Viable finisher in control?
Modern Deck Help forum
Posted on Feb. 26, 2018, 10:05 a.m. by Snap157
I've been building a casual dimir control deck for a while and have been looking for a wincon that is hard to remove, can block, not super hard to cast, and can close out games pretty quick.
Manor Gargoyle looks amazing for this job, but I'm concerned about the amount of plays it gets (zero). It's so low that I'm wondering if i don't see the thing that makes it unplayable?
thanks
If you splash green, standard-staple Carnage Tyrant might do the job as it's uncounterable, hexproof, and a big body with trample.
February 26, 2018 10:23 a.m.
Pieguy396 posted what I was in the process of typing. The one thing I was going to add--being an artifact and a creature makes it a tad more susceptible to removal, as cards like Disenchant and Shatter are also running about. As such, it's fairly likely your opponent has an answer in their hand, and you have to be extremely cautious when you see open mana.
Creeping Tar Pit is similar, and I think a tad better, option. While it also is susceptible to removal while in creature form, and while it costs a bit more each turn, you can drop it a tad earlier and start putting unblockable pressure on your opponent swiftly. Many removal spells or pseudo-removal spells (like Thoughtseize do not target lands, so most of the time it remains safe from harm. When you do not need to attack, it serves its function as a land. While it cannot block, I do not think that is much of an issue. Ideally your blocking will be at a minimum--you want to control the board, and remove threats before they actualize.
Do you have a decklist posted? I can try to provide more useful advice based on what you are already running.
February 26, 2018 10:23 a.m.
If you want a cheap ($-wise finisher), AEtherling fits the bill perfectly.
February 26, 2018 11:14 a.m.
if you had money, Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon will do it.
February 26, 2018 11:45 a.m.
Squirrelbacon says... #7
Creeping Tar Pit is a good finisher... you could also run Faerie Conclave. Depending on how controlling the deck is with permission spells, you could use Torrential Gearhulk and Vendilion Clique, they're deceptively good at closing things out.
You also have the delve fatties you could run (Tassy G. and Unusually Large Fish)
February 26, 2018 noon
APPLE01DOJ says... #8
Lone Revenant and Creeping Tar Pit should seal the deal. Thing in the Ice Flip plays nice in Dimir.
February 26, 2018 12:45 p.m.
Squirrelbacon says... #9
So I had a response typed out for The Scarab God and then my computer crashed so I'll give the short run down...
In my eyes, the issue with The Scarab God isn't the initial mana investment, rather what you get from it... Control shells don't typically run many creatures, so the activated ability to re-animate won't hit many critters... maybe you'd get an extra Snapcaster Mage, which is great, but a 4 mana snappy is rough since it's a mana constraint than rather than card advantage you'd normally get out of it. Another issue with the God is graveyard hate... Rest in Peace, Relic of Progenitus etc. are all over the place, plus Path to Exile being one of the best removal spells in the format.
The Scarab God is a very strong card for sure, but I don't know if modern is the place for him especially in control type shells.
However, he did bring up a good idea from me. Champion of Wits might be useful since he re-animates but you don't need to graveyard for him to be great. A 2/1 for three that draws/filters cards is eh, but your opponent won't dedicate graveyard hate for just the champion, and then he comes back as a 4/4 that gives real card advantage sounds like a good deal to me!
February 26, 2018 1:01 p.m.
Another card that is useful in control: Delver of Secrets
Flip. If you are running heavy on removal and counter spells, Delver usually flips fairly quickly (even more so if you are running Serum Visions and its ilk to manipulate your top card). Generally you can transform the turn after you cast, giving you a 3 Power, evasive creature for 1 mana.
February 26, 2018 1:09 p.m.
February 26, 2018 6:31 p.m.
Silumgar, the Drifting Death could be an option. While being 6 mana, the 7 toughness is nice and the ability to punch a hole through token decks can be very useful.
February 26, 2018 10:15 p.m.
Batterskull is probably my favorite. It doesn't die to creature removal, and vigilance and lifelink are probably the two keywords control wants most when they're trying to stabilize vs aggro.
February 27, 2018 1:35 a.m.
Some more decent options can be:
Bloodgift Demon, Kothophed, Soul Hoarder, Nefarox, Overlord of Grixis and Reaper from the Abyss
Pieguy396 says... #2
It has the same problem that a lot of good-in-casual cards have - it's too expensive, and too ineffective. If you're just planning on playing casually, it seems totally fine. The issue is that a lot of decks either go under it (Affinity, Burn, etc.), have answers to it (Path to Exile, Dismember, Vapor Snag, etc.), or will rip it out of your hand before it becomes relevant (Thoughtseize).
February 26, 2018 10:11 a.m.