[Deck] Mono Blue Stax: need critcism

[InResponseForceOfWill]

I currently play Mono White Armageddon Stax. I want to try turning it into blue. The following is my hypothetical build for a mono blue aggro style Stax. Please kindly let me know if I'm a nub and should just junk the idea, or make suggestions on how I could make it a valid deck. Thanks!


4 Mox Diamond
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Smokestack
4 Crucible of Worlds
3 Tangle Wire
3 Trinisphere
3 Lodestone Golem
3 Metalworker
2 Karn, Silver Golem

3 Master of Etherium
2 Tezzeret
2 Propaganda

4 Seat of the Synod
4 City of Traitors
4 Ancient Tomb
3 Mishra’s Factory
3 Wasteland
3 Island
1 Academy Ruins



Edit: edited list: Need suggestions on what to sub out for 3-4x Thirst for Knowledge

[Hopo]

First, you have no mana acceleration, which means you cannot get the best play ever: 1st turn Trinisphere. You need Moxen, most likely Diamonds since Chrome Mox doesn't imprint artifacts.
Second, you are playing Metalworker but not the other piece of the winning combo: Staff of Domination. I believe this should be fixed.

Cards lacking from your list which are supposed to be good in blue stax:
Thirst for Knowledge
Mindlock Orb

I think that Mindlock Orb, Tezzeret and Thirst for Knowledge are the reasons why you should even play a blue version in the first place, but others may think otherwise.

[Equinozio]

I
7 Seat of the Synod



LOL. you can't run 7. Is not a basic island. You can run only 4.

[InResponseForceOfWill]

Yah just before you posted this I made the edit realizing I forgot to include the Mox. They're in my white build I play now, it's obviously a staple to the deck...

I really like Thirst for Knowledge in there. Would that be a 4 of?

I don't really like Mindlock Orb. If it read, opponents can't search libraries, I'd consider. As it stands it hinders Tezzys -X ability which can be very useful. I don't care if my opponent's getting stuff out of his library, because even if he can play whatever he gets, I'll have a few ways to lock it or nullify it.

[InResponseForceOfWill]

LOL. you can't run 7. Is not a basic island. You can run only 4.


Hahaha wow I'm retarded... That didn't even occur to me. Good catch. rofl

[Shadowdale]

I have been trying to do the same thing but using Mana Vortex instead of smokestack.

[InResponseForceOfWill]

I have been trying to do the same thing but using Mana Vortex instead of smokestack.

Interesting, but it only deals with lands and you can't clock it up. Not to mention it requires 2 UU and more than half the mana base is colorless. Might work for you but I'm going stick with Smokestack... since that's what the deck is named after.

[Esper3k]

Why Karn? It's not like we're playing Vintage where he blows up moxen.

I had been fiddling around with a mono blue Stax deck and was playing with Grand Architect.

[Shadowdale]

No worries man I wasnt ripping on you or your deck. I hope it works out for you.

[InResponseForceOfWill]

No worries man I wasnt ripping on you or your deck. I hope it works out for you.

I didn't take it as you ripping on my deck. I appreciate the comment. I didn't even know a card like that existed, so I'm glad you posted it. I hope it works out for me too. :)

[InResponseForceOfWill]

Why Karn? It's not like we're playing Vintage where he blows up moxen.

I had been fiddling around with a mono blue Stax deck and was playing with Grand Architect.

Ooo Architect, interesting. That'll be a good card to play test after I get a basic frame.

I don't know about Karn either. I saw him listed on a Stax thread as possible creatures. I thought he looked fun. And yes obviously he's far superior in Vintage. He'll prob be cut for some CA cards like Thirst for Knowledge.

[kiblast]

to make this work, you need 4x mox diamond, or at least some different mana ramp pieces like grim monoliths (enables t1 trini) and voltaic key. I know voltaic key goes right against your chalice @1, but tezzeret will fix that for you.

[GoldenCid]

I'm trying with "combo" version Like "Tinker Blue stax":

Check it out:

// Lands
4 [TE] Ancient Tomb
4 [EX] City of Traitors
4 [TE] Wasteland
4 [AQ] Mishra's Factory (3)
4 [MR] Seat of the Synod
2 [DS] Darksteel Citadel

// Creatures
4 [UD] Metalworker
4 [WWK] Lodestone Golem
1 [DS] Sundering Titan
1 [SOM] Wurmcoil Engine
2 [CFX] Master Transmuter
4 [SOM] Kuldotha Forgemaster
1 [SOM] Steel Hellkite
1 [DS] Darksteel Colossus

// Spells
4 [MR] Chalice of the Void
4 [DS] Trinisphere
3 [FD] Crucible of Worlds
4 [SH] Mox Diamond
2 [ROE] All Is Dust
1 [FD] Staff of Domination
2 [8E] Ensnaring Bridge

// Sideboard
SB: 3 [TSB] Tormod's Crypt
SB: 2 [DS] Sundering Titan
SB: 2 [5E] Jester's Cap
SB: 1 [SOM] Wurmcoil Engine
SB: 3 [TE] Chill
SB: 3 [UD] Powder Keg
SB: 1 [8E] Ensnaring Bridge

I think its clear! Lock pieces + Kuldotha + Fatty wins the game!!
Thoughts??

[ii crush]

mana vortex

[Holyste]

I don't understand why u play 4 crucible of worlds, I think 2 are enough. I would play some rebounces. So my suggestions are:
-2 crucible
-1 master of etherium

+3 thirst for knowledge

Maybe u could also cut all mishra's factories for blue mana.

So:
-3 mishra's
-1 tezzeret

+ 2 islands
+ 2 Jace TMS

[GoldenCid]

For me it's not healthy adding non-aRtifact cards. I'm playing my refined "combo" verssion and goes pretty well!

[Holyste]

For me it's not healthy adding non-aRtifact cards. I'm playing my refined "combo" verssion and goes pretty well!

Yeah, I see, but i think your deck is a little fragile: a naturalize or krosan grip or something similar played well can really put you in a difficult situation since u can't draw or control your drawings. So i would put at least 3 sensei's divining tops if u want only artifacts and some spells to slow down your opponent, like tangle wires or smockstacks. Also, i think u really need academy ruins.
Maybe u could drop ur mishra's for some red mana and play Shrapnel Blast.

[wally2345]

I have been toying with mono blue "stax" in the previous months after playing mono white. Stax decks all have the best matchup against the field the only problem is it cannot manipulate the deck like other decks, so it ends up losing to itself. My current build has the following:


4x Trinisphere
4x Chalice of the Void
4x Ratchet Bomb
2x Ensnaring Bridge
3x Crucible of Worlds
2x Steel Hellkite
1x Smokestack
4x Tezzeret
1x Crystal Ball
3x Staff of Domination
4x Metalworker

4x Mox Diamond
4x Seat of the Synod
4x Darksteel Citadel
4x Ancient Tomb
3x City of Traitors
3x Wasteland
1x Island
1x Academy Ruins
4x Mishra's Factory



Adding Ratchet bomb to the deck seems far superior to Powder keg because you can use tez to untap it. Also Ratchet Bomb makes 12 first turn plays that will slow down your opponent. The problem with playtesting the field game 1 it folds automatically to goblins and Landstill, however that can be fixed with proper side board.

[Broham]

I run a very similar land base in my deck. Have you tried out or considered Thoughtcast instead of TFK? I realize it's a sorcery, but it's not like you'll be digging in response, and the one Blue mana is a so much easier.

[Holyste]

I run a very similar land base in my deck. Have you tried out or considered Thoughtcast instead of TFK? I realize it's a sorcery, but it's not like you'll be digging in response, and the one Blue mana is a so much easier.

The reason why TFK is better than Thoughtcast is the fact that u draw 3 cards instead of 2, even if u have to discard one of them. Anyways we are not as fast as an affinity so we would never play Thoughtcast for a blue mana on turn 3/4, but only from turn 5, and usually we don't have problems to pay 3 mana instead of 1 at that time.

[GoldenCid]

The reason why TFK is better than Thoughtcast is the fact that u draw 3 cards instead of 2, even if u have to discard one of them. Anyways we are not as fast as an affinity so we would never play Thoughtcast for a blue mana on turn 3/4, but only from turn 5, and usually we don't have problems to pay 3 mana instead of 1 at that time.

I'm running no draw engine (almost). I repeat i'm playing combo, not control so much (the typical). Here's my list:

// Deck file for Magic Workstation (http://www.magicworkstation.com)

// Lands
4 [TE] Ancient Tomb
4 [EX] City of Traitors
4 [TE] Wasteland
4 [AQ] Mishra's Factory (3)
4 [MR] Seat of the Synod
1 [DS] Darksteel Citadel
1 [TSP] Academy Ruins

// Creatures
4 [UD] Metalworker
4 [WWK] Lodestone Golem
2 [DS] Sundering Titan
2 [CFX] Master Transmuter
4 [SOM] Kuldotha Forgemaster

// Spells
4 [MR] Chalice of the Void
4 [DS] Trinisphere
4 [FD] Crucible of Worlds
4 [SH] Mox Diamond
2 [ROE] All Is Dust
2 [8E] Ensnaring Bridge
2 [FD] Staff of Domination

// Sideboard
SB: 2 [SOM] Wurmcoil Engine
SB: 3 [TSB] Tormod's Crypt
SB: 2 [5E] Jester's Cap
SB: 3 [TE] Chill
SB: 3 [UD] Powder Keg
SB: 1 [DS] Darksteel Colossus
SB: 1 [US] Stroke of Genius (not decided definitely)

I show consistency at last!! Titan is great!!! And forgemaster too!!!

[Ubiquitous Druid]

I've been thinking about this as a possible deck for a long time. My starting piece was Parallax Tide.

Turn 1: 3Sphere, Turn 2: Stax, Turn 3: Tide is pretty backbreaking for most decks as they have to keep sacrificing their business to stax and by the time they get their land back, you've got other lock-pieces in place. I understand the mana cost is prohibitive, but it is a fun and interesting card.

[wally2345]

I've been thinking about this as a possible deck for a long time. My starting piece was Parallax Tide.

Turn 1: 3Sphere, Turn 2: Stax, Turn 3: Tide is pretty backbreaking for most decks as they have to keep sacrificing their business to stax and by the time they get their land back, you've got other lock-pieces in place. I understand the mana cost is prohibitive, but it is a fun and interesting card.

turn 1 3-sphere can happen but its not as likely as getting turn 1 2 mana worth of sources. What you described was basically the nuts draw and your opponent is not packing FoW or wasteland. Also, parallax tide is not exactly a hard lock as it goes away eventually. I have found Darksteel Citadel very good as it is indestructible nearly ensuring you will make your 3 drops.

I believe in math and the likelihood you are to draw a card in your opening hand. The optimal number of cards that you want to play first turn as a way to slow down your opponent needs to be 11. That will nearly guarantee you will open 1 in your opening hand. The top 3 turn 1 plays I have found are 3-sphere, CotV on 1, or a Ratchet Bomb. All of the previous cards should slow your opponent down enough for you to drop a few lock pieces. That can be 11 or 12 slots dedicated to slowing the game down.

Another idea is to run Steel Hellkite as a finisher. Its x ability to clean-up an opponents threats, also good paired with a smokestacks.

[dahcmai]

Blue does give you the "other" Trinisphere. In the Eye of Chaos It's quite nasty in a deck that can actually use it and this one can.