Hi guys, so I recently got back into playing Magic with the release of Guilds of Ravnica. As I have always loved playing U/R decks, especially ones that have a controlly touch to them, I tried to build Izzet Control / Counterburn ( Is that what it is called now? I heard the term being used quite freely, would also love to know what it really refers to.) As I hadn't built any decks prior to this for quite a while, I would love to get some feedback on my list.
As a sidenote, I know, that playing Jeskai and including Teferi or going Grixis and including Nicol Bolas would probably be objectively better decks, but I really don't have the funds to buy full playsets of either, especially, as one would also have to buy all the dual lands as well.
The plan with the deck is to basically clear their threats with single target removal and straight up countering bigger creatures like Doom Whisperer or Nullhide Ferox that would be hard to clear with red removal. While doing that, the idea is to just stall out, deal some chip-damage with Ionize and Risk Factors and then either win by getting a Ral to stick and getting the ult off or by shooting them in the face with a big, uncounterable Banefire.
I have seen, that quite a few lists do not include Expansion / Explosion. Here are my thoughts as to why I think it deserves the spots:
- Super flexible, as it is possible to combine it with any of the many Instants and Sorceries
- Combining Expansion with Risk Factor (they probably don't want to / realistically probably can't afford to take 8 for just 5 mana?)
- Combining Expansion with Chemister's Insight (6 mana draw 4 sounds good to me)
- Combining Expansion with Counters to win Counter Wars
- Combining Expansion with Single target removal to clear bigger threats that might have hit the board (I feel like this would probably be necessary versus midrange decks, especially golgari and the likes, as straight up countering all their threats hardly seems realistic.)
- Chaining Explosion turn after turn lategame to clear their threats and draw tons
Theoretical Sideboard plans (of course heavily dependant on the exact match - up, but as a rough guideline):
Versus Aggro/Midrange:
- 2x Sinister Sabotage
- 1x Chemister's Insight
- 1x Ral, Izzet Viceroy
- 4x Fiery Cannonade
maybe also: (not quite sure what to take out in that case)
- 2x Essence Scatter
and / or
- 2x Lava Coil
Versus Control/Combo:
- 2x Shock
- 2x Essence Scatter
- 2x Lava Coil
- 2x Banefire
+2x Negate
+1x Risk Factor
+1x Expansion / Explosion
maybe
+1x Disdainful Stroke
Some things I am thinking / worrying about:
- Too few lands to consistently be able to play Ral, Izzet Viceroy on curve or up until turn 6 or 7.
- Sideboard does not seem quite optimal (especially Disdainful Stroke).
- I do currently not own Search for Azcanta, but would probably have to include a 2 of to make the deck better (what would I cut for that?)
- Are there any more / better boardclears other than Fiery Cannonade? I know there is Star of Extinction, but 7 Mana seems way to expensive.
- No creatures at all, not even in the sideboard. I am fine with not running any in the main deck, due to the opponent probably running at least some dead removal cards in game 1. But maybe some would be good for the sideboard? I thought about running 2x Niv Mizzet, Parun in the sideboard, but he would probably only come in versus Control and isn't running more Banefires better as a win condition versus their gameplan?
- Due to the reasons listed above, I would kind of like to include the last copy of Expansion / Explosion in the main deck as well. Would that be too much?
That's pretty much all of my thoughts for the deck. I tried to keep it brief, but it actually turned out quite long. I'd appreciate any feedback concerning my thoughts / feedback about the deck in general.
Thanks in advance!
