This is my take on Standard U/W control. I was tired of getting run over by Mono White and Selesnya Enchantments so I went back to classic control with a modern twist. This deck has performed well against both as well as 50% against Naya humans. Through 100 matches I am sitting at a 63% win rate against the metagame in MTGA Ranked BO1 games. I think I am close to a solid BO3 tournament performer here, and I am looking for some input. I'll walk through the deck build and card choices.
Overall the deck wants to defend early and build mana for a board wipe while digging for answers and eventually finding a way to win. Classic U/W control strategy. It has 10 cards that can clear the battlefield, 7 counterspells, 7 early defense spells and 6 draw/card selection spells to help you find the answer to the board state presented by your opponent. I'll walk through why each card is in the deck and how I have used each to best effect.
Key Spells
Memory Deluge: Absolutely the best card in the deck. Being able to dig for the right answer is key to piloting this deck and MD provides this at an elite level. Everytime you draw this card your goal is to dig through 11 cards to find the best 4 for the situation.
Professor of Symbology: Early blocker, and the learn mechanic allow you smooth out your mana with Environmental Sciences or learn a "silver bullet" for the current board state. Most often I play the Prof and look for ES so that I can hit my land drops and add to my life total.
The Board Wipes (Rinse)
Doomskar: Stops the rush, usually turn 4. Against aggro you want to foretell early so you can wipe early. Try to get at least 2:1 card advantage
Vanquish the Horde: Can be very good against weenie decks, often functions as Doomskar 7&8.
Devastating Mastery: Kill everything
Farewell: Mass Exile, this is very important in the current Meta, decks are looking to recycle creatures from the graveyard, or re-use spells. This will take most permanents out of the game
The Answers (Wash)
Saw it Coming: Your main counter, SIC and Doomskar been besties forever.
Syncopate: The 5th counter, added benefit of exiling the spell
Fateful Absence: Targeted removal for problem creatures/planeswalkers
You Hear Something on Watch: More Targeted removal, it is really shocking how many creatures this is good against. 5 damage is HUGE, this card shines in the early game and is often the target of the "Repeat" cards.
Card Draw (Repeat)
Memory Deluge: I cannot stress enough how much you want to see this card. Dig early, dig often. It finds what you need in that moment for the current board state.
Witness the Future: This is a weaker MD but is still very effective. You get to reshuffle answer cards back into your deck as well as dig for the best out of the next four.
Devious Cover-Up: Counterspells that restock the deck. Stop the threat and replenish the answers for the next one.
Win
Mordenkainen: Provides wincon and assists with card draw
Hall of the Storm Giants: hard to deal with threat that can just dominate
So this is where I am, what could/should I be adding to this mix to make an elite level performer.
