If you have a Tasigur on the field, all of the sudden the opponents' Path to Exiles, Terminates, Dismembers, Maelstrom Pulses, etc., that would usually have no targets become actual cards since they can kill Tasigur -- the only other target for that type of card is a Zombie Titan, which brings along friends anyways (so it doesn't really die to removal). If you just didn't play any creatures, the cards would be "dead" and just rot in the opponents' hand.

I like Espeth instead because she can wrath the board in a pinch, continues to pump out blockers, and isn't hit by most common removal.

@TheAnnihilator Everything you said is true, I will definitely consider Elspeth again. What do you think about Nekrocity's points about Visions, TT, and Esper Charm?

Esper Charm is the main reason for splashing black, since it's both card advantage, and a way to make sure the path is clear to cast a win-con (against Control/Combo) or to fire off the Verdict (against Midrange or Abzan Company). The fact that it kills Blood Moon, Choke, Pyromancer's Ascension and more is just gravy. I could never be convinced to cut Esper Charm -- unless the deck just didn't run black. In that case, why not splash black for E-Charm? xD

About Think Twice -- NEVER cut Think Twice. Never. It's part of the core of the deck, even with Ancestral Vision unbanned. Serum Visions or other cantrips like Peek/Gitaxian Probe, etc., just don't do the same thing -- TT is card advantage, while other options are either selection (Serum, since it scries), which isn't necessary for Esper since we want to draw extra cards; or cantrips with additional effects, which are nice, but not actual card advantage.

Since I've gone this far, I might as well address Nek's whole comment. xD Here:

About Gifts: It has a clunky/expensive cmc, and it's too graveyard reliant. There's nothing cleaner than grinding out the opponent and slamming a large White Sun's/Elspeth/Gravy Train (Grave Titan)/etc. About mainboard discard, you need live topdecks in the late game. A topdecked Thoughtseize in the late game is most likely going to see lands that your opponent has been sandbagging to make you think they have more threats.

@TheAnnihilator Thanks for validating my reasoning. What you said was basically the reasoning I understood to be underlying esper control. I've also thought about what you said regarding Elspeth and I think that she does warrant testing. The only real reservation I have about her is casting cost. While Tas has delve she is another 6 drop bomb like the Titan with no way to reduce the cost. However, I have been suffering when he gets removed and so I think 'speth might fix that.

Great build, Bro.

Didn't read your sweeps but I think you need some kind of hand disruption. You play counterspells so your opponent is going to hold back and possibly have a hand full of goodies. Some kind of hand disruption would add to the kill.

@Joker1430 Thanks! Originally I was playing with Inquisition in the sideboard but decided to pull it in favor of Celestial Purge for removing Liliana, Chandras, the red leyline, and now Thopter Foundry.

Cool. Super great deck, anvildust.

Why no Celestial Colonnade?

Monies are going to tuition, that's why.

anvildust: That's certainly understandable, haha.

I like it. A lot. Just some thoughts. White Sun's Zenith is probably the better wincon, because the tokens are bigger, and because it can be put back into the deck and drawn again or searched up. Specifically with mystic teachings. The blue gearhulk is also probably something to think about because it has flash, it is a creature and because it can be a cantrip, counter spell, instant discard monster or removal spell. Jace architect can also be good, because it is a good wincon as well as being card draw and it can make any number of 1/1 creatures 0/1s. Spreading seas and shadow of a doubt are 2 mainboard cantrips that are also incredible against decks like tron, scapeshift, junk, tooth and nail, toolbox or any number of other decks that use nonbasics or fetches.

@car I've actually been looking into the gearhulk a little. I'm not sure what to think about it though. It's a big beefy creature which casts a spell for free, but on the other hand, I can't cast it until turn six, ruling out any Path-Snap-Path interactions or using it to give Secure the Wastes a second cast from the graveyard. Tron is a tough match up, but I think any additional land hate should go in the side right? I used to play zenith as a wincon but I think secure is faster and easier to use. Also, I run two of them so that makes up for the reshuffle clause, right?

its true that 2 make it up for the shuffling. you cant cast till turn 6, but on the other hand you pay as much as a cryptic snapcaster type thing and you can get a 5/6 instead of a 2/1. Snapcaster isnt as much of a wincon. it puts them on a 10 turn clock instead of a 4 turn clock. If you don't need the counter or tap all and you need 2 draws or 2 discards or enchantment removal it can also do that. Also it can recast evacuation.