After 15 years away (stopped after Invasion) I have been really getting into Magic since the Hour of Devastation prerelease, making every FNM since then and accumulating a few decks to try. I found a great group of people to play against at a friendly LGS, and I've been testing all sorts of brews on XMage but I can't help but feel that I lose to control every single time. I do have fun regardless, but it's surprising to me how consistent it is: every single FNM winner since I've attended has been some form of control (lately UB) or Ramunap Red (just once)
I've tried Sunmare, Curse Control and a Nest of Scarabs/Hapatra deck. Curse control has given me my best ever FNM performances at 2-2.
I am not looking to win every FNM (or even a single one), I'd just enjoy the game more if it wasn't a control deck winning every single time... I always ask every player I play for feedback, and I have gotten some great info every match (almost) on how to improve, which is really nice of them. I know I am a beginner, but still: in the last 13 XMage matches I've played, I've gone 1-12, losing to UW Approach (6 matches) UB God-Pharoahs (3 matches), UWB control, Temur Energy (not control, I grant you) and UR control. The only victory was against a weird BG deck that didn't draw well.
TL;DR: I acknowledge this is a sort of whiny post, but please: how do I do better against control? Is there any option other than outracing it with Ramunap red?
I just want to make token vampires work when ixalan comes out..
In general aggressive decks give Control players a hard time. You mentioned Ranunap Red, and that is indeed a top tier option right now. B/x Zombies and Mardu Vehicles are other aggressive decks that should have a pretty good shot against random control decks.
If you do not want to play an established deck, then the primary thing I would suggest is to make your deck faster. Play threats that are hard to kill, recur, or generate some card advantage. Furthermore, streamline your build by cutting cards in the main that either don't do anything or are weak against control.
Basically, you need to get onto the board quickly to apply significant pressure. Keep the initiative on your side and force them to respond to you to stablize. If you can disrupt them somehow (targeted discard, cheap counters, protective spells) after getting a threat on board, even better.
To be honest the list of decks your listed you're playing with... aren't very good. As Nevelo said you beat control with early aggression (without playing into a board wipe) or disruption/card advantage. Knowledge is also a big part of beating them, as you need to know what cards they play so you know what to play around or bait them with. It's a very tough hurdle to get over as a new player. Just be lucky that the control decks now are a lot weaker than it was before. I started playing the game when Bant Control was a thing with Restoration Angel, Thragtusk, Snapcaster Mage, and Sphinx's Revelation when I was playing budget Mono Red.
Black plays hand disruption like Transgress the Mind and Lay Bare the Heart.
Red plays haste creatures.
Blue plays their own counterspells.
Green plays hard to remove creatures like Bristling Hydra or something that generates card advantage such as Tireless Tracker.
White generally is all over the place with either planeswalkers like Gideon, Ally of Zendikar or cards that tax the control players.
I've tried Sunmare, Curse Control and a Nest of Scarabs/Hapatra deck. Curse control has given me my best ever FNM performances at 2-2.
I am not looking to win every FNM (or even a single one), I'd just enjoy the game more if it wasn't a control deck winning every single time... I always ask every player I play for feedback, and I have gotten some great info every match (almost) on how to improve, which is really nice of them. I know I am a beginner, but still: in the last 13 XMage matches I've played, I've gone 1-12, losing to UW Approach (6 matches) UB God-Pharoahs (3 matches), UWB control, Temur Energy (not control, I grant you) and UR control. The only victory was against a weird BG deck that didn't draw well.
TL;DR: I acknowledge this is a sort of whiny post, but please: how do I do better against control? Is there any option other than outracing it with Ramunap red?
I just want to make token vampires work when ixalan comes out..
If you do not want to play an established deck, then the primary thing I would suggest is to make your deck faster. Play threats that are hard to kill, recur, or generate some card advantage. Furthermore, streamline your build by cutting cards in the main that either don't do anything or are weak against control.
Basically, you need to get onto the board quickly to apply significant pressure. Keep the initiative on your side and force them to respond to you to stablize. If you can disrupt them somehow (targeted discard, cheap counters, protective spells) after getting a threat on board, even better.
Modern: R Skred -- WBG Melira Co -- URW Nahiri Control
Legacy: R Mono Red Burn -- UWB Stoneblade
Commander: R Krenko, Mob Boss -- WUBRG Scion of the Ur-Dragon -- WUBRG Maze’s End
Other: R No Rares Red (Standard) -- URC Izzet Tron (Pauper)
Black plays hand disruption like Transgress the Mind and Lay Bare the Heart.
Red plays haste creatures.
Blue plays their own counterspells.
Green plays hard to remove creatures like Bristling Hydra or something that generates card advantage such as Tireless Tracker.
White generally is all over the place with either planeswalkers like Gideon, Ally of Zendikar or cards that tax the control players.
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles