys are so good at persuasion haha. I already feel like trying brown stax with a mixture of riftstone portal. Seems pretty epic since its both fast and provides the sb needed for my metagame

[K1LO]

Although I´m not owning the 2nd Ravages of War yet, I´m playing a very straight list at the moment. I never felt the need of any other creature, except Magus of the Tabernacle, in the maindeck and have the opinion that all lock-pieces, especially Trinisphere and Smokestack, have to be played as a 4-off, therefore just the same with City of Traitors. Once you´ve managed to get the lock online, Magus of the Tabernacle or Mishra´s Factory are more than enough to finish the game. I can´t think of any game1 where I would have prefered a Baneslayer Angel or Exalted Angel over a more consistant early Trinisphere, followed up by Smockestack. I´ve tested and played both Angels and even Knight of the Reliquary along with the green-splash (Choke and Krosan Grip are, to me, just not worth it adding more nonbasics/nonplains) before and, from my experience, can tell you that they only make the deck inconsitent as hell. Horizon Canopy has also been dismissed, because it always dealt more damage than it drew me cards as I´ve always got something better to do with my mana, playing Smokestack-fodder for example. Instead I´ve added a random Karakas which already saved my hairy ass against Iona, Shield of Emeria and especially Gaddock Teeg. By the way, I can´t think of any reason not to split cards like Wrath of God/Day of Judgment besides card-availability. The 5 open slots in my sideboard I´m not quiet sure about yet, playing one more Wrath of God (as Elves is heavily played in my area), two Exalted Angels (e.g. when time may run out), an Elspeth Knight-Errant (against control, especially to handle theirs) and the 3rd Tormod´s Crypt (not needed most of the time) for now. With Worldwake beeing legal, Lodestone Golem definately has to be tried out and maybe even displaces the Angels. Most of the points I´ve talked about have already been discussed over and over, but I just had to write this down as I´m feeling that some of you are drifting away from this decks primary gameplan, getting consistent a fast lock online. Critics are welcome!

maindeck:

4 Ancient Tomb
4 City of Traitors
4 Wasteland
3 Flagstones of Trokair
3 Mishra´s Factory
1 Karakas
1 The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale
3 Plains
3 Snow-Covered Plains

4 Mox Diamond
3 Magus of the Tabernacle
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Trinisphere
4 Smokestack
4 Ghostly Prison
3 Oblivion Ring
3 Armageddon
1 Ravages of War
4 Crucible of Worlds

sideboard:

3 Suppression Field
2 Aura of Silence
1 Oblivion Ring
2 Tormod´s Crypt
1 Wrath of God
1 Day of Judgment
5 open slots


Greetz, K1LO

[GoldenCid]

Yes...but didnt you feel that it takes too many time to win?? I've tested a list similar to yours and if i won it was at turn 1515151.

[4zureSky]

Wow, this is the first time I've heard of karakas.. I never knew such a card existed I definitely want karakas in my stax deck! Gaddock Teeg was so annoying when I played against it because I have 5 armageddon effects plus 3 stax and one wog adding up to 8 things I can't play

[K1LO]

Yes...but didnt you feel that it takes too many time to win?? I've tested a list similar to yours and if i won it was at turn 1515151.

For sure, it takes some time to win with only Magus of the Tabernacle and Mishra´s Factory, but that has only twice been an issue to me ending up in a draw. In game2/3, when only a few minutes are left on the clock, I sometimes bring in Exalted Angels (or Lodestone Golem) just to be a bit faster. You also have to watch out for your opponent not to slowplay, as once beeing under the lock it should play out like on autopilot on both sides of the table and there absolutely is no reason to think 1 minute about a ****ing landdrop.

Wow, this is the first time I've heard of karakas.. I never knew such a card existed I definitely want karakas in my stax deck! Gaddock Teeg was so annoying when I played against it because I have 5 armageddon effects plus 3 stax and one wog adding up to 8 things I can't play

Gaddock is the card that really worries me the most, so I even tried out a red-splash (with 1x Plateau maindeck) for Firespout in the sideboard, but Karakas definately is one of the best answers for him on color, Oblivion Ring and Journey to Nowhere also coming to my mind. Dude, 5 Armageddon-effects seem pretty greedy and unneeded to me, try out the 4th Smokestack instead as you won´t be dissapointed, it is just one of -if not the- best card in Stax. Also this deck really wants you to play as many permanents as possible.


Greetz, K1LO

[overseer1234]

I also play without angels in de main deck and a full suite of geddon's (dont own ravages) magus (dont have the real thing) trini and smokestack, but I don't realy care about my opponent stalling once I have the hardlock on the table.

On the contrary, I'll help them with the stalling so there's only like 5 minute's left for them to win game 2 (I shuffle 3 minutes), and win the round with 1-0.


I mean, when you hardlock them, and have like 1-2 magus, a buttload of land and probaly 2-3 factory's, you should easily win in like 2-3 turns... and remember, 1-0 in a 2/3 match is still a win and does almost nothing to your resistance...

[4zureSky]

Gaddock is the card that really worries me the most, so I even tried out a red-splash (with 1x Plateau maindeck) for Firespout in the sideboard, but Karakas definately is one of the best answers for him on color, Oblivion Ring and Journey to Nowhere also coming to my mind. Dude, 5 Armageddon-effects seem pretty greedy and unneeded to me, try out the 4th Smokestack instead as you won´t be dissapointed, it is just one of -if not the- best card in Stax. Also this deck really wants you to play as many permanents as possible.


Greetz, K1LO

I tried 4 stax before and I wasn't too happy since I don't need it all the time. I found 4 armageddon effects too little and 6 too much so 5 is just about right for me since its a way for stalling and locking them down. I only need stax when I am about to lock them down just like I did a few mins ago on MWS :) So far I am liking the new addition, karakas. It doesn't screw up the number of white mana producing lands and now I have more answers to things I don't like such as gaddock, baneslayer or other legendary creatures :) I have 3 armageddons and 2 ravages atm.

[K1LO]

I also play without angels in de main deck and a full suite of geddon's (dont own ravages) magus (dont have the real thing) trini and smokestack, but I don't realy care about my opponent stalling once I have the hardlock on the table.

On the contrary, I'll help them with the stalling so there's only like 5 minute's left for them to win game 2 (I shuffle 3 minutes), and win the round with 1-0.


I mean, when you hardlock them, and have like 1-2 magus, a buttload of land and probaly 2-3 factory's, you should easily win in like 2-3 turns... and remember, 1-0 in a 2/3 match is still a win and does almost nothing to your resistance...

There is absolutely nothing wrong with playing just Magus of the Tabernacle and Armageddon if you can´t or are unwilling to afford their costy substitutes, although they would be slightly better, as long as you don´t clutter your deck up with Angels^^. The only reason, I have to confess, I´m owning and playing them is that I bought them some time/years ago for my Highlander-deck when they were pricey.

As Stax has some pretty good matchups preboard, it belongs to your opponent if he is wise enough to conceed timely and some of them won´t realize that they´ve already lost without a chance of a comeback. You´re definately right in saying that you should take your time while playing Stax when you can do so. Therefore, one of the most important things when playing this deck is, to keep an eye on the clock^^.


Greetz, K1LO

[K1LO]

I tried 4 stax before and I wasn't too happy since I don't need it all the time. I found 4 armageddon effects too little and 6 too much so 5 is just about right for me since its a way for stalling and locking them down. I only need stax when I am about to lock them down just like I did a few mins ago on MWS :) So far I am liking the new addition, karakas. It doesn't screw up the number of white mana producing lands and now I have more answers to things I don't like such as gaddock, baneslayer or other legendary creatures :) I have 3 armageddons and 2 ravages atm.

I´ve played 4 Armageddons and 1 Ravages of War for some time, but sometimes I had several copies stucking in my hand and as they don´t feed Smokestack, switched back to 4 Armageddon-effects as having one of them was more than enough. But this number may be more preference than relevant, although I still think that the 4th Smokestack should be in there. Btw., Baneslayer Angel is (unfortunately!) NOT legendary^^.


Greetz, K1LO

[Otter]

Excellent tech with the Karakas, time to grab one before the price suddenly jumps to $70. Out of curiosity, has it ever mattered that you're splitting your basics with Snow-Covered basics? They're already immune to Echoing Truth, Pithing Needle, Cabal Therapy, Meddling Mage, and Extirpate. The only thing I can think of that would affect them is Wake of Destruction, and I don't think that's ever seen play in legacy.

[Al-ucard]

I just arrive from a 75 people tournament with 4-2-1 finishing in the 14th position playing 3 Suppresion field MD and I have to say that they are th MVP of the deck. You can almost hardlock the opponent with a suppresion and a crucible/wasteland. I'm just considering of quitting all the smokestacks so it's too much slow and always the card I quit in 2nd and 3rd games.

A little summary of the matches:

1st round canadian: I win the first match thanks to chalice (opponent conceded fast) losed the second game mulliganing to 5, and in the third I locked him but I have to almost draw all the deck with canopy to find something to kill him, finally I win almost at time.
2nd round ant: I lose first match, won the second thanks to sphere of resistance and aura of silence, in third game we tie due to time.
3rd round bant: I win first round thanks to chalice @1 and some business (tabernacle and geddon), losed the second with mulligan @5 XD. We couldn't finish the third game.
4th round goblins: 2-0 Easy (I draw all the business in the world, prison, tabernacle, suppresion, crucible, geddon, and sphere of law in second game XD)
5th round Survival: I win easy the first match, but losed 2nd and 3rd due to mulligans (no business with 7 cards, no lands drawing 6 and absolutely nothing with in 5)
6th round Survival?: I win 2-0 easy. I suppose that the deck was survival because I see qasali, flametongue and magus of the moon (that I removed with oblivion ring).
7th round Zoo: I losed the first game because only see oblivion rings and any business. I winned easy the second and third match hardlocking him with suppresions (fetchlands) and crucible/wasteland. In the second match I started first turn playing suppresion with mox, opponent readed the card and almost conceded in this moment, he played 2 fetchlands in his first two turns and when he coulds active the first one I have crucible in play and geddon waiting in hand ;-p.