Why Seal?

[jekyll]

After reading njx's article a little while ago on Parfait, I saw that he was running Seal of Cleansing, but not Disenchant. I also remember seeing some Stax decks running Seal and not Disenchant. Why? They cost the same, but Seal can be Stifled, can't it? Is it to have another permanent to sac to Smokestack if it isn't needed? Does it cause mind games by staring your opponent in the face, as opposed to being a potential in your hand? I started a new thread instead of dropping in on a WW  one with this question because of said Stax decks...I was hoping for a little broader perspective. Why do people run Seal instead of Disenchant?

ps - I'm not questioning the merits of either, I'm just trying to understand for myself.

[Limbo]

There are multiple things that all add up.

Mana spend in advance is good, if you weren't using the mana otherwise.
You can drop this early vs control (sneak it in before they have countermana up) and use it when they drop oath or something.
You can drop this early vs duress
Smokestack saccable permanent.
Psychological advantage (a lot of people start playing "around it", which makes them play worse)
Not much destroys it once in play, and not much of those solutions are played.

[verduran]

Misdirection.

[tidal kraken]

It doesn't hurt your tempo as bad by forcing you to leave 2 mana open.

[cssamerican]

It isn't shut down by Xantid Swarm, which is important if you see Dragon with any frequency.

It is used ChronStax because it isn't affected by In The Eye of Chaos.

It is used in Parfait because it can be Replenished or a target of Argivian Find.

For Leviat.dec it can be Replenished.

In fact the only deck I think runs Disenchant over Seal is 3 or 4cControl, and that is because they are using it as a Cunning Wish target.

[smeagol]

""Smokestack saccable permanent.""


Couldn't you just sac Seal to destroy the Smokestack...

[Godot]

""Smokestack saccable permanent.""


Couldn't you just sac Seal to destroy the Smokestack...

He means thats why it is used in Stax decks.  It accomplishes the same thing as Disenchant but in those scenarios when it has no other better use you can sac it to your own Smokestack.  Its the Workshop equivalent of the 'it pitches to Force' rationale for running narrow blue cards maindeck.

[smeagol]

""After reading njx's article a little while ago on Parfait""


Thats what I was replying to.