So, I've recently been looking at a new control deck, and I think U/B might have what it takes. It works like a classic draw go control deck, with the general game plan being to remove threats until we can finish them off with Icefall Regent, Dragonlord Silumgar, and Sphinx of the Final Word. Here's my rough draft list:
I've yet to actually test this deck, so it's not tuned and will likely change. I do worry that it will be inconsistent or have trouble closing out the game, but I tried to ensure we have answers to every threat the opponent can throw at us.
Card Explanations
Instants/Sorceries
Anticipate: Helps us dig for whatever we need at the moment.
Grasp of Darkness: Cheap Removal that can get around indestructable. Somewhat leery of the double black, however.
Ruinous Path: Unconditional removal that helps us deal with planeswalkers, and late game can provide a body to help finish off the opponent. Sorcery speed prevents this from being a 4 of.
Foul-Tongue Invocation: Gets rid of untargetable threats, and with a dragon can gain us some life for survivability.
Void Shatter: Stops trouble before it hits the board, and can stop recursive threats with exile.
Languish: Excellent for stopping aggro and swarm decks.
Mirrorpool: Lets us copy a removal spell or finisher.
Skyline Cascade: Slows down dangerous threats, giving us time to find an answer, for a small price.
Sideboard
Transgress the Mind: Helps us deal with troublesome creatures or removal before they have a chance to cast. Might mainboard if enough problems are <3 CMC.
Part the Waterveil: Helps us get out another threat against slower decks, and lets us play something else or leave mana up to protect it.
Other Considerations
Crush of Tentacles: Clears the board and can give us a huge threat. I chose not to include it because I don't think we can consistently get the surge cost without making sub par plays.
Ulamog, The Ceaseless Hunger: Just too expensive in my opinion. Might run it if the deck has trouble closing out games.
Sire of Stagnation: Won't do much against aggressive decks and control can probably just remove him before you get much.
Geralf's Masterpiece: Recursive, evasive threat, but its cost is steep, and just seems worse than the Sphinx for the most part.
Confirm Suspicions: Slow and Expensive as hell, but countering stuff while giving us fuel is nice. Probably not good enough.
Dark Petition: Helps us search for finishers, but I'm not sure that's necessary and the black mana will rarely be useful.
I think this deck has real potential, and I look forward to trying it out. However, as I said, its far from tuned, and I'm no pro. What are you guys running? What do your lists looks like? I look forward to your feedback and discussion.
4 Anticipate
2 Grasp of Darkness
2 Ultimate Price
2 Ruinous Path
2 Foul-Tongue Invocation
3 Void Shatter
2 Languish
2 Silumgar's Command
2 Dragonlord's Prerogative
2 Clash of Wills
Creatures
4 Thing in the Ice
4 Icefall Regent
2 Dragonlord Silumgar
1 Sphinx of the Final Word
1 Jace, Unraveler of Secrets
1 Ob Nixilis Reignited
Lands
1 Mirrorpool
2 Skyline Cascade
4 Sunken Hollow
4 Choked Estuary
7 Swamp
6 Island
2 Languish
1 Part the Waterveil
3 Scatter to the Winds
3 Infinite Obliteration
2 Transgress the Mind
2 Duress
2 Foul-Tongue Invocation
I've yet to actually test this deck, so it's not tuned and will likely change. I do worry that it will be inconsistent or have trouble closing out the game, but I tried to ensure we have answers to every threat the opponent can throw at us.
Card Explanations
Instants/Sorceries
Anticipate: Helps us dig for whatever we need at the moment.
Grasp of Darkness: Cheap Removal that can get around indestructable. Somewhat leery of the double black, however.
Ultimate Price: Cheap, powerful removal that hits a lot of targets that things like Grasp of Darkness can't.
Ruinous Path: Unconditional removal that helps us deal with planeswalkers, and late game can provide a body to help finish off the opponent. Sorcery speed prevents this from being a 4 of.
Foul-Tongue Invocation: Gets rid of untargetable threats, and with a dragon can gain us some life for survivability.
Void Shatter: Stops trouble before it hits the board, and can stop recursive threats with exile.
Languish: Excellent for stopping aggro and swarm decks.
Silumgar's Command: Versatile, if somewhat expensive, removal.
Dragonlord's Prerogative: Helps us dig late game, and gets a bonus from out dragons.
Clash of Wills: A versatile counterspell that can be played cheaper than Void Shatter.
Creatures
Thing in the Ice: Provides an early blocker, helps clear the board and provides another threat.
Icefall Regent: Can neatralize or at least significantly slow a threat, while providing a beater to help block or end the game.
Dragonlord Silumgar: Finisher, removal, and good blocker all in one.
Sphinx of the Final Word: To close out games if all else fails. Might bump up to 2 if the deck has troubling finishing off the opponent.
Planeswalkers
Jace, Unraveler of Secrets: Provides gas and removal, and ultimate slows our opponent to a crawl, allowing us to finish them with ease.
Ob Nixilis Reignited: Similar to Jace, but ultimate can also serve as a wincon.
Lands
Mirrorpool: Lets us copy a removal spell or finisher.
Skyline Cascade: Slows down dangerous threats, giving us time to find an answer, for a small price.
Sideboard
Transgress the Mind: Helps us deal with troublesome creatures or removal before they have a chance to cast. Might mainboard if enough problems are <3 CMC.
Scatter to the Winds: Better than Void Shatter if our opponent doesn't care about the graveyard.
Infinite Obliteration: Gets rid of particular problem cards.
Part the Waterveil: Helps us get out another threat against slower decks, and lets us play something else or leave mana up to protect it.
Other Considerations
Crush of Tentacles: Clears the board and can give us a huge threat. I chose not to include it because I don't think we can consistently get the surge cost without making sub par plays.
Ulamog, The Ceaseless Hunger: Just too expensive in my opinion. Might run it if the deck has trouble closing out games.
Sire of Stagnation: Won't do much against aggressive decks and control can probably just remove him before you get much.
Geralf's Masterpiece: Recursive, evasive threat, but its cost is steep, and just seems worse than the Sphinx for the most part.
Confirm Suspicions: Slow and Expensive as hell, but countering stuff while giving us fuel is nice. Probably not good enough.
Dark Petition: Helps us search for finishers, but I'm not sure that's necessary and the black mana will rarely be useful.
I think this deck has real potential, and I look forward to trying it out. However, as I said, its far from tuned, and I'm no pro. What are you guys running? What do your lists looks like? I look forward to your feedback and discussion.