Planeswalker Stax

[bruizar]

bruizar, have you considered running that Karakas mainboard for extra insurance against some matchups and the ability to set your EE at 3 in G1?

I haven't tried Karakas maindeck, only sideboard, but I think it might be a good idea idea. I can still get Explosives for 3 off of Mox Opal, but I could ramp is to 4 with Karakas.

Meanwhile, I tried Temporal Mastery, Brainstorm and Jace and they all sucked except for Jace. I just don't have enough fetch to support Brainstorm, and once I have A.I. to get shuffle effects I generally don't care about brainstorm anymore. Sensei's Divining Top makes so much more sense in this deck.

Temporal Mastery was, okay, but not great. The list is already very dense so I might just cut them.

Jace was good, but he usually is of course. I'm still on the fence about Jace though.

For efficiency reasons I cutted Scroll of Griselbrand and Elixir of Immortality, but I really disliked not having the scroll. There were a couple of gamestates where I was ready to lock someone out, only to have to wait for a Jace or a Tezzeret to finish the game with Artificer's Intuition in play.

Also, I missed Executioner's Capsule against MUD, so I think I should spend a sideboard slot on that card.

Right now, the list is relying on Academy Ruins quiet a bit, so Elixir of Immortality still has an important role, even though it can be a dead topdeck. Ideally I want to move it to the sideboard, but I need to test a little bit more against wasteland. I would also like to see if I can replace the Scroll of Griselbrand for a Cursed Scroll and replace the Mutavault with a Creeping Tar Pit.

I am also thinking of Running 1 Phyrexian Dreadnought and 4 Stifles (to combat wasteland and to go bonkers)

[SirTylerGalt]

I've tested the deck on Cockatrice tonight. I really like it. Lots of hidden synergies. I love the Rings of Brighthearth. So much awesome plays with it. At some point, I ultimated a Tezzeret with 5 artifacts in play, and doubled the damage with the ring :) You can even fetch two lands with a fetchland!

Have you considered Darksteel Citadel as a one-of? It helps with metalcraft for Mox Opal, and you can tutor for it against mana-denial decks (using Artificer's Intuition). You can also animate it with Tezzeret, which gives you an indestructible 5/5. This is great against certain decks ;)

[bruizar]

Good to hear you are enjoying the deck tyler. It's far from done, but I feel like artificers intuition has the raw potential for legacy right now. The deck should not be able to lose against u/w miracles at all, since the explosives lock just nullifies eptheir entire plan and you have easy access to jace hate in the form of tutorable, recurring, Pithing needles.

I found another combo with the deck. I think it's too clunky but since it's a combo that works entirely under a.i. It is worth mentioning.

Dark Depths+Hex Parasite: hex parasite is the artifact 1 drop version of vampire hexmage. It effectively reduces the cost to summon marit late by 19 mana, or by 23 with rings of brightheart. Dark depths gives you fuel for the parasite until it goes away and gives you a marit lage. Parasite can suck down enemy e.e.'s, vials and jace too.

This is probably way too slow but in my opinion worth considering since you can get both pieces from a.i.. That said, the 2 cards do very little on their own.

I am currently running a citadel Tyler. The indestructible beats help stabilize/win. I also had a rings-ult with Tezzeret 2 times, it was pretty much a blowout. 4 mana Tezzeret +1, 5 mana rings, ult, copy, GG.

I am seriously contemplating an esper splash with the deck, for Karakas and e.e.. Not entirely sure what to add besides plowshares though.

[SirTylerGalt]

Dark Depths + Hex Parasite is interesting. But I don't like the idea of investing two cards and 9 mana for a win condition that can be sworded / bounced / Phyrexian metamorphed. There is also an anti-synergy with Ensnaring Bridge.

I like the tricks you can do with Hex Parasite (destroying planeswalkers, emptying Explosives and vial...). So maybe worth it as a tutorable one-of... But the Parasite seems fragile, and I think Pithing Needle might just be better as an answer to Planeswalkers and vials.


The Esper splash is a great idea, if the mana base can handle it. StP would be a great addition. And tutoring Karakas is awesome in some matchups. As to the other additions worth considering, I think we could get some inspiration from David Gearhart's "Shot in the Dark" UWb control deck:

Latest version I could find, that got 3rd at SCG Legacy Open Charlotte in February:
http://www.thecouncil.es/tcdecks/dec...7&iddeck=56060

Older articles:
http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/l..._Gearhart.html
http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/l...rew_Levin.html
http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/l...lly_Works.html

I think 2-3 Enlightened Tutor and a one-off Oblivion Ring are worth considering. Tutor helps us tutor for Artificer's Intuition, Ensnaring Bridge, and other one-of answers. Oblivion Ring lets us answer problematic permanents, and can be great against show & tell.

Humility would be cool too, but its WW cost might be hard to achieve. Previous versions of the deck had a Karmic Justice maindeck, against land-destruction strategies, and to protect the lock.

I like the one-of Aegis of Honor and Engineered Plague in the SB (tutorable with Enlightened Tutor). Counterbalance is also an interesting SB option, since we play Sensei's Divining Top maindeck. Maybe as a replacement for Chalice of the Void?

[bruizar]

I am pretty convinced that we can run 4 Sensei's Divining Top in this deck.

The more I think about it, the more Terminus makes sense in this deck, which would make it more and more like an Esper variant of U/W Miracles. Especially when you sideboard into the Counterbalance plan. Once you play with Terminus, you can cut Ensnaring Bridge and perhaps some other cards as well. One of the bigger problem cards that U/W Miracles faces is Gaddock Teeg, but we could grab Executioner's Capsule to kill it and use our many shuffles with top to exploit Terminus. Aegis of Honor seems like a great silverbullet against burn/rug, but Chalice of the Void for 1 or Counterbalance seems like a much better card. I actually think Entreat the Angels is redundant in a deck like this, but you could opt to play it as a one-off but I don't like it for its WW cost.

U/W Miracles has a more resilient manabase than this deck, which could simply be better, but I think that this version has game against everything where U/W Miracles often struggles to survive/stabilize soon enough.

The 3rd place at SCG Legacy Open Charlotte could easily adopt the Artificer's Intuition engine in exchange for its thopter sword combo. It frees up 10 slots (7 Foundry/Sword, 3 Enlightened Tutor) which is enough for the A.I. engine. Humility+Enlightened Tutor+Sensei's Divining Top is really sweet against SnT decks though, but I think there are other options to fighting through SnT out there.

@Hex Parasite: Yeah, Pithing Needle is just better cause it doesn't get plowed. Hex Parasite can attack under a bridge though.

[novatinhu]

I am pretty convinced that we can run 4 Sensei's Divining Top in this deck.

The more I think about it, the more Terminus makes sense in this deck, which would make it more and more like an Esper variant of U/W Miracles. Especially when you sideboard into the Counterbalance plan. Once you play with Terminus, you can cut Ensnaring Bridge and perhaps some other cards as well. One of the bigger problem cards that U/W Miracles faces is Gaddock Teeg, but we could grab Executioner's Capsule to kill it and use our many shuffles with top to exploit Terminus. Aegis of Honor seems like a great silverbullet against burn/rug, but Chalice of the Void for 1 or Counterbalance seems like a much better card. I actually think Entreat the Angels is redundant in a deck like this, but you could opt to play it as a one-off but I don't like it for its WW cost.

U/W Miracles has a more resilient manabase than this deck, which could simply be better, but I think that this version has game against everything where U/W Miracles often struggles to survive/stabilize soon enough.

The 3rd place at SCG Legacy Open Charlotte could easily adopt the Artificer's Intuition engine in exchange for its thopter sword combo. It frees up 10 slots (7 Foundry/Sword, 3 Enlightened Tutor) which is enough for the A.I. engine. Humility+Enlightened Tutor+Sensei's Divining Top is really sweet against SnT decks though, but I think there are other options to fighting through SnT out there.

@Hex Parasite: Yeah, Pithing Needle is just better cause it doesn't get plowed. Hex Parasite can attack under a bridge though.

I really dont like 1 CMC artifacts in this deck, becouse my most strong weapon is chalice for 1

But its only my opinion!

hehe

[frogger42]

I really dont like 1 CMC artifacts in this deck, becouse my most strong weapon is chalice for 1

But its only my opinion!

hehe

Yeah, I'm actually totally on board with that. To me, Stax isn't a strategy or decklist or anything, but it's more a manabase. It's the kind of deck that's supposed to run Ancient Tombs and City of Traitors to their max, and should probably run some sort of bad Moxes as additional accel. The cards and colors you choose should take advantage of that kind of ramp (you're losing some card choices with all the colorless), and the types of cards that tend to abuse all that mana are cheap prison pieces. I mean, you run Fetch-based decks for easy access to colors and stuff like Daze, right?

I'm really not seeing the efficiency of your card choices. Sorry. If you want that kind of manabase, there was an Esper Jace/Tezz Thopter-Combo deck a little while back. Dunno if it's good in this meta, but I think it's got a much more direct gameplan than your deck. Better place to start. Good luck.

[novatinhu]

Yeah, I'm actually totally on board with that. To me, Stax isn't a strategy or decklist or anything, but it's more a manabase. It's the kind of deck that's supposed to run Ancient Tombs and City of Traitors to their max, and should probably run some sort of bad Moxes as additional accel. The cards and colors you choose should take advantage of that kind of ramp (you're losing some card choices with all the colorless), and the types of cards that tend to abuse all that mana are cheap prison pieces. I mean, you run Fetch-based decks for easy access to colors and stuff like Daze, right?

I'm really not seeing the efficiency of your card choices. Sorry. If you want that kind of manabase, there was an Esper Jace/Tezz Thopter-Combo deck a little while back. Dunno if it's good in this meta, but I think it's got a much more direct gameplan than your deck. Better place to start. Good luck.

Tottaly agree with frogger, Im actually testing the Strix version, my current version is:


Lands

4 Seat of the Synod
4 Ancient Tomb
3 Polluted Delta
3 Island
2 Underground Sea
2 Vault of Whispers
2 Wasteland
1 Academy Ruins
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Swamp

// Creatures

4 Baleful Strix
2 Vendilion Clique

// Spells

3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
4 Thoughtcast
4 Force of Will
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas
3 Ensnaring Bridge
3 Mox Diamond
2 Mox Opal
2 Thoughtseize
2 Ponder


// Sideboard

1 Thoughtseize
2 Duress
1 Damnation
3 Surgical Extraction
2 Perish
3 Spell Pierce
3 Cursed Totem

[frogger42]

Hey novatinhu, thanks for the support, but I gotta throw that advice back at ya. You've got 4 Ancient Tombs and about 5 Moxen - just looking at your starting manabase, you don't have a whole lot of consistency with the resources your deck wants to use. I've found 12 ramp is a good place to start - 4 Tomb, 4 City, 4 Moxes. You'll have a pretty good chance of getting one in your opening hand, even on the mull, which means you can start your game off right away. Legacy's too fast to lose a single turn, especially the first one.

I suggest you paper-build or proxy your deck up, and then flip four random cards. Do those cards work together? How often do they get in each other's way? Do you have one reasonable weapon there to deal with one your opponent might have? It only takes a few times, and then flip three more and you'll know how your games will go.

[novatinhu]

Hey novatinhu, thanks for the support, but I gotta throw that advice back at ya. You've got 4 Ancient Tombs and about 5 Moxen - just looking at your starting manabase, you don't have a whole lot of consistency with the resources your deck wants to use. I've found 12 ramp is a good place to start - 4 Tomb, 4 City, 4 Moxes. You'll have a pretty good chance of getting one in your opening hand, even on the mull, which means you can start your game off right away. Legacy's too fast to lose a single turn, especially the first one.

I suggest you paper-build or proxy your deck up, and then flip four random cards. Do those cards work together? How often do they get in each other's way? Do you have one reasonable weapon there to deal with one your opponent might have? It only takes a few times, and then flip three more and you'll know how your games will go.

Thx for the advices Frogger this is my current test list, this is not the list I usually play, a lot change.

For exemple: I think ponder isn't good, but I need to test to make sure, right?

hehe

For my tests my builds have this core:


3-4 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
4 Thoughtcast
4 Force of Will
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas
3-4 Ensnaring Bridge
0-3 Mox Diamond or 0-3 Chrome mox
2 Mox Opal
4 Baleful Strix
1-3 Vendilion Clique

[frogger42]

Thx for the advices Frogger this is my current test list, this is not the list I usually play, a lot change.

For exemple: I think ponder isn't good, but I need to test to make sure, right?

hehe

Haha, yes indeed. I'm not sure if this is helpful to you, but when I test a card out I try to 4x it at first. That way you get to play it more often and see when it's useful and when it's either too dead or slow. Personally, with the manabase I was running, I tried to find spells with at least 2 colorless in the casting cost (you know, because of my 4x Tombs and Cities) and one specific color - U or B here - so like 2 or B2 or U3 is generally an "optimal mana cost" for a spell for me. Had to run the PW'ers because I needed like serious 2-3 turn finishers and I had no other choice. Sounds kinda weird, but I had a weird manabase to work around.

So stuff like Strix and even Clique (which still is pretty awesome) are kinda awkward to try to cast. I kinda figured my manabase "gave" me 2 extra colorless to work with so I might as well spend it and get a more powerful spell. Like why pay UU1 when I burn a colorless most of the time, you know? More like you're paying UU2, and it's not a Jace.
Hopefully that helps. Changing things up and scrubbing out every week also helps prob a lot more than I could, and def don't get married to just the cards tried out here. Good luck!

[mistercakes]

Ive always wanted to test nether void. Just a thoight if you catch someone tapping out.

[Undomian]

I played this deck in a local tournament today to a rather nonspectacular 2-2 finish:

Lands:
1 Academy Ruins
4 Ancient Tomb
4 City of Traitors
2 Island
3 Polluted Delta
3 Underground Sea
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
4 Wasteland

Artifacts:
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Mox Diamond
4 Grim Monolith
2 Ensnaring Bridge
3 Tangle Wire
1 Batterskull

Creatures:
4 Baleful Strix
3 Esperzoa
4 Lodestone Golem
1 Phyrexian Metamorph

Other Spells:
1 Transmute Artifact
4 Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas
1 The Abyss
3 Force of Will

Sideboard:
1 Grafdigger's Cage
3 Cursed Totem
1 Transmute Artifact
1 Ensnaring Bridge
1 Nature's Ruin
2 Trinisphere
1 Helm of Obedience
4 Leyline of the Void
1 Force of Will

Yeah, the MB is 61 cards, but I couldn't decide what to cut. Anyway, the matches (which were seriously lacking in variety) went something like this:

R1: Pat with Nic-Fit
Game 1, the deck did what it was supposed to. I established a lock with Esperzoa/Tangle Wire, and got a concession from him when I strapped a Batterskull to it to outrace his ground forces. Game 2 was pretty onesided in his favor - I ended up conceding when he resolved Sun Titan to recur Deed for 5 every turn. Game 3 was quite possibly the closest of the match. We traded blows back and forth for awhile, and though I got him to 4 life with an Esperzoa ready to deal the final blow while he was hellbent, he topdecked Deed to seal the game with a Thrun.

Not off to a great start. 0-1

R2: Max with Elves
Game 1, the deck did what it was supposed to do and resolved Ensnaring Bridge + Tezzeret and went hellbent. Lacking a maindeck answer apparently, he conceded to my lock. Game Two, his deck did what it was supposed to. Though I had a Bridge, his Viridian Shaman allowed Emrakul to swing for the win. Game 3, I dropped a CotV at 1 on turn 1 followed by a Cursed Totem and a Transmute for Grafdiffer's Cage, and that was all she wrote.

1-1

R3: Brian with Elves
This match still leaves me a bit salty, because I punted like an idiot and got knocked out of T8 because of it. Game 1, I dropped an early Abyss, which ended the game for him when he drew into a land pocket. Game 2, he beat me down with his army of 1/1s through a Cursed Totem under my Bridge while I bricked on lands, leaving me unable to cast the colored spells in my hand. Game 3 is where I'm left salty (especially considering this douchebag was a judge and told the TO that he did what he did on purpose get the match). The game went long. Really long. I had a lock comprised of:

3 Cursed Totem
Chalice at 1, 2, and 3
Grafdigger's Cage
Ensnaring Bridge

Stopping me from even attacking with my Strixes under my Bridge with his Pendelhaven, I started to lose focus on the game - and said okay when he tried to cast a Viridian Shaman because I was lacking Force (as I was hellbent). I caught my Chalice at 3 trigger too late apparently, and the head judge ruled in his favor when I called him on it. Oh well, guess I'll drink more coffee before my next Legacy tournament.

1-2

R4: Stu with Nic-Fit (huge matchup variety, I know)
I don't really remember this game very well due to tilt, so forgive me if you see this and I got any details wrong. Game 1, my deck did what it was supposed to do once more. Esperzoa and Tangle Wire backed by a Chalice at 1 and a Force of Will ended the game in short order. Game 2, I had a slow start while he resolved an early Grave Titan, which my deck is pretty much incapable of dealing with short of a Bridge, which I had, but which was Maelstrom Pulsed away. Game 3, I dropped LotV, ran out Grafdigger's Cage, resolved Chalice at 1, then eventually dropped a Tezzeret to seal the deal.

2-2

2-2 was good enough to make T8 for some people, but apparently my breakers were awful. Oh well, better luck next time.

[RBS]

Hi there,

I was following this thread for a while, many interesting things were posted.
At first I mainly tested Lejay's "Bridgewalkers" list, but analyzed Doug McKay, Matt Keefer, Adam Prosak lists as well.

I really like UB Stax plays.

As novatinhu posted, I think UB Stax core should be:

8 mana accelerant (moxen, signets)
4-8 sol lands
8-9 engines/kills ('walkers, drawing artifact)
8 disrupt pieces (chalice, fow, trini)
3-4 tutors (transmute artifact, tolaria west, intuition)
6-10 protection (strix, bridge, abyss, other blockers)
+ some business/tool cards

I started with this, and gone with the cards I liked.

This is my current build:

4 Chalice of the Void
4 Force of Will

1 Ensnaring Bridge
4 Baleful Strix

1 Damping Matrix
1 Bottled Cloister
1 Witchbane Orb
1 Phyrexian Metamorph

3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
4 Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas
1 Liliana of the Veil

2 Mox Diamond
1 Mox Opal
1 Chrome Mox
4 Dimir Signet

3 Transmute Artifact
4 Thoughtcast

2 City of Traitors
4 Ancient Tomb

3 Polluted Delta
2 Island
1 Underground Sea
1 Darksteel Citadel
4 Seat of the Synod
1 Vault of Whispers
1 Swamp
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

SB: 1 Ensnaring Bridge
SB: 3 Cranial Extraction
SB: 1 Helm of Obedience
SB: 4 Leyline of the Void
SB: 4 Engineered Plague
SB: 1 Null Brooch
SB: 1 Pithing Needle

Pretty tight list but really pleasant plays.
It's very light on protection (only 1 bridge and 3 tutors to get it), but I was upset to draw too much bridges too often. baleful strix is also a very good defender, I love this card.
I didn't integrated Wastelock combo, because I didn't used it often in my previous tests.

I played this deck in a local tournament today to a rather nonspectacular 2-2 finish:

Lands:
1 Academy Ruins
4 Ancient Tomb
4 City of Traitors
2 Island
3 Polluted Delta
3 Underground Sea
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
4 Wasteland

Artifacts:
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Mox Diamond
4 Grim Monolith
2 Ensnaring Bridge
3 Tangle Wire
1 Batterskull

Creatures:
4 Baleful Strix
3 Esperzoa
4 Lodestone Golem
1 Phyrexian Metamorph

Other Spells:
1 Transmute Artifact
4 Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas
1 The Abyss
3 Force of Will

Sideboard:
1 Grafdigger's Cage
3 Cursed Totem
1 Transmute Artifact
1 Ensnaring Bridge
1 Nature's Ruin
2 Trinisphere
1 Helm of Obedience
4 Leyline of the Void
1 Force of Will

Nice list but I see some problems here:
- you don't play crucible? even with 4 city of traitors and 4 mox diamond? could be a nice add
- only 1 abyss?
- esperzoa doesn't seem to be overwhelming, my guess he doesn't shine in Canadian Threshold MU, fettergeist is better
- 4 force of will
- where are the other 'walkers?
And questions:
- how are the golems?
- don't you miss more tutors?

R3: Brian with Elves
This match still leaves me a bit salty, because I punted like an idiot and got knocked out of T8 because of it. Game 1, I dropped an early Abyss, which ended the game for him when he drew into a land pocket. Game 2, he beat me down with his army of 1/1s through a Cursed Totem under my Bridge while I bricked on lands, leaving me unable to cast the colored spells in my hand. Game 3 is where I'm left salty (especially considering this douchebag was a judge and told the TO that he did what he did on purpose get the match). The game went long. Really long. I had a lock comprised of:

3 Cursed Totem
Chalice at 1, 2, and 3
Grafdigger's Cage
Ensnaring Bridge

Stopping me from even attacking with my Strixes under my Bridge with his Pendelhaven, I started to lose focus on the game - and said okay when he tried to cast a Viridian Shaman because I was lacking Force (as I was hellbent). I caught my Chalice at 3 trigger too late apparently, and the head judge ruled in his favor when I called him on it. Oh well, guess I'll drink more coffee before my next Legacy tournament.

OMG that's so douchebaggy of him... you caught your trigger "too late"??? WTF?
I'm not judge but the trigger is mandatory, not optional! So his spell should've been countered even if you forgot it, and the right call should've been a warning for both of players for missing it!
Don't drink coffee next time, just slap it in its face, he cheated!

[Undomian]

Nice list but I see some problems here:
- you don't play crucible? even with 4 city of traitors and 4 mox diamond? could be a nice add
- only 1 abyss?
- esperzoa doesn't seem to be overwhelming, my guess he doesn't shine in Canadian Threshold MU, fettergeist is better
- 4 force of will
- where are the other 'walkers?
And questions:
- how are the golems?
- don't you miss more tutors?

1) I've tested Crucible of Worlds, and it always seemed sort of win-more. Any time I established a Wasteland lock, I had basically already won the game.
2) The Abyss is absurdly expensive and rare, so I only have one.
3) Don't think of Esperzoa as a beater. Esperzoa is actually an insane synergy engine. Bouncing Bridges to allow your Golems (and Esperzoas, for that matter) under them, resetting Tangle Wire and Grim Monolith, and allowing you to get even more value out of Baleful Strix - the card is nuts. The only real downside is that it dies to Lightning Bolt, which is generally something you try to solve with either Chalice or baiting the bolts with Golems or Strixes.
4) I don't really feel that I run enough blue cards main to support 4 FoW. 3 seems to be the sweet spot for G1, and I can side into more if I feel that I need it.
5) Honestly, whenever someone asks me about my deck, I refer to it as "a homebrew piece of shit." This isn't quite Bridgewalkers because I don't really feel the need to run more walkers. I mean, sure, Jace/Liliana could be good, but after testing I don't feel that they're necessarily better than any other card in the deck.
6) I'm a huge fan of Lodestone Golem, especially when you're playing Tangle Wire in the same deck. Honestly, if I could play 12 Lodestone Golem, I probably would. Its amazing how sequences involving Golem, Tangle Wire, and another lock piece can end the game for you opponent before they can play anything significant.
7) I do miss more tutors. I've more than once thought about trying to cram either Intuition or even just more Transmute Artifact into the deck. Now, if I feel I need to get a specific artifact for a matchup, I side in the second TA in the board, but that's as many tutors as I feel that I can get into my list for now. I already need to decide on cutting a card from my 61 before adding more.

[RBS]

Hi everyone who is following this thread, that is not many ;)

Report of a tournament saturday.

My list for reference:

4 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
4 Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas
3 Transmute Artefact
4 Thoughtcast
4 Force of Will
4 Baleful Strix
4 Chalice of the Void
2 Ensnaring Bridge
1 Damping Matrix
1 Bottled Cloister
1 Witchbane Orb

4 Ancient Tomb
2 City of Traitors
2 Mox Diamond
1 Chrome Mox
1 Mox Opal
4 Dimir Signet
4 Seat of the Synod
1 Vault of Whispers
1 Darksteel Citadel
3 Polluted Delta
2 Island
1 Swamp
1 Underground Sea
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth


//SB 1 Helm of Obediance
//SB 4 Leyline of the Void
//SB 2 Memoricide
//SB 4 Engineered Plague
//SB 1 Pithing Needle
//SB 1 Null Brooch
//SB 1 Ensnaring Bridge
//SB 1 Phyrexian Metamorph

R1 - T.E.S.
G1
I keep an average hand, with a medium start
He begins with Probe, and follow with Duress, and remove my Chalice
Luckily I'll draw another, and set it @1
He quickly gets annoyed by it and even tries to cast a ponder, but I recall him of the Chalice
I've a Force in my hand, and when he tries to cast B.Wish I counter it.
Unfortunatly I've only 1 Strix which grinds him of 1 life per turn, so the game longs.
He draws other two B.Wish which get countered by two Force.

My opponent starts showing his irritation.
I side in 2x Memoricide, 2x Plague (for Goblin tokens), Brooch
Out are Matrix, Cloister and 2x Bridge, and one card I don't recall

G2
He starts again with Probe Duress, don't remember what he removes, maybe a Chalice.
I quickly drops again Chalice @1, my opp starts to go out of tracks, sighing
I then develop my board with Plague naming Goblin and Witchabane Orb. He seems surprised I name Goblin, I then say "you play storm, you play B.Wish, you have Empty the Warrens, so it's logical"
About at this moment, my hand is 2x Thoughtcast and Null Brooch, with 4 manas available.
He casts B.Wish for Meltdown, and will cast it next turn.
My only out is to draw a sol land, which I draw.
He gets mad when I drop my Brooch with enough mana to activate it.
I counter his Meltdown, and he quickly scoops when I cast a Tezzeret.

After the game we discuss. He gets rude and asks what is this f***ing deck, I say it's a version of UB Stax I developped for a month, studying different versions (Matt Keefer's, Doug McKay's, Lejay's Bridgewalkers...) to design mine. Despite this, he starts calling my deck pure s*** (you understand me), and bet I'll not win another match during the day. I let him with his very intelligent thoughts, to go to the R2.

1-0

R2 - UW Stax Aggro
I play against one of the best French players, GP Amsterdam top20, great deck developper and player, and one of the niciest players in the room
G1
My hand is nuts (Tomb, Chrome Mox with blue imprinted, Delta, so Tezzeret T2), but he starts and drops T2 Trini.
I then fetch the wrong color with my Delta (blue), and cast Chrome Mox with blue, and realize my error... I haven't 2UB but 2UU... Under Trini and under Batterskull pressure I can't develop my board, and thus lose.

I side out 4x Chalice, both decks run it and they are totally worthless @1
In: 2x Memoricide, Needle and Metamorph

G2
I've a nuts hand again. I manage to drop a Tezzeret T2 and immediatly attack him with a 5/5's Mox, T3 attack with 2x 5/5's artefacts. He can't do a thing and scoops to G3.

G3
This time it's him who drops an early PW, Elspeth. Under tokens and Jitte pressure, my draws are nice but not gamebreaking: Metamorph to destroy Jitte, 2x Memoride to remove his 4x O.Ring and 1x Quasali Pridemage... I've no cards in hand so I just need a Bridge (or Transmute Artifact) to stay alive and win, cause now he can't destroy artefacts. I draw a land and scoop.

Great games, my G1 error surely costs me the game sooner than it should've costed.

1-1

R3 - Grixis Tempo
G1
I never loved Trinisphere in this deck, but that's definitly the game where I've seen Force is so way above Trini.
He starts with Volcanic Island and Delver (so it's obviously a tempo deck).
I try a Chalice @1 T1, the best play against him. He try to daze it. Would I've played Trini instead of Force, it would've been countered. But I play Force ;)
I Force it and my Chalice @1 sticks, screwing him for the game.
Under pressure from the early Delver, I go as low as 2 life, Tezzeret's ultimate gains me 8 life, Jace then goes and bounces his Delver, and I finish him with another Tezzeret's ultimate with him having about 5-6 cards in hand (all CMC @1).

My deck is tuned to beat tempo, I don't side in a lot of things.

G2
I drop again an early Chalice @1, crippling him. When I see he plays SB cards like Sulfur Elemental, I understand he hasn't cards adapted to fight artefact cards.
Tezzeret then comes and wins the game.

2-1

R4 - Goblins Rg
G1
He begins with Mountain Vial, so it's Goblins, an unfavorable MU.
I can't do a thing because he shuts down / destroy my lands (Rishadan Port, Wasteland, tutors for Tin-Street Hooligan to destroy one artefact land...).
He kills me with 2 attacks of Piledriver.

In: 4x Plague, Needle, Bridge, 2x Memoricide
Out: 4x Force, 4x Chalice

G2
I can drop an early Plague which shuts down a lot of his cards, but he can beat me with 2/2's became 1/1's.
I Memoricide his 3x Piledriver, drop Bridge, Matrix, and even have a Tezzeret for protection with one 5/5.
However he has lethal cause i'm at 2, and he has 3 attackers. I then draw a Plague and it's over.

G3
I have a 7 with only Needle as hate card, and no black source, so I mull to a 6 with a Plague, which seems better.
He starts with Vial and will not have red sources for about 8 turns (I should've kept the initial 7...).
On my side, I drop Plague to reset all his board but a lone Piledriver.
He grinds me with three 1/1's, meanwhile he shuts down my lands with Ports and I draw no outs...
Finally I'm at 2 for my final turn, whatever happens, with 4 manas, 3 artefacts (including 1 Bridge), Tezzeret, Jace in hand, and his 3 1/1's...
My only out is to draw a Plague right now... I draw a Transmute Artifact: I can't Transmute an artefact into Bottled Cloister, cause he has a Tin-Street Hooligan in hand, so he has just to destroy my Bridge to win.
I choose to cast Thoughtcast with 2 manas left, and draw irrelevant stuff and 1 Plague, which I can't cast cause I lack 1 mana.

GG anyway against a fine opp!

2-2

R5 - Enchantress
Nice and cool opp, he made 4 hours transport with his team to play in this tournament.
G1
I don't start but have a nuts hand, I can drop Tezzeret T2 and immediatly attack him with 5/5's. He dies soon afterwards.

G2 & G3
His Leyline of Sanctity, which I can't manage, get him both games.

Clearly, Leyline of Sanctity is a BIG problem for this deck. All my kills (Tezzeret, Jace, and Helm combo) target opponent, and answer for this card like Memoricide also targets.
Maybe play a lone Spine of Ish-Shah in SB?

2-3

R6 - Omnitell
Again a nice opp, with a competitive deck, so I'm happy to not play against random junk so low in the standings.
G1
He starts, and... goes combo T2: S&T, Omniscience, Emrakul, win. WOW, it will be hard to beat that!

It's the last game, against a very fast combo deck, so I try my Helm combo kill.
In: 4x Leyline of the Void, Helm
Out: Matrix, Orb, Cloister, 2 other stuff I don't recall

G2
I quickly drop a Chalice @1 to slow him down, drop my Helm, and then a Chalice @2 to null B.Wish, but doing that, I've 3 dead cards in hand (my 3 Transmute Artifact), but that's better for me.
I then wait for a Leyline.
He discards lot of stuff EOT, including one Omniscience, so I assume he has one in hand.
And now, the bizarrest game I played with this deck: we both waits for 1 card which won't come for like 15 turns! Me Leyline of the Void, him S&T.
He sometimes cast Rushing River on both my Chalice, to cast Brainstorm EOT, but get nothing. I re-cast both Chalice next turn.
Unfortunatly for him I find my card first, and mill him.

G3
I draw my 7 and have Leyline so I put it OTB
He starts with Ponder and pass.
Then I've the nuts 7 cards hand: Chrome Mox + blue card to imprint, Island, 2x Signet, Mox Opal, Jace, Force
I drop Island, Chrome Mox, Signet, Mox Opal, Signet and pass, ready to drop Jace next turn
T2 I drop Jace daze-proof as planned, and BS, to get a blue card to pitch to Force if needed, and let a Transmute Artifact on top
T3 He tries to cast S&T, but I counter him (once again Force > Trini)
T3 I cast Transmute Artifact, sac a Signet to get my Helm, and activate it.

3-3

Overall...
The deck:
- made 4 (3 successful, 1 aborted) T2 PW sortie, on 16 games played
- crushed Storm combo and Tempo, as planned
- hasn't any answer to Leyline of Sanctity, Spine?
I made a fatal mistake R2G1, despite an about month long training with it (need to play more for real, not on Cockatrice)
Goblins was very tight, damn Ports
Chalice @1 is a monster in Legacy

I edit to add some thoughts:

Definitively Force of Will >>> Trinisphere.
Force saved my arse in 3 or 4 games, while having Trini in hand... or even on board would've done not so much.
In the R1G1, Force allowed me to simply counter B.Wish and thus Meltdown, Trini on board would've done nothing, just slowing down.

I really like Baleful Strix in this deck.
In my build he's synergic with a lot of cards:
- Chalice @1 protects him from many removals
- He's blue to pitch on Force
- He's artefact and add to affinity
- He's efficient at protecting PW (unless problue, trample ofc)
- He's perfect to cast with Signet
- Perfect origin target to Transmute Artifact (CMC 2), like Signet
- At last with Thoughtcast it helps to dig deep in the deck, to get kills and answers

[TheBoozeCube]

Hi all. I'm new to the archetype (long-time 12Post player), and was hoping for some help. Here's my current list (still very, very rough).

Land
4 Seat of the Synod
2 Vault of Whispers
3 Darksteel Citadel
4 Glimmervoid
1 Creeping Tar Pit
4 Ancient Tomb
3 Wasteland
1 Academy Ruins

Planeswalkers
4 Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas
3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor

Enchantments
2 The Abyss
1 Artificer's Intuition

Creatures
4 Baleful Strix
1 Wurmcoil Engine

Artifacts
4 Chalice of the Void
3 Mox Diamond
2 Mox Opal
2 Crucible of Worlds
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Smokestack
2 Trading Post

Instants
4 Force of Will
3 Thirst for Knowledge
1 Slaughter Pact

Sideboard
1 Cursed Totem
2 Ensnaring Bridge
2 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Tormod's Crypt
1 Pithing Needle
1 Damnation
1 Zuran Orb
3 Abrupt Decay
3 Flusterstorm


- I don't yet have a set of Underground Seas, so I built a more Affinity-like manabase for synergy with Tezz, Thirst, Trading Post, etc.

- Still not sure whether 3x Jaces is too little or 4x Jaces is too many...

- Trying out Artificer's Intuition. Pitches to Force, and can tutor for land, Chalice, EE, and sideboard cards.

- Not sure whether Wurmcoil is good or bad. It seems good in a long game coupled with Post and/or Smokestack, plus late-game lifegain is huge because of Ancient Tomb. On the other hand, it's a 6-drop and bad vs StP/Path/Terminus.

- Is 1x Smokestack enough? And if I up the count, do I need more Crucibles (and if so, how many is optimal)?

- In addition to the usual decks (RUG, UW, S&T, etc), my local meta has a disproportionate amount of people playing Storm and 43 Lands.

- Is 3x Diamonds enough?

Like I said, I'm brand new to this archetype, so any help would be appreciated (especially with the sideboard).

[Megadeus]

Playing UB Tez no Jace tonight. I went 2-2 but shouldve at least 3-1-1 making top 8 at least. I punted when I had an Ensnaring Bridge out and he tapped one of my lands I forgot to tap it for mana in response and died to his 1/1's killing me... :'( No one really posts in this forum sadly... Beat Bant, and then RG Aggro with Blood Moons MB and KGrips main... Lost to Farie Ninjitsu stax of some kind, then I lost to Jund Zombardment. Somewhat punted both games though I dont think I wouldve beaten Jund either way. Got to play Fettergeist in my SB as a 3 of though. Long story short, it was pretty sweet.

[.dk]

Personally, I think the best direction for this list is a little more along the lines of Caleb's (UB Tezz) deck.

The Abyss, while badass, is pretty awful when so many people are running Mother of Runes and Nimble Mongeese. Damnation is probably better at the moment.

I do still like Lejay's "Bridgewalker" build, and think that a hybrid between that and the UB Tezz deck could be pretty awesome. Baleful strix and trading post seem pretty great as well. It's possible that Strix is enough that loading up on Ensnaring Bridge is no longer required to protect your planeswalkers though - which would really put the better build more like UB Tezz.

Dunno - just some thoughts. I've been thinking about working on this deck again in recent months, however a few other decks have been occupying my time at a higher priority. :)

[frogger42]

The Abyss, while badass,

Yes, sir, yes it is.

I've seen a lot of lists with Strix and I'm still not convinced it's all that boss. It's a support piece, as opposed to a piece that breaks the game, like Abyss (which is badass, I hear) or Jace or something. Both Abyss and Strix flail to Mother of Runes, unfortunately, and Mav is a rough rough rough MU. But cash is definitely the motivating factor here. It's your Swords to Plowshares in the deck!

So about the Strix. The rough part about the deck is that in the beginning of the game, you're running to gain traction, and two Goyfs and a FoW plus Daze outpaces you. Strix is an easy-to-answer dude who doesn't block up the main arteries of most decks' gameplans (and he activates all those bolts and StoPs your opponent was going to Brainstorm away), though he his annoying. But considering you're running Tombs and stuff, would you rather drop Tezz at UB2 or Strix at UB in one turn? The deck's plays are predicated on its available colored mana, which generally hits 1-2 and stays there most of the game. And don't underestimate Crucible, it's a great win-con that gains traction when you can't land a PW'er 2-3 turns in a row.

I also love Chalice @ 2. 1 Hurts, but 2 is game. I feel that there might be a better card somewhere at U2 or B2 (or UB2) to make use of those Tombs. I haven't seen a whole lot of candidates printed for this deck in the past few sets, strangely enough.

I'd add Creeping Tar Pit to my list, over a U Sea. Tutorable with the Wests in my list. Glad to see someone put it in, and I think I saw an Intuition to snag it in that list, too. Good call.