W/U Stasis Work in progress

[Spawnk]

I just put this deck together I was on reddit and someone had given me the idea for it. I'd like to know what you guys think about it and how it could be made better.

Artifacts
4x Sensei's Divining top
2x Sword of feast and famine

Creatures
3x Mystic Penitent
4x Serra Avenger

Enchantment
4x Counterbalance
3x Stasis
1x Kismet

Instant
4x Brainstorm
3x Daze
4x Enlightened Tutor
3x Force of will
4x Swords to plowshares

21land

Sideboard: Subject to much change
2x Tidal Bore
3x Thwart
1x Kira, great glass-spinner
1x blustersquall
1x Kismet
2x Flusterstorm
1x Cursed Totem

[Jenni]

There is already a Stasis thread a few pages back that may help: http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/showthread.php?8615-Deck-Stasis

As well as my Casual Stasis thread which might offer some interesting ideas: http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/showthread.php?24510-Casual-Stasis-Tog

For general tips, I would say more than one kismet or similar effect in the deck would be nice, since if your one gets destroyed somehow, say with a Qasali pride mage, then you can't get a hard lock on the game anymore.
You might want Frozen Aether, since it can pitch to force, or Orb of dreams, since it's cheaper, over Kismet.

The counter-top lock seems redundant, if you're using that, why not just use an actual counter-top deck or miracles? I understand counter-top isn't quite the complete lock-out stasis can be, but usually it's good enough to keep your opponent out of the game for as long as needed anyway.

Mystic Penitant seems a bit overkill as well, if you're locking them out of the game then you should have time to find one of your avengers, especially with brainstorm and top helping dig.

[dillonkbase]

I think 4 daze and perhaps snap over swords to plowshares could be smart.

not sure if I like the counter-top engine here either, I think some Planeswalkers make more sense, they can win without tapping or mana.

Misdirrection may be good here as well as forces 5or6

Finally Serra avenger seems slow to cast with WW and the restriction on casting the first 3 turns, I would want something quicker instead.

[Spawnk]

I have top lock in the deck because I want to get some set up time for stasis. I like the frozen aether idea. What would you put I'm place of the counter balance?

[Jenni]

I have top lock in the deck because I want to get some set up time for stasis. I like the frozen aether idea. What would you put I'm place of the counter balance?

JaceTMS is the first thing that comes to mind, really, if your opponent can't do anything then Jace ults pretty easily and ends the game in short order. Plus he gives you more draw power and his + ability can be a soft lock in it's own rite.

For a budget, maybe Jace Beleren and Ebony Owl Netsuke or two, once the lock is in place his howling mine effect makes the owl a fast clock, and he can still mill them out, and again it's additional draw power if nothing else.

Edit: something else I've been considering for my own stasis brew actually, is tangle wire. Tapping down your opponent can be huge early on, buying you time to set up, and once the lock is in place it makes sure they can't really recover easily.

[Poron]

80% of the "stasis effect" is replaced by a Back to Basics. and for a single U

there are decks endlessly more competitive than how Stasis' ones will ever be that live on the same "denial" strategy

[Jenni]

80% of the "stasis effect" is replaced by a Back to Basics. and for a single U

there are decks endlessly more competitive than how Stasis' ones will ever be that live on the same "denial" strategy

Also winter orb has a similar effect with no colour commitment (at higher cost, but Sol lands handle that easily), counter-top is a more consistent way to keep your opponent out of the game. static orb can have a weaker effect at slightly higher cost, but is colourless and can be tapped on opponent's end step to allow you to untap to keep a large advantage, the Stax decks can just blow up the opponent's field rather than tapping it, Tangle wires can have a temporary effect that's equally powerful and recurring them can be almost as effective as a hard lock.

There is a lot of potential for prison decks in legacy, and stasis is admittedly one of the weaker ones.

That said, I've still won games off of stasis locks, it's far from the best deck I've played, but it is fun to play at least, and as a lover of prison decks, it's one of my favourite decks to play around with.

As for how competitive it actually is... well my stasis deck can usually lock down the game on turn 4-6 but can have it as early as turn 3, with permission and removal to hold out until then, which is a bit slow, and it mulligans poorly, so it's not that great. I have had virtually no trouble finding the lock pieces though, even with brainstorm as my only draw fixing/cantrip.