Side, Self-Inflicted Wound Virulent Plague Celestial Flare Infinite Obliteration Surge of Righteousness and maybe some enchant hate.

Dissolve instead of Cancel. The scry is very important.

You right. I was planning for post rotation but for now you are absolutely right thanks man!

What are your thoughts on Day's Undoing?

You should sideboard Dragonlord's Prerogative and put one more Dig Through Time instead. It's only relevant when playing mirror games, and Dig Through Time is strictly better !

dang N4pht4 has a very good point.

Interesting advice. I generally like the 2 digs because they delve and I want to keep delve costs viable but I also like Prerogative in the main to refill my hand in a grind match and scry it away if I don't need it. Interesting proposal though I'll definitely play test it a bit and then make a decision.

Any competitive Control deck that is in any part blue, that I have ever come across, uses 3 to 4 Digs. It is just that great of a card.

That's what I'm talking about Adamantium13. And you often see one or two Dragonlord's Prerogative in the side.

Why is Dig Through Time strictly better? Because it gets you what you need when you need it, and for just 2 manas (most of the case). You can play it during your opponents's turn, even after having to answer to one of his spells. Then, given the high number of lands in your deck, you'll likely draw 2 lands with Dragonlord's Prerogative, giving you 2 other random cards. I personally prefer to be able to choose them (in a certain range I admit).

How is Narset doing for you so far? I've always wondered if she'd be a good addition to Esper or not. Very few people are playing her, but she can't be that bad

I think the point I need at leask 1 more is valid. But I feel like I would rather cut Ojutai's Command for it. I would also argue that Dragonlord's Prerogative is better in late game because instead of looking at 7 cards and picking 2 I get the top 6. That is 1 less than I could check with dig but I just get them all. So late game when I have exhausted my hand and have them top decking but they are somehow still alive this just gives me a new hand and secures the game.

You made a valid point. However I could also say that most of the time, if you reach late game then you've already won. I've got a friend who plays an Esper similar to yours, and if I can't kill him fast enough, I know I'm done.

Damn you and your sense making. Not a lot of time right not but I'll dig into this when I get home and make a call. Thanks for the ideas!

Hey man, that is what this sight is all about. I like your deck; I think you have a good build. I think the small tweaks you will make will make your opponents miserable. Also, what N4pht4 says is very true. Late game vs control usually amounts to a game loss.

One other card you might consider for sideboard, especially after rotation is Ultimate Price. This will be an excellent and more efficient removal spell when playing against RDW, mono-black (which is becoming a thing again), or any deck you run into that has many 1-color creatures.

Good luck!

Ya I am looking at post rotation but I want to see what BFZ brings before I pick my replacements. Ultimate Price is in the number 1 spot for Hero's Downfall at the moment. I think it is good enough to justify in the main. I would like to run more Murderous Cut as well but the issue I have is keeping delve viable I don't want to run 5-7 delve spells so when I hit one they remain cheap and viable.

I understand not wanting to compete with Dig for delving. Dig is more important, as it allows you to find responses and/or win cons.

As far as BFZ goes, control-wise, I am hoping for a good replacement for Dissolve and a good replacement for Hero's Downfall

I don't think there will be a Dissolve answer because we currently have Cancel. I'm hoping they reprint the zendikar fetches like Marsh Flats and I hope they bring back more good black removal like Geth's Verdict and Doom Blade.

Totally agree, Geth's Verdict would be awesome. As for the next land cycle, I really hope we're going to get enemy fetches but it seems too good to be true. Have you ever tried Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver instead of Narset? I can't tell if it's better or worse, I've never seen her performing yet (though she seems pretty good)

Ashiok is great in control decks. The only problem is Ashiok won't be around much longer.

Ya I agree she is good but I also just think Narset Transcendent is so much better. Ashiok isn't quite in line with the deck's goals. I have much faster win conditions than mil and her -x is very situational. At the least Narset gives me a free sudo-scry and at the best she is free draw, rebounding Foul-Tongue Invocation/Dig Through Time, and in most games she hits I do emblem her because this deck just clutches the game that tightly.

Well...made up my mind. I cut Ojutai's Command for 1 more Dig Through Time. This way I get the best of both worlds and with the extra dig I can easily reach things that can replace the utility of Ojutai's Command and I still have my main list Dragonlord's Prerogative for those times I need it. I do see myself making room for 1 more on the side for the mirror control but I feel like as a 1 of it is fine in the main because it gives me a game 1 hard answer to the mirror and still offers a lot of utility in other matchups without crippling me as I can normally just scry/anticipate/dig it to the bottom if I don't need it.

I just started using Narset and I thought about trying palace siege before. My problem lately is that people just play slow and make me get a draw even when they have no chance of winning, it's really annoying. 2/0/2 last night :( bile blight ends up just killing one thing for me most of the time and running 4 foul-tongues made it hard to remove what I want. I've made great use of Utter End, works great on hangarbacks, planeswalkers and annoying enchantments.

Since I cut all the anticipates I haven't really missed them but maybe I should take out a couple lands. Do you ever have mana problems with only 25 land? I think if you're going to run the new ulamog you will definitely need more. I'm not sold on new nixilis but will probably try 1 of him and see how it goes.