[ Armageddon Stax ]

CUB3X · Joined: 10 Feb 2007 Posts: 19

Stax, a popular vintage deck can be made also very powerful in a more common format, Legacy. Two cards recently made have fueled this legacy deck tremendously, both being from the time spiral block, magus of the tabernacle and flagstones of trokair.

Here is a look at Armageddon Stax:

Control Element
4 Armageddon
4 Magus of the Tabernacle
4 Smokestack
4 Ghostly Prison
4 Trinisphere
4 Crucible of Worlds
4 Chalice of the Void
4 Engineered Explosives

Mana Base
4 Mox Diamond
4 Ancient Tomb
3 City of Traitors
3 Crystal Vein
4 Mishra's Factory
4 Flagstones of Trokair
6 Plains

This version focuses on controlling your opponent with virtually everything, and then go for the kill with Magus and your factory.

There is huge synergy in this deck, some of the main "mini-combos" if you will are as followed:

Armageddon + Magus of the Tabernacle= Virtually a Wrath of God
Armageddon + Ghostly Prison="You can't touch me"
Armageddon + Crucible=Takes out all lands yet you can bring your back.
Armageddon + Trinisphere=Slows your opponent down dramatically.
Smokestack + Crucible=Effectively annoys your opponent to mental fatigue while you search for plains with Flagstones.
Smokestack + Trinisphere=Keeps your opponent in check.
Flagstones of Trokair + Armageddon=Kills all lands then you get more.
Mishra's Factory + Crucible=Virtual "infinite" blocker.

There are some flaws in this version. I don't like Engineered Explosives in the deck.

After some play-testing, the version is like to play is as followed:

// Lands
4 [TE] Ancient Tomb
4 [EX] City of Traitors
2 [MI] Crystal Vein
4 [TSP] Flagstones of Trokair
7 [B] Plains
3 [AQ] Mishra's Factory
// Creatures
3 [ON] Exalted Angel
4 [PLC] Magus of the Tabernacle

// Spells
3 [ST] Armageddon
3 [P3] Ravages of War
4 [MR] Chalice of the Void
3 [10E] Crucible of Worlds
4 [SH] Mox Diamond
4 [US] Smokestack
4 [DS] Trinisphere
4 [CHK] Ghostly Prison

// Sideboard
SB: 4 [NE] Tangle Wire
SB: 3 [FNM] Disenchant
SB: 4 [RAV] Faith's Fetters
SB: 4 [RAV] Suppression Field

Spyx · Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 821

Thats Angel stax...nothing new really.

I've seen newer versions using Oblivion Ring.

CUB3X · Joined: 10 Feb 2007 Posts: 19

That is a common misconception. I'm sorry but you are wrong. Angel stax is not based around nor does it even run Armageddon. They are very similar but in a game they play completely different. I have played both.

Thorns · Joined: 16 Aug 2006 Posts: 820 Location: Rath

I personally think that playing Stax in anything else than Vintage isn't good. Stax does well because it has access to the Moxen, Lotus, Sol Ring, Mana Vault and Mana Crypt. It's a really nice idea, I'll give that to you, and I'd probably enjoy playing the deck too. But don't expect it to reach tier 1.

That said, I would Swords to Plowshares to take care of nasty threats right on the spot. Also, you have too many Armageddon spells and not enough to direct direct (i.e. Terravore style cards) to take advantage of it. Unless you start running Dingus Egg. I say this:

-3 Ravages of War
-1 Trinisphere
-1 Ghostly Prison
+4 Swords to Plowshares
+1 Armaggeddon

aldaryn · Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Posts: 439

you probably only need 4 armageddon effects, but for med mage's sake you might as well split 2/2.

swords to plowshares is not necessary in this deck and it is a total non-bo with chalice.

you should play 1-of the actual tabernacle land

CUB3X · Joined: 10 Feb 2007 Posts: 19

@@Thorns: You'd be incredibly surprised at how functional this deck is. Sure, some people will play it and lose and say it sucks, with the right person behind the deck the lock is quick and efficient.

FAQS:

Q: Why aren't you running Wastelands instead of Mishra's Factory?
A: It is true that Wasteland recurrence is incredible, but this deck has 4 answers to land, with little answers to big fatties like Tarmogoyf especially when playing against Threshold. The Mishra recurrence with Crucible holds off fatties until you can find an answer.

Q: Why no Wrath of God?
A: This is the dumbest question I have heard yet. Magus of the Tabernacle is a Wrath of God with Armageddon. It is also a permanent which can be: a) pitched to Smokestack or b) a game finisher. The Magus is never dead where too many times did I have a Wrath sitting in my hand with no use.

Q: Crystal Vein, this card is not that good, stick to plains.
A: I can count numerous times when crystal vein has saved my ass. It is worthy of being in here.

Q: Have you thought of using Windborn Muse instead of Ghostly Prison as creature control?
A: Windborn Muse is way too easy to target and would be gone in roughly 3.56 seconds after putting it out. Smile

Q: Why are you using Duskrider Peregrine? It's not that good.
A: It's kinda of hard to convince people of the creature's power unless they try it.

Update: Some more playtesting and I now have the following set up, enjoy.

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

// Lands
4 [TE] Ancient Tomb
4 [EX] City of Traitors
2 [MI] Crystal Vein
4 [TSP] Flagstones of Trokair
8 [B] Plains
3 [AQ] Mishra's Factory

// Creatures
3 [ON] Exalted Angel
4 [PLC] Magus of the Tabernacle

// Spells
2 [ST] Armageddon
4 [MR] Chalice of the Void
4 [10E] Crucible of Worlds
4 [SH] Mox Diamond
4 [US] Smokestack
4 [DS] Trinisphere
4 [CHK] Ghostly Prison
2 [P3] Ravages of War

// Sideboard
SB: 2 [NE] Tangle Wire - VS Control, Slower Decks,
SB: 4 [RAV] Suppression Field VS Goblins, Solitare, Ravager Affinity
SB: 3 [TSP] Duskrider Peregrine VS Homebrew, Black Discard
SB: 4 [UL] Defense Grid VS Control
SB: 2 [TO] Morningtide VS Ichorid (Bridge) Decks, Threshold

I would like to see someone play a build like this in one of the upcoming Legacy tournaments on Magic-League and see how it does.

YTheAlien · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 45

Armageddon Stax is not good, pretty much. It's strictly a "cool plays" deck. Steveman's Stax build that plays Wrath and Moat performs a lot better vs aggro, which is basically the only thing this deck beats up.