[Deck] Armageddon Stax

[1337erhosen]

After a few iterations, the list I've landed on is thus:

5 Plains
4 Flagstones of Trokair
4 Wasteland
4 Mishra's Factory
4 Ancient Tomb
4 City of Traitors

4 Mox Diamond

4 Crucible of Worlds
4 Smokestack
4 Chalice of the Void
3 Trinisphere

4 Ghostly Prison
4 Oblivion Ring

4 Magus of the Tabernacle

I was running 3 Suppression Fields, but got tired of how they would sometimes hamstring my own gameplan with Wastes and Factories. Maybe a SB choice, not sure yet. Also, I added in an extra plains as I started to see myself coming up tight on mana in games.

I'm essentially running the same list, but instead of running 4 Oblivion Ring main I'm running 2x World Queller and 2x Elspeth, which I feel are less reactive but still answer our biggest problem, which is opposing Planeswalkers. So far the list has been testing well against Stoneblade and Combo, which is the main section of my (Ohio/Michigan) meta, and I think I might run it at SCG Indy next weekend.

[1337erhosen]

Finished in top 4 of a 22-man tournament in Ypsilanti, MI on Monday with this list:

4 Magus of the Tabernacle
2 World Queller

4 Chalice of the Void
4 Crucible of Worlds
3 Trinisphere
4 Ghostly Prison
4 Smokestack
4 Armageddon
2 Elspeth, Knight Errant

4 Mox Diamond

4 City of Traitors
4 Ancient Tomb
4 Wasteland
4 Flagstones of Trokair
1 Karakas
8 Plains

SB:
4 Leyline of Sanctity
4 Defense Grid
4 Oblivion Ring
3 Karakas

I got the first round bye, which allowed me to squeak into top 8 on breakers. My matches included beating 2x Omnishow and Burn and losing to Maverick and Landstill. Needless to say there were very few tier 1 decks in the room. I'm going to Get Your Game On tonight in Ann Arbor, and they usually draw 20 people, so we'll see if I have more results to post.

Any thoughts on the list? I was happy with the sideboard, but would love constructive criticism

[Anarky87]

World Queller is an interesting choice I hadn't thought of. Grats on the results, I haven't played any Magic in a couple months, but this is a favorite deck of mine, so I'd interested in hearing the details.

[(nameless one)]

If Suppression Field isn't being used, why isn't Rest in Piece+Helm of Obedience being used as a win-con?

RIP is great in hosing a lot of graveyard strategies. Granted, Crucible wouldn't be useful.

[nedleeds]

Suppression Field is insane right now against almost everything. Honestly ... it's a better turn 1 play than Chalice on 1 these days which is saying quite a bit.

[joemauer]

If Suppression Field isn't being used, why isn't Rest in Piece+Helm of Obedience being used as a win-con?

RIP is great in hosing a lot of graveyard strategies. Granted, Crucible wouldn't be useful.

Locking somone out of lands via Crucible+Wasteland hasn't always been the best win condition this deck utilizes. And now that Delver and Deathrite Shaman are everywhere the Waseland lock seems even worse than ever. Stax may want to try and fit in Rest in Peace + Helm of Obedience to stay competitve. Even while playing Suppression Field the RiP+Helm combo sounds like a solid game plan.

This deck definitely needs some kind of face lift to do well at any tourney. Armageddon Stax is too reliant on the stars aligning in order to win.

[feline]

That is a very interesting point, I've been waiting for the day Prison Stax "makes a comeback" even of the slightest "bump", I didn't really think about Rest in Piece / Helm of Obedience combo, it fits without having to add any colors, and Rest in Piece randomly helps against decks that utilize the graveyard to boot as a freebie.

-edit- because I am insane, I am now working on a Primer for White/Prison Stax since it's one of the decks I play, will include notes on Dutch stax as well.

[frogger42]

I know this thread is pretty much dead, but I still really like the deck. Here's a list off the top of my head (mana might be off by a couple from my actual decklist):

4 Flagstones of Trokair
3 Darksteel Citadel
5 Plains
1 Karakas
4 Ancient Tomb
4 City of Traitors
4 Chrome Mox

4 Stoneforge Mystic
4 Exalted Angel
4 Windborn Muse
4 World Queller
4 Magus of the Tabernacle

4 Armageddon

4 Chalice of the Void
4 Trinisphere
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Batterskull
1 Sword of Fire and Ice


Restoration Angel is interchangeable with Magus of the Tabernacle, but I haven't tested either against the recent True-Name Nemesis decks. Resto is obviously more aggressive and works with your Exalted / SFM better. Queller should be able to take care of TNN fairly effectively, even as an expensive Edict effect. It can also eat up Batterskull - keep in mind, the trigger doesn't trigger with a permanent type named; you name the permanent upon resolution (ie, your opponent will have to bounce BS before resolution, then you can choose "creature" instead of artifact). 4x Trini instead of my usual 3x b/c of Queller.
No idea what a SB would look like right now. Maybe 2x Ravages of War, bleh. Suppression Field/ Phyrexian Revoker. O-Ring. Moat?

Thoughts? Suggestions?

[lambert101]

Hi I was looking at my friend's list of stax. I just wanted people's thoughts as it look fun as all hell. Sorry for grammar done quick before work.

Main Deck:

4 City of Traitors
4 Ancient Tomb
3 Tabernacle
2 Mishara's Factory
4 Wasteland
4 Flagstones
5 Plains
1 Karakas
1 Horizon Canopy

3 Haunted Plate Mail
4 Humility
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Oblivion Ring
4 Wrath of God
4 Crucible of Worlds
4 Armageddon
1 Elspeth, Knigh Errant

Board:
4 Ghostly Prison
4 Sphere of Resistance
3 Rest in Peace
4 Leyline of Sanctity
4 Mox Diamond

[frogger42]

Hi I was looking at my friend's list of stax. I just wanted people's thoughts as it look fun as all hell. Sorry for grammar done quick before work.

Main Deck:

4 City of Traitors
4 Ancient Tomb
3 Tabernacle
2 Mishara's Factory
4 Wasteland
4 Flagstones
5 Plains
1 Karakas
1 Horizon Canopy

3 Haunted Plate Mail
4 Humility
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Oblivion Ring
4 Wrath of God
4 Crucible of Worlds
4 Armageddon
1 Elspeth, Knigh Errant

Board:
4 Ghostly Prison
4 Sphere of Resistance
3 Rest in Peace
4 Leyline of Sanctity
4 Mox Diamond

Humility is a boss, but the problem with it is that it tends to come down after Batterskull has already landed. So you'll have a 5/5 on the table to contend with. But in all other MUs, it's way better than Moat.

The thing about Crucible is that it's great with Fetchlands, and this list doesn't run any. Flagstones is so much better than a fetch for this deck, especially with Geddon, so I feel like you're only really getting Waste and City back with it - about 11 slots with the other lands in this list.
And Tabernacle... it slows down certain aggro decks (Zoo, Goblins - sorta) but not really Ux decks, like the new TNN + SFM decks going around. It's really a hit or miss kinda card, and at $300+, probably not worth the investment.

I still like 2-3x Trinisphere for this deck, for the Combo MUs. Either MD or SB. You're not running combat tricks or counters, so 3-Sphere works really well to slow down your opponent. (May be better than Crucible.)

Also, Mox Diamond is either in your MD or not at all. You've got 28 lands, so enough to consider running it (I'd probably go down to 26 with this deck), and it does work fancy with Geddon.

Those were the only critiques I had for this list, but otherwise it looks pretty solid to start with. Platemail + Humility is pretty sweet, especially since you can activate all your Platemails on the stack, then let them all resolve.

EDIT: I just counted up your MD and SB, and I take it the Diamonds are in the MD. I do like the list, just one thing I worry is that your threats are necessarily weaker than typical legacy threats (Factory and Platemail vs Goyf, Batterskull, TNN). It's the nature of your deck, just you'll probably notice that you need Chalice or Humility to resolve to be in the game, and that a smart opponent can clean up your threats after dealing with those power cards.
Oh, and Elspeth's Emblem means you don't have to pay Tabernacle fees for your tokens. Just in case someone's browsing the forum and doesn't see that right away.

[diego1985]

netx weekend i will play this list in a tournament (36 players) what you think about this list? have you suggestions?

// Deck: Prison Stax (60)

// Lands
4 Ancient Tomb
3 City of Traitors
2 Crystal Vein
3 Flagstones of Trokair
4 Mishra's Factory
4 Plains
4 Wasteland

// Creatures
3 Magus of the Tabernacle

// Sorceries
4 Armageddon

// Enchantments
4 Ghostly Prison
3 Oblivion Ring

// Artifacts
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Crucible of Worlds
4 Mox Diamond
4 Smokestack
3 Tangle Wire
3 Trinisphere

// Sideboard
SB: 3 Defense Grid
SB: 3 Leyline of Sanctity
SB: 3 Pithing Needle
SB: 3 Tormod's Crypt
SB: 3 Wrath of God


Inviato dal mio GT-S7500 con Tapatalk 2

[Captain Hammer]

I'll just leave this here...




Advantages over Canonist...

Stops combo artifacts like Lions Eye Diamond, Lotus Petal and decks like Affinity too.
Bolt proof.
Can block Mongoose et. al and survive.

[frogger42]

I took this list to 4-1 and first place in a weekly. It definitely had a surprise factor, and there were maybe about 20 people. That's 5 rounds, right?

4 Flagstones of Trokair
3 Darksteel Citadel
5 Plains
1 Karakas
4 Ancient Tomb
4 City of Traitors
4 Chrome Mox

4 Stoneforge Mystic
4 Aven Mindcensor
4 Windborn Muse
4 World Queller
4 Exalted Angel

4 Armageddon

4 Chalice of the Void
4 Trinisphere
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Batterskull
1 Sword of Fire and Ice

I lost to a misplay against Enchantress. That and not finding Armageddon games 2 and 3. I feel like I want to cut 2 World Quellers for 2 Ravages of War, but none of my friends have any for me to borrow. So it'll probably have to be Queller.

SB:
Suppression Field
Banishing Light
Faerie Macabre
1 RiP
1 Manriki
1 SoLaS

I played UR delver, ANT, Miracles (2-0, but he misplayed his V Clique on his land) and some BG Reanimator. It's funny, cause the Chalices and Trinispheres make Delver and ANT a near-bye, and Geddon wrecks Miracles like nothing else. So I got three favorable MUs out of 5 rounds. Reanimator just didn't run U, and he didn't have card sorting to find what he needed.
Yeah! Feel free to ask Qs.

[dcosiem]

Hey everyone. I just started playing Armageddon Stax and I really like it. The strategy is simple, but it's so strong against everyone in the meta.

I don't like the creature base stomp build because in certain matches, the creatures are removed with swords, terminus, and Liliana of the Veil.

I'm playing in SCG Washington tomorrow with this list I believe. I really hope I luck-fest tomorrow in my draws.


Main Deck

Lands
4 Ancient Tomb
3 City of Traitors
1 Karakas
4 Flagstones of Trokair
5 Plains
3 Mishra's Factory
4 Wasteland
1 Kor Haven
1 Horizon Canopy

Other Spells
3 Crucible of Worlds
3 Smokestack
4 Trinisphere
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Ghostly Prison
4 Armageddon
4 Mox Diamond
4 Magus of the Tabernacle
2 Humility
2 Elspeth, Knight-Errant


Sideboard

2 Rest in Peace
1 Helm of Obedience
4 Leyline of Sanctity
2 Pithing Needle
2 Rule of Law
2 Nevermore
2 Cursed Totem

P.S. If any of you have comments, feel justified to explain them to me.

[dsck]

Have you tested vs BUG Delver? Feels like you cant win if you are on the draw and they resolve Delver.

[dcosiem]

Have you tested vs BUG Delver? Feels like you cant win if you are on the draw and they resolve Delver.

Yea, the match is similar to what you say. I scrubbed out at the 5th round at x-3-1 of nine rounds.

So after concluding today's matches, I would make the following changes to the list I posted up.


Maindeck
4 Ancient Tomb
2 City of Traitors
1 Karakas
4 Flagstones of Trokair
5 Plains
2 Mishra's Factory
4 Wasteland
3 Crucible of Worlds
2 Smokestack
3 Trinisphere
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Ghostly Prison
3 Armageddon
4 Mox Diamond
4 Magus of the Tabernacle
2 Horizon Canopy
2 Humility
2 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
1 Kor Haven
2 Day of Judgment
2 Oblivion Ring


Sideboard
3 Rest in Peace
1 Helm of Obedience
4 Leyline of Sanctity
2 Pithing Needle
2 Cursed Totem
1 Trinisphere
2 Ensnaring Bridge

[Nuke is Good]

Stax is my pet project deck and I'm thinking of taking it to a local LGS. The metagame is infested with burn.

Counts : 60 main / 15 sideboard

Creatures:3
2 Peacekeeper
1 Baneslayer Angel

Spells:32
3 Chalice of the Void
4 Mox Diamond
2 Enlightened Tutor
3 Council's Judgment
3 Crucible of Worlds
3 Trinisphere
4 Armageddon
2 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
3 Humility
1 Moat
3 Smokestack
1 Batterskull

Lands:25
4 Ancient Tomb
4 City of Traitors
4 Flagstones of Trokair
1 Karakas
3 Mishra's Factory
4 Plains
1 The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale
4 Wasteland

Sideboard:15
1 Enlightened Tutor
2 Pithing Needle
3 Rest in Peace
2 Ghostly Prison
1 Hanna's Custody
2 Helm of Obedience
4 Leyline of Sanctity

I am thinking of adding a 4th Chalice MB at the moment. I do like having the MB creatures as it allows me another method of attack as Stax does not have a good draw engine.

[Captain Hammer]

Drop the Tabernacle (and Humility if you run it) and Monastery Mentor seems like it would amazing in this deck, and could possibly even revive it...

The deck was always very powerful, the missing ingrediant has been an monstrous, fast and solid win condition. Monastery Mentor offers that.

Sol Lands that let you cast this guy on turn 1, Chalice that prevents your opponents from StPing it, Trinisphere and Armageddon that choke off any hope of your opponents being able to deal with your threat all together etc.

Tons of disruption/lock pieces plus a powerful threat that will end the game in a couple of turns is a match made in heaven.

Perhaps something like this...

6 Plains
4 Flagstones of Trokair
4 Wasteland
4 Ancient Tomb
4 City of Traitors
2 Crystal Vein

4 Mox Diamond
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Trinisphere
4 Ghostly Prison
2 Banishing Light
2 Crucible of Worlds
2 Smokestack
2 Armageddon
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Batterskull

4 Stoneforge Mystic
4 Monastery Mentor
2 Baneslayer Angel

[Nuke is Good]

Drop the Tabernacle (and Humility if you run it) and Monastery Mentor seems like it would amazing in this deck, and could possibly even revive it...

The deck was always very powerful, the missing ingrediant has been an monstrous, fast and solid win condition. Monastery Mentor offers that.

Sol Lands that let you cast this guy on turn 1, Chalice that prevents your opponents from StPing it, Trinisphere and Armageddon that choke off any hope of your opponents being able to deal with your threat all together etc.

Tons of disruption/lock pieces plus a powerful threat that will end the game in a couple of turns is a match made in heaven.

My issue with Monastery Mentor is that card cast cheaper spells to get the tokens into play. I guess I'm just so old fashioned to prefer Elspeth for that.

[Captain Hammer]

It's a hell of a lot more powerful than Espelth.