Making A Good Deck Better
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Cableguy
22 February 2012
2598 views
22 February 2012
2598 views
In my last article I discussed my beliefs on how Grixis is probably the best control deck in the current format. In short because of the huge hype of agro and tempo decks Grixis can offer a quick means to disposing the entire field. Day of Judgment costs 4 but occasionally the game can still be well out of hand by the top you are able to play it. Cards lack Slagstorm and Black Sun's Zenith can cheat this turn 4 and possibly wipe the field on turn 3. Also working with both counter-spells and spot removal increase the chances to successfully control your opponent’s field.
So now we have our colors and we have a shell (as displayed in my previous article). So now we have to adjust, tweak, and perfect the deck for every single 75. Contrary to popular belief a deck is NEVER perfect. In a ramp players hands Delver might be the worst deck he has ever played but give him wolf run and he is going places. People play differently than others, it’s a fact. One person may play Delver with more control and another with more agro but both will lose because it’s a tempo deck. Finding your niche is also a huge key to success in magic. In reference to Delver one persons Porcelain Legionnaire is another’s Invisible Stalker.
So how do we make a deck the best we can for ourselves? Really finding the answers is as simple as a long time spent play testing, fighting your worst match ups, and meshing new ideas. Thus far I would say I have spent roughly 20 hours of play testing with Grixis Control (non-computer magic aka actual cards) and have learned a few things.
Grixis’ worst match up is another control deck. Hands down this is the ugliest fight ever one match went to time and the record was 0-1 and I would have made it 1-1 a turn later. Often the win condition becomes something your opponent has little control over which in my case was Nephalia Drownyard, Surgical Extraction, and Increasing Confusion. I ended up play an Esper Control deck utilizing Sun Titan and Phantasmal Image. I side boarded out all my creatures making his Day of Judgment, Doom Blade’s, Go for the Throat’s, and Tragic Slip’s entirely useless and instead went with deck destruction which would have got me there had we not gone to time in game 2.
If I had used the prior deck list as I had shown before I would have not even come close to winning in the match up because of so many dead cards in the mainboard. I ended up revamping the majority of the main deck and a few cards in the sideboard and the result was the following:
The most important change from the original is the mana base where I was constantly starting with horrible hands and having little to no interaction what so ever. The next step after that was the removal of Sphere of the Suns and adding Ratchet Bomb which is my main board answer to tokens and enchantments. There are a few more subtle changes that ended up greatly affecting the way the deck performs making it an absolute powerhouse (still wish Cruel Ultimatum was legal but oh well).
The best and most important things to remember when editing your deck are as follows:
Ask yourself:
1) Do my cards have synergy? (work well together)
2) Are my cards properly tuned for the meta-game?
3) Am I prepared to fight and win against my worst match up?
4) If yes to 3; can you still win against your favorable match ups?
5) Do all my cards have a strong staying purpose?
The best example of 5 is when I cure sphere for ratchet bomb. Sphere got me early ramp but did very little past that where as ratchet bomb can seal games in the right situation.
Does anyone have any Rogue Decks of there own they are bringing to Grand Prix Baltimore? Reply back and I will help you out Friday!
On a side note Grand Prix Baltimore is this weekend and there will be tons of people attending including myself and my other teammate. If anyone wants to get together to play test on Friday between grinders feel free to let me know.
Keep up the brews.
permhole96 says... #2
if you can take a look at a deck idea ive had... thinking about taking it to a grand prix event... would you take a look and tell me what you think?
the deck is deck:dablackattack
thx
February 22, 2012 7:06 p.m.
I really feel ilke the exclusion of Olivia Voldaren for more Grave Titans might be a mistake. But if you've tested enough and thats the conclusion you find, I'm willing to retract that statement.
Side note: after reading these articles and looking at decks, I've become interested myself in taking Grixis for a standard run. Best of luck with your GP!
February 22, 2012 10:38 p.m.
Cyber Locc says... #4
nice deck good luck at gp want to tke a look at my deck for me its horrible or maybe like u said not my niche cuh i havent won 1 game at fnm to date with it
February 23, 2012 12:05 a.m.
Don't get me wrong I LOOOOOOOVE OLIVIA. I would wear Olivia underwear if I had them...but there so much synergy here oozing from this deck that she actually interrupts it.
- Sorin Markov using -3 (your life is now ten.Swing with Grave Titan for ten.
- Sorin's Vengeance + Snapcaster Mage
- Chandra, the Firebrand + Sorin's Vengeance
February 23, 2012 8:10 a.m.
Jmickey701 says... #6
I actually really like this grixis youve made. And your exclusion of olivia makes sense for this deck as much as i love her lol. My grixis is still under serious construction. But man, its hard out there for a control deck now-a-days lol. Also, one thing ive found that helps against drownyard or any mill effect, is 1-2 Devil's Play sideboard maybe. Just because they can mill you into your win con. Just a thought on my end. But good luck at the gp!
February 23, 2012 12:46 p.m.
Granted, I haven't tested the "Full 20" (Chandra + Sorin's Vengeance) builds myself, I've mostly played lists similar to Chapin's, but I've found the control matchup to be absolutely terrible. As in, 80-20 in their favour, even after siding in 5+ additional counterspells. As small a part of the meta that control is, I simply can't accept having that bad a matchup.
So, I've gone a different direction, and here is the result: Grixis. The deck tries not to strain its manabase too much, allowing me access to Nephalia Drownyard, the main reason that UB control is so good against the other builds of Grixis that I've tried. Thoughts?
February 23, 2012 2:33 p.m.
Well different UB Variant control decks do different things. Reid Duke recently wrote an article explaining this as well (came out today).
Grixis is best against Delver, Humans, Tokens, T. Steel and overall aggro/swarm decks.
However it is very weak to Wolf Run and classic UB Control.
Esper has the widest range of answers and threats.
However it is very inconsistent and has the least bombs.
UB Control itself is the best against wolf run and other control decks but it can take a beating from swarm and aggro decks.
Given the above is why the creation of 4 color control was invented to try and cover all angles but the more you put in the less space you have for answers.
3 color decks will always be a little less consistent than 2 color decks because 3 color is sticking to a few good cards while 2 is using a variation and going more in depth into the cards provided in the colors.
When I learned UB control I was told something very simple:
"Counter the spells. Kill the creatures."
Granted not 100% correct since creatures ARE spells but I think you get the point.
I am not 100% on my deck list for grand prix yet it will probably come down to what I see at the grinders tomorrow but it will either be.
Grixis Control (Revised) or a variation of.
or
February 23, 2012 2:50 p.m.
My attempt at RB Control: Blood Fire
Charmbreaker Devils is actually really good. Provided you put down some other creatures first to eat removal. Drop a Grave Titan. If it sticks, drop the Charmbreakers. Now you just grind card advantage, and the Devils are capable of a single-strike victory. (Fun things happen if you use Faith's Shield or similar.)
Realistically it works very well against everything except other control decks. It's sad how badly I stomp any ramp decks; they NEED to run 6+ hexproof before I even break a sweat.
I do really like Grixis, though. I just can't get the cards for it, in general. It took me a moment, but I really appreciate the Shimmering Grotto you've put into your deck.
February 23, 2012 6:22 p.m.
Minousmancer says... #11
Cableguy I like Standard, creatureless-control deck:sorins-curse-tto2.
Moobu says... #1
I have a deck that I've been working on that I'd love a critique for the big leagues. I feels its a pretty potent rogue deck although its a little weak to shock removal.
deck:zombie-brain-munch-verda-token-mill is my rogue deck.
February 22, 2012 4:53 p.m.