The deck that looked most promising to me since Survival had left the format is Staxx. I used to play a 5c-Staxx-variant running Oath of Druids alongside with Empyrial Archangel, Sundering Titan, Filigree Angel and Karn, Silver Golem, but I felt that I’d often end up in a draw in matches since that version of the Staxx deck can hardly win fast.
So, the night before the GP, I started to rebuild the deck from scratch, trying to improve a) the decks ability to win in a timely fashion and b) integrate more life gain so the matchup vs. aggro becomes better.
This was the resulting deck I piloted to 10th place on HL GP 7:
5c Stax, 10th place on HL GP 7 Hanau 2010-05-22
I cutted from the former Oath-version of course all Oath-related cards (Oath of Druids, Forbidden Orchard, Empyrial Archangel, Sundering Titan, Filigree Angel). Furthermore I had to cut The Abyss and Moat because most of the new win conditions are creatures, and none of them likes the Abyss, and probably half of them can’t attack when Moat is in play.
Moat also interferes with Tezzeret the Seeker‘s ultimate ability.
I started adding creatures to reach both aforementioned goals:
- Baneslayer Angel a,b
- Exalted Angel a,b
- Admonition Angel a
- Wall of Reverence b
- Tarmogoyf a
- Loxodon Hierarch b
- Magus of the Tabernacle b
- Rampaging Baloths a
- Knight of the Reliquary
I kept the original Karn in the deck simply because it gives me a good chance to handle opposing artifacts, thus improving the mirrormatch alot. Also, Karn can sometimes work as a “haste”-creature and generate surprise attackers, which helps versus Planeswalkers often and sometimes outright wins the game. Adding creatures also helps alot to protect your Planeswalkers. The fact that Collective Restraint doesn’t keep opposing critters from attacking my Planeswalkers was enough reason to also cut that otherwise great defense.
Finally, I added/exchanged some spot removal:
- - Path to Exile: The deck is all about mana denial, so I don’t want to give my opponent an additional land.
- + Lightning Helix: Another attempt to improve the aggro matchups.
Comments welcome! I’ll talk about what I’d change next later. Cheers.
why didnt you play gideon jura and/or ajani goldmane? imo both of them fit very well into your deck. i also wonder why you only play 3/4 mana artifacts with cc <= 2 which helps you very much against aggro. im looking forward to hear the reasons ; )
It’s true, I should have played 3 or 4 additional 2cc mana artifacts. I didn’t because I already played 102 cards and just couldn’t seem to find anything to cut.
I have no experience with Gideon yet, but I think the Goldmane is primarily good in horde decks. Since I play only 10 creatures plus one man land that could profit from Ajani’s best ability, I don’t think it’s worth it. Gaining two life is either not at all enough, or irrelevant, depending on the matchup and board situation.
hey, grats to place 12th. I think thats also a decent result, but
whats above the wrath and whats above the gilded lotus? i can’t identify these cards.
grats, pute =)
Above Wrath: Day of Judgment
Above Gilded Lotus: Obelisk of Alara
I guess you didn’t recognize it because both cards have an alternate artwork.
i guess above wildfire is rolling earthquake isnt it`?
True.
Just two questions whats above the wrath and whats above the Coalition Relic and Darksteel Ingot?
Thx
Above Wrath: Read comments above.
Above Darksteel Ingot: Khalni Gem.
Above Coalition Relic: Expedition Map.
hey
A few questions about your deck:
1: Do you think it was good idea to play this creature-version?
2:Whats your opinion about All is Dust? Did u want to play it each time u had to?
3:Did you like the spot-removal Fire/Ice, Maelstrom Pulse, Lightning Helix strengthen your earlygame, but being unusal for a staxx (imo)? And in this context: Why did u avoid playing O-ring? Not good enough? No synergy with All is Dust? (or Upheaval, which im not sure of)
I’m sure Hide/seek is in your deck cause you expected some oath/hypergenesis-decks.
4. Did you regret to play 2 jaces? I dont like the little one with his 1uu cost.
5. Im not sure if i like Stroke, (braingeysir, mindspring). Did u? Exspecially when u lack (a bit) of manaaccleration as u said yourself.
6.I doubt the strength of Regrowth and Rolling Earthquake . Ok, Earthquake fits in your deck. You got decent lifegain and its a option to destroy planeswalker.However in a regular list sometimes it hurts yourself too much imo.
1. Yes, I think so, for the reasons stated.
2. I only played AiD once in the whole tournament, and that time it was great since it not only killed all creatures but also the opposing Planeswalker. Another time, I could have played it but didn’t want to since I had Jace II and Tezzeret online. I have no real opinion on it, but probably it’s better in a build that’s more strictly artifact.
3. Hide/Seek is simply the best and most versatile Disenchant in Magic. Versus Aggro it’s most of the time “Gain 5 life” which is very welcome, versus control it’s a Disenchant that prevents e.g. an artifact from recurring through Academy Ruins.
Maelstrom Pulse can probably be left out, the deck doesn’t support the colors early. Fire/Ice and Lightning Helix were both very good, as expected. Oblivion Ring simply didn’t make the cut, but your assumptions are probably right.
4. No. Both are great, especially if your opponent has one you ALWAYS want one of them.
5. Stroke helped me massively in two games. In other games, it was a bit clumpy, I even cycled it once (played it for one card).
6. I only drew Rolling Earthquake once, and used it to kill my opponent. Regrowth is always great. Without it, Gifts and Intuition suffer alot.
What are those three red cards and what is a white card over ravages of war.
Red cards: Rolling Earthquake, Burning of Xinye, Wildfire.
White card above Ravages of War: Armageddon from Portal.
I don´t understand the Copy artifact in this Deck.
What do you want to copy?
Essah