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Grixis Cruel Control (help needed)

Modern* Cruel Control UBR (Grixis)

Felix.Bamford


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Hi guys, this is my personal deck that I use at the minute. The standard cruel control list does not typically run Lord Bolas himself but rather 2 of his ultimatums. I personally think Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker is too cool not to use. After all, for only 1 more mana he will absolutely dominate the board if you can protect him.

My other win cons are Nixilis if he survives to get his emblem, Desecration demons and my noxious gearhulks. All the creatures in my deck are there because they have a strong effect that synergises with the deck. Torrential gearhulk, aka snapcaster titan, is amazing because he has a very solid body and can re cast a kill or jaces ingenuity or a counter and he fits with the decks style of playing on the enemy turn. If I had the money I would run a playset. Noxious gearhulk helps preserve life total, remove big threats and has evasion so can hit life easier as well as potentially blocking smaller creatures. Desecration Demon is a 6/6 flying for 4 mana. This means that you will be able to cast him and keep mana open as well. He serves as flying defence and a win con.

This deck also has more walkers that is normal. Both iterations of Jace are for utility. Architect of thought has won me so many games with his +1 against token decks and his -2 is brilliant for digging. His ultimate allows you to cheat bolas and something from their deck out for free if he gets to it. The opponent is not likely to survive. Beleren on the other hand is purely there as a card engine that hits play early. Nixilis has card draw on +1 which is very good and a kill on -3 so he can kill something the turn he enters to protect himself and ensure he always trades evenly as a bare minimum. his ultimate can also be used to end control matchups where he survives. Bolas is the decks main win condition and should not be played until you are absolutely certain he will survive. Also preferably try to have him backed up by counters when possible.

The spells are mostly kill spells that can be cast for not much mana to help keep control in the early to mid game since I do not run any small creatures. Counters are almost eclusively for non creature spells due to the excess of outright kills I run.

I am planning to add a playset of bolts instead of the cheap black removal I have now and maybe replace negates with izzet charms. Any other suggestions would be apreciated but bear in mind I have a fairly tight budget so I can't afford snap caster or damnation or cryptic command. I am also in 2 minds whether to add some copies of curious homoncolous to the deck as an aerly ramp creature that stays relevant but I have no idea what I would take out.

Fire away!

EDIT 1: Added 3 Bolts. Removed Heros downfall, doom blade and Metallurgic Summonings.

EDIT 2: Crux of Fate out for Diabolic tutor. Anger of Gods on sideboard.

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Date added 8 years
Last updated 8 years
Exclude colors WG
Splash colors R
Legality

This deck is Modern legal.

Rarity (main - side)

9 - 3 Mythic Rares

7 - 4 Rares

15 - 0 Uncommons

9 - 0 Commons

Cards 60
Avg. CMC 3.56
Tokens Emblem Ob Nixilis Reignited
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