Stromgald Stronghold - Haakon

This deck was built with Haakon in mind.

My interest was sparked when G/B Aggro was mentioned in Frank Karsten's article.

The deck fell out of favour a week later =P

Still, the thought of chugging out a hypno or a viper third turn was too good to resist.

For some reason i wanted to build it with Haakon.

I guess G/B always meant Golgari to me, and that inevitably meant dredge.

And Moldervine Cloak (how come not life from the loam?? *shrug*) came to mind.

And the thought of the dredge effect dumping Haakon goodness into the deck was very appealing!

So G/B Haakon it was.


And then I realised on playtesting that Haakon, all powerful that he is, gets stuck in my hand.

That was when I realised I needed discard as a cost.

The best I could find in Standard was Delirium Skeins.

But the symmetry of Delirium Skeins was too painful, hence I cut it down to 2 and decided to go extended and throw in Wild Mongrels.

I had difficulty finding Knights as well since Samurai replaced Knights for a season.

So in the end I had to make do with Stromgald Crusader and decided to once again go extended and use Fallen Askari. Knighthood and 1 coloured cost was what attracted me.

The main problems I foresee (and had) are mana problems early in the game.

the Sideboard is as always more of a place to store cards for consideration, as opposed to a true sideboard.





// Deck file for Magic Workstation

// Lands
4 Overgrown Tomb
4 Llanowar Wastes
7 Forest
7 Swamp

// Creatures
3 Haakon, Stromgald Scourge
3 Stromgald Crusader
4 Hypnotic Specter
4 Ohran Viper
4 Birds of Paradise
2 Llanowar Elves
4 Fallen Askari
3 Black Knight
3 Wild Mongrel

// Spells
3 Moldervine Cloak
3 Umezawa's Jitte
2 Delirium Skeins

// Sideboard
SB: 2 Eastern Paladin
SB: 3 Avatar of Discord


Story:
**********************************

Haakon.

Scourge of Stromgald.

The Zombie Knight has been called many things.

Ruling his army with an iron fist, Haakon knows that war is not pretty. His choice of armoury depicts that.

Strength.

Resilence.

This is what will win the war.

The Winter lords of Kejldor have fought him long and admirally.

But how do you stand to immortality? The fools.

Keljdor should have fell long ago. But for the incompetence of the Stromgald Cabal.

Of late the new King, Darien has stood up to him, and while his army fought tooth and nail for him, his own crusaders had left Haakon for dead. Not that it mattered. He is dead even now. Haakon allowed a cackle at the irony. Noble soldiers fighting valiently to protect the living. Only to fall and become one of the fallen.

Inevitability. Do they not see it?

Still "I weary of this" mused Haakon. A new alliance will be forged. Dark magicks and Light migicks have wrestled for eternity. A new balance must be sought. What if a third magick were to join in.

Haakon has seen the power of the Golgari. Some elements could be used. Moldervine cloaks; vines and root to buttress the undead sinew. Mana providence to power the Hypnotic Specters that guard Haakon's stronghold. The cold has also brought strange new creatures, Ohran's native vipers have proven. Interesting, in its abilities. Many a foe has fallen stone cold at its touch.

The cold has also driven many elves to desperation, perhaps the undead have something to offer them. Immortality for instance. In service to Haakon of course, thought Haakon stoictly. Nothing is free, when it involves the Stromgald. Its the way of the Cabal.