Last few weeks I've had middling success with Zoo, Hatebears, and Storm. Went back to Cruel Control this week (my favorite). Only had enough players for 3 rounds this week. I went 2-1, good enough for second.
2-1 against Naya Burn. Counterspells and early Tasigurs did big work.
0-2 against G/R mana destruction. Not much to do against turn 2 stone rains, mwonvuli acid mosses, and blood moons. This guy was the worst. He was getting off crippling early combos and still complaining to everybody that his draws were bad.
2-0 against some kind of tokens deck. I was running Anger of the Gods mainboard today, so she was never able to get off the ground.
I definitely want 2 Kalitas now. I'd happily make room for him. Cruel Ultimatum made several good appearances.
It was very clear to me that I need a better source of card draw. I like Serum Visions for its convenience, mana cost, and filtration, but at some point I just want card advantage. Dare I bite the bullet and buy a playset of Ancestral Visions? Seems to be working for other people.
I also need a way to deal with enchantments in the sideboard. Any ideas?
When it went off, it was pretty big. Getting one with GDD was usually crushing.
Getting it into the yard wasn't all that easy. Suspending it was far more reliable than looting it into the yard. Jace VP doesn't really count as a looter after turn 3, because at most he'll loot you 1 card and then flip; similarly, Izzet Charm was consistently an underwhelming card. Sure, it has a lot of modes, but none of them are very good, and even while looting, you're just trying to set yourself up for a mini-combo with GDD rather than immediately impacting the game. At that point, suspending almost seems like just as good an option. After all, committing 2 mana to loot and 5 to drop GDD the next turn (ideally) is barely better than just resolving an EOT Thoughtflare or Jace's Ingenuity. Both those cards take less wrenching and finagling to work right and give immediate value, and in a deck as grindy as ours, immediate value is pretty important.
After many games with AV in various incarnations, I dropped it. Yes, although when it worked, it really worked, I usually found myself wishing it were a Serum Visions or some other draw spell instead.
Anyway, I'm sure there's a way to do it, but I don't think Jace VP or Izzet Charm are the answer. Well, Jace VP is pretty good if you can stick him (but not for looting purposes), but Izzet Charm is just bad.
Ukitai, I'm not sure about a mainboard Batterskull (I was just advised against even a sideboard Batterskull a few posts back). More importantly, I think Academy Ruins, even with a mainboard Batterskull, is a bad idea. Lastly, having played with 3x Jace, Vryn's Prodigy in the deck for a little over 6 months, I cut them in favor of more countermagic and could not be more pleased with the result.
Personally, instead of those two Jaces, I'd recommend another Snapcaster and either another Kommand or Cryptic Command. I figure if you're gonna put a powerhouse 2-drop blue creature who plunders the graveyard and dies to bolt in there, might as well choose the one with flash who gives you immediate value.
I wonder if other people are having the same problem that I'm having with GW Hatebears: I have a hard time getting through chump blockers, and my opponent often stabilizes in the midgame with about 2-8 life.
I'm not too keen on bringing in something like Rancor. I'm wondering if it might make sense to bring a few Flickerwisps back in the mix to blink out or go over blockers? Or should I just maindeck a couple mindcensors?
But then what would I even cut? Scavenging ooze? (It often feels too slow, but GY hate is nice.)
Oh dag, Manatee. Good call! I think I'll order one now, unless I have one in my many piles of random draft cards.
Thanks for restarting this primer, Lil Bolas. I've been playing some form of this Cruel Control deck for two years now. A couple friends and I challenged each other to make $100 modern decks and see who came out on top. My version came in at $50 and stomped theirs. I've been in love ever since.
Granted, my deck probably clocks in around $1,000 now, but like, whatever.
Jonny, as far as Remand goes, there are times in the late game when it feels like a dead draw. However, in the first 4-8 turns of the game, it feels like a free time walk. If my opponent taps out for a Liliana, I'll happily Remand while holding a Mana Leak, because it means a dead turn for them and I get to keep my hand full. Even in the mid-late game, Remand often draws another Remand or Mana Leak (or something even more useful), which is nice.
My point is that this deck can get very starved for cards in the midgame, unlike other control decks. Anything that gives tempo and/or cantrips (Remand does both) sets us up for a very comfortable mid-late game. I've always run 3-4 Remand and have never sided it out because unlike Mana Leak (which I keep comparing it to), the cantrip keeps it from ever being a dead draw in the mid-late game.
I don't think you'd kick yourself for taking out Murderous Cut and either Dismember or a Terminate. Maindeck Kolaghan's Command instead, as it represents a bit of burn, gets nasty with Snapcaster, and frequently 2-for-1s your opponent. I also think you'd be happier cutting a copy of Cruel Ultimatum. It's a fun card to play, but it'll just clog up your hand in the early game, and even in the late game you have to be careful about when you cast it. I agree that Spell Snare is a bit much as a 3-of. I run two and I've never wanted a third, and it's the first thing I board out against almost a third of the decks I play against.
Per your initial 2 questions about why Cruel Ultimatum and why not Kalitas, here might be my answers:
1. Like the primer indicates, this deck doesn't really have an edge over regular Grixis. It's clunkier, more mana intensive, more reactive, and closes out most games with Snapcasters and Lightning Bolts instead of big threats. However, it plays Cruel Ultimatum, which is very, very satisfying. Also, not many people see it coming, so it gives you a slight advantage there.
2. Not many people run Kalitas for a few reasons. First, the card is relatively new, and because there are so few Cruel Ultimatum players, not many people have tested it. Second, the deck often relies on being reactive instead of proactive, so tapping out for Kalitas on turn 4 often feels like running him right into all their otherwise-useless removal, whereas tapping for Tasigur on turn 4 often leaves up mana for a Mana Leak or Remand. I think when more players test him out and get an idea of when it's safe to drop him, we'll see more of him.
Has anyone thought about Sowing Salt in the sideboard?
Kalitas definitely did work in game #1 there. Definitely worth some playtesting. Makes me wish I didn't trade mine away so quickly.
I only run one Suffer and I keep it in my sideboard. It's generally only good in the midgame against decks with stacked graveyards. It's flexible enough to cut off things with flashback, while also messing with Snapcasters and Scoozes, and the life drain is wonderful. I used to run two last year, but that was way too many, especially considering that casting it once effectively neuters a second cast, and it often felt clunky.
There are a couple Blood Moon decks in my meta that can be kind of rough. I'm wondering if anyone still runs Batterskull to help with Blood Moon and/or aggro?
As far as Serum Visions is concerned, I used to be on the fence about it as well, but of all the topdecks in a grindy match, Serum Visions is one of the best ones. Sure, it's not as strong as a turn 2 Spell Snare, but it can still mana fix in the early game, and it's far superior in the late game.
Went 3-1 today (flooded twice in game 1 vs Abzan, crushed a UR brew, UW tron, and Jeskai control), and my MVPs were Tasigur (mainboard) and Suffer the Past (sideboard). I playtested Ob Nixilis, but he was often the first thing I boarded out. Mostly it felt like a 5-mana kill spell plus a fog. Counter magic felt really strong, so I'm debating between playtesting him further and switching to either another Mana Leak or a Kalitas. Has anyone played extensively with Kalitas? And if so, how long does he last, and how helpful has he been?
2-1 against Naya Burn. Counterspells and early Tasigurs did big work.
0-2 against G/R mana destruction. Not much to do against turn 2 stone rains, mwonvuli acid mosses, and blood moons. This guy was the worst. He was getting off crippling early combos and still complaining to everybody that his draws were bad.
2-0 against some kind of tokens deck. I was running Anger of the Gods mainboard today, so she was never able to get off the ground.
I definitely want 2 Kalitas now. I'd happily make room for him. Cruel Ultimatum made several good appearances.
It was very clear to me that I need a better source of card draw. I like Serum Visions for its convenience, mana cost, and filtration, but at some point I just want card advantage. Dare I bite the bullet and buy a playset of Ancestral Visions? Seems to be working for other people.
I also need a way to deal with enchantments in the sideboard. Any ideas?
Maindeck Dispel and Anger of the Gods is both dirty and brave. I love it.
How do you feel about Languish? Have you tested it much? Really, I just need to pick up Damnation, but it's hard to say no to saving $60.
@Grimble, I've been playing 25 lands (which I love) with 3 Serum Visions. Do you think it'd be more or less the same at 24 lands with 4 Serum Visions?
When it went off, it was pretty big. Getting one with GDD was usually crushing.
Getting it into the yard wasn't all that easy. Suspending it was far more reliable than looting it into the yard. Jace VP doesn't really count as a looter after turn 3, because at most he'll loot you 1 card and then flip; similarly, Izzet Charm was consistently an underwhelming card. Sure, it has a lot of modes, but none of them are very good, and even while looting, you're just trying to set yourself up for a mini-combo with GDD rather than immediately impacting the game. At that point, suspending almost seems like just as good an option. After all, committing 2 mana to loot and 5 to drop GDD the next turn (ideally) is barely better than just resolving an EOT Thoughtflare or Jace's Ingenuity. Both those cards take less wrenching and finagling to work right and give immediate value, and in a deck as grindy as ours, immediate value is pretty important.
After many games with AV in various incarnations, I dropped it. Yes, although when it worked, it really worked, I usually found myself wishing it were a Serum Visions or some other draw spell instead.
Anyway, I'm sure there's a way to do it, but I don't think Jace VP or Izzet Charm are the answer. Well, Jace VP is pretty good if you can stick him (but not for looting purposes), but Izzet Charm is just bad.
With 8 maindeck creatures, do you think 3 maindeck sweepers is a bit much?
Personally, instead of those two Jaces, I'd recommend another Snapcaster and either another Kommand or Cryptic Command. I figure if you're gonna put a powerhouse 2-drop blue creature who plunders the graveyard and dies to bolt in there, might as well choose the one with flash who gives you immediate value.
I'm not too keen on bringing in something like Rancor. I'm wondering if it might make sense to bring a few Flickerwisps back in the mix to blink out or go over blockers? Or should I just maindeck a couple mindcensors?
But then what would I even cut? Scavenging ooze? (It often feels too slow, but GY hate is nice.)
Thanks for restarting this primer, Lil Bolas. I've been playing some form of this Cruel Control deck for two years now. A couple friends and I challenged each other to make $100 modern decks and see who came out on top. My version came in at $50 and stomped theirs. I've been in love ever since.
Granted, my deck probably clocks in around $1,000 now, but like, whatever.
My point is that this deck can get very starved for cards in the midgame, unlike other control decks. Anything that gives tempo and/or cantrips (Remand does both) sets us up for a very comfortable mid-late game. I've always run 3-4 Remand and have never sided it out because unlike Mana Leak (which I keep comparing it to), the cantrip keeps it from ever being a dead draw in the mid-late game.
I don't think you'd kick yourself for taking out Murderous Cut and either Dismember or a Terminate. Maindeck Kolaghan's Command instead, as it represents a bit of burn, gets nasty with Snapcaster, and frequently 2-for-1s your opponent. I also think you'd be happier cutting a copy of Cruel Ultimatum. It's a fun card to play, but it'll just clog up your hand in the early game, and even in the late game you have to be careful about when you cast it. I agree that Spell Snare is a bit much as a 3-of. I run two and I've never wanted a third, and it's the first thing I board out against almost a third of the decks I play against.
Per your initial 2 questions about why Cruel Ultimatum and why not Kalitas, here might be my answers:
1. Like the primer indicates, this deck doesn't really have an edge over regular Grixis. It's clunkier, more mana intensive, more reactive, and closes out most games with Snapcasters and Lightning Bolts instead of big threats. However, it plays Cruel Ultimatum, which is very, very satisfying. Also, not many people see it coming, so it gives you a slight advantage there.
2. Not many people run Kalitas for a few reasons. First, the card is relatively new, and because there are so few Cruel Ultimatum players, not many people have tested it. Second, the deck often relies on being reactive instead of proactive, so tapping out for Kalitas on turn 4 often feels like running him right into all their otherwise-useless removal, whereas tapping for Tasigur on turn 4 often leaves up mana for a Mana Leak or Remand. I think when more players test him out and get an idea of when it's safe to drop him, we'll see more of him.
Has anyone thought about Sowing Salt in the sideboard?
I only run one Suffer and I keep it in my sideboard. It's generally only good in the midgame against decks with stacked graveyards. It's flexible enough to cut off things with flashback, while also messing with Snapcasters and Scoozes, and the life drain is wonderful. I used to run two last year, but that was way too many, especially considering that casting it once effectively neuters a second cast, and it often felt clunky.
There are a couple Blood Moon decks in my meta that can be kind of rough. I'm wondering if anyone still runs Batterskull to help with Blood Moon and/or aggro?
Long time reader, first time poster here.
As far as Serum Visions is concerned, I used to be on the fence about it as well, but of all the topdecks in a grindy match, Serum Visions is one of the best ones. Sure, it's not as strong as a turn 2 Spell Snare, but it can still mana fix in the early game, and it's far superior in the late game.
Went 3-1 today (flooded twice in game 1 vs Abzan, crushed a UR brew, UW tron, and Jeskai control), and my MVPs were Tasigur (mainboard) and Suffer the Past (sideboard). I playtested Ob Nixilis, but he was often the first thing I boarded out. Mostly it felt like a 5-mana kill spell plus a fog. Counter magic felt really strong, so I'm debating between playtesting him further and switching to either another Mana Leak or a Kalitas. Has anyone played extensively with Kalitas? And if so, how long does he last, and how helpful has he been?
Thanks!