So my absolute favorite 1v1 deck to play for a long time now has been American Control... I know, it doesn't have the raw numbers that Esper and even Azorious control has, but I really love these colors as a control archetype. If for nothing else than nostalgia's sake, I wanted to make a multiplayer version, as multiplayer is what I play most often now. Here is what I have:
I realize that Jace is an aggro draw here, but honestly, I use him for his -2 ability, and once people see that I am not trying to ultimate him, they typically don't target him. Obviously, the goal is to control the board until I can take over with Assemble the Legion and Luminarch Ascension, with Ætherling and Drogskol Reaver as secondary win cons.
Aurelia's Fury is just silly... and along with Supreme Verdict and Mizzium Mortars, it is hard for my opponents to keep a good board presence. Capsize takes care of any non-creature permanents, as well as keeping my creatures safe from Wraths.
Callous Oppressor is a card that I have truly grown to love, and it brings some stability to my board on turn 3. If you are smart with whom you allow to choose a creature type, this dude does a LOT of work in keeping you alive.
Forbid is actually a real card. Yeah. When you don't have a maximum hand size (thanks to Reliquary Tower), and you can keep reshuffling your graveyard (thanks to Elixir of Immortality), you can pretty much lock anyone out of playing any spell that poses a threat to you... period.
I would definitely want multiples of Aetherling and Luminarch Ascension. You've got a lot of draw, but still...those are win conditions, and I'd want to make sure I saw them as much as possible. I'd also probably play all four copies of Trade Secrets, too, since it's typically been nuts in my experience.
Aetherling, Assemble, Drogskol, and Luminarch are all win cons... Not to mention the ability to steal someone else's with Opressor. That is six win cons, plus a possible 3 more. I don't feel that is too few in a control shell.
I am only running 3 Secrets as I already have a playset of Revelation, plus Jace's digging and extra draw from Drogskul. I suppose playtesting could show otherwise, but I doubt I will be hurting for cards.
It's worse in MP than it is in duels. Bolting people/threats isn't a very viable win condition nor is it an effective measure of control. Even as a draw engine it's lackluster at best, especially in the face of Tidings and other similar spells. UR decks are virtually incapable of activating the creature mode of the card which, while not a big in duels, actually matters a lot in an MP setting in my opinion. The card is still fine but it's significantly worse than most of the other Gods. I would always rather have the Erebos deck or the Athreos deck than the Keranos deck. He's too slow, too hard to activate and ultimately doesn't have the same punch thta most of the other Gods do.
The card that your deck is missing is Nevinyrral's Disk to make that Capsize a real card. Oddly enough Keranos is actually decent in a CapDisk deck because it, unlike say Assemble legion, won't get removed. I personally think that Capsize in unplayably slow in non-Disk decks and I would almost always play Cyclonic Rift in its stead. The only exception is CapDisk decks because Cap + Disk is just so hard for so many decks to beat. The fact that Keranos/Aetherling completely ignores it bodes well for you. Yes, Aetherling + CapBuyback + Disk is a lot of mana but I mean this is UWr Control. You will have 12+ lands eventually.
I actually had Disk in originally, and took it out for Aurelia's Fury. Hmm... May have to rethink that... Kept cap in but not Disk...
Not playing Disk is fine but Cap is just complete crap without it. I have never once in my life seen Capsize do anything remotely scary in multiplayer as a standalone threat. Paying 6 mana to bounce a perm from one player is just stone useless as a wincon.
I completely agree... That's what I get for moving cards around all the time... Accidentally pull combos apart... Lol. I do REALLY love capsizing a triggered ring... Something hugely unfair about it...
1x Academy Ruins
4x Cloudpost
2x Glacial Fortress
4x Glimmerpost
4x Hallowed Fountain
2x Island
3x Mountain
2x Steam Vents
1x Reliquary Tower
1x Sacred Foundry
1x Ætherling
2x Drogskol Reaver
3x Callous Oppressor
Walkers:
3x Jace, Architect of Thought
Other Spells:
2x Assemble the Legion
3x Aurelia's Fury
2x Capsize
1x Elixir of Immortality
3x Expedition Map
3x Forbid
1x Luminarch Ascension
2x Mizzium Mortars
4x Sphinx's Revelation
4x Supreme Verdict
2x Trade Secrets
I realize that Jace is an aggro draw here, but honestly, I use him for his -2 ability, and once people see that I am not trying to ultimate him, they typically don't target him. Obviously, the goal is to control the board until I can take over with Assemble the Legion and Luminarch Ascension, with Ætherling and Drogskol Reaver as secondary win cons.
Aurelia's Fury is just silly... and along with Supreme Verdict and Mizzium Mortars, it is hard for my opponents to keep a good board presence. Capsize takes care of any non-creature permanents, as well as keeping my creatures safe from Wraths.
I have a ton of draw with Trade Secrets, Jace, Architect of Thought, and Sphinx's Revelation.
Callous Oppressor is a card that I have truly grown to love, and it brings some stability to my board on turn 3. If you are smart with whom you allow to choose a creature type, this dude does a LOT of work in keeping you alive.
Forbid is actually a real card. Yeah. When you don't have a maximum hand size (thanks to Reliquary Tower), and you can keep reshuffling your graveyard (thanks to Elixir of Immortality), you can pretty much lock anyone out of playing any spell that poses a threat to you... period.
Any insights would be great!
My Powered 630 card Vintage Multiplayer Cube
cEDH: WUBR Blue Farm WUBR, UG Kinnan Flips UG, U Urza Scepter U
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
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My Powered 630 card Vintage Multiplayer Cube
cEDH: WUBR Blue Farm WUBR, UG Kinnan Flips UG, U Urza Scepter U
I am only running 3 Secrets as I already have a playset of Revelation, plus Jace's digging and extra draw from Drogskul. I suppose playtesting could show otherwise, but I doubt I will be hurting for cards.
My Powered 630 card Vintage Multiplayer Cube
cEDH: WUBR Blue Farm WUBR, UG Kinnan Flips UG, U Urza Scepter U
My Powered 630 card Vintage Multiplayer Cube
cEDH: WUBR Blue Farm WUBR, UG Kinnan Flips UG, U Urza Scepter U
It's worse in MP than it is in duels. Bolting people/threats isn't a very viable win condition nor is it an effective measure of control. Even as a draw engine it's lackluster at best, especially in the face of Tidings and other similar spells. UR decks are virtually incapable of activating the creature mode of the card which, while not a big in duels, actually matters a lot in an MP setting in my opinion. The card is still fine but it's significantly worse than most of the other Gods. I would always rather have the Erebos deck or the Athreos deck than the Keranos deck. He's too slow, too hard to activate and ultimately doesn't have the same punch thta most of the other Gods do.
The card that your deck is missing is Nevinyrral's Disk to make that Capsize a real card. Oddly enough Keranos is actually decent in a CapDisk deck because it, unlike say Assemble legion, won't get removed. I personally think that Capsize in unplayably slow in non-Disk decks and I would almost always play Cyclonic Rift in its stead. The only exception is CapDisk decks because Cap + Disk is just so hard for so many decks to beat. The fact that Keranos/Aetherling completely ignores it bodes well for you. Yes, Aetherling + CapBuyback + Disk is a lot of mana but I mean this is UWr Control. You will have 12+ lands eventually.
Guilds of Ravnica - Commander 2018 - Core 2019 - Battlebond - Dominaria - Rivals of Ixalan - Ixalan - Commander 2017 - Hour of Devastation - Amonket - Aether Revolt - Commander 2016 - Kaladesh - Conspiracy 2 - Eldritch Moon - Shadows Over Innistrad - Oath of the Gatewatch - Commander 2015 - Battle for Zendikar - Magic Origins - Dragons of Tarkir
Green - Blue - Red - White - Gold
My Powered 630 card Vintage Multiplayer Cube
cEDH: WUBR Blue Farm WUBR, UG Kinnan Flips UG, U Urza Scepter U
Not playing Disk is fine but Cap is just complete crap without it. I have never once in my life seen Capsize do anything remotely scary in multiplayer as a standalone threat. Paying 6 mana to bounce a perm from one player is just stone useless as a wincon.
Guilds of Ravnica - Commander 2018 - Core 2019 - Battlebond - Dominaria - Rivals of Ixalan - Ixalan - Commander 2017 - Hour of Devastation - Amonket - Aether Revolt - Commander 2016 - Kaladesh - Conspiracy 2 - Eldritch Moon - Shadows Over Innistrad - Oath of the Gatewatch - Commander 2015 - Battle for Zendikar - Magic Origins - Dragons of Tarkir
Green - Blue - Red - White - Gold
My Powered 630 card Vintage Multiplayer Cube
cEDH: WUBR Blue Farm WUBR, UG Kinnan Flips UG, U Urza Scepter U