Hey, guys. I've been off UW for the last few weeks because I've been playing my new competitive rogue, Esper Transcendent. I've shared the deck in the 'Deck Creation' forum, so I won't be posting about this deck here. I'll be more than happy to answer questions, though.
Esper Transcendent is a proactive Esper Walkers Control deck that takes advantage of Narset Transcendent, but is also designed to be heavily disruptive, synergistic, resilient, and versatile. The deck is comprised of many cross-performing and multi-functional cards, with intricate interactions and lines of play, that allow the player to navigate from various angles.
The decks general concept is to control the game through significant hand, battlefield, graveyard, and deck disruption, while generating value, stabilization, and pressure via Snapcaster Mage, Lingering Souls, Esper Charm, Batterskull, and Planeswalkers. Overall, it is a flexible Control deck that is designed to be viable vs various archetypes and adaptable against any meta.
The deck is sitting around 60% win pct. on MTGO after 75 matches, across Tier 1, 2, and rogues. More impressively, it's hovering around 68% vs Tier 1, currently with a 17-8 record:
16-3 (84%) vs non-Dredge. (1-5 vs Dredge)
100% vs Jund (4-0), Affinity (4-0), Zooicide (3-0), and Infect (3-0).
The deck has been piloted by one of my good friends and veteran Magic players, Darrel Feltner.
Dylan Brown gives my ET community a shoutout and shares his thoughts on the deck during the event. He also emphasizes the significance of Narset Transcendent in ET.
In an effort to organize the information I've discussed in our community, I'll be sharing each piece of content in its own Google Document for your reference.
- Esper Transcendent: Competitive MTGO League & Event Top Performers -
Note: This post will be comprised of the top performers and their performances from Competitive MTGO Leagues and any event beyond FNM. Decklists will be included if provided. If not, feel free to tag player in a comment for their decklist.
Congratulations to the following members of #TeamTranscendent!
Darrel Feltner
Competitive MTGO League - 11/16
Record: 5-0
Jonathan Simon
GPT Prague - 1/6/17
Record: 1st (5-0)
Dag Erik Børnich
MTGO Competitive League - 1/27/17
Record: 5-0
Living End: 2-0
Grixis Control: 2-1
Grixis Control: 2-1
Ad Naus: 2-0
Jund: 2-1 https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/557947#paper
Esper Transcendent is a proactive Esper Walkers Control deck that takes advantage of Narset Transcendent, but is also designed to be heavily disruptive, synergistic, resilient, and versatile. The deck is comprised of many cross-performing and multi-functional cards (a.k.a. Modal Spells), with intricate interactions and unique lines of play, that allow the player to navigate from various angles.
The decks general concept is to control the game through significant hand, battlefield, graveyard, and deck disruption, while generating value, stabilization, and pressure via Snapcaster Mage, Lingering Souls, Esper Charm, and Planeswalkers, namely Liliana of the Veil and Narset Transcendent. Overall, it is a flexible and efficient Control deck that can effectively transition between defensive and aggressive capabilities (giving it a strong early, mid, and late game), and is designed to be viable vs various archetypes and adaptable against any meta.
I ran neo's Planeswalker deck through a couple rounds in tournament practice. I'm five for five so far. People tend to suck in the tournament practice lobby so we'll see how it does in a competitive league. The decks feels pretty smooth though. There was only one match where I felt like I should have lost given the decks performance but won off my opponent being bad.
Narset is there for card advantage and to be a damage sponge. Her loyalty is so high that at minimum she fogs for a turn or two. I ulted her four times in those five games though. It's not that hard to keep the board clear when you're running so much removal and she's just drawing you into more.
Gideon was alright. I expected him to be more of a beating but he was really just okay. He worth his spots certainly. I feel like if we had more token generators he would be great with his emblem. I might try an esper list with Sorin lord of inistrad and solemn visitor along with lingering souls.
Thank you for testing it! Glad to hear you've had success so far. I've decided to go Esper with Narset and the deck has been my favorite brew since I brewed Esper Twix in 2015 (http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=12585). I'm considering an article for it, too.
It's a deck with a very synergistic and disruptive design, that also takes advantage of Narset's +1 and -2 (such as Rebounding hand disruption, Lingering Souls, Supreme Verdict, etc.), while being able to pressure from several intricate angles and lines of play. Jace, Vryn's Prodigy has a lot of value here and is an alternate win-con, as well. Overall, the deck is synergistic, disruptive, versatile, and resilient, but is also well-positioned for, and adaptable to, the meta.
That list looks a lot better than the previous UW walkers list. When I was testing it I considered throwing in great hair Gideon to help it's slowness but didn't feel like shelling out for them in modo. SV also seems like something that list really needed. I'll have to run your list through a league later.
SV has been clutch. Good with Narset as you can filter what you draw with her or you can Rebound it. The Walkers feel right but may want Jace, AoT or 2nd Jura. I love the SB Jace as an alternate win con in grindy MU's or vs Abzan Company. The deck is also better equipped vs creatures and has a strong land hate plan that can pull you significantly ahead, especially after you resolve your Walkers. Good luck!
The deck is a good Control deck first and does not focus on abusing Narset's -2 ability. Instead, the deck attacks from various angles and is stocked to hold its own vs various different MU's.
That top 20 list is totally out of target, and so are some of the comments under the decklists. For instance the idea that UR Prowess is the 10th best deck in the format, better than decks such as Abzan CoCo, GR Tron or Merfolk, is laughable. UR Prowess never won anything relevant in Modern. The list he calls "UW Midrange" clearly is no midrange deck. It's rather a control deck (and an ugly list, like already mentioned in the previous page by other users). Dredge is NOT the best deck in Modern. I wouldn't advise anyone to give that article much credit.
"I guess Dovin Baan isn't quite good enough for Modern, but this is the deck for it if it is. Decks with countermagic keep a lot of the unfair combo decks in check such as Living End and Ad Nauseam. This is one of the best counterspell decks in Modern because it also has plenty of creature removal spells to compete with all the creature decks of the format. Timely Reinforcements main deck is a bit of a concession to the popularity of Burn, as is sideboard Leyline of Sanctity. The planeswalkers and Snapcaster Mages give it game against Jund, Abzan, and Jeskai attrition decks."
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The example list isn't what I expected, though. Craig Douglas Wescoe went with the recent 5-0 on MTGO UW Walker Control deck that played 3 MD Narset Transcendent.
@TheAller have you experimented with other wincons than ojutai? I first came across this kind of deck during the eldrazi winter where people was using planeswalkers instead of ojutai. They seem much more robust and inline with recurring sweepers.
I've tried all of them. It depends on the build. If you don't care about being proactive at all you can just cut all creatures and run Elspeth and Gideon. I don't like it and I think it's not a smart strategy. Planeswalkers are slow and clunky, at their best only in grindy games. The great thing about Dragonlord Ojutai is he closes games out fast once he starts connecting (big and evasive), puts you firmly in control thanks to the selective card advantage he provides and is also quite hard to remove. Someone else said a couple pages back he was riding the Dragonlord train to victory most times he was able to cast it. That's also my experience. He hits hard and puts you far ahead.
https://cardknocklifepodcast.wordpress.com/2016/12/07/transcending-the-meta-evolving-control-with-esper-transcendent/
Esper Transcendent - Reddit
https://www.reddit.com/r/ModernMagic/comments/5gfja7/esper_transcendent_decklist_primer_data_community/?st=IWASPUIN&sh=0be5b9be
They are very different. Esper Draw Go plays via more draw, more counters, less win cons, and no main deck Souls.
Each navigate from a different axis with different gameplans.
About the only similarities are Path, Verdict, Charm, and Snap.
I contributed to that Primer with my content in the OP. I was avid there and just wanted them to know why I wasn't active the past few weeks.
Also, this is very much Control, but it's proactive.
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/02-11-16-esper-narset/
2x Concealed Courtyard
2x Creeping Tar Pit
3x Flooded Strand
2x Ghost Quarter
1x Godless Shrine
2x Hallowed Fountain
1x Island
2x Marsh Flats
1x Plains
3x Polluted Delta
2x Shambling Vent
2x Swamp
1x Watery Grave
1x Collective Brutality
3x Inquisition of Kozilek
4x Lingering Souls
4x Serum Visions
2x Supreme Verdict
3x Thoughtseize
Instant (8)
2x Esper Charm
3x Fatal Push
3x Path to Exile
Planeswalker (7)
1x Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
4x Liliana of the Veil
2x Narset Transcendent
Creature (4)
3x Snapcaster Mage
1x Tasigur, the Golden Fang
1x Baneslayer Angel
3x Countersquall
1x Disenchant
2x Geist of Saint Traft
1x Lost Legacy
2x Meddling Mage
2x Rest in Peace
1x Surgical Extraction
2x Timely Reinforcements
-------
GP Brisbane - 2/19/17
Dylan Brown - 21st
Esper Transcendent
http://magic.wizards.com/en/events/coverage/gpbri17/9-32-decklists-2017-02-19
Day 1:
Lantern (L)
Grixis Control (W)
Affinity (L)
Affinity (W)
Boggles (W)
Kiki chord (W)
Abzan (W)
Jund (W)
Abzan (W)
Day 2:
Death's Shadow Jund (W)
Goryo's Expertise (W)
Cheerios (W)
Grixis Delver (W)
Burn (W)
Dredge (L)
Dylan Brown gives my ET community a shoutout and shares his thoughts on the deck during the event. He also emphasizes the significance of Narset Transcendent in ET.
http://magic.wizards.com/en/events/coverage/gpbri17/top-5-moments-grand-prix-brisbane-2017-02-19
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Esper Transcendent Articles/Content (Chronological Order):
1. Counter Magic vs Hand Disruption (Featuring Esper Transcendent) - The Spike Feed
https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=qtIk1rjBLsY
2. Modern Monday: Transcendent Esper - Frank Lepore
http://www.channelfireball.com/videos/modern-monday-transcendent-esper/
3. Daily Digest: Modern Transcendent - by Ross Merriam
http://www.starcitygames.com/article/34376_Daily-Digest-Modern-Transcendent.html
4. Modern Esper with Mr. Amati - by Ali Aintrazi
http://www.gatheringmagic.com/aliaintrazi-12232016-esper-in-modern-with-mr-amati/
5. Esper Transcendent - by Gregg Ong
http://www.thedaelybrew.com/blog/2016/12/16/esper-transcendent
6. Transcending the Meta & Evolving Control with Esper Transcendent - by Core Murph
"Awakening a Potential Sleeping Giant in Modern."
https://cardknocklifepodcast.wordpress.com/2016/12/07/transcending-the-meta-evolving-control-with-esper-transcendent/
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In an effort to organize the information I've discussed in our community, I'll be sharing each piece of content in its own Google Document for your reference.
Table of Contents:
1. The Runed Halo Guide
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10fAugZq4Y29uTHQFsA3PhbPbLkamnnKMeVtP5B7XGv4
2. ET Sideboard Design Philosophy
https://docs.google.com/document/d/14i5FqU6gJ2NNYLitrzwDBHj5ST7KDENsyxQ7ryYKZtE
3. Evaluating Narset Transcendent
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12u496olgqB6lrNETlMAq7PrzBABTuxRRuZQ3-1ZJYQA
4. Geist of Saint Traft & Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
https://docs.google.com/document/d/11_hpCIm8EcrJjxlTT2YegYOB8Y_VJY27OT8Sgg2Zj3I
5. The Return of Baneslayer Angel
https://docs.google.com/document/d/15_FsbJjOLS7V6xOKXbDqt30O6ITO4n4-vGromAZ7fNQ
6. Utilizing Esper Charm
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1K-JphlaRXRKCbrRS9-QXDgJejhqs1bzBKCKGhsHr4D8
7. Top ET Planeswalkers
https://docs.google.com/document/d/11ggN-897JF5kqyHa5Qast8D4S6XsgXo_C0tAlQNhWDo
8. Evaluating Collective Brutality
https://docs.google.com/document/d/110mvdixNpPPenWCvM6Jk4DLkaLB0DVI0lU-x3OHBL6g
9. MU Analysis: ET vs Tron
https://docs.google.com/document/d/16k79D4qR7K0LMFE8KupmwEAGEoWQ4vL3F3FuOyDzPaI
10. Why Esper Transcendent?
https://docs.google.com/document/d/17gEsYUetMCyDZjWe37zCndlMmMuI4fw-DfWBduLUMSs
11. Esper Transcendent: Core & Flex Design Guide
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u6IgVzXBFD3g_sGhGCMBqbqEjaETxYar0f2p-GzdBf0/edit
12. ET's MU's: Favored, Fair, & Unfavored
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-gnPUq35a84Pg0XSSMMv_5WIOCX9GqapWlqh_nZ8wjQ
13. Bornich's ET MTGO Data: https://docs.google.com/document/d/175wJb84htHHpnKpi2X8N9_6Xvd6ZAGWWdyHGcDLzc2s
------------------
- Esper Transcendent: Competitive MTGO League & Event Top Performers -
Note: This post will be comprised of the top performers and their performances from Competitive MTGO Leagues and any event beyond FNM. Decklists will be included if provided. If not, feel free to tag player in a comment for their decklist.
Congratulations to the following members of #TeamTranscendent!
Darrel Feltner
Competitive MTGO League - 11/16
Record: 5-0
Jonathan Simon
GPT Prague - 1/6/17
Record: 1st (5-0)
Thomas I. Fulks
IQ Maryland - 1/7/17
Record: 5th (6-1)
http://sales.starcitygames.com//deckdatabase/displaydeck.php?DeckID=110824
Anonymous (Requested Confidentiality)
GPT Los Angelas - 1/7/17
Record: 8th (3-2-1)
Levi Ward
GPT Vancouver - 1/8/17
Record: 3rd (3-1-1)
Brandon Dempsey
IQ New Holland - 1/8/17
Record: 1st
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/544629#paper
Dag Erik Børnich
MTGO Competitive League - 1/27/17
Record: 5-0
Living End: 2-0
Grixis Control: 2-1
Grixis Control: 2-1
Ad Naus: 2-0
Jund: 2-1
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/557947#paper
Sean Cain
GPT Newcastle - 3rd Place (18 players)
1/29/17
http://mtgtop8.com/event?e=14611&d=287688&f=MO
GeistofIWin
MTGO Competitive League - 2/5/17
Record: 5-0
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/564647#paper
Sneak-Show-Eternal
MTGO Competitive League - 2/6/17
Record: 5-0
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/565455#paper
Ryan Powell
GPT Vancouver - 2/17/17
1st (5-0)
https://mtgdecks.net/deck/grand_prix_vancouver_2017_trial_winning_decklists/modern/esper_control_ryan_powell/670643/
Dylan Brown
GP Brisbane - 2/19/17
21st
https://magic.wizards.com/en/events/coverage/gpbri17/9-32-decklists-2017-02-19
https://mtgdecks.net/deck/
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/576116#paper
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Esper Transcendent is a proactive Esper Walkers Control deck that takes advantage of Narset Transcendent, but is also designed to be heavily disruptive, synergistic, resilient, and versatile. The deck is comprised of many cross-performing and multi-functional cards (a.k.a. Modal Spells), with intricate interactions and unique lines of play, that allow the player to navigate from various angles.
The decks general concept is to control the game through significant hand, battlefield, graveyard, and deck disruption, while generating value, stabilization, and pressure via Snapcaster Mage, Lingering Souls, Esper Charm, and Planeswalkers, namely Liliana of the Veil and Narset Transcendent. Overall, it is a flexible and efficient Control deck that can effectively transition between defensive and aggressive capabilities (giving it a strong early, mid, and late game), and is designed to be viable vs various archetypes and adaptable against any meta.
Thank you for testing it! Glad to hear you've had success so far. I've decided to go Esper with Narset and the deck has been my favorite brew since I brewed Esper Twix in 2015 (http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=12585). I'm considering an article for it, too.
It's a deck with a very synergistic and disruptive design, that also takes advantage of Narset's +1 and -2 (such as Rebounding hand disruption, Lingering Souls, Supreme Verdict, etc.), while being able to pressure from several intricate angles and lines of play. Jace, Vryn's Prodigy has a lot of value here and is an alternate win-con, as well. Overall, the deck is synergistic, disruptive, versatile, and resilient, but is also well-positioned for, and adaptable to, the meta.
Without futher ado, here is Esper Narset Control:
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/02-11-16-esper-narset/
SV has been clutch. Good with Narset as you can filter what you draw with her or you can Rebound it. The Walkers feel right but may want Jace, AoT or 2nd Jura. I love the SB Jace as an alternate win con in grindy MU's or vs Abzan Company. The deck is also better equipped vs creatures and has a strong land hate plan that can pull you significantly ahead, especially after you resolve your Walkers. Good luck!
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/uw-narset-control-3/
4 Snapcaster Mage
Planeswalkers: 7
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
1 Gideon Jura
2 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
3 Narset Transcendent
Artifacts: 1
1 Crucible of Worlds
Spells: 23
3 Serum Visions
4 Path to Exile
3 Timely Reinforcements
3 Supreme Verdict
2 Spell Snare
2 Negate
3 Remand
3 Cryptic Command
4 Flooded Strand
1 Polluted Delta
3 Celestial Colonnade
2 Hallowed Fountain
2 Glacial Fortress
5 Island
3 Plains
3 Ghost Quarter
2 Tectonic Edge
2 Surgical Extraction
2 Engineered Explosives
2 Dispel
2 Pithing Needle
2 Stony Silence
1 Supreme Verdict
3 Leyline of Sanctity
1 Jace, Memory Adept
The deck is a good Control deck first and does not focus on abusing Narset's -2 ability. Instead, the deck attacks from various angles and is stocked to hold its own vs various different MU's.
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/26-10-16-dMS-uw-midrange/
2x Kitchen Finks
2x Restoration Angel
2x Snapcaster Mage
2x Vendilion Clique
2x Wall of Omens
Planeswalker (2)
1x Elspeth, Sun's Champion
1x Gideon Jura
Instant (16)
1x Condemn
3x Cryptic Command
2x Mana Leak
1x Negate
4x Path to Exile
2x Remand
2x Spell Snare
1x Sphinx's Revelation
3x Serum Visions
3x Supreme Verdict
Enchantment (1)
1x Detention Sphere
Land (25)
4x Celestial Colonnade
4x Flooded Strand
3x Ghost Quarter
2x Glacial Fortress
2x Hallowed Fountain
6x Island
2x Plains
2x Tectonic Edge
2x Blessed Alliance
1x Celestial Purge
2x Dispel
1x Engineered Explosives
1x Grafdigger's Cage
1x Hallowed Burial
1x Negate
2x Rest in Peace
2x Stony Silence
1x Timely Reinforcements
1x Vendilion Clique
Thanks for the input, man.
#18. UW Midrange
"I guess Dovin Baan isn't quite good enough for Modern, but this is the deck for it if it is. Decks with countermagic keep a lot of the unfair combo decks in check such as Living End and Ad Nauseam. This is one of the best counterspell decks in Modern because it also has plenty of creature removal spells to compete with all the creature decks of the format. Timely Reinforcements main deck is a bit of a concession to the popularity of Burn, as is sideboard Leyline of Sanctity. The planeswalkers and Snapcaster Mages give it game against Jund, Abzan, and Jeskai attrition decks."
--------
The example list isn't what I expected, though. Craig Douglas Wescoe went with the recent 5-0 on MTGO UW Walker Control deck that played 3 MD Narset Transcendent.
Has anyone had any experience with that list?
4x Celestial Colonnade
4x Flooded Strand
4x Ghost Quarter
2x Glacial Fortress
2x Hallowed Fountain
4x Island
1x Mystic Gate
3x Plains
1x Tectonic Edge
Sorcery (3)
3x Supreme Verdict
Enchantment (2)
2x Detention Sphere
Planeswalker (4)
1x Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2x Gideon Jura
1x Jace, Architect of Thought
1x Condemn
2x Cryptic Command
2x Negate
4x Path to Exile
2x Remand
2x Spell Snare
Creature (13)
3x Kitchen Finks
3x Restoration Angel
2x Snapcaster Mage
2x Vendilion Clique
3x Wall of Omens
2x Blessed Alliance
1x Celestial Purge
2x Dispel
1x Engineered Explosives
1x Negate
2x Rest in Peace
2x Runed Halo
2x Stony Silence
1x Timely Reinforcements
1x Vendilion Clique
References: My deck is a variation of Yuuya Watanabe and JB2002's (Junichiro Bando), but updated to adapt to the current meta.
Yuuya Watanabe - UW Control (10th at 2015 World Championship)
http://sales.starcitygames.com/deckdatabase/displaydeck.php?DeckID=90628
A UW World
http://modernnexus.com/a-uw-world/
Updated: 10/27/16
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/476197#paper
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/26-10-16-dMS-uw-midrange/
Test Record (as of 10/27/16): 33-13
Test Results: 10/27/16
Record: 3-1
2-0 vs Affinity
2-1 vs Abzan Company
2-0 vs W Death & Taxes
1-2 vs Ad Nauseam
I whole heartedly agree about Ojutai.