Skate Park - Grixis Control

Modern CoSM0

SCORE: 27 | 15 COMMENTS | 4018 VIEWS | IN 7 FOLDERS


No More Snow —Sept. 5, 2020

I've been testing more and more against meta decks and I have found that the snow package with dead of winter is not applicable against the majority of decks in the meta. In place of the three dead of winters I have added an izzet charm and two archmage's charm. Mana leak is an early game counter, something that we need especially against t3feri decks, it also removes creatures early game and can act as card selection in the late game. The archmage's charm provides two more unconditional hard counters, as well as card draw late game, and a creature stealing ability that is extremely good against humans, one of the decks that dead of winter was in the deck for.

I have also found, against uro and uw control decks, that I am often wishing for more basics and potentially copies of mystic sanctuary. This isn't a change I necessarily think needs to be made today but very well might be made in the near future.

Love it.

Why not maindeck Keranos?

And I agree with you that Kess is good here.

I'm not a huge fan of Kroxa. Especially with Tasigur.

August 28, 2020 9:37 p.m.

Also, I think 2 Narsets are better than Jace and Azcanta.

August 28, 2020 9:38 p.m.

CoSM0 says... #3

BrandonJamesCAC Jace and Azcanta are better than 2 narset (i assume you mean parter of veils) because they give more card advantage in the long run, which is what this deck is going for. Narset is better for tempo decks and midrange decks but we plan to win on turn 20+ and jace and search for azcanta give us more card selection and advantage over time. Also Im playing around with Kroxa v Kess, Kess is obviously higher value over time but kroxa gives us a huge body to block with and close games out. Also we dont maindeck Keranos because against decks that arent super control-y its way to slow and doesnt block for us.

August 29, 2020 6:51 p.m.

mtgplayer100 says... #4

Cling to Dust is a really good one-off for the maindeck. Helps both against burn and graveyard shenanigans, while it cycles worst case scenario.

Wurmcoil Engine also seems better than Batterskull, as it's bigger while you can get it back with K-command. Decks with path where Batterskull is better are usually UW control that doesn't really worry about either card.

Also personally havn't been a big fan of Dead of Winter over Damnation after the banning of astrolabe. To make it work early, you have to get basics that makes your mana more awkward, and if you cast it late, you might as well have Damnation instead, to make sure you catch everything.

Otherwise looks pretty solid

August 30, 2020 4:28 p.m.

CoSM0 says... #5

mtgplayer100 cling to dust was actually in the deck until yesterday, im finding more and more that the second logic knot is only slightly worse against uro decks and is way better in matchups where cling isnt relevant, its certainly a card on my radar though. Batterskull being able to be bounced back to the hand is actually way more important than you realize, and it turns the card into a 2 for one often. Also its really nice to not have to have a k command in hand since often you are using them reactively and dont want to have to game plan to use it to get back your life gain card. Also vigilance is HUGE since it lets you gain 8 per turn cycle and pressure the opponent while also blocking. In terms of dead of winter v damnation, dead of winter rarely kills off our creatures which is a big thing for us, additionally it comes down on turn 3 and turn 5 with a snapcaster which is really big. against decks like humans sometimes turn 4 is just too late and theyve gotten you low enough that they can just wait to top deck into mantis rider to win the game. Damnation just felt slow and clunky when I tried it.

August 30, 2020 7:24 p.m.

mtgplayer100 says... #6

Personally, having to wait until t8 to play Batterskull and ensure you can save it, is just a tad too slow. And even if you play it t5, they could still have removal for the token, and then you have to spend 3 of your 6 mana next turn only to bounce it, just so you can play again t7. Wurmcoil can take a kill spell and you'd still be fine, and then you can get it back latter with K-command. Vigilance shouldn't be a huge deal with all the removal. It's the lifelink that really matters.

Cling to Dust isn't that effective at life gain and disrupting yards, no, but it still does the trick somewhat; both things that are problems for grixis. But I've never been fan of more than 1 main myself. Also works as more cantrips to hit lands and fuel for delve.

If you want boardwipe that doesn't kill Tasigur, then Anger would still be better if you ask me. It'd also help against decks like company and dredge.

August 31, 2020 4:59 a.m.

CoSM0 says... #7

mtgplayer100 When you play batterskull you often play it on turn 5 and buy it back later if it dies. Secondly, coming down that turn early is super important, especially since this deck misses land drops at times, and a wurmcoil on turn 6 or 7 can be too late against aggro creature decks. Also, buying wurmcoil back with k command is also a 3 mana investment, similar to buying back batterskull, but you also have to use a card. Also vigilance for blocking isnt super huge but it doubles the life you gain per turn cycle, letting you gain 4 from attacking and 4 from blocking which is big. Additionally, most of the creature aggro decks play reflector mage (humans and bant coco decks) and wurmcoil feels terrible against reflector mage whereas batterskull just gets to be bounced and replayed when you have mana.

In terms of cling to dust, its totally a card thats in my mind, you dont need to convince me of what it does in this meta lol, rn its just the 61st card. It will be put in if I find a card that I dont want in the list.

The issue with anger of the gods is that this deck is a dimir control base, meaning that double red on turn 3 is sometimes difficult to get, whereas 2b is super easy. Also, in the matchups where dead of winter is good, you're fetching basics to preserve life total anyway meaning that the requirement of having 2 or more snow basics isnt really tough to get on turn 3 against aggro decks. That being said I do have 2 copies of anger in the board for decks where I want 5 board wipes and decks where I want more gy hate.

August 31, 2020 1:59 p.m.

mtgplayer100 says... #8

Cling to Dust is mainly for Uro, as that's something grixis has a very hard time against. And a lot of decks are playing Uro now.

Problem with Batterskull is you often don't have time to bounce and replay it, and if you do, you're likely winning anyway. If you wait till 8 mana for the guaranteed save, it might be dead in hand for 2 long. At least Command can also do something other than just rebuy. And if burn sides in Revelry, you much rather want Wurm.

In the end, it just comes down to preference, and through 100s of games played with both, I always found the short term effect of Wurm to be better than the long term effect of Batterskull; especially in control when you're just looking stabilize and then take over with better win-cons in JTMS and etc.

September 1, 2020 4:20 p.m.

mtgplayer100 says... #9

Also, if Batterskull's just there for aggro decks, then Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet is way better.

September 1, 2020 4:22 p.m.

CoSM0 says... #10

mtgplayer100 ive tested wurmcoil and just havent liked it, that being said Kalitas is super interesting and i'll try it out.

September 3, 2020 1:31 a.m.