I like Control but the problem I have is that it takes a long time to win. It's why I disassembled my Daxos and Vosk; it is unfair to have a player or two be eliminated and need to wait another 45 minutes for the duel to be concluded. So, perhaps these midrange decks I've cooked up don't have the same win percentage but at least they would conclude the games quickly.
I've made another nostalgia deck: Morphs. I chose Kraum and Thrasios because they're outside of the coveted 3 cost that represents Morphs. With card advantage in the Command Zone, I can focus on playing interesting morphs. The idea is to use Creatures to control the board while beating down. Plus I can play shenanigans and head games with my Morphs. Use them, bounce them, shuffle my hand and play another face down. Who knows what it'll be? Plus, y'know, Willbender memery.
I axed almost anything that smelled of goodstuff and replaced it Morphs, Manifests and in the case of Temur Sabertooth, highly synergestic.
After playing it with these changes, I like how the deck performs as a casual Morph deck that plays mind games with my opponents as I keep shuffling my face downs in all sorts of zones. The only thing I noted is that I would want more Basics; I got a Trail of Mystery and Sword of the Animist in a game causing me to fail to find later on.
I cut Multani because he's a top end Creature and not a Morph. Primordial Mist helps me go more all-in on the deck.
Tatyova helps me gain life and draw cards, I cut Shaman because Tatyova is less mana intensive. Unfortunately, that does get rid of an anthem for my Morphs but I like Tatyova's simplicity.
Coiling Oracle is pure value but random, I rather guarantee a land drop and so Sylvan Ranger goes in.
I am playing R/G, so Kessig Wolf Run goes in as a wincon. Otherwise, cut a lot of Nonbasics to up my Basic count.
I prefer the front loaded draw of Beast Whisperer over the backload of Aphetto Runecaster. Runecaster can help me with things cast before him, but I think the Beast Whisperer draw off of cast is more my speed.
Unblinking Bleb is cute but too expensive to be cute. Considering how many Manifests I have in this deck, I put in Soul of the Harvest. Being a 6/6 Trampler is also not too bad.
Considering how many cards this deck draws having more land drops per turn is better than ramp, so Mina and Denn go in. They're also more fun than a ramp body. Conqueror's Galleon is in the same spot, it is more interesting than a Ramp Critter in that it gets me a more interesting land. Both 4 drop Rampers get dropped.
Red is the least represented colour, so it gets axed for a almost pure-upside utility land.
I kept asking myself why I had Red. Was having Kraum enough to justify it? In the end, it felt a little stupid. It also let me solve the problem of my Creatures not being big enough to end games with Ezuri's Experience program.
Weaver of Lies is in so many decks because I believe they use it as a way to get a "Pickles Lock" with Brine Elemental. This is a casual deck, so I don't run that lock. With that in mind, Weaver starts looking less attractive. In its place, I put in another Wincon in the form of Hadana's Climb. My Creatures get Evasive and large. I also have plenty of ways to protect them when I dump all of my eggs in a basket.
Coastal Piracy is strictly superior to Bred for the Hunt so that swap was easy.
As this is a casual deck, Constant Mists has no place in it. Mists is such an 'Outside Context' card for most beginners that it can single-handedly defeat entire decks. That is not the purse of a durdley derpy Morph deck. Inspiring Call goes in its place as a blow out that can be played around.
Simic Ascendancy and Sage of Hours are two ways to finish the game out. Explosive Vegetatio is Ramp that isn't in a three slot Viral Drake can kill between the Experience, Poison and +1/+1 counters. Nissa is more Ramp and Draw, she's good enough to be included in the Morph Casting Slot. Dryad Arbor is just another way to get free Experience and a land, Karn's Bastion helps Proliferate all of the counters the deck runs.
Solemn is kind of crappy Ramp, Sabertooth also didn't impress me. Swan Song is solid, but the problem is that Bird trades with most of my beaters. Galleon requires a lot of hoops to jump through, ones I'm willing. Compass is good, just trying something new. Two Basics out for the two Nonbasics.
I've made another nostalgia deck: Morphs. I chose Kraum and Thrasios because they're outside of the coveted 3 cost that represents Morphs. With card advantage in the Command Zone, I can focus on playing interesting morphs. The idea is to use Creatures to control the board while beating down. Plus I can play shenanigans and head games with my Morphs. Use them, bounce them, shuffle my hand and play another face down. Who knows what it'll be? Plus, y'know, Willbender memery.
4 Ezuri, Claw of Progress
Creatures - 34 Morphs - 19
2 Ainok Survivalist
2 Den Protector
2 Icefeather Aven
2 Sage of Hours
2 Sakura-Tribe Elder
2 Stratus Dancer
2 Willbender
3 Deathmist Raptor
3 Echo Tracer
3 Jeskai Infiltrator
3 Nissa, Vastwood Seer
4 Beast Whisperer
4 Kheru Spellsnatcher
4 Master Biomancer
4 Mistfire Weaver
4 Mystic Snake
4 Monastery Loremaster
4 Nantuko Vigilante
4 Salt Road Ambushers
4 Solemn Simulacrum
4 Temur Sabertooth
5 Chromeshell Crab
5 Hooded Hydra
5 Hystrodon
5 Ixidron
5 Loyal Guardian
5 Mischievous Quanar
5 Tatyova, Benthic Druid
5 Vesuvan Shapeshifter
5 Whisperwood Elemental
6 Draining Whelk
6 Sagu Mauler
6 Soul of the Harvest
6 Thousand Winds
6 Vigor
1 Mystic Remora
2 Trail of Mystery
2 Secret Plans
2 Simic Ascendancy
3 Hadana's Climb
3 Rhystic Study
4 Coastal Piracy
5 Primordial Mist
7 Zendikar Resurgent
Artifacts - 3
1 Sol Ring
2 Sword of the Animist
3 Lifecrafter's Bestiary
Instants - 10
2 Arcane Denial
2 Counterspell
2 Cyclonic Rift
2 Reality Shift
3 Capsize
3 Forbid
3 Inspiring Call
3 Krosan Grip
4 Insidious Will
5 Aetherspouts
Sorceries - 5
4 Circuitous Route
4 Explosive Vegetation
4 Pir's Whim
4 Skyshroud Claim
5 Hour of Promise
0 Arch of Orazca
0 Alchemist's Refuge
0 Blighted Woodland
0 Command Tower
0 Dryad Arbor
0 Mosswort Bridge
0 Myriad Landscape
0 Shrine of the Forsaken Gods
0 Simic Growth Chamber
0 Simic Guildgate
0 Temple of the False God
0 Terrain Generator
0 Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
0 Zoetic Cavern
Basic Lands - 24
12 Forest
12 Island
1 Simic Ascendancy
1 Sage of Hours
1 Explosive Vegetation
1 Viral Drake
1 Nissa, Vastwood Seer
1 Dryad Arbor
1 Karn's Bastion
1 Swan Song
1 Temur Sabertooth
1 Solemn Simulacrum
1 Conqueror's Galleon
1 Thaumatic Compass
1 Forest
1 Island
1 Hadana's Climb
1 Coastal Piracy
1 Inspiring Call
1 Weaver of Lies
1 Bred for the Hunt
1 Constant Mists
1 Ezuri, Claw of Progres
In
1 Bred for the Hunt
1 Master Biomancer
1 Vigor
6 Island
6 Forest
1 Thrasios, Triton Hero
1 Kraum, Ludevic's Opus
Out
1 Ire Shaman
1 Mina and Denn, Wildborn
1 Kessig Wolf Run
1 Flamekin Village
1 Gruul Guildgate
1 Frontier Bivouac
1 Izzet Guildgate
1 Izzet Boilerworks
1 Gruul Turf
4 Mountain
1 Kessig Wolf Run
1 Flamekin Village
2 Mountain
1 Mina and Denn, Wildborn
1 Conqueror's Galleon
1 Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
1 Ondu Giant
1 Wild Wanderer
1 Mountain
1 Beast Whisperer
1 Soul of the Harvest
1 Aphetto Runecaster
1 Unblinking Bleb
1 Circuitous Route
1 Gruul Guildgate
1 Izzet Guildgate
1 Simic Guildgate
1 Grow from the Ashes
1 Forest
1 Mountain
1 Island
1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
1 Sylvan Ranger
1 Frontier Bivouac
1 Shrine of the Forsaken Gods
1 Forest
1 Island
1 Primordial Mist
1 Tatyova, Benthic Druid
1 Sylvan Ranger
1 Kessig Wolf Run
3 Forest
3 Island
2 Mountain
1 Multani, Yavimaya's Avatar
1 Shaman of the Great Hunt
1 Coiling Oracle
1 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Yavimaya Coast
1 Rootbound Crag
1 Shivan Reef
1 Karplusan Forest
1 Hinterland Harbor
1 City of Brass
1 Evolving Wilds
1 Flooded Grove
1 Weaver of Lies
1 Salt Road Ambushers
1 Monastery Loremaster
1 Temur Sabertooth
1 Hystrodon
1 Icefeather Aven
1 Jeskai Infiltrator
1 Echo Tracer
1 Unblinking Bleb
1 Ire Shaman
1 Hooded Hydra
1 Trygon Predator
1 Ruric Thar, the Unbowed
1 Sylvan Ranger
1 Wood Elves
1 Altered Ego
1 Seedborn Muse
1 Nezahal, Primal Tide
1 Tendershoot Dryad
1 Etali, Primal Storm
1 Ulvenwald Hydra
1 Progenitor Mimic
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 Weaver of Lies
1 Salt Road Ambushers
1 Monastery Loremaster
1 Temur Sabertooth
1 Hystrodon
1 Icefeather Aven
1 Jeskai Infiltrator
1 Echo Tracer
1 Unblinking Bleb
1 Ire Shaman
1 Hooded Hydra
1 Trygon Predator
1 Ruric Thar, the Unbowed
1 Sylvan Ranger
1 Wood Elves
1 Altered Ego
1 Seedborn Muse
1 Nezahal, Primal Tide
1 Tendershoot Dryad
1 Etali, Primal Storm
1 Ulvenwald Hydra
1 Progenitor Mimic
After playing it with these changes, I like how the deck performs as a casual Morph deck that plays mind games with my opponents as I keep shuffling my face downs in all sorts of zones. The only thing I noted is that I would want more Basics; I got a Trail of Mystery and Sword of the Animist in a game causing me to fail to find later on.
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 Primordial Mist
1 Tatyova, Benthic Druid
1 Sylvan Ranger
1 Kessig Wolf Run
3 Forest
3 Island
2 Mountain
1 Multani, Yavimaya's Avatar
1 Shaman of the Great Hunt
1 Coiling Oracle
1 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Yavimaya Coast
1 Rootbound Crag
1 Shivan Reef
1 Karplusan Forest
1 Hinterland Harbor
1 City of Brass
1 Evolving Wilds
1 Flooded Grove
Tatyova helps me gain life and draw cards, I cut Shaman because Tatyova is less mana intensive. Unfortunately, that does get rid of an anthem for my Morphs but I like Tatyova's simplicity.
Coiling Oracle is pure value but random, I rather guarantee a land drop and so Sylvan Ranger goes in.
I am playing R/G, so Kessig Wolf Run goes in as a wincon. Otherwise, cut a lot of Nonbasics to up my Basic count.
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 Frontier Bivouac
1 Shrine of the Forsaken Gods
1 Forest
1 Island
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
1 Sylvan Ranger
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 Circuitous Route
1 Gruul Guildgate
1 Izzet Guildgate
1 Simic Guildgate
1 Grow from the Ashes
1 Forest
1 Mountain
1 Island
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 Beast Whisperer
1 Soul of the Harvest
1 Aphetto Runecaster
1 Unblinking Bleb
Unblinking Bleb is cute but too expensive to be cute. Considering how many Manifests I have in this deck, I put in Soul of the Harvest. Being a 6/6 Trampler is also not too bad.
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 Mina and Denn, Wildborn
1 Conqueror's Galleon
1 Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
1 Ondu Giant
1 Wild Wanderer
1 Mountain
Red is the least represented colour, so it gets axed for a almost pure-upside utility land.
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 Kessig Wolf Run
1 Flamekin Village
2 Mountain
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 Ezuri, Claw of Progress
In
1 Bred for the Hunt
1 Master Biomancer
1 Vigor
6 Island
6 Forest
1 Thrasios, Triton Hero
1 Kraum, Ludevic's Opus
Out
1 Ire Shaman
1 Mina and Denn, Wildborn
1 Kessig Wolf Run
1 Flamekin Village
1 Gruul Guildgate
1 Frontier Bivouac
1 Izzet Guildgate
1 Izzet Boilerworks
1 Gruul Turf
4 Mountain
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 Hadana's Climb
1 Coastal Piracy
1 Inspiring Call
1 Weaver of Lies
1 Bred for the Hunt
1 Constant Mists
Coastal Piracy is strictly superior to Bred for the Hunt so that swap was easy.
As this is a casual deck, Constant Mists has no place in it. Mists is such an 'Outside Context' card for most beginners that it can single-handedly defeat entire decks. That is not the purse of a durdley derpy Morph deck. Inspiring Call goes in its place as a blow out that can be played around.
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
1 Simic Ascendancy
1 Sage of Hours
1 Explosive Vegetation
1 Viral Drake
1 Nissa, Vastwood Seer
1 Dryad Arbor
1 Karn's Bastion
1 Swan Song
1 Temur Sabertooth
1 Solemn Simulacrum
1 Conqueror's Galleon
1 Thaumatic Compass
1 Forest
1 Island
Solemn is kind of crappy Ramp, Sabertooth also didn't impress me. Swan Song is solid, but the problem is that Bird trades with most of my beaters. Galleon requires a lot of hoops to jump through, ones I'm willing. Compass is good, just trying something new. Two Basics out for the two Nonbasics.
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs