I've also had trouble with UR/Grixis Control. 0-4 right now. I've won a couple games but what usually happens is I get them down to a handful of life and then they stabilize. I have 2 Goldnight Castigators just for this matchup. I've switched out my Grasps for Cut // Ribbons (partly to prepare for rotation) as a way push through a the last bit of damage that only Disallow can stop. I also board in Harsh Scrutiny which can usually hit a gearhulk especially on turn 5 after they've been drawing.
So let's talk sodeboarding and specific strategy again.
I got steamrolled by a Grixis Control deck. Game 1 he stopped me from dropping anything with counter spells, then managed to drop Nicol and it was game. Game 2, anything I did drop he removed and then dropped a blue gearhulk.
What are your suggestions on how to play against this deck? Sideboard options?
Maybe sideboard a couple of Dragonmaster Outcasts and/or Dreamstealers. But really, this is supposed to be a horrible matchup, I'd just accept the loss and focus on others. Especially now that Control is rarely being played.
The deck they describe runs a little more "silver-bullet" style than I would prefer. With no way to actually search for the one-ofs, I find it makes the deck a lot less reliable. They are also running 26 lands, which I feel is just a bit too heavy for this deck. I have been running 25 and with the lower curve and all the cycling, it hasn't been too much of a problem. Nothing out of the ordinary anyway.
Also could anyone help me fill in the gaps in this sideboard guide? Been trying to piece it together and could use some help...
Temur Energy Out
Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
In
Hour of Devastation
Chandra’s Defeat
Doomfall
R/G Pummeler Out
In
B/G Constrictor Out
In
MonoRed Aggro Out
In
Chandra’s Defeat
MonoBlack Zombies Out
In
Mardu Vehicles Out
In
U/R/x Control Out
Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
Sweltering Suns
In
Transgress the Mind
Harsh Scrutiny
Never // Return
Ob Nixilis Reignited
Gonti, Lord of Luxury
Dreamstealer
1. I know I have no artifacts for Unlicensed Disintergration, but it's basically Murder that's easier on the manabase and doesn't rotate.
2. Against Ramunap Red game 1 is about 50/50, probably more like 60/40 then when they are on the play. Postboard it's probably 70/30 us if we're on the play. The matchup gets better but it is still hard, sometimes just coming down to the draws.
5. Other Midrange or creature heavy decks, such as GB Constrictor, Mardu Vehicles, and Temur Energy are favorable matchups. We usually have enough removal to keep them in check.
6. Doomfall has been an all star. It is almost never a dead card and with all of our other removal we can usually get them down to that one tough creature and make them exile it.
Maybe sideboard a couple of Dragonmaster Outcasts and/or Dreamstealers. But really, this is supposed to be a horrible matchup, I'd just accept the loss and focus on others. Especially now that Control is rarely being played.
https://www.channelfireball.com/articles/deck-of-the-day-rb-control/
The deck they describe runs a little more "silver-bullet" style than I would prefer. With no way to actually search for the one-ofs, I find it makes the deck a lot less reliable. They are also running 26 lands, which I feel is just a bit too heavy for this deck. I have been running 25 and with the lower curve and all the cycling, it hasn't been too much of a problem. Nothing out of the ordinary anyway.
Also could anyone help me fill in the gaps in this sideboard guide? Been trying to piece it together and could use some help...
Temur Energy
Out
Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
In
Hour of Devastation
Chandra’s Defeat
Doomfall
R/G Pummeler
Out
In
B/G Constrictor
Out
In
MonoRed Aggro
Out
In
Chandra’s Defeat
MonoBlack Zombies
Out
In
Mardu Vehicles
Out
In
U/R/x Control
Out
Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
Sweltering Suns
In
Transgress the Mind
Harsh Scrutiny
Never // Return
Ob Nixilis Reignited
Gonti, Lord of Luxury
Dreamstealer
G/R Ramp
Out
In
U/W Approach
Out
In
Here is the current version of my deck
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/25-08-17-nqw-br-midrange/
A couple things of note:
1. I know I have no artifacts for Unlicensed Disintergration, but it's basically Murder that's easier on the manabase and doesn't rotate.
2. Against Ramunap Red game 1 is about 50/50, probably more like 60/40 then when they are on the play. Postboard it's probably 70/30 us if we're on the play. The matchup gets better but it is still hard, sometimes just coming down to the draws.
3. Also working with a post rotation version. Post rotation the Red matchup becomes much more difficult. Losing Grasp of Darkness, Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet, and Liliana, the Last Hope really hurts the deck and Ramunap doesn't lose much.
4. URx Control is a tough matchup. Post board it's a little better, siding in Gonti, Lord of Luxury, Dreamstealer, and Transgress the Mind make it a little easier but it is by far our hardest matchup.
5. Other Midrange or creature heavy decks, such as GB Constrictor, Mardu Vehicles, and Temur Energy are favorable matchups. We usually have enough removal to keep them in check.
6. Doomfall has been an all star. It is almost never a dead card and with all of our other removal we can usually get them down to that one tough creature and make them exile it.
First my list (on phone sorry)
4 Gifted Aetherborn AER
3 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet OGW
1 Glorybringer AKH
2 Goblin Dark-Dwellers OGW
1 The Scorpion God HOU
1 Noxious Gearhulk KLD
3 Liliana, the Last Hope EMN
2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance KLD
1 Ob Nixilis Reignited DDR
1 Chandra, Flamecaller OGW
3 Fatal Push AER
4 Grasp of Darkness OGW
3 Abrade HOU
3 Doomfall HOU
1 Ruinous Path BFZ
1 Sweltering Suns AKH
4 Canyon Slough AKH
4 Foreboding Ruins SOI
2 Ifnir Deadlands HOU
4 Mountain HOU
2 Scavenger Grounds HOU
4 Smoldering Marsh BFZ
6 Swamp HOU
Sideboard
3 Dreamstealer HOU
2 Gonti, Lord of Luxury KLD
1 Glorybringer AKH
2 Transgress the Mind BFZ
2 Lay Bare the Heart AKH
1 Bontu's Last Reckoning HOU
1 Lost Legacy KLD
1 Never AKH
2 Hour of Devastation HOU
Round one and two I faced temur decks, one straight temur and one with scarab god. Both lost
Rest was against uw 2nd suns control (won in 2), mono red (won in 2), temur energy (won in 3) and gb delerium (won in 2)
Also what you think about splash blue for scarab god, seems like a good way to beat control and midrange strategy's.