Working around U/W Control for Eldrazi Tron
Modern Deck Help forum
Posted on Sept. 17, 2018, 9:13 a.m. by loricatuslupus
Recently I've been playing Eldrazi Tron at FNM (deck list Tenta-Tron) and enjoying it for the most part. However, last week two out of my three games were against U/W Control and I got destroyed, managing 3 losses and a draw (which would have been another loss if the game had gone on one more turn) - even if I'd been able to afford including a Cavern of Souls I don't think it would have helped. My deck isn't especially interactive and I can't rely on hoping to go first, shoving out a Chalice on 1 then attempting to grind out games. This seems especially true as the opposing decks seem to have improved recently with great filtering cards like Opt, Search for Azcana and of course the return of JTMS all backed up by Field of Ruin which quickly becomes one-sided mana advantage for them in conjunction with Path to Exile. Plus Ceremonious Rejection and Damping Sphere have become sideboard normality. I just can't keep up with the amount of answers they are able to deploy! At the moment I've added a mana rock and another Wastes so that I need Tron less and am thinking about swapping my Pithing Needles for Sorcerous Spyglasses (both for the peeking ability and because it won't be countered by my own Chalice) but would really appreciate any tips on making the match-up sightly more favourable.
Coming from a dedicated UW control player, the matchup is pitifully easy. I've also never had too many issues with Chalice on 1.
September 17, 2018 10:48 a.m.
loricatuslupus says... #4
That's understandable, though it always surprises me how much hate I attract for playing a deck that in it's current iteration is reasonably fair and super easy to disrupt (especially with the plethora of hate cards being printed recently). Without Eye of Ugin - which, just to clarify, I in no way think should be modern legal - the deck has lost some tempo, and the only new card worth trying has been Walking Ballista, which to fair is excellent. Most of the cards need to be two-for-ones simply because of the lack of options in colourless and how easy they are to Path or Terminate, which feels pretty bad when I've tapped out to cast them.Mutavault is definitely a good idea, and if they're targeting that with Field of Ruin/Path to Exile that's probably to my benefit. Plus Crucible of Worlds gives them a bit of recursion. How disruptive would you find a Leyline of Sanctity vs the Chalice then? I forgot to mention in the description that one of the opponents splashes black for Thoughtseize so being immune to that would be something else in it's favour. Cutting four sideboard places feels like a big gamble for that though...
September 17, 2018 11:08 a.m.
Leyline will maybe work vs thoughtseize, but you're still down a card anyway. It's a 1-for-1 that I dedicated no tempo toward. And this is if I'm playing it, which most esper decks don't and most control decks aren't even esper.
September 17, 2018 11:32 a.m.
APPLE01DOJ says... #6
Thoughtseize is a huge part of modern I would advise simply learning to play through it. & I wouldn't recommend Leyline of Sanctity unless your meta is pure burn.
You could splash green for Choke but there really is no auto win SB colorless card against control. The closest thing to it is a resolved All Is Dust and that's only in the late game when they have stuff like Tafari & Jace out.
You're just going to have to learn the match up more.
I don't know if you use Untap.in but it's a great tool to practice.
If you do use Untap.in I feel it would be beneficial for you to play a few games piloting U/W Control as well. Help you understand the opponents mind set and stratedgy better.
September 17, 2018 1:20 p.m. Edited.
loricatuslupus says... #7
Great suggestions, thanks people. I know I'm not going to find a magic bullet unless they decide to print an uncounterable "Sword of Suck It, Control Players" so I guess grinding out more games and learning the plays is the way to go.
September 17, 2018 3:05 p.m.
One thing I'll say is that UW is not the kind of deck where you can rely on the power of your cards to being you back if you punt. That deck demands a ton of finesse and will kick you hard when you make mistakes. If you play with UW for a bit, I guarantee you'll notice the mana thresholds and sequencing staggers that the deck has. Then you can start to get to know how to sequence your threats better. Learning to play vs control is its own kind of magic.
APPLE01DOJ says... #2
This comment warms my heart. Eldrazi was such a parasite deck that ruined the format for almost a year. Funny to hear players of a deck with the most ramp and every single card 2 for 1 complain about being unable to keep up with the meta. :)
That being said, absolutely nothing against you personally.
I don't think there is a lot of colorless hate cards against Control beyond grave hate stuff. You could add some Mutavault to your list. It can't be countered, can swing as early as turn 2 and the only answers a stock U/W list will have for it is Path to Exile or land destruction. (Which your deck has many targets). Against Control if they don't tap out for some thing it's best to wait until you can play your threats in multiples. Use the first threat as bait to draw out their counters and the second being what you hope to resolve. Once you get something on the board that can attack, let your threats in hand build up again. Otherwise they'll be happy to let you land every thing on the board and wrath next turn.
I also recommend the upgrade to Spyglass over Needle. Hand info is so crucial in that match up. Cavern has a ridiculous price right now but I think it'll help more than you believe. Lastly I'm not so sure Chalice of the Void on 1 is very good against Control. Sure it'll turn off Path & the filter cantrips but that doesn't hit the deck hard at all, more of a slight annoyance.
September 17, 2018 10:23 a.m.