I hope anyone that's playing uw control at game day or even the GP LA or the scg boston open going on this weekend are performing well. With that being said, I definitely like what I have been seeing on here which is people working on uw control and also playing it as well in tournaments.
Hey its totally cool either way Tequila. I just think it's pretty cool that there are people that are willing to try uw control and that's why I decided to share this deck in the first place. It just gives more people more options to choose from when finding a standard deck. UW control is definitely not one of the top decks in standard and it's probably not the best choice for any given tournament but I feel it's good enough to where it can put up good results in any given tournament and it's a fun deck to play for us control players. It may not be as absurd as abzan midrange or jeskai aggro but I feel it's one of the safest choices to choose from in standard which is good enough imo.
Honestly, you may think of having to Delve for it, but they key thing is EOT tapping out then delving the rest. (unless you are looking for a Counter) By playing this way I can consistently chain Digs and Ingenuities. I honestly felt like having Sphynx's Revelation type hands again ahah.
I play 4 Digs. I have not had a major problem with them, because by the time I can cast my win con (I do not play elspeth because $$$ so I used Sphynx or Pearl Lake) I have 7 mana up. I may have to tap out at the end of an opponents turn, but I only have to Delve 1 card.
I just want to throw my experience and thoughts out there that 4 Digs may be the way to go, because we will have tons of lands and tons of answers that if we hold up Countermagic and do not use it, we can dig AGAIN and AGAIN by just hard casting it.
I like the look of Aegis. I may try it out as well!! That will definitely keep an Elspeth going behind the walls of soldiers. I just need to raise the funds to get her, then try the angel too. I like how it forces your opponent to kill the Angel THEN elspeth. And not many cards have insane card advantage. Most the pro tour decks were in top deck mode after a while. We shouldn't be doing that!
I played at game-day yesterday, and it was a total disaster, i won nothing.
I had matches against:
- Abzan Midrange, the threaths kept coming until i died
- Jund, got mana screwed (both ways, to few and to much land) and died.
- a bye
- 4-color ascendancy combo, answers came at wrong times.
That last bit was how the whole day went when i think of it, no pressure and answers at the wrong time makes you lose most games.
The games where i won, the opponent had problems, so i had enough time to get the answers
I think uw control is a fun deck to play, but not worthy yet for anything else than FNM.
Sorry to hear that, but I dunno, that's the nature of playing a dedicated control you tend to lose a lot when you draw the answers at the wrong time. It has happened to me plenty of times but since I play control a lot, it doesn't really bother me that much anymore, I just keep on going. I think I will probably will continue working on uw control no matter what even if it's not a top tier deck. I am pretty sure I've lost more then I have won with control. I remember when I played uw control with sphinx of revelation for a stretch of 4 or 5 weeks with zero top 8's in those 4 or 5 fnms. Also I've lost countless games to mana screw while playing control too. All of that can definitely make you upset which is understandable but what can you do.
For those of you that are still interested in playing uw control competitively, I'd definitely would still recommend it. Especially if your still posting up solid results with it. I will also be working on uw control from time to time whenever I have some free time.
Yeah, I saw brimaz being played on a jeskai aggro player on camera for scg boston yesterday and I thought brimaz was going to get there and the jeskai player had to use two burn spells to kill it which is something I could get behind if I am the one playing brimaz for sure. It was definitely a must answer for the jeskai aggro player. I also really like the fact that brimaz can also race a mantis rider quite easily too, I definitely think brimaz is definitely a substantial threat against jeskai tempo/aggro.
Went 3-1-1 at fnm, my only loss coming to a really bad mull to 5 into baaad draws. Overall I love the deck and will continue to pilot it. I think We need to evaluate the exact draw spells required for this deck to work properly. Weave fate is a consideration for a draw-go style and fits better than Divination, however its harder to hit land drops and probably requires 27 to be played with the higher curve.
So here is what I'm running at the moment. Went 3-1, 4-0-1 and 3-1 in the last 3 FNM playing UW Control.
As you can see, I always try to keep the creatures number as low as possible (I miss Gideon Jura or Aetherling so much!).
I have found that I prefer extra counters/answers instead of the 2 Prognostic Sphinx.
I know they are good blockers against Mantis Rider/Stormbreath Dragon, but in a deck with End Hostilities they can sometimes feel dumb.
Some tech I want to share with you:
I used to have 1 Resolute Archangel maindeck instead of the Font of Vigor.
That Font of Vigor combined with the 4 Radiant Fountain, 4 Tranquil Cove, 4 Last Breath (the one in the sideboard included), 4 Nyx-Fleece Ram and the 2nd Font of Vigor in the sideboard is usually enough to discourage aggro!
If Gods are seen in multiples where you play, dont hesitate to switch the 2 Erase for 2 Deicide.
You need at least 1 Aetherspouts/Perilous Vault in your 75 for monstrous Fleecemane Lions.
Crippling Chill is great against Stormbreath Dragon (add another if it's popular in your area) but also good against anything to buy you a turn or two to find End Hostilities.
I just checked the gp coverage for gp los angeles just now and there was only one person that was playing uw control in the entire tournament and that person actually ended up making day 2 hopefully we'll get to see that person's list and hopefully that person will do well on day 2.
He lost in the final round playing for top 8 unfortunately but at least we know that uw control still has what it takes to compete in this standard format.
Oh was he on camera? I will have to check the coverage archive in the mornig after I get off work, well hopefully he still finished high enough to have his list posted.
Yeah, they showed a glimpse of the match on camera, it was a live look in. They definitely showed a bunch of abzan decks, pretty sure it was almost half of the field going into day 2 which is obviously not surprising. I only checked out the feature matches from time to time.
Edit: Anyway, I definitely think based on gp LA results that uw control is definitely well positioned. The deck is also customizable so it can definitely adjust fairly easily.
I took my iteration of UW Control to GPLA over the weekend and ended up with a "reasonable" 5-3-1 record. I ought to say that for most of my matches, my opponents did not expect to see a UW control list - which was pleasant. I worked with a decklist that was optimal for a field of jeskai burn and junk midrange and never felt uncomfortable when playing against them. I definitely noted some changes I would make after the event, but this was the list I played:
3 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
1 Resolute Archangel
2 Prognostic Sphinx
4 End Hostilities
3 Banishing Light
2 Devouring Light
3 Last Breath
4 Dissolve
3 Disdainful Stroke
1 Nullify
3 Dig Through Time
2 Jace's Ingenuity
3 Font of Fortune
4 Flooded Strand
4 Temple of Enlightenment
4 Tranquil Grove
4 Radiant Fountain
5 Island
5 Plains
0-2 R1 vs Esper Control: I just got boned by an early planted Ashiok that milled my win cons and answers, and stripped via Thoughtseize.
2-0 R2 vs Mono Blue Heroic Devotion: I don't even know what he was on.
2-1 R3 vs Junk Walkers: Lost game one due to an emblemed Ajani, Mentor and Liliana. But, in the next games, I lived the dream my copying his Garruk, killing his, and embleming with it.
2-1 R4 vs Jeskai Tempo: Got burned out in game one and then sided in more life gain for the next two games.
2-1 R5 vs Junk Midrange: Board sweeping and one-for-one to put him into top deck mode while I reset my life total.
1-2 R6 vs Temur Monsters: Monsters decks are awesome match ups but I could never land the 5th land for Vault or End Hostilities. Should have had it.
0-2 R7 vs Mono Red aggro: My lose and out match would be against the one drop red deck. I just got out paced.
2-0 R8 vs Jeskai Tempo: See above but better.
1-1-1 R9 vs Junk Midrange: Board state just got unchecked on both sides and no one could take over. Went to time, but based on my hand, I could have had it with a few more turns.
Over all, UW still has a place. Archangel and Sphinx are definitely MVPs. Angel basically resets your side of the table despite it being pre or post board sweeping. I'm personally happy with running 2 Angels both MB/SB over and PLA but that's my opinion. I might add one more Sphinx because it is just too OP. Impersonator did major work whether copying walkers, banishing lights or making another Angel for reset. Devouring Light definitely said peace out to Sarkhan. I'd probably change out the Suspension Field for a third Devouring Light.
Idk. I liked it and felt like it was definitely day 2 worthy.
Oh nice, well I am glad that someone decided to play uw control at the gp good job though. So apparently the coverage site was wrong or something because they said there was a person that day 2'd the gp with uw control as well and I think I saw him going deep in the second day as well. Hopefully he'll also come post in here or someone could possibly find his list and also post it in here.
I also agree that uw control still has a place though.
I know we are not aggressively trading resources, but often I can dig very early (t4-6) since the nullifies and fetches fill the yard, after that (since im hitting my land drops) I am totally fine tapping out sometimes and delving 1-2 cards, I have not had a problem playtesting so far, except sometimes Jeskai or Temur slams a counter spell and it feels bad.
I am going to a tournament at my LGS tommorrow, I will shoot my list and results after!
PLA I feel is strong since it bounces lifegain lands to be honest, and it dodges removal hard. I play 2 Haunted Platemails, an Archangel, and 2 PLA as my win cons, for those without Elspeth. Sphinx is better if you have elspeth so you can block the fliers
I would so buy brimaz, he reminds me of a rabblemaster type clock.. ok not that fast.. But if we jam him turn 3, then holdup counters and removal for the rest? He takes over. I have played with him proxied and I love it out of the board, such a surprise. However in testing for the tournament I have been going without him in the board.
Edit: Does anyone know the results or deck list of the GP las vegas UW control deck?
Yeah, i'd like to see the uw control decklist that made day 2 as well at GPLA and from what I saw it was performing really well on day 2. Hopefully someone that knows about the decklist could post it in here.
Nice list putting up some pretty good results. Worth a look at I think
Nice work at finding that it may not be quite the list I am searching for but it seems like his game day list is definitely similar to the list me, pimpdonny and others has been working on. It's nice to have more people agree with what we have been working on over here. I haven't had much luck yet but this is definitely a pretty good place to start searching thanks GREW.
With that said, it takes a collected group of magic players to make uw control a force to be reckon with in standard not just one or two people.
Im gonna try and get a stream up of sorts for this 3am daily, I lost r1 to boss sleigh I had maybe 6 turns the entire game, pretty much a miserable matchup all around when they curve out.
Edit;
Lost r2 to UB control, I just chalk this up to a bad night, Ill continue ot do 2- mans if anyone wants to jump on stream and view my log later: http://www.twitch.tv/pimpdonny
I have no mic or cam yet but you can watch how my games play out.
Im gonna try and get a stream up of sorts for this 3am daily, I lost r1 to boss sleigh I had maybe 6 turns the entire game, pretty much a miserable matchup all around when they curve out.
Edit;
Lost r2 to UB control, I just chalk this up to a bad night, Ill continue ot do 2- mans if anyone wants to jump on stream and view my log later: http://www.twitch.tv/pimpdonny
I have no mic or cam yet but you can watch how my games play out.
Yeah sorry to hear that because that does sound like a pretty bad night but it happens, has happened to me a lot of times when I would playtest on cockatrice in just about any format I play in. I am pretty sure I've lost about 8 or 9 rounds in a row(won probably just two games in that entire stretch) playtesting esper control the night before I took it to an scg standard open last season which I went 7-2-1 in. I've also have been noticing that there is a lot of players that are playing ub control on mtgo so I'd suggest some negates in the maindeck at least like 2-3 and maindeck like four pearl lake ancients since they are uncounterable while you could also run a couple of cranial archives so you can shuffle back in the cards that you lost to thoughtseize/despise. I dunno just some crazy suggestions I just thought of.
I hope anyone that's playing uw control at game day or even the GP LA or the scg boston open going on this weekend are performing well. With that being said, I definitely like what I have been seeing on here which is people working on uw control and also playing it as well in tournaments.
Honestly, you may think of having to Delve for it, but they key thing is EOT tapping out then delving the rest. (unless you are looking for a Counter) By playing this way I can consistently chain Digs and Ingenuities. I honestly felt like having Sphynx's Revelation type hands again ahah.
I play 4 Digs. I have not had a major problem with them, because by the time I can cast my win con (I do not play elspeth because $$$ so I used Sphynx or Pearl Lake) I have 7 mana up. I may have to tap out at the end of an opponents turn, but I only have to Delve 1 card.
I just want to throw my experience and thoughts out there that 4 Digs may be the way to go, because we will have tons of lands and tons of answers that if we hold up Countermagic and do not use it, we can dig AGAIN and AGAIN by just hard casting it.
I like the look of Aegis. I may try it out as well!! That will definitely keep an Elspeth going behind the walls of soldiers. I just need to raise the funds to get her, then try the angel too. I like how it forces your opponent to kill the Angel THEN elspeth. And not many cards have insane card advantage. Most the pro tour decks were in top deck mode after a while. We shouldn't be doing that!
Sorry to hear that, but I dunno, that's the nature of playing a dedicated control you tend to lose a lot when you draw the answers at the wrong time. It has happened to me plenty of times but since I play control a lot, it doesn't really bother me that much anymore, I just keep on going. I think I will probably will continue working on uw control no matter what even if it's not a top tier deck. I am pretty sure I've lost more then I have won with control. I remember when I played uw control with sphinx of revelation for a stretch of 4 or 5 weeks with zero top 8's in those 4 or 5 fnms. Also I've lost countless games to mana screw while playing control too. All of that can definitely make you upset which is understandable but what can you do.
For those of you that are still interested in playing uw control competitively, I'd definitely would still recommend it. Especially if your still posting up solid results with it. I will also be working on uw control from time to time whenever I have some free time.
Anything and everything dude.
Most people side out copious amounts of removal against us (besides downfalls) letting us ride an unmolested Brimaz to victory.
Whenever you find slightly sub-optimal cards in the main for g2. Thats when Brimaz can come in.
That being said he isn't that good against Green devotion.
As you can see, I always try to keep the creatures number as low as possible (I miss Gideon Jura or Aetherling so much!).
I have found that I prefer extra counters/answers instead of the 2 Prognostic Sphinx.
I know they are good blockers against Mantis Rider/Stormbreath Dragon, but in a deck with End Hostilities they can sometimes feel dumb.
Some tech I want to share with you:
I used to have 1 Resolute Archangel maindeck instead of the Font of Vigor.
That Font of Vigor combined with the 4 Radiant Fountain, 4 Tranquil Cove, 4 Last Breath (the one in the sideboard included), 4 Nyx-Fleece Ram and the 2nd Font of Vigor in the sideboard is usually enough to discourage aggro!
If Gods are seen in multiples where you play, dont hesitate to switch the 2 Erase for 2 Deicide.
You need at least 1 Aetherspouts/Perilous Vault in your 75 for monstrous Fleecemane Lions.
Crippling Chill is great against Stormbreath Dragon (add another if it's popular in your area) but also good against anything to buy you a turn or two to find End Hostilities.
5x Island
5x Plains
4x Radiant Fountain
4x Temple of Enlightenment
4x Tranquil Cove
3x Elspeth, Sun's Champion
1x AEtherspouts
4x Banishing Light
1x Crippling Chill
2x Devouring Light
3x Dig Through Time
2x Disdainful Stroke
4x Dissolve
4x End Hostilities
4x Font of Fortunes
1x Font of Vigor
1x Jace's Ingenuity
3x Last Breath
SIDEBOARD
1x Fated Retribution
1x Font of Vigor
2x Gainsay
2x Glare of Heresy
1x Last Breath
2x Negate
4x Nyx-Fleece Ram
Esper draw go Control!
Twitch stream: http://www.twitch.tv/pimpdonny
Esper draw go Control!
Twitch stream: http://www.twitch.tv/pimpdonny
Edit: Anyway, I definitely think based on gp LA results that uw control is definitely well positioned. The deck is also customizable so it can definitely adjust fairly easily.
3 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
1 Resolute Archangel
2 Prognostic Sphinx
4 End Hostilities
3 Banishing Light
2 Devouring Light
3 Last Breath
4 Dissolve
3 Disdainful Stroke
1 Nullify
3 Dig Through Time
2 Jace's Ingenuity
3 Font of Fortune
4 Flooded Strand
4 Temple of Enlightenment
4 Tranquil Grove
4 Radiant Fountain
5 Island
5 Plains
2 Hushwing Gryf
2 Clever Impersonator
1 Disdainful Stroke
1 Resolute Archangel
1 Nullify
1 Suspension Field
4 Nyx Fleece Ram
1 Perilous Vault
2 Negate
0-2 R1 vs Esper Control: I just got boned by an early planted Ashiok that milled my win cons and answers, and stripped via Thoughtseize.
2-0 R2 vs Mono Blue Heroic Devotion: I don't even know what he was on.
2-1 R3 vs Junk Walkers: Lost game one due to an emblemed Ajani, Mentor and Liliana. But, in the next games, I lived the dream my copying his Garruk, killing his, and embleming with it.
2-1 R4 vs Jeskai Tempo: Got burned out in game one and then sided in more life gain for the next two games.
2-1 R5 vs Junk Midrange: Board sweeping and one-for-one to put him into top deck mode while I reset my life total.
1-2 R6 vs Temur Monsters: Monsters decks are awesome match ups but I could never land the 5th land for Vault or End Hostilities. Should have had it.
0-2 R7 vs Mono Red aggro: My lose and out match would be against the one drop red deck. I just got out paced.
2-0 R8 vs Jeskai Tempo: See above but better.
1-1-1 R9 vs Junk Midrange: Board state just got unchecked on both sides and no one could take over. Went to time, but based on my hand, I could have had it with a few more turns.
Over all, UW still has a place. Archangel and Sphinx are definitely MVPs. Angel basically resets your side of the table despite it being pre or post board sweeping. I'm personally happy with running 2 Angels both MB/SB over and PLA but that's my opinion. I might add one more Sphinx because it is just too OP. Impersonator did major work whether copying walkers, banishing lights or making another Angel for reset. Devouring Light definitely said peace out to Sarkhan. I'd probably change out the Suspension Field for a third Devouring Light.
Idk. I liked it and felt like it was definitely day 2 worthy.
I also agree that uw control still has a place though.
I am going to a tournament at my LGS tommorrow, I will shoot my list and results after!
PLA I feel is strong since it bounces lifegain lands to be honest, and it dodges removal hard. I play 2 Haunted Platemails, an Archangel, and 2 PLA as my win cons, for those without Elspeth. Sphinx is better if you have elspeth so you can block the fliers
I would so buy brimaz, he reminds me of a rabblemaster type clock.. ok not that fast.. But if we jam him turn 3, then holdup counters and removal for the rest? He takes over. I have played with him proxied and I love it out of the board, such a surprise. However in testing for the tournament I have been going without him in the board.
Edit: Does anyone know the results or deck list of the GP las vegas UW control deck?
http://www.reddit.com/r/spikes/comments/2jsj3h/standard_uw_control/
Nice list putting up some pretty good results. Worth a look at I think
Nice work at finding that it may not be quite the list I am searching for but it seems like his game day list is definitely similar to the list me, pimpdonny and others has been working on. It's nice to have more people agree with what we have been working on over here. I haven't had much luck yet but this is definitely a pretty good place to start searching thanks GREW.
With that said, it takes a collected group of magic players to make uw control a force to be reckon with in standard not just one or two people.
Edit;
Lost r2 to UB control, I just chalk this up to a bad night, Ill continue ot do 2- mans if anyone wants to jump on stream and view my log later:
http://www.twitch.tv/pimpdonny
I have no mic or cam yet but you can watch how my games play out.
Esper draw go Control!
Twitch stream: http://www.twitch.tv/pimpdonny
Esper draw go Control!
Twitch stream: http://www.twitch.tv/pimpdonny
Yeah sorry to hear that because that does sound like a pretty bad night but it happens, has happened to me a lot of times when I would playtest on cockatrice in just about any format I play in. I am pretty sure I've lost about 8 or 9 rounds in a row(won probably just two games in that entire stretch) playtesting esper control the night before I took it to an scg standard open last season which I went 7-2-1 in. I've also have been noticing that there is a lot of players that are playing ub control on mtgo so I'd suggest some negates in the maindeck at least like 2-3 and maindeck like four pearl lake ancients since they are uncounterable while you could also run a couple of cranial archives so you can shuffle back in the cards that you lost to thoughtseize/despise. I dunno just some crazy suggestions I just thought of.
I'd try this list if I were you and give me some feedback.