First off, this is NOT to be confused with the Legacy Tendrils-Storm deck named Spanish Inquisition. I dubbed my baby thusly because absolutely no one expected this deck in Standard, and well . . .demons.
The point of this deck is to disrupt your opponent's hand and control whatever they play to maintain a constant tempo advantage via card advantage. The win cons are obviously the underrated Shrieking Affliction (which stacks for anyone who didn't know) and my demons swinging for hot damage.
I've gone 4-0 and 3-1 a number of times since rotation, and the best part is that there are very few ways to side in against this deck except maybe more draw spells (which most likely aren't in your sideboard).
It poops on control decks with ease, demolishes games 2&3 against ramp decks, and does the same against most aggro. The hardest matchup is Selesnya Aggro since this deck is all about tempo and that deck is very undercosted with respect to mana. Also: Loxodon Smiter . . . -___-
Here's how I sideboard against certain matchups and my reasons why:
Mill, Azorious/Esper Control
- 4x Thrill-Kill Assassin
- 1x Swamp
+ 2x Slaughter Games
+ 2x
Magma Jet
+ 1x Pithing Needle
The Thrill-Kill Assassins will just be destroyed or forced to be sacrificed or put on top of my library. I want my turn 1/2 to be at least 1 Thoughtseize or Duress. The Slaughter games are to get rid of some annoying Super Friends planeswalkers or the infamous AEtherling or Blood Baron of Vizkopa. The pithing needle deals with those threats save for Blood Baron. I take out the Swamp to keep the deck at 60 mana, and given the stall-out path that control usually takes, I have time to get mana, I side in the
Magma Jet
s for two reasons.
1. A lot of times you need to dig for more answers/disruption, and it fills the second turn nicely slot nicely.
2. The burn is always useful, especially when I get Master of Cruelties to swing-and-drain. Sometimes the Shrieking Afflictions aren't reaching for that next upkeep and you really want to taste that win.
RDW or other Aggro EZ Modes
- 2x Duress
- 3x
Mind Rot
- 2x
Rakdos's Return
- 1x Sire Of Insanity
+ 2x Ratchet Bomb
+ 2x
Magma Jet
+ 4x Anger of the Gods
I side out the Duresses because I need to control creatures, not stab in the dark at noncreatures. The
Mind Rot
s aren't what I want to be doing turn 3, which is my crucial stabilizing turn. I either want to be wiping with Anger of the Gods, killing something threatening, or digging to China for answers with Read the Bones as a last resort. Making them discard 2 won't affect the boardstate, which is the only way I can stall out long enoguh against aggro to get to my midgame where Desecration Demon and Master of Cruelties will turn the tides for me. The beauty of those Bad muthas is that Anger of the Gods leaves them untouched allowing them to swing freely after blocking weenies a bit. The Sire Of Insanity is far too slow and useless against aggro, as I need my hand for more control, and turn 6 I'll either be playing my other demons or killing more things.
The side-in is pretty explanatory, and the Magma Jets can allow me to dig a bit while controlling. I've considered Mizzium Mortars to also side in against Blood Baron of Vizkopa and possibly for the overload, but I'd rather be able to dig at instant speed.
Selesnya Aggro*
These sides are in addition to those described above for RDW & Co.:
- 4x Thoughtseize+4x
Lifebane Zombie
Due to the sheer speed and undercosted-ness of this deck, the Thoughtseizes won't slow down their first few turns, and I'll just be losing life and gaining no clear tempo advantage.
Lifebane Zombie
s are there for the obvious reasons of remove Loxodon Smiter & friends and possibly trade off.
I'll add more matchups later, and please let me know which ones you might want ot know about, but as for now, I'm tired.
Feedback is much appreciated. ; )
