Hi Guys, This is the first deck I've added to TappedOut for a long while. I have attempted this Grixis Control deck. I feel that control will become the 'TopDog' of decks in standard until rotation comes around (FINALLY!!!). So here goes Grixis!
There are many different control decks in standard at this moment in time. Esper, Jeskai, Izzet, Azorious, Orzhov, Mono Blue, and Obviously Grixis. Now when you first look at Nicol Bolas, God-Pharaoh you instantly think he slots right into a control deck. You might be right there, but at 3 Colours it won't fit in every control deck. Once he hits the battlefield (IF) all chaos develops. I did think if Grixis really needs Bolas. What do you think about his addition to Grixis Control? The next thing to think about when playing Bolas is how many you would run in the deck. My Grixis brew only runs 1 in the mainboard and 1 in the sideboard. More than one in the main is very risky when a lot of your high impact cards are 5CMC and higher. Hour of Devastation, Torrential Gearhulk, The Locust God, and Liliana, Death's Majesty (I'll explain why I play Liliana later). You really want to be hitting your lands and 'control' spells early game rather than a turn 1/2 draw step Bolas or another high CMC card.
Counter Spells
14 Counter spells in totalEssence Scatter and Negate have their own self explanatory reasons.
Supreme Will and Disallow are both multi-functioning counter spells. Supreme Will eventually loses it's value as a counter spell in the deck as your opponent racks up the available mana to stop it becoming useful in that way. However, it has lot's of value with it's additional mode. Disallow counters pretty much anything that is a threat. Stupid Sphinx of the Final Word (Which is now easily dealt with)
Void Shatter is a counter spell I really like. Exiling the spell is an additional bonus, especially those recurring threats such as Embalm, Eternalise, Scrapheap Scrounger, Zombies, and Aftermath cards.
Censor has a massive downside of becoming a useless counter spell very quickly. It does, however, offer a positive attribute when it becomes redundant which allows you to cycle it.
Spot Removal
Abrade is a wonderful card for control in the current meta. It has 2 very useful modes which frees up the artifact removal slot in the sideboard for something else which makes a difference.
Never is great spot removal, not just for creatures, but for planeswalkers too. Return could be used too, but is not as important as Never. I have been contemplating if Ruinous Path is a better card or not. What do you think?
Hour of Glory is a great card for this deck. It especially works well with Torrential Gearhulk as it is an instant.
Board Removal
We'll start off at Sweltering Suns. This card has so much value in a deck like this. I will not be killing anything I have, but could potentially hamper my opponent's deck early on. The double red in the mana cost is an issue, but if it does it's job I will be happy. It does have it's cycle ability if it becomes redundant in, for example, the pre-sideboard match-up against the mirror.
Now...Hour of Devastation is one of my favourite cards in this deck. I can finally play board wipes without having to play white for Fumigate. Yes Fumigate is strictly a better board wipe as it hits everything rather than creatures with 5 toughness or less, but I have alternatives for them in the other colours. Hour of Devastation also hits planeswalkers, but you need to resolve them before I worry about the added extra from it.
Draw Spells
glimmer of genious
and Pull from Tomorrow are the only draw spells in the deck. I do like Hieroglyphic Illuminations but it doesn't have the scry addition to it. That's why it's not in the deck.
Creatures
Only 4 in the deck. Torrential Gearhulk and The Locust God are the only creatures in the deck for obvious control reasons. They are both self-explanatory.
Other Spells
Nicol Bolas, God-Pharaoh - DISCUSSED EARLIER
Torment of Hailfire is a card which I am heavily interested in. Late game what do you do against this card. Pretty much nothing if you ask me.
Liliana, Death's Majesty offers an alternative way of killing off my opponent. It offers me a creature to attack with or block with each turn. Her ultimate is a board wipe which allows me to keep her offspring around. I am playing her because she is an unexpected addition to the control meta. She is strong and hard to kill at 5 Loyalty on entry to the battlefield.
The Sideboard is a work in progress. I am always open for any positive criticism and suggestions.
Results and Changes
My first FNM with this deck did not go as planned. 1-2-0
2-0 vs Grixis 'Stuff'. Newish player with new ideas. It went well for me as I out controlled his deck.
1-2 vs Mono Colourless. Very experienced player with a great deck.
0-2 vs Mardu Aggro. Went too quick for what I had drawn
I have now made some changes as I was expecting double of each of my 3 colours at crucial times. I wasn't getting them when I needed them. I have got rid of my double black cards for more blue/red focused cards.
-1 Main Never, -1 Main Liliana, Death's Majesty, -2 Main and Side Torment of Hailfire and -2 Side Kefnet's Last Word
+1 Side Chandra, Flamecaller, +1 Main Censor, +1 Main Hour of Glory, +1 Main Abrade
