@rat3de

Like @Prospero said, that kind of effect to be good in controlling Shops/Stax lists. But I've found Bottled Cloister to be much better in those lists as it pairs so nicely with Ensnaring Bridge. The controlling lists are regrettably not Tier 1 by any stretch, but they can be just competitive enough to be fun. Of course, if you're looking for an effect to keep in against blue pilots, then Cloister is a big liability given what can happen when it is stolen or destroyed. This is not an issue against Shops, of course, but still can matter against Dredge on the anti-hate plan. In any case, the Cloister/Bridge synergy still did wonders for me against Shops/Dredge with my controlling lists this year.

@blindtherapy

Wait, that works? Are revealed cards considered as being in the library?

I absolutely need that Workshop shirt.

Wish I could make this. Looking forward to future events!

@prospero

Absolutely yes.

@defector

Yep, they're the only ones in the main. I'm trying to keep wincons low with the idea that I'll try to get a lock first and worry about a win second. It's possible that more threats are needed.

Ballista comes out of the board in a lot of matchups, often just as another way to win. The deck often goes to time, and having a threat that can end the game fairly quickly helps. Ballista helps a lot vs dredge by enabling a win with a Bridge on the table. Once a true lock is established, you can use Smokestack to clear things like null rod to turn ballista on.

I'll say that the deck is far from optimized. It was really meant as a proof of concept to see how good Ghirapur Orrery can be. The biggest problem is Planeswalkers. For that reason I think cutting a Revoker wasn't the best idea. If anything a fourth would be great.

Untimely, I think Orrery has promise but I'm not sure how legitimately competitive it can be. My hunch is that it isn't truly competitive, just good enough to earn back playpoints.

But I will say one thing: Orrery is a blast. Some of the games are hilarious, and that's worth a lot to me.

I've been playing a Ghirapur Orrery Stax build with Null Rod and doing well in the leagues.

I 5-0ed with it last week (https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/competitive-vintage-constructed-league-2018-05-20).

Here's the list:

Main:
1 Lodestone Golem
3 Phyrexian Revoker
1 Black Lotus
2 Bottled Cloister
1 Chalice of the Void
3 Crucible of Worlds
2 Ghirapur Orrery
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
4 Null Rod
2 Smokestack
1 Sol Ring
4 Sphere of Resistance
4 Tangle Wire
1 Thorn of Amethyst
1 Trinisphere
4 Ancient Tomb
2 Bazaar of Baghdad
4 Ghost Quarter
2 Inventors' Fair
4 Mishra's Workshop
1 Strip Mine
1 The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale
1 Tolarian Academy
2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
4 Wasteland

Sideboard:

2 The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale
4 Ensnaring Bridge
4 Grafdigger's Cage
4 Leyline of the Void
1 Walking Ballista

Orrery has been great. With all the Ghost Quarters, you can chew through basics at a good clip. It also lets you build up permanents for ramping Stax. Bottled Cloister is there mostly for Bridge, but if you stack it correctly you can always trigger Orrery on upkeep.

Just saw the Team CFB modified my build for the VSL which was exciting!

@iamactuallylvl1

Congrats on your win!

I was your opponent (on Stax) in round 4. That game 1 was intense, and you played it quite well. Not cracking the fetch in response to my Spyglass stuck out to me in particular. I didn't fully think through the implications of your decision not to crack it. In retrospect it seems clear that you're signalling that mana is not an issue for you. I was trying to keep you just constrained enough on mana that I could edge out the last few points of damage, but I think that was a misguided plan after having no more ways of pressuring your mana (e.g., Ratchet Bomb or Tangle Wire).

A barbell doesn't make you stronger, but lifting it with correct form, on a consistent schedule, and pushing your limits sure as hell does make you stronger.

MTGO is no different.