Mother, May I?

Commander / EDH Control WU (Azorius)

oliveoilonyaasscureshemorrhoid

Land (35)

• 1x Adarkar Wastes
• 1x Blast Zone
• 1x Blinkmoth Nexus
• 1x Cascading Cataracts
• 1x Castle Ardenvale
• 1x Castle Vantress
• 1x Celestial Colonnade
• 1x Command Tower
• 1x Darksteel Citadel
• 1x Drownyard Temple
• 1x Emergence Zone
• 1x Faerie Conclave
• 1x Flooded Strand
• 1x Inkmoth Nexus
• 1x Irrigated Farmland
• 1x Island
• 9x Island
• 1x Lonely Sandbar
• 1x Myriad Landscape
• 1x Mystic Sanctuary
• 3x Plains
• 1x Scavenger Grounds
• 1x Sea of Clouds
• 1x Temple of Enlightenment
• 1x Tolaria West

Sweeper (9)

• 1x Aetherize
• 1x Mirrorweave
• 1x Settle the Wreckage
• 1x Aetherspouts
• 1x Devastation Tide
• 1x Planar Outburst
• 1x Urza's Ruinous Blast
• 1x Crush of Tentacles
• 1x Cyclonic RiftGC

Other (5)

• 1x Isochron Scepter
• 1x Mandate of Peace
• 1x As Foretold
• 1x God-Eternal Kefnet
• 1x Approach of the Second Sun

Counterspell (19)

• 1x Dispel
• 1x Disrupt
• 1x Mana Tithe
• 1x Spell Pierce
• 1x Stubborn Denial
• 1x Swan Song
• 1x Arcane Denial
• 1x Counterspell
• 1x Disdainful Stroke
• 1x Narset's Reversal
• 1x Negate
• 1x Tale's End
• 1x Disallow
• 1x Render Silent
• 1x Whirlwind Denial
• 1x Mystic Confluence
• 1x Overwhelming Intellect
• 1x Time Stop
• 1x Commit / Memory

Removal (11)

• 1x Path to Exile
• 1x Pongify
• 1x Rapid Hybridization
• 1x Swords to Plowshares
• 1x Disenchant
• 1x Reality Shift
• 1x Oblation
• 1x Mystic Confluence
• 1x Teferi, Hero of Dominaria
• 1x Cyclonic RiftGC
• 1x Commit / Memory

Protection (7)

• 1x Energy Arc
• 1x Research the Deep
• 1x Thaumatic Compass  ^Flip
• 1x Tomik, Distinguished Advokist
• 1x Kefnet the Mindful
• 1x Reins of Power
• 1x Silent Arbiter

Control (5)

• 1x Tomik, Distinguished Advokist
• 1x Render Silent
• 1x Mirrorweave
• 1x Godhead of Awe
• 1x Azor, the Lawbringer

Commander (1)

Draw (16)

• 1x Brainstorm
• 1x Opt
• 1x Baral, Chief of Compliance
• 1x Pull from Tomorrow
• 1x Frantic Search
• 1x Kefnet the Mindful
• 1x Oona's Grace
• 1x Wavebreak Hippocamp
• 1x Mystic Confluence
• 1x Teferi, Hero of Dominaria
• 1x Azor, the Lawbringer
• 1x Coveted Jewel
• 1x Overwhelming Intellect
• 1x Dig Through Time
• 1x The Magic Mirror
• 1x Commit / Memory

Ramp (8)

• 1x Myriad Landscape
• 1x Sol Ring
• 1x Arcane Signet
• 1x Baral, Chief of Compliance
• 1x Energy Arc
• 1x Thaumatic Compass  ^Flip
• 1x Teferi, Hero of Dominaria
• 1x Coveted Jewel

Combat (5)

• 1x Research the Deep
• 1x View from Above
• 1x Aven Mimeomancer
• 1x Oona's Grace
• 1x Reins of Power

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Maybeboard

Counterspell (20)

• 1x Stifle
• 1x Delay
• 1x Disrupting Shoal
• 1x Essence Capture
• 1x Essence Scatter
• 1x False Summoning
• 1x Logic Knot
• 1x Mana Leak
• 1x Nullify
• 1x Remove Soul
• 1x Trickbind
• 1x Dream Fracture
• 1x Failure / Comply
• 1x Forbid
• 1x Unwind
• 1x Whirlwind Denial
• 1x Cryptic Command
• 1x Insidious Will
• 1x Rewind
• 1x Summary Dismissal

Removal (7)

• 1x Chain of Vapor
• 1x Blink of an Eye
• 1x Into the Roil
• 1x Stolen by the Fae
• 1x Capsize
• 1x Lawmage's Binding
• 1x Return to Dust

Ramp (4)

• 1x Azorius Signet
• 1x Sword of the Animist
• 1x Thought Vessel
• 1x Midnight Clock

Sweeper (15)

• 1x Blustersquall
• 1x Displacement Wave
• 1x Deluge
• 1x Fade Away
• 1x Prismatic Strands
• 1x Engulf the Shore
• 1x Ensnare
• 1x Illusionist's Gambit
• 1x Wash Out
• 1x Whelming Wave
• 1x Cataclysmic Gearhulk
• 1x Evacuation
• 1x Tragic Arrogance
• 1x Hour of Revelation
• 1x Play of the Game

Draw (11)

• 1x Gitaxian Probe
• 1x Mystic Remora
• 1x Radical Idea
• 1x Blue Sun's Zenith
• 1x Gadwick, the Wizened
• 1x Stroke of Genius
• 1x Fact or Fiction
• 1x Glimmer of Genius
• 1x Faerie Formation
• 1x Into the Story
• 1x Treasure Cruise

Protection (12)

• 1x Maze of Ith
• 1x Overburden
• 1x Sacred Ground
• 1x Trade Routes
• 1x Ghostly Prison
• 1x Propaganda
• 1x Domineering Will
• 1x Embargo
• 1x Niblis of Frost
• 1x Noetic Scales
• 1x Pendrell Mists
• 1x Stormtide Leviathan

Other (11)

• 1x Calciform Pools
• 1x Karn's Bastion
• 1x Reconnaissance
• 1x Containment Priest
• 1x Hushbringer
• 1x Rest in Peace
• 1x To Arms!
• 1x Aven Mindcensor
• 1x Unity of Purpose
• 1x Part the Waterveil
• 1x Sphinx-Bone Wand

Combat (6)

• 1x Myth Realized
• 1x Luminarch Ascension
• 1x Redeem the Lost
• 1x Abzan Falconer
• 1x Pulse of the Grid
• 1x Metallurgic Summonings

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This deck is my first attempt at a control deck. I tried to stray from stax, tax, hate bears, and Ward of Bones-like spells. This control deck is mostly focused around counterspells, instantaneous removal, and instantaneous draw that fetches those. The wincons are Approach of the Second Sun, Kozilek, the Great Distortion, and animated lands + View from Above or sweepers to clear the board.

All suggestions and upvotes are appreciated!

Combos, Tips, and Strengths/ Weakness' Show

This deck's combat strategy focused around the awaken ability can either swing wide or swing big, whatever the situation requires. However, this could also be a considered a weakness as your creatures are your mana sources that can only come around once per turn. This deck is strong in answering threats (with a removal package, counterspell package, and draw package of mostly instants that help you run into instantaneous answers), but is rather weak facing against land hate and counter hate spells. Foil combos well with Gush.

Mystical Tutor: any foil card, Devastation Tide, Approach of the Second Sun.

Isochron Scepter: Reality Shift, Counterspell, Mystical Tutor, Energy Arc.

If you're targeting a land to awaken, make sure to active any ability that affects P/T afterwards, as the awaken trigger will make it a 0/0.

Notable Inclusions (the foil cards) Show

View from Above - Here it is, ladies and gentleman. This is my highest recommendation for this deck! If you have Noyan Dar on the battlefield, you can repeatedly cast View From Above at instantaneous speed! This allows you to save up mana for counterspells and such, pump up an important land like Cascading Cataracts, Faerie Conclave, or Inkmoth Nexus for 3 power per , and give evasion when you're ready for the swing! This card is akin to Luminarch Ascension, but is better because it can only be stopped with counterspells or locks like dampening sphere. This card needs heavy justification for not being in the 99.

Mirrorweave - Any land the commander awakens are 0/0 elementals with counters on them, so if you target your animated land, all other creatures without counters on them are destroyed. To sum up, Mirrorweave is a one-sided, instantaneous board wipe that can take care of indestructible, hexproof and shroud, as well as phasing and protection from a color as it's instantenous. It could also extend your colors and target Archangel of Tithes, Bane of Bala Ged, Hydra Omnivore, etc. Additionally, it can stop Blood Artist or Laboratory Maniac combos. Lastly, it can used politically to save someone else from a lethal swing, strengthening your allies or bargaining to stay in your position.

Energy Arc - A hidden gem in UW. Arc can fog, untap your creatures, and therefore ramp(as your creatures are your awaken lands) and keep up some blockers for the next player if s/he swings too, and offer new combat strategies (as you can alpha swing and untap whatever is blocked) and political strategies (as you can untap your ally's creatures, or even the person who attacked you if s/he has something you want and can bargain with a silver tongue). Either this card is unbelievably broken, or I have too much sentiment for it.

Inkmoth Nexus - I try to avoid this card in casual games, but much like a backup infinite combo, it's a nice insurance plan to rely on when games go on too long. In a more competitive game, this is a must include. It offers evasion and a new combat strategy that surpasses life-focused pillow fort deck. Some other land that animate into evasion creatures are Blinkmoth Nexus and Faerie Conclave, and some lands that offer dependent evasion are Sejiri Steppe and Soaring Seacliff.

Thaumatic Compass   - Much like Journeyer's Kite (not included), this compass ensures you're on tempo, you've enough mana resources and colors, and you've enough resources to support your awaken mechanic while still staying on curve with your land drops. Furthermore, you could flip it if your opponent's board state is getting too much to handle, or need an extra land to awaken in a pinch. This also works well with High Tide or against Blood Moon.

Godhead of Awe - Godhead's passive ability is OK at best, but it gains much better traction with this commander. It can protect you by making each creature of minute importance, even against the worst aggro or voltron. However, this doesn't protect against other counter decks like Ghave or Marchesa, the Black Rose decks. Furthermore, Godhead can buff your creatures as well as debuff your opponents creatures. "But how can it buff your creatures? It merely makes them 1/1's," you ask? Most of the time, your creatures will be 0/0's with counters on them. With no other buffs or debuffs, you could see Godhead's ability as "your creatures get +1/+1" in most games. Furthermore, this is an answer to the dreaded Thief of Blood and enemy-of-the-noyan dar deck Solemnity. I would argue Godhead is a better Elesh Norn in this deck, especially in terms of CMC and finance.

Notable Exclusions Show

Herald of Secret Streams - Almost all creatures you'll obtain with this deck are by the commander himself, and each of them have counters on them. Herald is an auto include for any Noyan Dar deck, it allows a new combat strategy, un-detrimented by any form of defense.

Rest in Peace - This card does wonders in EDH. Lots of commanders require at least one graveyard interaction piece, if not built entirely around it. However, this deck is more of a reactive counterspell deck, than a proactive control deck, so this deck is optimal with mana sources untapped and ready, not tapping out to cast anti-set-up pieces. This is why I am also not including Damping Sphere, Containment Priest, Grafdigger's Cage, and Torpor Orb.

Updates Show

2/13/2020

+Wavebreak Hippocamp +Disallow +Research the Deep +Coveted Jewel +The Magic Mirror +Oona's Grace +Time Stop +Dispel +Mandate of Peace +Tale's End +Silent Arbiter +Arcane Signet +Castle Vantress +Castle Ardenvale +Celestial Colonnade +Emergence Zone + Blast Zone +Mystic Sanctuary; -Force of Will -Kozilek, the Great Distortion -Oblivion Stone -Rhystic Study -Plains -Mystical Tutor -Muddle the Mixture -Spellseeker -Clockspinning -Dovin's Veto -High Tide -Mana Confluence -City of Brass -Tundra -Hallowed Fountain - Kjeldoran Outpost -Talisman of Progress

4/20/19

+Aven Mimeomancer +Opt +Clockspinning +Urza's Ruinous Blast +Tomik, Distinguished Advokist +Narset's Reversal +Dovin's Veto +God-Eternal Kefnet; -Search for Azcanta   -Exclude -Remand -Crucible of Worlds -Coastal Breach -Cast Out -Anticipate -Impulse

12/21/18

+Disrupt +Spell Pierce +Overwhelming Intellect +Muddle the Mixture +AEtherize +Stubborn Denial; -Reconnaissance -Foil -Time Stop -Together Forever -Supreme Will -Gush.

+Drownyard Temple; -Secluded Steppe.

9/3/18

+Teferi, Hero of Dominaria; -Niblis of Frost.

+Remand; -Failure.

+Kjeldoran Outpost; -Calciform Pools

+Oblivion Stone; -Hour of Revelation.

+Arcane Denial; -Dismiss.

+Reconnaissance; -Amulet of Vigor.

+Settle the Wreckage +AEtherspouts +Reins of Power; -Ghostly Prison -Propaganda -Herald of Secret Streams.

8/24/18

+Swan Song +Mana Tithe +Disdainful Stroke +Dismiss +Force of Will +Negate +Failure; -Talrand -Docent of Perfection   -Leyline of Anticipation -Azorius Charm -Rewind -Unwind -Enlightened Tutor. Needed more counterspells.

+Rhystic Study; -Guile. Guile is sort of card advantage, but I want a reliable, noncreature source of card advantage.

+Rapid Hybridization +Pongify +Path to Exile; -Winds of Rebuke -Boseiju, Who Shelters All -Return to Dust. Lowering the curve, and tuning it for a more casual environment which has a lot of creature threats.

+Azor +Together Forever; -Nezahal, Primal Tide -Terra Eternal. Spicing things up.

+Pull from Tomorrow; -Sphinx's Revelation. Pull works with Spellseeker.

6/10/18

+Kefnet; -Thassa. kefnet can protect an animated land from a wrath, and act like an indestructible thrasios.

+Crush of Tentacles; -All Is Dust.

+Unwind +Commit +Supreme Will +Exclude +Mystic Confluence; -Force of Will -Mindbreak Trap -Pact of Negation -Mental Misstep -Thwart. the commit part can speed up Approach of the Second Sun, while the memory part is graveyard hate and works well with bounce spells like Cyclonic Rift.

+Spellseeker +Winds of Rebuke +Cast Out +View from Above +High Tide +Crucible of Worlds; -Conqueror's Galleon   -Gitaxian Probe -Dream Halls -Lightning Greaves -Chrome Mox -Mox Diamond. Winds can mess up Doomsday, Sensei's Divining Top, top deck spells like Vampiric Tutor/Brainstorm, etc.

+Scavenger Grounds +Lonely Sandbar +Secluded Steppe +Irrigated Farmland +Sea of Clouds +Island; -Arid Mesa -Marsh Flats -Misty Rainforest -Polluted Delta -Scalding Tarn -Windswept Heath. added more graveyard hate for tolaria west.

3/26/18

+Kozilek, the Great Distortion; -Mind's Dilation. Kozilek is a better finisher in a control deck. Being able to refresh my hand, then counter spells for no cost, is beyond value for this deck.

+Mental Misstep; -Vedalken Orrery. About half of the spells in this deck are instants, and there's no specific cards I want to cast beyond its current sorcery speed. Orrery is rather expensive too; at 4 mana, I want to be able to respond to midgame spells.

3/17/18

+Arid Mesa +Marsh Flats +Misty Rainforest +Polluted Delta +Scalding Tarn +Windswept Heath; -Drownyard Temple -Azorius Chancery -Sejiri Steppe -Soaring Seacliff -Island -Plains. I'm trying to make this deck a bit more competitive. Being able to pull out lands, and sometimes being able to shuffle your library is very valuable, especially when Sensei's Diving Top is in the deck.

1/15/18

+Dream Halls; -Sword of Fire and Ice. Sword is a great card, but Halls fit this deck better. 2 damage to any target can kill a lot in the developing stages of the game, and some draw and evasion in addition makes Sword very valuable. In this deck, I am constantly drawing cards to draw into counterspells, and Halls ensures I can cast that counterspell in case I do draw it.

+Mindbreak Trap; -Mystic Confluence. Confluence is another great card, it's a strictly better Jace's Ingenuity. However, Trap is free, and this deck loves free counterspells, especially since Confluence isn't a proper counterspell. Trap also goes well with all the cheap draw spells.

+Thwart; -Forbid. Most of the time, I'll be hard casting Thwart because the alternate cost is bad, but it's better than not having three mana available and Forbid in hand.

+Mox Diamond; -Land Tax. I'd rather be a turn ahead than ensure a land per turn that could be drawn with all the card advantage in the deck.

+Chrome Mox; -Sacred Ground. This deck needs more ramp, and I figured Ground needed to be cut for the deck's needs.

+Talisman of Progress; -Journeyer's Kite. With all the new additions of mana rocks, I figured an extra 'land drop' is better than ensuring later land drops.

+Guile; -Supreme Will. Will isn't a proper counterspell, and Guile is a great wincon in this control deck.

1/5/18

+Nezahal; -Solemn Simulacrum. Straight up wincon. This deck is basically a Nezahal deck with a splash of white and land creature synergies. This deck needs a big beater anyway. Nezahal does every thing this deck wants to do: it supports all the draw by giving us max hand size, it protects itself by not letting itself being countered and by having an easily obtainable activation cost. Most importantly, it does what this deck aims to do: drawing a counterspell you don't have.

+Rewind; -Hindering Light. Rewind can counter a spell, ramp up for another counterspell, whilst untapping your creatures that can block. Furthermore, this deck needed more counterspells.

+Forbid; -Ojutai's Command. Command has restrictions on its counterspell, and can only reanimate Baral in the entire deck. If I wanted draw, there's cheaper versions like Dream Fracture or Remand. In addition, Forbid's buyback is nothing in this heavy draw deck.

1/1/2018

+Isochron Scepter; -Weathered Wayfarer. I think I have enough ramp, it's about 50% of the deck right now. Furthermore, almost all of my ramp spells are fetching lands so his ability is more likely to become useless. Half of my instants (sixth of the deck) are less than 2, so Isochron Scepter is more than justified in replacing a ramp spell.

+Foil; -Fractured Identity. Identity was the only sorcery speed removal spell I had, and I feel like this deck needs to have more counterspells, have more tempo, and instantaneous answers that all the draw supports. Plus a free counterspell is nothing to scoff at.

Date added	8 years
Last updated	6 years
Exclude colors	BRG
Splash colors	WU
Legality	This deck is Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	8 - 0 Mythic Rares 45 - 0 Rares 19 - 0 Uncommons 15 - 0 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	3.29
Tokens	Ape 3/3 G, Bird 2/2 U, Emblem Teferi, Hero of Dominaria, Frog Lizard 3/3 G, Human 1/1 W, Manifest 2/2 C, Octopus 8/8 U
Folders	-my shit, nice stuff