MTG Combo: Paradox Engine + Strionic Resonator

simondiamond2012 on Sidistique, Version 2: Ad Nauseam Fishbowl Variant

5 years ago

@hthomas88:

"did u have any line of tutoring, example what to search first, second, etc?

--> This is a Turbo Ad Nauseam list. We want to find and resolve Ad Nauseam, above all things.

If in the event Ad Nauseam is countered, we find Yawgie Doggie and play it from the yard.

Alternatively, we can also go the direct tutor route, which is slow but still possible, by manually assembling Paradox Engine + Strionic Resonator .

In the event of a heavy blue combo meta, such as Teferi Chain Veil Stax, we race them ideally because the hypergeometric distribution of the deck is in our favor.

But since things aren't ideal, we also have targeted hand hate, Boseiju, Who Shelters All, and Defense Grid to protect Ad Nauseam. You may have to get 1 of these cards prior to getting Ad Nauseam, which is why the other tutors come in handy.

============================== "any advice on how to play acording the matchups? (stax, flash hulk, blue control meta, etc)"

--> That depends on your meta, and turn order.

For Stax:

Bear in mind, not every stax deck operates the same way and each one attacks on a separate axis, based on their resource denial pieces.

Also bear in mind that Stax is the bane of this deck archetype. If you get stuck behind a tax piece, like Sphere for example, you may have to go find Helm of Awakening to offset the board. Alternatively, if you get stuck behind Stranglehold, you may have to Vampiric Tutor for Unstable Obelisk or Ad Nauseam to break through, which is less than ideal.

Be mindful of the following Stax pieces:

Anti-Search Effects (Stranglehold, Aven Mindcensor, Leonin Arbiter, etc.)

Null Rod/Stony Silence

Gaddock Teeg/Lavinia, Azorius Renegade

Ethersworn Cannonist

Cursed Totem

Sphere effects (Sphere of Resistance, Thorn of Amethyst, etc.)

Anything that prevents you from doing something for cheap or free must be dealt with prior to going off. In the case of creatures, use a kill spell. In the event of Null Rod or Stony Silence, you'll have to Ad Naus into Skirge Familiar then kill the table the long way via Exsanguinate + Yawg's Will (using Ad Naus and Exsanguinate again).

You can also use politics and sit back in order to let others deal with the on-board issues, but I'd suggest sitting and being patient. The longer the game goes, the less it favors you.

==============================

Against flash-hulk variants, race them, but don't be afraid to use a hand hate spell on them if you have one in hand. An E.O.T. Ad Nauseam may very well pave the way to victory.

Against TCV Stax or other fast combo decks, race them. This archetype is the 3rd fastest archetype, just barely behind Grenzo Doomsday and 4C Breakfast Hulk. Hope of Ghirapur may help here, but only marginally; if there's 2 or 3 other blue decks, Defense Grid might be the way to go. (If nothing else, it baits out a counter.)

For seat positioning, if you're not going first, bear in mind who's at the table and what's in your hand. If you can Ad Naus turn 1 or 2, go for it, including on your main phase. Remember, you don't answer questions, you ask them! (As in, "Opponents, may I see a Force of Will?".)

If your meta is stax heavy (4 or more decks in your LGS meta), ANF might not be so hot going in. But if it's lots of midrange non-blue stuff, roast'em with Fishbowl.

Having a knowledge of your meta and who's sitting at the table with you will be of great help. It's all on a case by case basis.

In a blind meta, usually it's best to find Ad Nauseam first, then drop all your fast rocks into Ad Nauseam on the same turn, so that you hide your power level to the table. (The worst that happens is you don't get there, but often times, someone else will get greedy first and splurge. Let them take the fall for you and enjoy the ensuing counter war.)

If you sit at a table with a mirror match and there's at least one other control player there (preferably no more than one), don't be afraid to use a hand hate spell as a political tool to strip Ad Nauseam out of the mirror opponent's hand. This can buy you political favor.

Let me know what your meta looks like and I may be able to help you better.

imSandstorm on The coming storm

6 years ago

My bad, I think my explanation for the Paradox Engine + Strionic Resonator combo was pretty convoluted. Since the copy resolves on the stack first, as long as you can cast at least 1 of the cards exiled and untap nonland permanents, you can just copy the original ability over and over.