What is Fae Stax
Fae Stax is a blue version of traditional Stax that utilizes two Fae cards to further limit the opponent's play options. Glen Elendra Archmage serves as protection against noncreature removal. Sower of Temptation is for creatures that slip through early in the game.
How to play Fae Stax
Early game, deny the opponent's play options with Trinisphere and Chalice of the Void. Wasteland nonbasics if you have the opportunity. Lay down Smokestack as soon as possible. If you see your opponent searching heavily(tutors, fetchland, etc.) use Mindlock Orb to limit their options.
As the board develops, start laying down your protection(Glen Elendra Archmage, Propaganda) as well as your card draw(Jace, the Mindsculptor).
Demolish your opponent's board with Smokestack and the land-destroying lands paired with Crucible of Worlds.
What are some card choices
Lands:
- Crystal Vein – Serves as mana acceleration; easily recurrable with Crucible of Worlds.
- Ancient Tomb – Serves as mana acceleration; life loss is negligible compared to the board advantage it can create.
- City of Traitors – Serves as mana acceleration; easily recurrable with Crucible of Worlds.
- Wasteland – Destroys opponent's nonbasics.
- Ghost Quarter – Offensively, when paired with Mindlock Orb, turns into Strip Mine. Can be used to destroy your own lands in a pinch for blue mana.
- Mishra's Factory – Manland used to beat once the board is controlled.
- Island/Snow-Covered Island – I don't know why this is here.
Creatures:
- Glen Elendra Archmage – Provides protection against noncreature permanent removal, protection against counterspells, a 2/2 flying body, and persistability.
- Sower of Temptation – Steals opposing creatures should they get out of hand.
- Silent Arbiter – Slows down swarms of creatures and provides a hefty 1/5 body to block.
Artifacts:
- Smokestack – The namesake of this deck. Symmetrical effect is broken by destroying opponent's lands and having more permanents than the opponent.
- Mox Diamond – Mana acceleration for cheap. Land pitched for this card can be brought back with a Crucible.
- Trinisphere – Denies opponent's play options. When paired with Smokestack and land destruction, can stop opponent from playing any more spells.
- Crucible of Worlds – Recurs lands sacrificed to Smokestack, land-destroying lands, and manlands.
- Chalice of the Void – Denies opponent's play options. 0, 1, and 2, are reasonable amounts for the counter value.
- Crawlspace – Slows down swarms.
- Mindlock Orb – Shuts down fetchlands and tutors. Turns Ghost Quarter into Strip Mine when on board.
- Powder Keg – Destroys swarms of goblins as well as any problematic artifact/enchantment you can't handle mainboard.
- Pithing Needle – General ability hate card.
Enchantments:
- In the Eye of Chaos – Serves as a way to make playing around counterspells easier.
- Propaganda -- Slows down creature swarms and forces down opposing players either to attack or use the mana to cast spells. Gives time to set up the board on your side.
Planeswalkers:
- Jace Beleren – Can be used for a repeatable draw each turn, but pales in comparison to Sculptor.
- Jace, the Mind Sculptor – Card selection is better in this deck than card advantage. This card will make sure you have the right card at the right time via repeated Brainstorm effects.
What is a sample decklist
Lands:
4 [EX] City of Traitors
4 [TE] Ancient Tomb
2 [DIS] Ghost Quarter
12 [CS] Snow-Covered Island
3 [TE] Wasteland
Creatures:
3 [EVE] Glen Elendra Archmage
2 [LRW] Sower of Temptation
Spells:
4 [TE] Propaganda
4 [SH] Mox Diamond
3 [ALA] Mindlock Orb
4 [US] Smokestack
4 [DS] Trinisphere
4 [10E] Crucible of Worlds
4 [MR] Chalice of the Void
3 [WWK] Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Sideboard:
1 [LRW] Sower of Temptation
2 [LG] In the Eye of Chaos
4 [FD] Silent Arbiter
2 [UL] Crawlspace
3 [UD] Powder Keg
3 [SOK] Pithing Needle
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How are the matchups
Five-point scale
Perfect score is ★★★★★
vs. Goblins
Game 1:
★★
The main problem here is that they can drop either a turn 1 Goblin Lackey or Aether Vial. Ideally, you'd want to go for the turn 1 Trinisphere. If that's not possible, a turn 2 Propaganda or a turn 1 Chalice for 1 will work. Focus more on controlling the influx of goblins than controlling the board.
Game 2/Game 3:
★★★
-2 Sower of Temptation, +2 Crawlspace
-3 Glen Elendra Archmage, -1 Crucible of Worlds, +4 Silent Arbiter
You have more cards to deal with the swarm of goblins. If they sided out their creature kill, Arbiter functions even better. Play the same game plan of controlling the swarm before controlling the board.
vs. NLU/Countertop
Game 1:
★★★
The earlier you get Glen Elendra Archmage out, the better. Use her as a buffer as well as Trinisphere to get out your Smokestack. Smokestack aggressively to destroy their lands.
Game 2:
★★★★
-4 Propaganda
-1 Mindlock Orb
+2 In the Eye of Chaos
+3 Powder Keg
Powder Keg on 2 will handle Tarmogoyf. In the Eye of Chaos serves as an additional buffer for counterspells.
vs. 43Land.dec
Game 1:
★★★★
Maze of Ith/Kor Haven does nothing to you. Chalice of the Void for 2 shuts down Life from the Loam. Propaganda helps against manland beats. Use Wasteland/Ghost Quarter to take down any problematic lands.
Game 2:
★★★★
-2 Sower of Temptation
-1 Mindlock Orb
+3 Pithing Needle
Pithing Needle further prevents manlands from causing problems. Play the same game plan.
Final thoughts:
Stax is a high risk, reward deck. With a good opening hand, it can just flat out win games no matter what the opponent is playing. Keep in mind however that this deck takes a lot of skill to figure out the appropriate play at the right time. Practice, practice, practice.
Let me know your thoughts on this deck!
Till next time,
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