@Gromgrom. I am hoping to hear from you about Dark Confidant. My average cmc is around 2.50 so he's fine in my deck although as a stax player, you're usually a magnet to them.
I don't know what more to add ,aside from those expensive cards we mentioned, as stax. I've been researching in the past few days. Maybe more utility cards I guess such as tutors.
Edit.
Btw. I stumbled upon this card called Aether Snap. I think it's a decent maybeboard card against superfriends decks.
@Gromgrom. Gz on the Hope, just bear in mind that it's a nonbo when you have Null Rod out. I just added Traverse the Ulvenwald a couple of days ago and it's in for testing so I don't know yet. It replaced Sylvan Ranger and it might be a decent tutor when you have delirium. I really want an Imperial Seal but I can't afford it rn and I think Traverse is the closest to it, lol, or maybe Sylvan Tutor. Btw, what do you think of Sylvan Tutor? I want to try Smokestack in the deck but I can't find the old art one. How do you approach a superfriends deck? It's kind of a pain to go up against and there's no colorless Suppression Field to hose them.
Ahh I didnt realize that in the earlier discussion of Hope vs Xantid Swarm. Well, I hope to nab a Xantid then in that case. Hope could easily work, but I definitely wanna minimize the amount of nobos I have with Null Rod.
Why Desolation over something like Winter Orb? (Or hey, maybe both! ) I do wanna fit in a Sphere of Resistance like you have too. I probably run too many cute cards still haha.
I'd rather try to afford the judge promo Imperial Seal. Grabbing anything is huge, as we can grab T&N or Buried Alive to win quickly. But it could definitely see a spot in the deck!
I've not faced many superfriends decks in my meta. You could run Vampire Hexmage and Thief of Blood as tech choices!
I removed Smokestacks a while ago simply because it's so slow to get going. It's great when you can maintain a board with Meren, dorks, and maybe another piece like Null Rod or Winter Orb. I'd rather run Desolation i think!
I wanted to add Desolation just for additional stax but it's really hard to fit it in coz I don't have any land recursion and addition to that, we are running a low land count. I already have Winter Orb in and with Root Maze, it's really nasty.
I'll try to fit in Vampire Hexmage in. With her and Phyrexian Revoker and some stax cards, I think it'll be managable. I have other ways to slow them down anyways. Thief of Blood is really devastating against Superfriends but I'm trying to go as low as possible on cmc and she's kind of too much.
As for Hope of Ghirapur and Null Rod, I wouldn't worry too much. If you happen to drop a Null Rod against your opponent/s, it's usually a one sided effect or they suffer more that you specially against Breya or Ulamog. Unless you have your mana rocks out aswell and you're being choked on mana.
I agree with Imperial Seal but they're so freakin expensive. I really want the seal and Nether Void.
How's Dark Confidant doing to you? I'm really interested in running him but I don't have any extra copy rn, it's all in my Jund Deck for Modern.
@Gromgrom. Gz on the Hope, just bear in mind that it's a nonbo when you have Null Rod out. I just added Traverse the Ulvenwald a couple of days ago and it's in for testing so I don't know yet. It replaced Sylvan Ranger and it might be a decent tutor when you have delirium. I really want an Imperial Seal but I can't afford it rn and I think Traverse is the closest to it, lol, or maybe Sylvan Tutor. Btw, what do you think of Sylvan Tutor? I want to try Smokestack in the deck but I can't find the old art one. How do you approach a superfriends deck? It's kind of a pain to go up against and there's no colorless Suppression Field to hose them.
I dont know how many fans I'll win over with this one... but Stronghold hasnt done anything for me since the days I ran this as a midrangey build with Gary and Kokopuffs. It's so slow and a tempo loss since we miss our draw. Biggest thing it can do now is function as a slow Meren replacement in a pinch or abuse Mindslicer. Meh. It's replaced by a Forest. But at least it's foil!
I think it's a fine cut. You are running Phyrexian Reclamation anways which almost do the same thing.
Hi. I have a question about this thread.
Why is this decklist called stax combo?
Stax is defined as disintegrating the board, taking away all opponents' resources and play options.
For example, Hokori, Dust Drinker is stax because he freezes mana generation from lands. Nath of the Gilt-Leaf is stax because he strips opponents' hands away and leaves them in topdeck mode.
So far as I've looked in this list, the only cards that pass as stax are Thorn of Amethyst, Contamination, Null Rod, Magus of the Abyss, and maaaaaaybe Bane of Progress (though not really because it's so mana expensive). Five cards in a 99 card deck, and only two of them are recurrable with your commander.
No Winter Orb, Hall of Gemstone, Oppression-like cards, Tainted ÆtherSmokestack, Nether Void..Nothing is really preventing your opponents from playing threats and gaining board state.
I see you're running the midrange version. I didn't know that's why I was able to say that the Marvel was slow. I think it's fine in your deck but not on mine. I'm running the stax version close to Gromgrom's list. I have an average of 2.57. Although I want to run Grave Pact on mine coz of my meta is mostly creature based but I'll see.
I think Loam is a good idea specially if your meta has lots of ld and can recycle utility lands. But it prolly depends on the meta and play style. Imo, I don't like it that much. Although I was thinking of putting in Crucible of Worlds and running Strip mine and Wasteland but rn, I'm concentrating more on additional stax like Sphere of Resistance and some of the other orbs.
I'm looking at Orb of Dreams. What do you think? It seems really good. 3 mana is kinda tough though but we have dorks.
I think it's because Xantid Swarm just prevents players not casting any spells "this turn"(your turn) while Hope of Ghirapur prevents them from casting non creatures spells on their turn. So I think it's a bit better. It can soft lock an opponent.
Here is my current list rigt now. As you can see it is based on your list and I'm still tweaking it out to my liking. I wanted another wincon so I'm playing Jarad and I want to fit in Sadistic Hypnotist in there but I think Oppression is better since it comes down earlier. The problem is, the list is already so tight and I want all of the cards right now. Root Maze is amazing along with Carpet of Flowers and Contamination specially against U decks. Well, Thorn of Amethyst taxes them so hard.
Have you tried Hope of Ghirapur? I'm trying it right now and I think it's pretty good, specially against decks with less creatures. Btw, my deck is mostly based on your primer. Thank you very much. Keep up the good work. I'm trying to fit Jarad, Root Maze and/or Oppression somewhere for additional stax but I don't know yet. I need to practice more. How about Boseiju, Who Shelters All as protection for Tooth and Nail? Too slow?
Hi there. I've been making this deck for a while now and I have most of the cards except for Bayou, I decided to buy the Cradle instead. I am really new to commander but not the game. I'm wondering if there's a good card for life gain. Mana Crypt, Ancient Tomb and Sylvan library taxes my life so much. Is there a slot for Gray Merchant of Asphodel or effects like that in the stax version?
There is, but really you should be winning before that becomes a problem, otherwise I suggest playing a more midrange variant
I see, thanks. From the looks of it, I think your version wins faster than the midrange version and because of that I like it better. Maybe I was just unlucky with my coin flips against my friends with the Mana Crypt.
Hi there. I've been making this deck for a while now and I have most of the cards except for Bayou, I decided to buy the Cradle instead. I am really new to commander but not the game. I'm wondering if there's a good card for life gain. Mana Crypt, Ancient Tomb and Sylvan library taxes my life so much. Is there a slot for Gray Merchant of Asphodel or effects like that in the stax version?
I don't know what more to add ,aside from those expensive cards we mentioned, as stax. I've been researching in the past few days. Maybe more utility cards I guess such as tutors.
Edit.
Btw. I stumbled upon this card called Aether Snap. I think it's a decent maybeboard card against superfriends decks.
I wanted to add Desolation just for additional stax but it's really hard to fit it in coz I don't have any land recursion and addition to that, we are running a low land count. I already have Winter Orb in and with Root Maze, it's really nasty.
I'll try to fit in Vampire Hexmage in. With her and Phyrexian Revoker and some stax cards, I think it'll be managable. I have other ways to slow them down anyways. Thief of Blood is really devastating against Superfriends but I'm trying to go as low as possible on cmc and she's kind of too much.
As for Hope of Ghirapur and Null Rod, I wouldn't worry too much. If you happen to drop a Null Rod against your opponent/s, it's usually a one sided effect or they suffer more that you specially against Breya or Ulamog. Unless you have your mana rocks out aswell and you're being choked on mana.
I agree with Imperial Seal but they're so freakin expensive. I really want the seal and Nether Void.
How's Dark Confidant doing to you? I'm really interested in running him but I don't have any extra copy rn, it's all in my Jund Deck for Modern.
You might be interested on:
City of Solitude
Dosan the Falling Leaf
Desolation(I'm trying to find a way to fit this one in the deck.)
I think it's a fine cut. You are running Phyrexian Reclamation anways which almost do the same thing.
This is my current list right now...
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/meren-of-clan-nel-toth-stax-4/
I'm new to commander but maybe because it has it's stax element and a combo win con. It prolly depends on the list aswell. My list is close to the OPs list but I'm running Winter Orb, Sphere of Resistance, Thorn of Amethyst, Null Rod, Root Maze and Contamination. Creatures such as Hope of Ghirapur, Merciless Executioner, Fleshbag Marauder, Magus of the Abyss and Mindslicer. Compared to the other 2 commanders that you mentioned, Meren is weaker yes. That's why in this deck, we rely on Meren's ability to recur as a form of stax aswell. Recurring Fleshbag or Hope every turn can soft lock an opponent.
I see you're running the midrange version. I didn't know that's why I was able to say that the Marvel was slow. I think it's fine in your deck but not on mine. I'm running the stax version close to Gromgrom's list. I have an average of 2.57. Although I want to run Grave Pact on mine coz of my meta is mostly creature based but I'll see.
I haven't tried that card butnI think it's too slow for me. I think Grave Pact is a bit better than that. Can you share your list.
I'm looking at Orb of Dreams. What do you think? It seems really good. 3 mana is kinda tough though but we have dorks.
1 Birthing Pod
1 Mana Crypt
1 Null Rod
1 Skullclamp
1 Sol Ring
1 Thorn of Amethyst
Creature
1 Bane of Progress
1 Birds of Paradise
1 Caustic Caterpillar
1 Deathrite Shaman
1 Devoted Druid
1 Elves of Deep Shadow
1 Elvish Mystic
1 Eternal Witness
1 Fauna Shaman
1 Fleshbag Marauder
1 Fyndhorn Elves
1 Grim Haruspex
1 Hermit Druid
1 Joraga Treespeaker
1 Llanowar Elves
1 Magus of the Abyss
1 Merciless Executioner
1 Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
1 Mindslicer
1 Necrotic Ooze
1 Phyrexian Devourer
1 Priest of Titania
1 Reclamation Sage
1 Riftsweeper
1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
1 Shaman of Forgotten Ways
1 Sidisi, Undead Vizier
1 Spore Frog
1 Sylvan Ranger
1 Sylvok Replica
1 Triskelion
1 Woodfall Primus
1 Yisan, the Wanderer Bard
1 Hope of Ghirapur
1 Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
1 Carpet of Flowers
1 Contamination
1 Defense of the Heart
1 Evolutionary Leap
1 Pernicious Deed
1 Phyrexian Arena
1 Phyrexian Reclamation
1 Survival of the Fittest
1 Sylvan Library
1 Root Maze
Instant
1 Beast Within
1 Chord of Calling
1 Crop Rotation
1 Krosan Grip
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Worldly Tutor
Land
1 Llanowar Wastes
1 Ancient Tomb
1 Bloodstained Mire
1 Bojuka Bog
1 City of Brass
1 Command Beacon
1 Command Tower
1 Dryad Arbor
4 Forest
1 Gaea's Cradle
1 High Market
1 Mana Confluence
1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Phyrexian Tower
4 Swamp
1 Temple of Malady
1 Twilight Mire
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Volrath's Stronghold
1 Windswept Heath
1 Wooded Foothills
1 Woodland Cemetery
1 Blooming Marsh
1 Strip Mine
1 Marsh Flats
1 Buried Alive
1 Diabolic Intent
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Eldritch Evolution
1 Green Sun's Zenith
1 Jarad's Orders
1 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Reanimate
1 Tooth and Nail
1 Victimize
Here is my current list rigt now. As you can see it is based on your list and I'm still tweaking it out to my liking. I wanted another wincon so I'm playing Jarad and I want to fit in Sadistic Hypnotist in there but I think Oppression is better since it comes down earlier. The problem is, the list is already so tight and I want all of the cards right now. Root Maze is amazing along with Carpet of Flowers and Contamination specially against U decks. Well, Thorn of Amethyst taxes them so hard.
Btw. Is Cruel Tutor not good enough for the deck?
I see, thanks. From the looks of it, I think your version wins faster than the midrange version and because of that I like it better. Maybe I was just unlucky with my coin flips against my friends with the Mana Crypt.