MTG Salvation

So after a conversation with a friend we both determined that out playgroup needs a stax deck. Currently the meta isn't very health and this should remedy some of our issues with it. That being said, I offered to make the deck since I was dismantling a few of my old decks.

So.. stax...

I read the stax primer, I understand the general concepts, looked up some decklists and tried my hand. The deck looks pretty decent for my budget and I've done two playtests. First game just didn't draw any cards I needed, second game full lock down win with Trisk combo.

I'm not 100% on how to make a stax deck so I would appreciate some help!

BUDGET: This is a budget deck. I own almost everything in the deck except the cards listed in the "need to buy" list.

Made two small changes also looking for some feedback on the deck in general.

Because you run a bunch of cards that hate on creatures and lands, but not on artifacts, I think that artifact-based ramp will serve you better than creature-based. Also, Ritual of Subdual and Hall of Gemstone are both good stax cards in G. Does Reliquary Tower do anything here? That is, do you commonly get up over seven cards in hand?

Quote from Hunding Gjornersen »

Because you run a bunch of cards that hate on creatures and lands, but not on artifacts, I think that artifact-based ramp will serve you better than creature-based. Also, Ritual of Subdual and Hall of Gemstone are both good stax cards in G. Does Reliquary Tower do anything here? That is, do you commonly get up over seven cards in hand?

I have a bunch of creature hate but the token generation to deal with it. I will consider some more mana rocks. I will look into more artifact hate actually, I have run into some issues if decks like Daretti get a good start. I do get over seven cards in hand a decent amount to justify the reliquary tower.

Quote from elfric »

so your deck delves multiple directions. with your budget restriction its understandable.
no W means you lack MassLandDestruction. i dont know your meta but it can be the deciding factor to have a reset.
so you can keep the board clean of creatures and also feature some discard. imo discard needs to be fast as late hands can potentially be empty- so theres no gain.
now if they could establish a manabase and have no hand they still can win through topdeck mode.
you ramp and outgrind your opponents threats with various engines. is that what was your goal?
personally i like to hate on ramp that is not my own. molder slug can be nice.
to slow down people you can run orb of dreams and root maze. cutting your own fetchlands and replacing them with goldlands like city of brass would be necessary.
later it can give you the lock with smokestack and a clean board on their side.

Mass land destruction isn't something we like in our playgroup. If you play MLD you better win the game off of it or everyone just gets annoyed. Molder slug is interesting and I'll probably consider it if I truly have issues with artifact based decks. Orb of dreams seems like an option however it doesn't do much but stop them from using a land or artifact the turn it comes out, which could be pretty subpar.

Shizo's didn't really make sense in the deck. Mortuary Mire is budget Volrath's Stronghold

Swap a few cards (Budget permitting)

- Courser of Kruphix If you're going to reveal library information, you may as well gain as much power as possible.
- Grim Haruspex & - Smothering Abomination There's too little control with these two to be run truly effectively.
- Carrion Feeder Free sac outlets are nice, but this is a useless beater.
- Sylvan Safekeeper you have no land recursion, nor a way to play multiple lands a turn if you could recur them.
- Sylvan Scrying No land is THAT necessary in your list. Rampant Growth will serve better. (Wood Elves or Farhaven Elf even more so)
- Bottomless Pit Symmetrical, and your creature count isn't high enough to not lose Stax pieces regularly.
- Void Winnower Top heavy creature that can be played around, that doesn't actually reduce your opponents board (I realize I might be in the minority with this call)
- Golgari Signet I hate signets (need mana to make mana) especially in green, which has the best proper ramp.
- Winter Orb Decent amount of dorks, but I think either more dorks or rocks would be needed to include the Orb in this deck.
- Pernicious Deed & Nevinyrral's Disk Stax is a proactive control deck. You need artifacts, enchantments and creatures to lock down your opponents...


+ Oracle of Mul Daya more lands playable than Courser
+ Tilling Treefolk returns 2 lands lost to the Safekeeper, Desolation,Smokestack, etc
+ Spike Weaver Multi turn Spore Frog
+ Myr Retriever Mini E.Wit for Stax pieces (like Tangle Wire)
+ Possessed Portal Smokestack meets Necrogen Mists EVERY end step. When it's good, it's great. (Also may be in the minority with this)
+ Reclamation Sage a better Caterpillar
+ Ashnod's Altar/Phyrexian Altar Mana for creatures (tokens)
+ Avenger of Zendikar/Deranged Hermit/Mycoloth Creature-based burst token generators


I get looking at Necrotic Ooze combo as a closer, but I find it a poor fit for the deck. In 1v1 it would be doable, but 40/80/120/etc damage to mete out is a tall order...
A touch mixed about Titania, Protector of Argoth, if you could recur lands regularly, it would be playable, as it stands, it's pretty weak.
Attrition is also a bit mixed. The non-black clause can end up biting you... Grave Pact? If the BBB is too much there are others.

Quote from KokoroKishin »

Swap a few cards (Budget permitting)

- Courser of Kruphix If you're going to reveal library information, you may as well gain as much power as possible.
- Grim Haruspex & - Smothering Abomination There's too little control with these two to be run truly effectively.
- Carrion Feeder Free sac outlets are nice, but this is a useless beater.
- Sylvan Safekeeper you have no land recursion, nor a way to play multiple lands a turn if you could recur them.
- Sylvan Scrying No land is THAT necessary in your list. Rampant Growth will serve better. (Wood Elves or Farhaven Elf even more so)
- Bottomless Pit Symmetrical, and your creature count isn't high enough to not lose Stax pieces regularly.
- Void Winnower Top heavy creature that can be played around, that doesn't actually reduce your opponents board (I realize I might be in the minority with this call)
- Golgari Signet I hate signets (need mana to make mana) especially in green, which has the best proper ramp.
- Winter Orb Decent amount of dorks, but I think either more dorks or rocks would be needed to include the Orb in this deck.
- Pernicious Deed & Nevinyrral's Disk Stax is a proactive control deck. You need artifacts, enchantments and creatures to lock down your opponents...


+ Oracle of Mul Daya more lands playable than Courser
+ Tilling Treefolk returns 2 lands lost to the Safekeeper, Desolation,Smokestack, etc
+ Spike Weaver Multi turn Spore Frog
+ Myr Retriever Mini E.Wit for Stax pieces (like Tangle Wire)
+ Possessed Portal Smokestack meets Necrogen Mists EVERY end step. When it's good, it's great. (Also may be in the minority with this)
+ Reclamation Sage a better Caterpillar
+ Ashnod's Altar/Phyrexian Altar Mana for creatures (tokens)
+ Avenger of Zendikar/Deranged Hermit/Mycoloth Creature-based burst token generators


I get looking at Necrotic Ooze combo as a closer, but I find it a poor fit for the deck. In 1v1 it would be doable, but 40/80/120/etc damage to mete out is a tall order...
A touch mixed about Titania, Protector of Argoth, if you could recur lands regularly, it would be playable, as it stands, it's pretty weak.
Attrition is also a bit mixed. The non-black clause can end up biting you... Grave Pact? If the BBB is too much there are others.

Based on remove suggestions:

Courser: I'd like to have Courser and Oracle but budget does not currently permit Oracle.
Grim Haruspex: Personally, I think this card works very well with my sac outlets and Meren as a draw mechanic that can net me a card off of stuff like Llanoward Elves when I sac it early.
Smothering Abomination: I was looking to replace this card, not truly a fan of it.
Carrion Feeder: Free sac outlet is all I really need. At worst this can self combo with Meren the turn she comes out. Either way it is an easy to find easy to play outlet in a time of need.
Sylvan Safekeeper: Land recursion does exist(Titania). However, I don't plan to pop this trigger every turn throwing lands away. Typically used as a way to protect Meren or a power piece from something that could ruin my game (exiling wincons, killing important board pieces etc).
Sylvan Scrying: Allows me to find my sac outlet lands, duals, etc. That being said you bring up the valid point of I'm missing some ramp cards that I will need to find a spot for. Might change this out or keep it and add other cards.
Bottomless Pit: typically would be played with Meren in play so I can recur my necessary cards, that being said I am looking for a similar alternative that gives me more benefits.
Void Winnower: Mainly in there for the colorless fat body with some level of control. Need to see how it plays out.
Golgari Signet: I hate signets too. 99% of the time. I think it fits in this deck as a relatively cheap way to have both of my colors.
Winter Orb: Played 3 games with this deck. Winter Orb won me two of them, stalled the third to the point where if I hadn't missed 15 land drops I could have won. Will probably add a few more mana rocks.
Pernicious Deed and Nev's Disk: Sure is a proactive control deck, but not every game is going to go perfectly. Need both/one of these to deal with out of control boards that I wasn't able to prevent or to give me a decent reset.
Necrotic Ooze combo: Easy to get off, easy to win with combo that is almost necessary. Can easily win the game when its out and I control the field.
Titania: For the land recursion when she ETB as well as a decent size body if I need to kill in the combat step.
Attrition: Non-black clause could hurt but I need targeted removal and an extra sac outlet.

Based on addition suggestions:

Gravepact: Went with the budget option (Dictate of Erebos) for now.
Oracle of Mul Daya: As stated with courser comment, I would love both currently not in the budget.
Tilling Treefolk: Might go in for Titania, need to playtest both and see if the extra mana for Titania is worth it for the land coming into play not hand.
Spike Weaver: Spore Frog works with Meren better. Love the spike weaver card (use it in Roon) but not sure it would work well here. Might give it a try if I feel like I'm still having issues with people killing me in combat step.
Myr Retriever: Yeah that could work. I'll see if I need this in addition to Eternal Witness
Possessed Portal: 8 mana :/
Reclamation Sage: Better is relative, built in sac option of caterpillar, however will probably add this card.
Ashnod's/Phyrexian Altar: I go back and forth here. Phyrexian is too expensive so I'd be looking at Ashnod's. Worth giving a try I guess.
Avenger of Zendikar/Deranged Hermit/Mycoloth: I'd probably add Avenger, will consider.



Will update tonight.

Made a few changes. In addition to the list below balanced my mana base a little more.

Changes: