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Thread: [Deck] Armageddon Stax

  1. #1101
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    Re: [Deck] Armageddon Stax

    // Lands
    3 [AQ] Mishra's Factory (4)
    3 [TE] Ancient Tomb
    1 [NE] Kor Haven
    3 [TE] Wasteland
    4 [EX] City of Traitors
    4 [TSP] Flagstones of Trokair
    8 [4E] Plains (1)

    // Creatures
    3 [ALA] Elspeth, Knight-Errant

    // Spells
    4 [LG] Moat
    4 [SH] Mox Diamond
    3 [TE] Humility
    2 [LRW] Oblivion Ring
    4 [MR] Chalice of the Void
    3 [DS] Trinisphere
    4 [FD] Crucible of Worlds
    3 [b] Armageddon
    4 [US] Smokestack

    // Sideboard
    SB: 2 [LRW] Oblivion Ring
    SB: 2 [REW] Powder Keg
    SB: 3 [OD] Sphere of Law
    SB: 3 [UL] Defense Grid
    SB: 2 [5E] Wrath of God
    SB: 3 [WL] Null Rod
    I thought 2 Oblivion Ring was retarded.

    Anyway, Ancient Tomb, like Crucible, should be an undisputed 4-of. It's the best land next to Flagstones. Maybe you should a Factory since you run Moat anyway.

    Other than that, I can't argue against your numbers. Armageddon is what makes the deck, but perhaps times have changed. I always ran 5 Geddon or Ravage of War. But since you're running Elspeth and the gang, the Armageddon route might not be Stax's number 1 goal anymore. 4 Smokestack should be correct, since you have Elspeth and you have more perms available in extra Moat/Humility.

    Have you tried Horizon Canopy? I run a singleton. Needless to say, it's an engine with Crucible of Worlds.

    If you wanna go crazy and try interesting cards, awhile back I suggested trying out Beseech the Queen. Pretty left field, huh? I thought of using it because it can fetch Crucible/Armageddon when you're in a stalemate. Plus, it can fetch utility land. Just throwing it out there.

    Bottled Cloister is another sb option.

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    Re: [Deck] Armageddon Stax

    Yeah, I couldn't figure out what else to cut beyond lands, which was not something I wanted to do considering the chief reason I cut a card was to make it so I had more lands and a sixty card deck. Geddons are not as important in a variant that does not run magus or prison though. Geddon is still a backbreaker, but is not required to win as I have found out number of times after clearing an opponent's board with a ramped up smoker(three counters).

    Cloister is interesting, but it doesn't really fill any holes that auras getting ousted left. Rods do though.

    I will see for sure, but I have a sneaking suspicion that I will end up siding out something for a ring in numerous games. Hopefully I won't lose as a result of missing one in the main and having it in the side instead, but it's just mws anyway.

    I honestly could not think of any other non land cards to remove and I know someone will suggest smoker and no way to that. Smoker is way, way to awesome to cut a copy of...I think it is pretty much either remove a land and have only twenty-five(I don't like this at all because it weakens my ability to cast a geddon raw) or remove a ring and not be able to remove something as consistently...more often than not, I am removing goyfs and other stuff that involves creatures, which humility and moat deal with anyway, so o-ring seems more feasible. I am still hesitant all the same.
    Quote Originally Posted by Nihil Credo View Post
    With Crucible, you have a deck full of high-quality cocaine powder ready to be snorted from 20-year-old Kylie Minogue's ass. Play fucking four.
    -It could be about four of anything and I would agree.

  3. #1103
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    Re: [Deck] Armageddon Stax

    @Mordel:

    Here's a list I made:

    4 Flags
    4 Tomb
    3 Cities
    2 Factories
    2 Wasteland
    1 Kor Haven
    1 Horizon Canopy
    8 Snow Plains

    3 Elspeth

    4 Diamond
    4 Crucible
    4 Smokestack
    4 3Ball
    4 CotV
    3 Moat
    2 Humility
    3 Geddon
    2 Ravages
    2 o-Ring

  4. #1104
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    Re: [Deck] Armageddon Stax

    So, it appears as though there are 3 distinct builds of the Stax archetype in this thread:

    (1.) Armageddon Stax. (mono-white, traditional build)
    (2.) Dutch Stax. (mono-white, Elspeth & Moats)
    (3.) Vengeance Stax. (white w/ red splash for Ajani and other red goodies)

    Could someone breakdown each decks' strengths, weaknesses, and most importantly, matchups where one build easily trumps another build (for example, if Dutch Stax >>>> Armageddon Stax in the ___ matchup, please go into detail as to how and why)?

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    Re: [Deck] Armageddon Stax

    I'll work on that for $keg/RichPeople$tax.

    On a sixty-first card note, I decided to just put the o-ring back in and leave the deck at 61. I added one more keg to compensate for the missing slot in the sb.
    Quote Originally Posted by Nihil Credo View Post
    With Crucible, you have a deck full of high-quality cocaine powder ready to be snorted from 20-year-old Kylie Minogue's ass. Play fucking four.
    -It could be about four of anything and I would agree.

  6. #1106

    Re: [Deck] Armageddon Stax

    I have some pretty comprehensive match-up data on the 'standard' build that I'm willing to put out there. I'll start compiling and post something probably early next week.

    -FB...

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    Re: [Deck] Armageddon Stax

    Quote Originally Posted by Fred Bear View Post
    I have some pretty comprehensive match-up data on the 'standard' build that I'm willing to put out there. I'll start compiling and post something probably early next week.

    -FB...
    He speaks!

    Hmmm, so you considered and passed-over the additions of moat and humility?

    Edit: I don't know if people on mws(randoms, not playtest buddies) suck or they have no idea how to play against $tax/the build that I have comes out of the blue, but it is undefeated by dreadstill. They don't seem to have shit on it. I don't even bother to bring in the defense grids against them most of the time. I just finished up a game against some dude and I missed like seven land drops after the first three(first land was a city that was used to get a CoTV for one) and he was getting a fetch land out almost every other turn and counters up the ass and still lost a horrible death to a smoker lock and did the patented *player lost*
    Quote Originally Posted by Nihil Credo View Post
    With Crucible, you have a deck full of high-quality cocaine powder ready to be snorted from 20-year-old Kylie Minogue's ass. Play fucking four.
    -It could be about four of anything and I would agree.

  8. #1108
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    Re: [Deck] Armageddon Stax

    Played a tournament last night, very bad night. I don't know where everyone was at, and there was about eleven of us:(. I had the bye the first round, which was just horrible, because I hate not playing Magic! Round two, I was paired against Enchantress (Solitaire). My first hand was normal (4 Lands, Smokestax, Ravages, Crucible). He cast a turn two Aura of Silence, and THe game just started going downhill, because on turn 6, after I cast CoW, I lose, but I couldn't do Much. Game two I sided in Halo's and Needles, and I raced him with a turn 2 Angel, turn 3 armageddon both games. SB didn't do much, but I find the best way to beat Solitaire is to just race them.

    Game three was against Faerie Stompy, Which I usually beat. Long story short, I mulled to 5, and Lost game one. Game two I CoTV for 0 turn one, and after wasting the Ancient Tomb and Casting 3sphere, 10 turns with MotT wins me game 2. Game three, It was close, Ancient Tomb and Serendib take me down to about 3, when Runed Halo Saves my life when I get Down to 3 life. I drop a few Ghostly Prisons, and Cast Ravages, but He Drop's Pestermite, and Just kills me with a lack of mana. Very depressing.

    Game four, Aggro Loam, and I was testing Needle. Needless to say Suppression Field helped me stand a Chance, But! I tested needle, and after he cast Chalice for one, my luck just ran out (not that I had any luck at all!). Seismic Assault Kills Me, and as good as O. Ring is, It stops me from dieing to C Crusher. but Seismic Assault Kills me Game 2.

    So I weaseled Myself into top 4, and I got the chance again At faerie stompy. I Drop turn 1 Trinisphere, I Drop turn 2 Elspeth, and just beat his face into the ground. Game 2, Triple FoW is pretty good, especially since I'm getting Land fucked, and Game three came down to the wire. I had MotT in play, casted Armageddon, but a Bad play mistake on my end lost me the Game. I'm thinking of getting a tattoo on my hand to remind me face down Angel gets countered with CoTV at 0. Needless to say, I had a bad night

    I play tested a lot last night, against numerous decks, and I found that with the Blood Moons, I beat Threshold, and Team America a lot more. With the Needles instead of Suppression Field, I lose a lot more to Aggro Loam, and decks with multiple activated abilities.

    Overall, Defense Grid is showing a lot better results than Rule of Law. I like Runed Halo a lot, and I think I am keeping it in my Sideboard. Blood Moon helps against a lot of decks, so I will continue to test it. There hasnt been a lot of dredge in My format, so Crypts are out for a little while. I find Ghostly Prison can beat dreadstill fairly easy (until I get Moats). I tested 2 Elspeth instead of Ajani, and I think It worked a lot better. Ajani is just too slow for Stax (if that is even possible). If anyone has any good reason's for Ajani, please let me know.
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  9. #1109
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    Re: [Deck] Armageddon Stax

    Quote Originally Posted by OneBigSquirrelGod View Post
    If anyone has any good reason's for Ajani, please let me know.
    The only reason I wanted to test Ajani was because (a.) it opens up all sorts of red goodies (Blood Moon), (b.) it gives you a win condition that doesn't use the red zone, and (c.) it's one-sided Armageddon ability can potentially change the complexion of the deck.

    EDIT: For those who have tested the red splash, did Goblin Welder ever get any consideration (as a SB card against control perhaps)?

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    Re: [Deck] Armageddon Stax

    Rule of Law and Grid serve completely different purposes...I don't get it. Is there a solidarity deck there or something that makes them viable in the same match? Rule of law seems good against combo and that's it, whereas Grid stops counters early on etc.
    Quote Originally Posted by Nihil Credo View Post
    With Crucible, you have a deck full of high-quality cocaine powder ready to be snorted from 20-year-old Kylie Minogue's ass. Play fucking four.
    -It could be about four of anything and I would agree.

  11. #1111
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    Re: [Deck] Armageddon Stax

    @Mordel

    Rule of Law served a purpose when the environment was really heavy, but I realize that I have enough Mainboard hate to beat combo anyways. My metagame consists of everything, so it is very difficult to find the correct sideboard cards. Solitaire is a very difficult matchup for my deck, so Rule of Law does help against it.

    I've tested Ajani, and when I get it, it helps a lot. Ajani doesn't stay on the board long enough to destroy lands, and if it does, there usually is no reason to destroy their lands (because I have them locked out. I think Elspeth is way better to play. I still switch him in and out depending if I am playing a red splash. His first ability is good, especially early on, but he is real easy to kill (only bad part).
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  12. #1112
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    Re: [Deck] Armageddon Stax

    Hey guys, I thought I'd drop by again and tell you about what I did yesterday, arrogantly but conveniently ignoring the suggestions about 4 Ancient Tombs and ramblings about Bottled Cloyster.

    So, yesterday there was a tournament with top4 in Utrecht. 31 people attended, among them was me, with $keg$tax. Let me bore you guys first with a list:

    ADHD $keg$tax
    Code:
    3 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
    4 Moat
    4 Humility
    4 Oblivion Ring
    3 Smokestack
    2 Armageddon
    1 Ravages of War
    4 Crucible of Worlds
    4 Chalice of the Void
    2 Trinisphere
    4 Mox Diamond
    
    1 Kor Haven
    3 Wasteland
    3 Mishra's Factory
    3 Ancient Tomb
    3 City of Traitors
    8 Plains
    1 Plateau
    3 Flagstones of Trokair (thanks The Wes ;-) )
    Sideboard:
    Code:
    2 Wrath of God
    2 Boil
    4 Powder Keg
    3 Pithing Needle
    1 Suppression Field (didn't have the 4th Needle)
    2 Trinisphere
    1 Armageddon
    So there I was, at the start of the tournament, wanting to really test $keg$tax...because it had cost me lotsacash .

    Anyway, round 1, against RW aggro boros-deck-wins-kinda stuff.

    Long story short, he had no answer for either Humility or Moat. I had no idea what to board in against him, because it was such an easy match-up. I think I threw in some Powder Kegs for Trinispheres or something. Didn't really matter, because I won 2-0.

    Round 2, Domain Zoo Sligh thingie.

    I won the first game because of Humility and eventually a Moat. The second and third game I lost because of Krosan Grip + Burn...ouch. Lost this one 1-2, so my current standing is 1-1-0. Not very impressive so far...perhaps I should consider CoP:Red. Oh by the way, Ancient Tomb really hurt me here, so playing 4? I really prefer 3.

    Round 3, Boros Deck Wins.

    Boros Deck didn't win. I won 2-1. The second game I lost because of lotsa burn. Perhaps I should consider CoP:Red. Current standing: 2-1-0.

    Round 4, Rgb Goblins.

    Game 1 was pretty easy; Moat and Humility shutting him down. Game 2 I sided a bit odd, and connecting Lacky with very fast Goblins and Krosan Grips really got me bad. Game 3 I won because of Humility, Moat, Smokestack, Armageddon, and he was locked. It got closer than I thought it would. Krosan Grip is a bitch. Especially with all those little red men. Perhaps I should consider CoP:Red. Anyway, current standing now: 3-1-0...we're getting somewhere.

    Round 5, Goblins 2.0; aka Little Blue Men, Fish, Merfolk.

    In my eyes they're things that swim, but can't get through a Moat . I won this one 2-0. Current standing 4-1-0, amagad I might get into top4 .

    Round 6, TES.

    My opening hand had something like, Geddon, Geddon, Smokestack, Crucible and 3 good lands. So I mulled that into: Wasteland, City of Traitors, Wasteland, Trinisphere, 2 other cards I didn't care about. I was on the play, so I drop my Wasteland, go. He drops an Undiscovered Paradise, go. I drop Trinisphere, turn later I Waste his land, then I waste another land, then I draw anther wasteland to waste another land...and he only plays 11 lands...with Trinisphere in play, that was a problem for him. So he scooped them up. Game 2 I held a hand with a turn 2 Trinisphere again. He was on the play. He threw down a land and I think a Chrome Mox, go. I drop a land, go. Turn 2 he tries to go off, but can't. My turn 2 I drop Trinisphere and from then on it was pretty much game over.

    Current Standings: 5-1-0, I'm going into the top4 as first on the list leading with 15 points.

    Semi-Finals: F-MUC. Just my luck; this is a really really bad MU for me. He just packs too much control, and I'm too slow. Game 1 he wins, countering everything I have and keeping me low with Back to Basics. Game 2 I won; he didn't have enough counters and I had him locked with a resolved Moat and a resolved Humility (after I resolved a Trinisphere and a Boil, MUHAHAHA). Game 3 I had a great hand, but his hand was better: 3 FoW. Nothing I tried to play came through, and then he ended it with Back to Basics.

    So I end 3rd-4th place together with TES I beat earlier in the Swiss. I have to conclude that $keg$tax is fun to play, it's solid and it's, above all, a good deck. I must admit I had some luck with the match-ups, but I guess $keg$tax was simply a good choice for this meta.

    Props: Cool opponents, Fahad (the guy who invented and played F-MUC) even gave me an Elspeth, because he knew I needed one. The Prize-support was pretty great, everyone with 9+ points recieved something. And ofcourse, $keg$tax for being awesome

    Slops: eerh...can't really think of any. It was a great tournament .
    Last edited by Skeggi; 12-08-2008 at 10:03 AM. Reason: Forgot Flagstones in the list...oops ;)
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  13. #1113
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    Re: [Deck] Armageddon Stax

    Quote Originally Posted by Skeggi View Post
    Hey guys, I thought I'd drop by again and tell you about what I did yesterday, arrogantly but conveniently ignoring the suggestions about 4 Ancient Tombs and ramblings about Bottled Cloyster.

    So, yesterday there was a tournament with top4 in Utrecht. 31 people attended, among them was me, with $keg$tax. Let me bore you guys first with a list:

    ADHD $keg$tax
    Code:
    3 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
    4 Moat
    4 Humility
    4 Oblivion Ring
    3 Smokestack
    2 Armageddon
    1 Ravages of War
    4 Crucible of Worlds
    4 Chalice of the Void
    2 Trinisphere
    4 Mox Diamond
    
    1 Kor Haven
    3 Wasteland
    3 Mishra's Factory
    3 Ancient Tomb
    3 City of Traitors
    8 Plains
    1 Plateau
    Sideboard:
    Code:
    2 Wrath of God
    2 Boil
    4 Powder Keg
    3 Pithing Needle
    1 Suppression Field (didn't have the 4th Needle)
    2 Trinisphere
    1 Armageddon
    So there I was, at the start of the tournament, wanting to really test $keg$tax...because it had cost me lotsacash .

    Anyway, round 1, against RW aggro boros-deck-wins-kinda stuff.

    Long story short, he had no answer for either Humility or Moat. I had no idea what to board in against him, because it was such an easy match-up. I think I threw in some Powder Kegs for Trinispheres or something. Didn't really matter, because I won 2-0.

    Round 2, Domain Zoo Sligh thingie.

    I won the first game because of Humility and eventually a Moat. The second and third game I lost because of Krosan Grip + Burn...ouch. Lost this one 1-2, so my current standing is 1-1-0. Not very impressive so far...perhaps I should consider CoP:Red. Oh by the way, Ancient Tomb really hurt me here, so playing 4? I really prefer 3.

    Round 3, Boros Deck Wins.

    Boros Deck didn't win. I won 2-1. The second game I lost because of lotsa burn. Perhaps I should consider CoP:Red. Current standing: 2-1-0.

    Round 4, Rgb Goblins.

    Game 1 was pretty easy; Moat and Humility shutting him down. Game 2 I sided a bit odd, and connecting Lacky with very fast Goblins and Krosan Grips really got me bad. Game 3 I won because of Humility, Moat, Smokestack, Armageddon, and he was locked. It got closer than I thought it would. Krosan Grip is a bitch. Especially with all those little red men. Perhaps I should consider CoP:Red. Anyway, current standing now: 3-1-0...we're getting somewhere.

    Round 5, Goblins 2.0; aka Little Blue Men, Fish, Merfolk.

    In my eyes they're things that swim, but can't get through a Moat . I won this one 2-0. Current standing 4-1-0, amagad I might get into top4 .

    Round 6, TES.

    My opening hand had something like, Geddon, Geddon, Smokestack, Crucible and 3 good lands. So I mulled that into: Wasteland, City of Traitors, Wasteland, Trinisphere, 2 other cards I didn't care about. I was on the play, so I drop my Wasteland, go. He drops an Undiscovered Paradise, go. I drop Trinisphere, turn later I Waste his land, then I waste another land, then I draw anther wasteland to waste another land...and he only plays 11 lands...with Trinisphere in play, that was a problem for him. So he scooped them up. Game 2 I held a hand with a turn 2 Trinisphere again. He was on the play. He threw down a land and I think a Chrome Mox, go. I drop a land, go. Turn 2 he tries to go off, but can't. My turn 2 I drop Trinisphere and from then on it was pretty much game over.

    Current Standings: 5-1-0, I'm going into the top4 as first on the list leading with 15 points.

    Semi-Finals: F-MUC. Just my luck; this is a really really bad MU for me. He just packs too much control, and I'm too slow. Game 1 he wins, countering everything I have and keeping me low with Back to Basics. Game 2 I won; he didn't have enough counters and I had him locked with a resolved Moat and a resolved Humility (after I resolved a Trinisphere and a Boil, MUHAHAHA). Game 3 I had a great hand, but his hand was better: 3 FoW. Nothing I tried to play came through, and then he ended it with Back to Basics.

    So I end 3rd-4th place together with TES I beat earlier in the Swiss. I have to conclude that $keg$tax is fun to play, it's solid and it's, above all, a good deck. I must admit I had some luck with the match-ups, but I guess $keg$tax was simply a good choice for this meta.

    Props: Cool opponents, Fahad (the guy who invented and played F-MUC) even gave me an Elspeth, because he knew I needed one. The Prize-support was pretty great, everyone with 9+ points recieved something. And ofcourse, $keg$tax for being awesome

    Slops: eerh...can't really think of any. It was a great tournament .

    The 4th Ancient Tomb will allow you to drop Humility/Moat/Elspeth a turn faster thus saving your way more than those 2 dmg in average.
    A. Tomb allows you to drop Trinisphere earlier and increases the chances for turn 1 chalices.
    Lifeloss is just no reason not to run it in my opinion.
    If you're concerned about burn and other red stuff try out Sphere of Law or Ajani in your sb.

    Also, without Defense Grids chances to beat counters.dec are definitely looking grim.
    I'd say D. Grid>Boil.

  14. #1114
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    Re: [Deck] Armageddon Stax

    Quote Originally Posted by klaus View Post
    The 4th Ancient Tomb will allow you to drop Humility/Moat/Elspeth a turn faster thus saving your way more than those 2 dmg in average.
    A. Tomb allows you to drop Trinisphere earlier and increases the chances for turn 1 chalices.
    Lifeloss is just no reason not to run it in my opinion.
    If you're concerned about burn and other red stuff try out Sphere of Law or Ajani in your sb.

    Also, without Defense Grids chances to beat counters.dec are definitely looking grim.
    I'd say D. Grid>Boil.
    On all points I disagree. I've explained earlier in the thread why.

    P.S. it's a (shitty) tournament report, so it's just an FYI, do with it what you want. Don't see it as asking for 'advice' concerning Ancient Tombs or Defense Grids because I've made up my mind about those for now.
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  15. #1115

    Re: [Deck] Armageddon Stax

    Quote Originally Posted by Skeggi View Post
    On all points I disagree. I've explained earlier in the thread why.

    P.S. it's a (shitty) tournament report, so it's just an FYI, do with it what you want. Don't see it as asking for 'advice' concerning Ancient Tombs or Defense Grids because I've made up my mind about those for now.
    If you've 'made up your mind' and are no longer looking for 'advice', then quit posting. I'm not trying to be a dick, but that's the primary purpose of boards - to discuss and improve decks. If you've outgrown them, man-up and move on.

    klaus is exactly right, the 7th 2-mana land will save you way, way more often then it will kill you (play a 100 or so games and prove it to yourself). But it will kill you sometimes. It's a little something I (and most of society) like to call 'risk vs reward'. And Ancient Tomb is well worth the risk in a Legacy Stax deck. [Note: My builds do NOT play 4x City of Traitors based on the same evaluation. The mana screw situations it causes early game are much more significant than the number of times you win with it.) If they make another 2-mana land, whatever drawback they print on it will get evaluated for the same thing.

    To answer my thoughts on the newer morphs on Stax, while being good decks, I do not believe they are a major upgrade to the archetype. I think they are simply focused builds for defeating a known meta (i.e. high percentage of aggro). Armageddon Stax' major weaknesses are Landstill and straight Control decks (about the only decks I have a <50% against over time) - not aggro (Skeggi, the card you are looking for is Sphere of Law not COP:Red which requires mana every time you use it). I have still not seen how a 3-card combo is a good idea against them. I realize that you don't need all 3, but 1 is often weak on its own in previous even-to-bad match-ups (if you even get it on the board). If you opponent is good enough to recognize you are playing 'combo-Stax', the match-ups get much tougher. If somebody can show much improved performance in these match-ups, I'm willing to reevaluate, but it has not been the case in my testing.

    I'm sorry to be so direct, but even with extensive experience - nobody is infallible.

    -FB...

  16. #1116
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    Re: [Deck] Armageddon Stax

    First off, I haven't outgrown the need for advice; ofcourse I need advice. It's just that this list worked pretty solid.

    Sphere of Law is a 4cc spell; Domain Zoo Sligh also runs Gaddock Teeg. For me, this is a reason to choose CoP:Red. I must admit though, Sphere of Law still seems tempting.

    I agree 2-mana lands are totally awesome. They stop being awesome when you need basic lands though; which was the primary reason I dropped the 4th Ancient Tomb for a Plains. The fact that a basic Plains also produces and doesn't cost any life is also a bonus. I feel Plains is a very underrated card; people try to run as little as possible and try to squeeze in that extra Wasteland, Mishra's Factory or Ancient Tomb. I think it's safer to have the extra Plains.

    Also: I've played far over 100 Stax games. The transition from 4 to 3 Ancient Tombs has been very good to me so far. Keep in mind I only play 2 Trinispheres maindeck, and 6 double lands and 4 Moxes keep chances of Chalice@1 on turn 1 still reasonable.
    If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it's probably delicious.
    Team ADHD-To resist is to piss in the wind. Anyone who does will end up smelling.

  17. #1117
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    Re: [Deck] Armageddon Stax

    Ok, first off maybe I'm missing something Skeg, but shouldn't your list have Flagstones in it? I keep counting your list but its so cold in this office I keep getting a different ending count so I'm giving up. Also, does Trini of 2 main hurt your combo matchups? Everytime I've gone down to two I always end up coming back to at least 3, but that could just be my fear of them using free cards.

    I'd have to add one deck that always gives me problems besides Control and Landstill is Survival. Their massive amount of artifact/enchant removal has always given me trouble. That being said, the addition of Humility helps this match-up greatly. Overall though I'm not that excited with the addition of Moat.

    I was trying out creatureless stax with the Elspeths and Humilities back when you released you stax list and I thought the Moats were a great addition. Since trying it out for a while I find them less appealing and have gone back to ghostly prison (and I know they don't protect Elspeth). 17 four mana cards is a lot main. Perhaps I'm just relying on a more mana denial strategy still, but I find it to be a tiny bit more solid overall. Humility still stops their problem creatures, ghostly helps light the mana load and can be cast under a Teeg if needed. And who cares if they can pay 2 to attack with their 1/1, for most decks I'd rather them be using their mana in this way. Also, is the mana base just so tight that you can't fit a Tabernacle in it? I'm still having great results with it...
    Team <spectacular

  18. #1118
    Shake that.
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    Re: [Deck] Armageddon Stax

    Quote Originally Posted by The Wes View Post
    Ok, first off maybe I'm missing something Skeg, but shouldn't your list have Flagstones in it? I keep counting your list but its so cold in this office I keep getting a different ending count so I'm giving up. Also, does Trini of 2 main hurt your combo matchups? Everytime I've gone down to two I always end up coming back to at least 3, but that could just be my fear of them using free cards.
    Oops yeah, I also run 3 Flagstones . Against TES I had no problem mulling to stuff I needed, but I may have just been lucky. I admit I do have to test the combo match-up more, but fact is, combo is not very popular in my meta. If your meta has lots of combo, you should run 4 Trinispheres in your maindeck.

    Quote Originally Posted by The Wes View Post
    I'd have to add one deck that always gives me problems besides Control and Landstill is Survival. Their massive amount of artifact/enchant removal has always given me trouble. That being said, the addition of Humility helps this match-up greatly. Overall though I'm not that excited with the addition of Moat.

    I was trying out creatureless stax with the Elspeths and Humilities back when you released you stax list and I thought the Moats were a great addition. Since trying it out for a while I find them less appealing and have gone back to ghostly prison (and I know they don't protect Elspeth). 17 four mana cards is a lot main. Perhaps I'm just relying on a more mana denial strategy still, but I find it to be a tiny bit more solid overall. Humility still stops their problem creatures, ghostly helps light the mana load and can be cast under a Teeg if needed. And who cares if they can pay 2 to attack with their 1/1, for most decks I'd rather them be using their mana in this way. Also, is the mana base just so tight that you can't fit a Tabernacle in it? I'm still having great results with it...
    These are all very good points. In fact, you can very well be right. I myself have found Moat to be amazing however, and it was much better to me than Prison ever was. People also scoop sooner when they see a Moat (which allows you to walk away from your table earlier and explore your meta, finding that one TES player you'll be playing and know how to mull game 1). They have some (misguided?) hope against Prison. Anyway, if you keep having great results: if it ain't broke, don't fix it .
    If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it's probably delicious.
    Team ADHD-To resist is to piss in the wind. Anyone who does will end up smelling.

  19. #1119
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    Re: [Deck] Armageddon Stax

    Interesting point and I never thought about it that way. Prison does keep them around a lot longer than Moat. If only I could get a hold of some. Though lets be honest here, them just giving up happens with a lot of cards in this deck.
    Team <spectacular

  20. #1120
    snooPING AS usual, I see.
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    Re: [Deck] Armageddon Stax

    Smokestack wins me more games in the $keg$tax than factories and Elspeth does by swinging. That might be because in lots of matches I focus on getting a smoker and a way to feed each turn out though. I rarely find myself attacking.

    I haven't run into many Gaddock Teegs, but on mws, when it rains it pours it seems and right now it seems to be raining monoblue dreadstill and random jank, though I have been seeing rising numbers of TA in games. Either way, I was lucky and in the match that I saw the Teeg, I was fortunate enough to get an O-ring on him before things got really dangerous.
    Quote Originally Posted by Nihil Credo View Post
    With Crucible, you have a deck full of high-quality cocaine powder ready to be snorted from 20-year-old Kylie Minogue's ass. Play fucking four.
    -It could be about four of anything and I would agree.

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