cEDH Deck Tech: Hipster Stax - Ardenn and Tana!

Welcome to Hipster Stax, a cEDH list created by Sequeira (you might know him from YouTube).

This strategy balances Stax, aggressive combats, and efficient combos. Your commanders will be Ardenn, Intrepid Archaeologist and Tana, the Bloodsower, which will guide you through this innovative approach to control. Like other decks like this, your goal is to limit your opponents' options as you draw a path to victory.

Let's go!

Picking the right commander is essential when you build a cEDH deck. Ardenn and Tana were the best choices for this list for three reasons.

Firstly, they have synergy with equipment. Ardenn lets you move equipment for no cost at all, which enables many combos and improves many effects. Thanks to this commander, you'll have a mana advantage over your opponent - a tempo advantage, if you will.

Secondly, these two commanders carry the best colors for this strategy. This list needs to play the most effective Stax effects, for Godo, Bandit Warlord and Helm of the Host, and for ramp, particularly for mana dorks and creature tutors.

Finally, they are aggressive. Tana creates creatures when she deals damage, so she puts a lot of pressure on your opponents, and is a great target for Ardenn's ability. She can also turn into a Godo if you use Eldritch Evolution on her.

Let's see our decklist:

Ardenn

Ardenn's ability triggers at the beginning of combat, and you'll be able to use it to attach equipment and auras to any permanent or player for no cost at all. It also ignores effects like Stony Silence, Collector Ouphe, and Null Rod.

He enables important combos with Helm of the Host and Godo, Bandit Warlord, and is also a way to turn the game to your favor with your Stax pieces in many situations. Furthermore, you can use his ability to move equipment disruptively such as, for instance, to attach a Skullclamp to an X/1 enemy to create even more value. Yes, that way, you'll draw two cards.

Tana

Tana stands out because of her trample, which goes over blockers and makes sure she'll always deal damage. Her ability can create an army that, despite small, can quickly become a threat or create a lot of mana with Gaea's Cradle.

With cards like Colossus Hammer, Tana can turn into a monster and end matches incredibly fast with commander damage. Furthermore, her 4 CMC interacts with Eldritch Evolution, as we mentioned before.

All great strategies play strong synergies and cards that make sense together, as well as an efficient way to win. This list is no different.

This is your main way to win the game. If everything goes wrong (that is, if your opponent exiles Helm or Godo), your only way to win is good, old combat.

1. Godo enters play and gets Helm of the Host.

2. At the beginning of combat, Ardenn equips Helm on Godo.

3. Helm creates a copy of Godo with haste that attacks, and triggers his ability.

4. You'll get a new combat, and repeat this cycle infinitely.

Please note: both Ardenn's and Helm's abilities activate at the beginning of combat, and that's not a problem. Helm triggers regardless whether it is attached to a creature or not. This means that all you need to do is to resolve Ardenn first, so when Helm resolves, it will already be attached to a creature!

Other Important Synergies

You can use Skullclamp on Tana's tokens or small enemy creatures to draw cards.

Helm of the Host and Sanctum Prelate lock down the game, as together they'll let you block multiple mana values, one at a time, as you create copies of Sanctum Prelate.

Sword of Hearth and Home and Aerial Extortionist exile permanents and create an even bigger advantage for you.

Sword of Hearth and Home and Stoneforge Mystic let you get all the equipment in your deck if you exile Stoneforge again and again.

Jetmir, Nexus of Revels kills your opponents with Tana's tokens.

Here's a small guide if you're not used to playing Stax or if you'd like to see a summary.

Mulligan

Look for hands with at least one of the following cards:

Stax starters (Rule of Law effects or Null Rod).

Sources of ramp to accelerate your mana curve (any will do, from Llanowar Elves to Sol Ring).

Ways to get Godo, Bandit Warlord (besides the Eldritch, you have many other options, like Chord of Calling).

Disruption and Control

Now, let's explore our Stax package:

Anti-artifact: Stony Silence, Null Rod, and Collector Ouphe.

Spell restrictions: Rule of Law, Archon of Valor's Reach, and Sanctum Prelate.

Specific disruption: Aven Mindcensor, Aven Interrupter, and Drannith Magistrate.

Please note: we don't play the actual Rule of Law in this deck, but we do play many similar effects.

There are a few ways to win with this simple list.

The first is the Godo + Helm combo. It is the safest and faster way, and should always be your first choice.

The second is to control and suppress your opponents. If the match drags out, just use your Stax package to prevent your opponents from developing their game plan, all while you naturally threaten their lives with the many combos in this list.

Finally, the last is don't die. Do anything you can to stay alive and lock down the board, even if that means you won't be able to protect another important permanent. When your Stax pieces leave the board, you'll lose.

Though this is a cEDH deck tech, we'll also show you an even more accessible version if you're interested in this strategy but still can't afford it. This list works very well as long as your combo pieces are in play.

If you'd like to make it even cheaper, remove a few swords, Gaea's Cradle, and the moxes. If you'd like to see an example, here it is:

Hipster Stax is not only an innovative, unusual cEDH list: it features a unique play style that your table has probably never seen before. By giving up NBC (No Bad Cards) and embracing commander synergy, this strategy combines efficient combos, Stax pieces to control the game, and many ways to mow down your opponents through combat. It does all of this with a very creative, and powerful approach to cEDH.

What did you think of this list? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!