Of Control and Denial
Modern*
SCORE: 20 | 63 COMMENTS | 5481 VIEWS | IN 7 FOLDERS
Changes! —Feb. 19, 2016
Thanks to everyone who has helped me shape this deck! Keep the thoughts coming! Below I'll detail the changes made to this deck and reasons behind the changes:
2-19-16
- Four Spell Snare was too much, so I removed one and the Vendilion Clique for two Roasts.
2-12-16 || Post PT OGW
- The meta has significantly changed, so the 75 is about to go through an overhaul. I am going to attempt to preserve the original list here in order to maintain a trail of changes.
- Removed one Cryptic Command (down to two) for a third Spell Snare. Snare is very good against our worst matches in Eldrazi, Affinity, and Burn
- Removed 3 Telling Time for 3 Electrolyze. The ping was less relevant a year ago, but is more versatile in the current meta.
- Removed 1 Vedalken Shackles for a mainboard Batterskull. With the decrease in Grixis variants, BSkull is less likely to see resistance mainboard. The Shackles is too slow to warrant a pair, especially against the current aggro-centered meta.
- Removed two Stormbreath Dragons and Keranos, God of Storms for three Pia and Kiran Nalaar. The Nalaars are more relevant against the aggressive meta.
- Removed Spell Pierce for a fourth Spell Snare. Two-drops are very good right now.
- Removed Desolate Lighthouse for another Serum Visions. Twenty four lands was too many.
- Changed around land base to reflect what I have and plan to use- if the consistency from non-Tarn fetches presents a significant issue, I will invest in Tarns. I will pick them up eventually regardless.
- Removed 2 Combust (Twin banning) from the sideboard for two Anger of the Gods (Aggro: the format). Removed two Relic of Progenitus (not as relevant right now) and three Pyroclasm (Anger is better right now) from the sideboard for a Keranos, God of Storms, a Spellskite, and three Spreading Seas.
4-30-15
- Removed Anticipate for Telling Time - Often times you want two of the cards rather than one, so this change is somewhat given. If the deck changes, they could swap back
- Removed Spreading Seas for two Vedalken Shackles and a Spell Pierce - Seas' can be a nuisance but Shackles can win games. And who doesn't love more counter magic?
4-20-15 - Thanks, Chiefbell!
- Removed Batterskull for Keranos, God of Storms - Batterskull lacks the power to take down Rhinos and Tasigurs, so I'll be trying out this change.
- Removed Electrolyze for Anticpate - Electrolyze is generally a dead draw in this meta, being able to kill very little. The instant speed scrying power will ensure we have what we need to secure a win.
- Removed Squelch in the sideboard for two Shattering Sprees and Shatterstorm - Squelch was a weak link in the SB, and with Bloom Titan and Affinity being major threats, we need ways to deal with them.
ducttapedeckbox says... #2
Thanks, lemmingllama. I like Stormbreath because he can't be Path'd, which means the few Grixis control/Delver decks out there are really the only ones that have removal for him in Terminate. I play this deck exclusively on Cockatrice, so I don't have a generic meta to build against.
April 19, 2015 10:49 p.m.
Stormbreath Dragon also goes through Lingering Souls because souls tokens are white. I'm not sure I like 3 copies of Electrolyze in this current meta. It's almost a completely dead card against a variety of decks. I would like to see instant speed card draw in here as well, such as Anticipate. I'm also not sure Batterskull is a good win condition for control anymore given that it dies to rhino, tasigur, removal, and is super mana ntensive to protect. Try a single Keranos, God of Storms?
April 20, 2015 12:57 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #4
Thanks, ChiefBell! I'm going to try the replacements you suggested. My main concern is that I won't have enough devotion to turn Keranos online, but I'll have to see through testing.
What do you think of the sideboard? Squelch is a somewhat weak link, so maybe a Vandalblast for Affinity/Bloom Titan? Spellskite for aggro/burn?
April 20, 2015 1:45 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #6
Not sure why I forgot those exist, ChiefBell. I'm going to try out these changes and see how it goes. Thank you for the help!
April 20, 2015 3:38 p.m.
Hi, (I sorry for my English is not my native language)
I play Blue Moon for a while and my results increases with time.This is because I know the deck I can say that your version is not quite developed.
Blood Moon is cool but you have to learn not to rely too much on the card.On your deck, 24 courses is 2 too given the amount of card to draw.
Otherwise Shatterstorm is worse than Vandalblast because we Snapacaster.
Shattering Spree and Hurkyl's Recall is much too was a good match up against Affinity.
Sun Droplet not bad but it just takes a lot of room for Burn.
Anticipate why? Telling Time seems better.
Relic of Progenitus right now I prefer Sulfur Elemental because it practically does the same job and that attack.
Combust or Rending Volley I'm still not convinced by these cards against Twin normally against us he takes off his combo. I prefer more versatile Counterflux.
Well I enunciate a lot of negative things but there's also things that I find cool Solicitating Stormbreath Dragon which is extremely difficult to manage. I have a little test and I liked but as I am a French player, we have little player JUNK but players Combo, Amulet, Twin, Scapeshift and otherwise in Infect, Affinity, BUG, WUR Control, Wilt-Leaf Junk.
That's all for reproaches
If you want to see my Blue Moon list : Blue Moon, Rust and Fire
April 23, 2015 12:18 a.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #8
Hey Zoubida, thanks for the comment! I really appreciate you taking the time to go across the language barrier and still comment on my deck. I'll tke your advice into consideration, and give some responses below:
- I realized that there's too much artifact hate in the SB, so I'm going to remove the Recalls or something for Negates or Dispels to help out in the control matchup.
- Do you have a recommendation to help against burn, besides Sun Droplet?
- Anticipate versus Telling Time is another one I'm testing
- Could you elaborate why you use Sulfur Elemental? Do you mean it gets rid of Lingering Souls tokens? I mostly use Relic of Progenitus to weaken Tarmogoyf and make Tasigur, the Golden Fang harder to cast.
- I think Counterflux is intensive to cast, but I'll give it a thought.
I like Stormbreath Dragon because it dodges most removal in Modern, but still occasionally gets hit by Murderous Cut or Terminate. Guess I can't do much about that though.
Thank you again!
April 23, 2015 9:59 p.m.
Against Burn is difficult in any case.The best response against this deck is even Timely Reinforcements or Spellskite because we can integrate against other game.
I do not know if you looked at my list, but I really try to be as versatile as possible a side plan. I invite you to do the same in addition to test with your friends.
Why Sulfur Elemental ? I confess that this is the card with which I the most questions. I like Relic of Progenitus but I can not playing more than one and therefore I count on the fact of having an additional creature especially the card goes well with Lightning Bolt and Flame Slash in addition to being effective Lingering Souls and Monastery Mentor. Tarmogoyf is not too much a problem for me but Tasigur, the Golden Fang much more .. fortunately it is not often see.
The match up the most complicated Blue Moon is Tron, RG or WB or just U Tron. Okay, we have Blood Moon but the problem is that over time TRON becomes unmanageable. The worries is that not put enough pressure As a result more time passes more it will become difficult for us.
about Counterflux must also go into what looks like us. Personally I'm a player Combo and Control and I have a certain attraction to aggressive decks. outside Blue Moon I play Infect and Noxious Storm (URgw) in Modern and now I test, create a version of Twin with Tasigur my version because I love this card.
If not I think you can pass 23 land and put an Serum Visions and more.
I have to abbreviate my message but on occasion one speaks again if you want to.
April 24, 2015 12:24 a.m.
A couple changes to the sideboard:
2x Anger of the Gods - good2x Combust - good 2x Hurkyl's Recall - too much artifact hate with spree and shattermstorm imo. Maybe change for a spellskite/counterflux. Skite is great against twin/infect/etc. and flux is an uncounterable counter that is good against control and storm.2x Relic of Progenitus - good but hurts you as well. Maybe go down to one and add a shackles or something.1x Roast - not a fan with 2x combust, also would rather have counter magic open on turn 2 than tapping out for this. Maybe a sower of temptation, amazing against midrange especially since they will most likely board out paths if they see stormbreath so they will have 0 ways to kill it.2x Shattering Spree or Vandalblast. More options, all preference based but i like spree as well1x Shatterstorm - good3x Sun Droplet - Dragon's claw is 100x better, also triggers off of your spells
Just throwing my 2 cents out there, hopefully it helps!
April 24, 2015 2:27 a.m.
A couple changes to the sideboard:
2x Anger of the Gods - good
2x Combust - good
2x Hurkyl's Recall - too much artifact hate with spree and shattermstorm imo. Maybe change for a spellskite/counterflux. Skite is great against twin/infect/etc. and flux is an uncounterable counter that is good against control and storm.
2x Relic of Progenitus - good but hurts you as well. Maybe go down to one and add a shackles or something.
1x Roast - not a fan with 2x combust, also would rather have counter magic open on turn 2 than tapping out for this. Maybe a sower of temptation instead, amazing against midrange especially since they will most likely board out paths if they see stormbreath so they will have 0 ways to kill it.
2x Shattering Spree or Vandalblast. More options, all preference based but i like spree as well
1x Shatterstorm - good
3x Sun Droplet - Dragon's claw is 100x better, also triggers off of your spells
i forgot to space out my first comment, so there it is spaced! haha sorry about that!
April 24, 2015 2:31 a.m.
ipooded, Dragon's Claw is not better Sun Droplet I know if you have already test the card is a different use. Sun Droplet is control it makes saves time and it forces the opponent to make mistakes and one can integrate the card against the Aggro deck.
April 24, 2015 10:44 a.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #13
Thank you both Zoubida and ipooded.
I like Spellskite, how would I run Timely Reinforcements without white? I've been debating it for a while since it does have its applications against a wide variety of decks.
Dragon's Claw is good against burn, and goes off from my own spells, so I think this will have to come down to which I find gains me the most life against the decks I play against.
I'm about to overhaul the sideboard if you guys want to come take another look.
April 24, 2015 11:14 a.m.
@Zoubida, i feel control only needs life gain versus burn and i feel dragon claw shines more brightly in that match-up, otherwise droplet would be better, but i cant ration bringing in that card versus any other deck but burn maybe merfolk. If that spot is being used for more than just the burn match-up i would drop 1 and add an engineered explosives for aggro
April 26, 2015 3:26 a.m.
@ducttapedeckbox, what are your most difficult match-ups in witch you need your sideboard for? Also, im personally more of a fan of Anger of the Gods than Pyroclasm, but it can go either way
April 26, 2015 3:29 a.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #16
@ ipooded -- I typically need my sideboard most when I'm against any form of highly aggressive creature-based deck (Merfolk, Hatebears, Affinity). Sadly I don't have access to board wipes in these colors, so I have to rely on shutting down their land base and countering threats as quickly as they drop them - which usually isn't possible.
April 26, 2015 5:55 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #18
Thanks for checking in, ChiefBell. I'm happy with the success that I've been having, I'd estimate a 60-70% win rate (matches against rogue decks that I can't categorize aren't listed in my Match History). Against established archetypes, I'm around 50-60%. However, the matches I've played don't include Twin, Scapeshift, or Affinity, which are all likely bad match ups for me.
I'm having a lot of trouble against aggressive decks, and for some reason Life from the Loam decks. I think the latter is due to my lack of experience and incorrectly identifying the deck I'm against. I'm considering siding Silent Arbiter, but he seems too slow. Also looking at removing Keranos, since he never seems to show up at the right time, let alone comes online.
Do you have any thoughts on making the deck more resilient against aggressive strategies? Or any tips when I see a Loam deck?
May 3, 2015 11:30 a.m.
Keranos isn't supposed to come online he's supposed to just draw you cards and ping damage.
You can put in some more Pyroclasm to help against aggro. Not sure what else. I don't play against loam often.
May 3, 2015 12:07 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #20
@ ChiefBell - True, that was just a side note to him not being helpful in the games I've played which is mostly due to never wanting to tap out for him. I'm probably just playing the deck incorrectly, haha.
I'm going to try adding another Pyroclasm in place of a Sun Droplet and see where that takes me.
May 3, 2015 12:20 p.m.
No not really. He's hard to play right. You may want to try something that costs 4 mana. But what?
May 3, 2015 12:29 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #22
@ ChiefBell - What do you think of sideboarding Silent Arbiter? Too slow for what I need him to do? Also thinking of replacing Pearl Lake with Teferi.
I'll keep testing Keranos and see how he performs until/unless we can replace him. The 4-drop slot is tough since there aren't any good four drops in these colors that are hard to remove. Too bad there isn't something along the lines of a blue or red Thrun...
May 3, 2015 7:55 p.m.
You are a traitor the the Hatebears community.
But on the bright side, at least you're playing something mean.
May 13, 2015 3:20 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #25
To be fair, Scorprix, I was always a control player :P Before this I had my Standard budget mill deck, UTon, and Nekusar EDH (still have the latter two). Need a new title though, this and Nekusar clearly are NOT budget builds haha. Hatebears was a deviation from that community but I definitely enjoyed my stay. I need my blue though :(
lemmingllama says... #1
I'm personally a fan of Thundermaw Hellkite over Stormbreath Dragon, it hits harder and also goes through Lingering Souls tokens and Vendilion Cliques. I guess it mainly depends on your meta though.
April 19, 2015 10:07 p.m.