Still working on a sideboard but just in the main board, you can get rid of everything and just wait to land a threat on the board. It requires so much black mana early on I could almost see running two Urborgs just to make sure.
Still working on a sideboard but just in the main board, you can get rid of everything and just wait to land a threat on the board. It requires so much black mana early on I could almost see running two Urborgs just to make sure.
The problem is you have no way to generate advantage/value outside the planeswalkers...and since you play no creatures Sorin is extremely lackluster to say the least. On top of that, Sarkhan is really just a 4/4 Indestructible flying creature that can be killed outside of combat, or in response to activation via Downfall. He's let's say....easier to kill than Stormbreath Dragon. On this theme - aggro is going to steamroll you. You have no ways to remove creatures in a card efficient manner AND you don't want to be using Elspeth in this fashion since she's realistically your only resilient win-con. Address these issues.
Drop the Sarkhans/Sorins and add some Tormenting Voice to filter your draws. You're so dependent on the top of your deck... (+ You're going to need to find a win-con that is more resilient than Elspeth; maybe 2x Empty the Pits...)
So I think you're underestimating Sarkhan a bit. Sure he dies to Hero's Downfall in your example but so would Stormbreath Dragon in that case.
I'll have to give you Sorin, he's probably not that good. But I'm not sure how playable Tormenting Voice is. I love it in limited, I think the nay-sayers are ignoring how relevant the card draw can be, but in constructed I'm not as sure.
I'm switching out for Chandra, Pyromaster instead. It's not pure card draw but it's psudo-draw with some pinging on top of it.
Besides that my response to aggro is to try and remove as much of their threats as I can.
Control decks need to have more than just finishers and one-for-one removal or else they'll eventually run out of answers to their opponent's threats. You need to also have sources of card advantage (which Tormenting Voice is not) like Sign in Blood and/or Read the Bones in order to keep up with your opponent's threats. The problem with using those cards is obvious in that running them is not easy on your life total. I'm not sure what the solution to this problem is for Mardu control (or whether there is a solution), but if you want to build a strong control deck in Mardu colors then you need to be aware of this.
Another important aspect of control decks that your list is missing is board wipes (which are a source of card advantage). X-for-ones are control decks' bread and butter, and you're neglecting at least four of them: Drown in Sorrow, Anger of the Gods, End Hostilities, and Extinguish All Hope. When you're running so few creatures (in your case, literally zero), there is no reason for you not to run board wipes that will put creature-based or creature-reliant decks far behind and bring you closer to your win condition.
Control decks need to have more than just finishers and one-for-one removal or else they'll eventually run out of answers to their opponent's threats. You need to also have sources of card advantage (which Tormenting Voice is not) like Sign in Blood and/or Read the Bones in order to keep up with your opponent's threats. The problem with using those cards is obvious in that running them is not easy on your life total. I'm not sure what the solution to this problem is for Mardu control (or whether there is a solution), but if you want to build a strong control deck in Mardu colors then you need to be aware of this.
Another important aspect of control decks that your list is missing is board wipes (which are a source of card advantage). X-for-ones are control decks' bread and butter, and you're neglecting at least four of them: Drown in Sorrow, Anger of the Gods, End Hostilities, and Extinguish All Hope. When you're running so few creatures (in your case, literally zero), there is no reason for you not to run board wipes that will put creature-based or creature-reliant decks far behind and bring you closer to your win condition.
This is some nice advice. I can see why board wipes are a must. I don't know why I didn't put at least End Hostilities in the 60.
Card advantage is harder but there are a few I can run. I think Sign in Blood is the arguably "best" one but instead of read the bones I would consider a 1 or 2 of Bitter Revelation. It's 4 mana, yes but I feel that being able to take the best 2 of 4 is better than scry 2 draw 2 because the two on top might look good, but the 4th card is a better answer.
The life gain is a harder problem. You don't just want a lifegain card. You want a card that does something and also happens to give you life. Nyx-Fleece Ram or Pharika's Cure would be easy to include without changing too much to how you build the deck. Wingmate Roc could have a case made for it but there are better 5 drops to play, Last Breath could situationally lose an elspeth token to gain 4 life. Other than that I could add more token creation and play Butcher of the Horde. I'm not quite sure what direction to go.
Second Attempt:
1 Chandra, Pyromaster
2 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
2 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
Enchantments: 3
3 Banishing Light
Spells: 26
4 Thoughtseize
2 Despise
2 Bile Blight
3 Sign in Blood
2 Anger of the Gods
2 Drown in Sorrow
2 Hero's Downfall
2 Murderous Cut
2 Mardu Charm
1 Utter End
1 Bitter Revelation
2 End Hostilities
1 Crackling Doom
2 Nomad Outpost
4 Bloodstained Mire
4 Temple of Silence
3 Temple of Malice
1 Temple of Triumph
2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
2 Caves of Koilos
1 Battlefield Forge
3 Swamp
2 Mountain
Still working on a sideboard but just in the main board, you can get rid of everything and just wait to land a threat on the board. It requires so much black mana early on I could almost see running two Urborgs just to make sure.
4 Bloodsoaked Champion
4 Goblin Rabblemaster
3 Butcher of the Horde
Spells: 25
4 Thoughtseize
2 Despise
3 Bile Blight
4 Sign in Blood
2 Drown in Sorrow
2 Hero's Downfall
2 Mardu Charm
1 Utter End
3 End Hostilities
2 Empty the Pits
2 Nomad Outpost
4 Bloodstained Mire
4 Temple of Silence
3 Temple of Malice
1 Temple of Triumph
2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
2 Caves of Koilos
1 Battlefield Forge
3 Swamp
2 Mountain
2 Chandra, Pyromaster
3 Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
2 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
Enchantments: 3
3 Banishing Light
Spells: 26
4 Thoughtseize
2 Despise
4 Lightning Strike
3 Bile Blight
4 Hero's Downfall
4 Murderous Cut
2 Mardu Charm
2 Utter End
1 Crackling Doom
2 Nomad Outpost
4 Bloodstained Mire
4 Temple of Silence
3 Temple of Malice
1 Temple of Triumph
2 Caves of Koilos
1 Battlefield Forge
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
3 Swamp
2 Mountain
1 Plains
-2 Sorin, Solemn Visitor, +2 Chandra, Pyromaster
CUBE: http://www.cubetutor.com/viewcube/73964;jsessionid=2DE1F5FF41A24820A137448A2FD5CF8F
I LIKE DRAGONS!
The problem is you have no way to generate advantage/value outside the planeswalkers...and since you play no creatures Sorin is extremely lackluster to say the least. On top of that, Sarkhan is really just a 4/4 Indestructible flying creature that can be killed outside of combat, or in response to activation via Downfall. He's let's say....easier to kill than Stormbreath Dragon. On this theme - aggro is going to steamroll you. You have no ways to remove creatures in a card efficient manner AND you don't want to be using Elspeth in this fashion since she's realistically your only resilient win-con. Address these issues.
Drop the Sarkhans/Sorins and add some Tormenting Voice to filter your draws. You're so dependent on the top of your deck... (+ You're going to need to find a win-con that is more resilient than Elspeth; maybe 2x Empty the Pits...)
I'll have to give you Sorin, he's probably not that good. But I'm not sure how playable Tormenting Voice is. I love it in limited, I think the nay-sayers are ignoring how relevant the card draw can be, but in constructed I'm not as sure.
I'm switching out for Chandra, Pyromaster instead. It's not pure card draw but it's psudo-draw with some pinging on top of it.
Besides that my response to aggro is to try and remove as much of their threats as I can.
CUBE: http://www.cubetutor.com/viewcube/73964;jsessionid=2DE1F5FF41A24820A137448A2FD5CF8F
I LIKE DRAGONS!
Another important aspect of control decks that your list is missing is board wipes (which are a source of card advantage). X-for-ones are control decks' bread and butter, and you're neglecting at least four of them: Drown in Sorrow, Anger of the Gods, End Hostilities, and Extinguish All Hope. When you're running so few creatures (in your case, literally zero), there is no reason for you not to run board wipes that will put creature-based or creature-reliant decks far behind and bring you closer to your win condition.
This is some nice advice. I can see why board wipes are a must. I don't know why I didn't put at least End Hostilities in the 60.
Card advantage is harder but there are a few I can run. I think Sign in Blood is the arguably "best" one but instead of read the bones I would consider a 1 or 2 of Bitter Revelation. It's 4 mana, yes but I feel that being able to take the best 2 of 4 is better than scry 2 draw 2 because the two on top might look good, but the 4th card is a better answer.
The life gain is a harder problem. You don't just want a lifegain card. You want a card that does something and also happens to give you life. Nyx-Fleece Ram or Pharika's Cure would be easy to include without changing too much to how you build the deck. Wingmate Roc could have a case made for it but there are better 5 drops to play, Last Breath could situationally lose an elspeth token to gain 4 life. Other than that I could add more token creation and play Butcher of the Horde. I'm not quite sure what direction to go.
CUBE: http://www.cubetutor.com/viewcube/73964;jsessionid=2DE1F5FF41A24820A137448A2FD5CF8F
I LIKE DRAGONS!
It is hilarious and Rabblemaster seems like he'd stay a thing it could be real nice in the 75. I'll consider it.
CUBE: http://www.cubetutor.com/viewcube/73964;jsessionid=2DE1F5FF41A24820A137448A2FD5CF8F
I LIKE DRAGONS!