I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid you can't do that.
Modern
SCORE: 803 | 357 COMMENTS | 71941 VIEWS | IN 168 FOLDERS
Black splash removed —Aug. 21, 2015
Yeah, the black splash is fun, and sometimes yields strong results, but the mana inconsistencies are very frustrating, and losing to your mana base is always terrible. Straight Jeskai is more consistent, and has roughly the same power level. Folding less to mana hate is very important, especially with Fulminator Mage being a really popular sideboard card. Not killing myself with mana is also great, and I can aggressively fetch basic Islands now. I'll consider putting a Polluted Delta back in if I find my single Tectonic Edge is underwhelming compared to the 2 GQs. The main reason I cut the black splash is because it harmed my array of burn spells, which I love. More Elyze is great against Elves, Affinity and good at grinding, while Helix deals with aggro super well.
Of course, I've still got a fun-of slot which is currently Shadow of Doubt, and the sideboard has a bit more leg room.
Ninjadude51 says... #2
Your mana base is super taxing. You have so much shock and death that it comes to the point where I'm paying 4 life just to mana leak something...which really isn't the value a control deck needs. I suggest that you cut some shocks for basics and also cut a cryptic command because without the greedy mana base it's much more likely to be a dead card.
August 1, 2015 6:06 a.m.
JexInfinite says... #3
Ninjadude51 Shocks and fetches depend on playstyle. If you want to get aggressive with shock and fetches, you can totally pay 3 life to counter a spell. I usually don't unless it's a super important spell. Since I'm running 4 colours, a greedy manabase is a requirement, and basics are less relevant. That said, all 10 of my fetches can get a basic Island, which is an important factor. To make my mana base less greedy is to play 3 colours. I require 10 fetches and 6 shocks to actually be able to play my cards. I know a lot of people like to run Sulfur Falls instead of the 2nd Steam Vents, but I've been finding checklands underwhelming, as they suck early game, and I don't like having tapped lands.
Cryptic is one of the best cards in the deck, and I'm usually fetching a blue source. No way I'd cut it because my mana base is super greedy. Greedy mana will usually punish players, so I don't recommend the 4c strategy to newer players. Blood Moon is certainly threatening, but I usually sideboard with it in mind.
August 1, 2015 7:24 a.m.
Quick suggestion for you that may or may not be important but where I play there is a deck almost exactly like this. They tend to take second or third every week for two reasons. We have a grixis control player who alwyas ends up winning solely on the self inflicted damage caused by your decks land base. Now its unavoidable game one but what i can suggest would be to drop esper charm G2 and not have to worry about the black mana for the land base. the second problem and this is kind of major is he never beets my amulet bloom deck for one single reason Dragonlord Dramoka. Not being able to counter it means it resolves 90% of the time. Then once it hits the field you only have two ways of dealing with it really, you can cryptic command it back to my hand and hope to shuffle it back into my deck with Vendilion, which only delays it until i draw another summoner's pact, or path to exile it on your turn. I guess you could try to burn it down but at 7 toughness thats three or burn spells. It's something to consider when thinking about sb games against more powerful bloom combo.
August 1, 2015 1:02 p.m.
JexInfinite says... #5
tmanc1 Yeah, sideboarding out my black cards is a very good practice against burn decks, and anything which is likely to have Blood Moon sideboard. Dragonlord Dromoka is certainly a difficult card to deal with, but against Amulet, I have more pressing issues, like the Pact kill. I can't pay for Summoner's Pact, so that just kills me. Against Dromoka, an effective 6 copies of Path (3 Paths, and 3 Snap + Path opportunities) usually would get the job done. Once I've dealt with Dromoka, it's pretty easy game from there, because I'm likely to outgrind Amulet, but it's getting to that point which is hard.
I have mainboard hate for Amulet in Shadow of Doubt, Esper Charm and Vendilion Clique. I've found, though, that the 2 GQs are what really makes the matchup playable. I think it's just fact that dealing with the land decks is a massive problem and I'll always struggle with them. I'm not conceding to the matchup, though, so I do like to be able to win.
August 1, 2015 8:05 p.m.
I can't believe I hadn't +1d this. I appreciate control decks a lot.
August 3, 2015 7:23 a.m.
JexInfinite says... #9
ChiefBell I'll bet you appreciate them a lot more when there's a Tasigur in the 75. We love our Tasigur, especially in the BGx game.
Radical_Larry says... #1
+1 because I love U/R/X permission
July 18, 2015 9:58 p.m.