MTG Combo: Smothering Tithe + Stasis

RinceRaven on fck my playgroup

2 years ago

Hey, looking at your list I have a bunch of opinions. I'mma drop those for later reference. This comment will be a mess, I'm sorry, I'm not gonna write a cohesive essay with a proper layout.

TL;DR: More boardwipes, less pillowfort, less creatures, +1 or 2 wincons.

Vryn Wingmare: taxing yes, but also taxes like 70% of your spells which I just can't see being worth it. At that stage, maybe run Sphere of Resistance. At least that hurts opposing creature decks too.

I don't love cards like Ghostly Prison because even though it does stop a bunch of random damage and everything it still won't stop the Voltron coming your way if they want to. On top of that your Magus of the Tabernacle will be an issue with your high creature count. So I'd consider getting rid of Baird, Steward of Argive and friends.

You only have three boardwipes, you're better off running more of those than pillowfort effects in my opinion. Consider Cleansing Nova, Rout, Time Wipe, Divine Reckoning. I like the last two a lot for this deck. Also where's your Cyclonic Rift do you not have more copies?

I'm very double on Isperia, Supreme Judge as a card. It's only 4 mana here which might make it good enough, but you're relying on opponents doing something which is usually not where you want to be. Mangara, the Diplomat in contrast, at least has muliple triggered abilities which does get triggered a lot, although with your taxing probably still a bad include, especially for it's $ cost. In the same wake I think Fatespinner, even though annoying for sure, gives opponents more options than you would like.

Nitpick, but Brainstorm becomes considerably worse if you don't have a bunch of fetches or other shuffle effects. Same goes for Mox Opal and your low artifact count. Though that one might still be good enough, albeit a little inconsistent with the current artifact count.

For counterspells, consider Memory Lapse or maybe even Essence Scatter or False Summoning. Also get Swan Song back in, a 1 mana counterspell that doesn't have a pay x out is probably still worth it's spot. Maaaybe on a super tight 100, but it's not like you're at that stage right now. And get rid of Render Silent three mana isn't worth it for the added silence in my opinion. Just keep the cheapest counterspells so you yourself can be more efficient with your own mana.

For ramp: Your commander is 4 mana, and getting him out is really good for you. Your ramp, for this reason, should be cmc 2 and below if possible. On top of that, due to Augustin's cost reducing abilities, you prefer your ramp to generate colored mana. So imo get rid of Azorius Locket and Azorius Cluestone. Instead look towards Coldsteel Heart and Talisman of Progress, maybe even a Sapphire Medallion, Pearl Medallion, Wayfarer's Bauble, Knight of the White Orchid. Or maybe Mind Stone, Walking Atlas, Everflowing Chalice. Maybe don't fix colors but at least curve out augustin. Finally please at least play Commander's Sphere over the Cluestone.

Also, please for the sake of our group, play an additional wincon. Right now you have Expropriate, Approach of the Second Sun and Smothering Tithe + Stasis lock. I know control decks don't traditionally run too many wincons, but keeping a lock on the board long enough is difficult and we won't usually feel like sitting through you trying to contain us for that long. Also where's Dramatic Reversal to go with your Isochron Scepter?

A card like Lightning Greaves might just be worth it considering how much Augustin will be hated.