Adapting U/W Control for the Modern Meta
Modern Deck Help forum
Posted on May 12, 2018, 4:47 p.m. by ArchonBlue
Hi All,
I've been wondering how to adapt my U/W Control deck, and the whole build more generally, for a metagame that is insanely fast and often closes the game by turn 4. Decks like Affinity, Humans, and Hollow One are hard for me to deal with. I generally do ok against Burn, other Control builds, Death's Shadow, and Jund. I've noticed some builds now foregoing Spreading Seas for 4 copies of Opt to make the deck faster and I've also noticed other decks go more creature heavy with things that that are persistent blockers like Kitchen Finks and Wall of Omens and more threats such as Dragonlord Ojutai and Restoration Angel. I've also noticed some decks mainboarding 4 boardwipes, but that is only helpful if you can get to turn 4. I'd like to know what you all think! Here is my deck, I did modify it slightly for the aforementioned builds.
TlDecker1988 says... #3
4x Wall of Omens4x Blade Splicer4x Restoration Angel4x Path to Exile2x Detention Sphere1x Oust/Condemn
If you're getting roflstomped by aggro give this a try.
May 12, 2018 5:22 p.m.
ArchonBlue says... #4
I feel like Terminus could be amazing in the right shell, but is Scry 1 really enough to fire it off? Wouldn't something like Anticipate be better in conjunction with it?
May 12, 2018 6:24 p.m.
In that case actually Anticipate wont let you cast Miracle as you don't draw the card literally. Telling Time could be good in that i think.
May 12, 2018 6:28 p.m.
Also Jace, the Wallet Sculptor lets you Brainstorm cards back to the library if you want to try playing him
May 12, 2018 6:32 p.m.
ArchonBlue says... #8
Jace is too slow, but I may try a playset of Telling Time and Terminus.
May 12, 2018 6:52 p.m.
well i personally dont see hwo this deck can be good against burn but Control in general struggles when there are a lot of different linear uninteractive decks in the format.
You have a lot of Sb card that are extremely painfull for Burn (Leyline and reenforcements and even dispel is pretty good against burn) against affinity only stony and agains thollow one only RIP and even that doesnt stop hollow one completely(timely is ok against both but not back bracking). So when you are saying you have a good MU against burn thats pretty likely because of your SB and you should dedicate more slots to the other decks if you want to have a better game against them.
Against humans, affinity and hollow one you need efficient spotremoval and there is not really anything besides path in those colors.
I dont really see the purpose of Porphyry Nodes in you SB to be honest. maybe you coult cut them for an additional RIp and Stony for example
May 12, 2018 7:19 p.m.
TlDecker1988 says... #10
Just played two matches against one of our really good players playing humans with my list, won both matches.
Played against Hallow One two matches, lost both.
Hollow One is insane.
May 12, 2018 9:52 p.m.
APPLE01DOJ says... #11
Vapor Snag & Rest in Peace is a great combo against Hollow One.
Honestly in your build I would cut down on all the Gideons in favor of more early game interaction. I've always found 4 wraths to be the right number.
Ceremonious Rejection, Hurkyl's Recall, & Stony Silence are great against Affinity
More catch all counters will help against humans, and then wraths are your best bet. They can do annoying stuff late game like double Mantis Rider but stopping an early game Kitesail Freebooter can be the difference between a win and a loss.
I recommend, Remand & additional Mana Leaks myself but white also has some unconventional tools that can shine at times. Mana Tithe, Oppressive Rays, Condemn, Soul Tithe.
May 12, 2018 10:17 p.m. Edited.
ArchonBlue says... #12
Remand I could try again, I like having something a little more final and not just a tempo build. I also thought about running 3 or 4 Mana Leak but its just so often dead late game I'd have to have some way to get rid of it, like a 3rd Search for Azcanta Flip.
Porphyry Nodes is for aggro, but I might not need them if I were to run more early game counterspells. Another option I suppose is to just run a bunch of boardwipes and use Vapor Snag to bounce stuff until I have enough mana to play one. Rest in Peace really shuts down a lot of decks so it would be nice to have three in the sideboard.
May 13, 2018 2:15 p.m.
APPLE01DOJ says... #13
Well Rune Snag is better than Mana Leak in the late game. I'd advise you to run 4 but it sounds like the early game is the issue not the late game.
May 13, 2018 3:06 p.m.
ArchonBlue says... #14
Yea, early game is the issue. What do you think about running Blessed Alliance? That could be a good option against aggro, and it gets better late game not worse because then you can get the lifegain.
May 13, 2018 3:51 p.m.
APPLE01DOJ says... #15
I think it has it's uses and moments when it shines but won't serve your deck very well. Do you face Bogles a lot? If not then it's a slot that could be more counters or targeted spot removal.
I still think your biggest issue is you just need more counters and less Gideon.
Also I know your SB is cramped but Telepathy offers a huge advantage for Control decks game 2 and 3.
May 14, 2018 12:14 a.m.
TlDecker1988 says... #16
I modified my list after playing some more games today. I cut Condescend completely in favor of four Negate. Between Path to Exile, Detention Sphere, Gideon Jura and Supreme Verdict I like to think I have creatures handled.Speaking of Gideon Jura, I added 2x Gideon Jura because he can force an open board to swing on with Golem tokens and Restoration Angel.
Currently running, and surprisingly pleased with:
LAND (24)2x Glacial Fortress2x Nimbus Maze2x Faerie Conclave1x Memorial to Genius4x Port Town4x Field of Ruin3x Island6x Plains
PLANESWALKERS (2)2x Gideon Jura
CREATURES (12)4x Wall of Omens4x Blade Splicer4x Restoration Angel
INSTANTS (9)4x Path to Exile4x Negate1x Sphinx's Revelation
ENCHANTMENTS (6)4x Spreading Seas2x Detention Sphere
SORCERIES (7)4x Serum Visions3x Supreme Verdict
Sideboard:2x Damping Sphere4x Annul2x Flashfreeze3x Tormod's Crypt1x Supreme Verdict3x Kor Firewalker
Other stuff:4x Opt1x Search for Azcanta1x Oust2x White Sun's Zenith4x Condescend4x Rune Snag2x Momentary Blink
It's budget but doesn't really feel or play like it. The land rarely stumbles and you can apply pressure almost immediately or clog up the board and stall until a Gideon seals the deal.
I've played against players who have done consistently well and have performed much better than expected so far.
I've beaten 5c Humans, Goblins, Grishoalbrand and Tron so far in testing.
I lost to Hollow One, but I was running 3x Vendilion Clique instead of 4x Blade Splicer at the time and think that Blade Splicer should fix that match. I also went for 1 more Tormod's Crypt in the sideboard.
If the meta continues to lean towards aggro I highly recommend some number of Blade Splicer and Restoration Angel.
Personally I wouldn't play Opt over Spreading Seas because of the popuarity of and success of 5c Humans. That card can single-handedly win you the game.
May 14, 2018 1:32 a.m.
TlDecker1988 says... #17
Sorry for the double post but why does Annul get no love? It really shines against 8-rack, Affinity and Bogles.
Vixxxx says... #2
Terminus is card that you could consider. Playing Opt goes very well with it, being able to wipe in opponents turn with only 1 mana is very powerful.
Search for Azcanta Flip also plays very nicely with it. But yeah it sucks on opening hand, but still it could work specially if your meta is full of fast creature based decks.
May 12, 2018 5:13 p.m.