I'm only stating how much worse off control is right now due to the efficiency and resilience of the format's current creatures, and how Cavern of Souls is still kind of a card. I haven't played Standard in a while but the last time I looked at the a top 16, there weren't many blue based control decks being represented. But the point I'm trying to make is that the format is for sure going to be less counterspell friendly, so sweepers and removal are going to be preferential mainboard. Anyways thank GHB, I'll definitely try those changes.
Aren't reactive cards like Think Twice and counterspells durdley in the upcomin metagame? As of right now, counterspells aren't very good, and we have Mana Leak still! When most of the playable counterspells are at 3 CMC, wouldn't we rather have more utility and proactive cards in the main? That being said, I really like the direction of Elimist's list:
I think that having less counterspells main in lieu of more proactive removal would be more practical in the upcoming metagame, but the format will be wide open so there's no telling what's going to optimal until the set actual comes out. Thoughts?
I'd definitely would like to see this Superfriend build work, but I would definitely need to commit to control instead of trying to dabble into tempo as well, huh?
Altaran, I get where you're coming from, and I'll definitely give it a try. I've always wanted to play with more Cliques anyways.
Also, tuning this manabase to prevent getting blown out by Blood Moon is definitely a pain, haha.
Draw-Go control is going to be shaken up a bit with the Cavern (granted it won't "die out" completely), but if you're into control, tapout control is where you'll want to be.
Well Curse of Death's Hold is still an option here and a resolved Primetime doesn't hurt us as much as we don't have Mana Leak to disrupt them. We pack lots of removal main board to deal with threats until we can hit turn 6 for our own bomb. Olivia is usually played as a 6 drop so you can actually bite the same turn.
If anything, we need to shore up the straight control match ups.
Olivia is your tech against Wolf Run; if you untapped with her after hitting 7 mana, you're simply able to to steal whatever Titan hits the board. Even Inferno Titan can't kill Olivia because in response to the trigger you bite her out of range. Out of the board you Sy hand disruption, Karn, and surgical.
Fair enough, she may need to be re-evaluated, but she's been playing fairly decently. I'll need to rigorously playtest against more Lingering Souls, but I've also have more sweepers to compensate.
Thanks so much for the input! I'll definitely try and make some changes to my list! How do you think I can go about committing more to one role? Increase my pressure game with Delver, or forgo Bolts or Leaks for more hard counters?
Esper Control, UB Zombies, and possibly Esper Delver (playing Lingering Souls) are the top deck in the metagame playing black. In tier 1.5 there's UBx Heartless Summoning, which plays some black for creatures and HS itself.
Olivia is good, good enough that I opted for the 3rd one over the 4 Simulacrum. I was always glad to draw Olivia at two, and she never felt dead. She always ate removal the turn she came down or the turn after. If she resolves she's a huge threat and must be answered. At 2, I felt afraid to play her postboard against Delver, who would hold Dissipates AND Purges. He exiled both my copies, and I died after that. Also, I think I'm going to cut a Grudge and play Wurmcoil in the board.
Liliana is easily one of my favorite cards right now. For the most part, Liliana is a Cruel Edict x2, where I'll edict the turn she comes out, then Gambit and draw 2, and either Edict again or try to setup for discard by breaking up the parity. She performed well whenever I drew her so I haven't had much of a problem discarding dead removal. Also, sometimes it's the correct play not to use her if you can't spare any cards (which is fine) as long as she has +2 loyalty.
As far as the Gambits go, this part is untested. I had 3 Faithless in the original build as card selection (being a spoiled blue player), and wanted access to that kind of selection. I could just play 3-4 Ravings, which is easily splashable but I would really need to focus on that interaction even more heavily (as far as Snapcaster Mage, which is a totally different deck).
Maybe Mercurial Chemister in control mirrors after they board out spot removal? Maybe these suggestions are too techy, haha.
Anyone have any sideboards set up?
4 Hallowed Fountain
4 Steam Vents
4 Glacial Fortress
4 Sulfur Falls
4 Clifftop Retreat
3 Island
2 Desolate Lighthouse
1 Mountain
3 Azorius Charm
2 Izzet Charm
2 Thoughtflare
3 Pillar of Flame
4 Terminus
2 Dissipate
1 Sphinx's Revelation
4 Detention Sphere
3 Jace, Architect of Thought
2 Tamiyo, the Moon Sage
//6 Creatures
3 Snapcaster Mage
1 Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
1 Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius
1 Drogskol Reaver
2 More Cards
I think that having less counterspells main in lieu of more proactive removal would be more practical in the upcoming metagame, but the format will be wide open so there's no telling what's going to optimal until the set actual comes out. Thoughts?
Altaran, I get where you're coming from, and I'll definitely give it a try. I've always wanted to play with more Cliques anyways.
Also, tuning this manabase to prevent getting blown out by Blood Moon is definitely a pain, haha.
If anything, we need to shore up the straight control match ups.
Liliana is easily one of my favorite cards right now. For the most part, Liliana is a Cruel Edict x2, where I'll edict the turn she comes out, then Gambit and draw 2, and either Edict again or try to setup for discard by breaking up the parity. She performed well whenever I drew her so I haven't had much of a problem discarding dead removal. Also, sometimes it's the correct play not to use her if you can't spare any cards (which is fine) as long as she has +2 loyalty.
As far as the Gambits go, this part is untested. I had 3 Faithless in the original build as card selection (being a spoiled blue player), and wanted access to that kind of selection. I could just play 3-4 Ravings, which is easily splashable but I would really need to focus on that interaction even more heavily (as far as Snapcaster Mage, which is a totally different deck).