Thank you for the suggestions CommanderOfBolas, I have a few questions though...

The reason I like Think Twice is because it is instant speed. If I leave open two mana at end of turn, I can Mana Leak a threat my opponent plays, but if he doesn't play anything, it wasn't a waste for me to leave the mana open, because I can draw a card instead. Mulldrifter is three mana for 2 cards while Think Twice is five for two cards, however, you save Think Twice for a time when you can't do anything else. Nevertheless, I'll definitely try Mulldrifter and see how it plays in my deck.

Also, Gatekeeper of Malakir is sorcery speed and costs three mana, meaning an early-game use of it will result in a tappedout manabase for me during my opponent's turn. There are a number of things he could play that I would have a hard time taking care of if I didn't counter them. Like Mulldrifter , I will test this card and see how it does.

Chromatic Lantern is a great idea and it would definitely be a good sideboard option against Blood Moon . Talisman of Dominance is a good card but I don't know if I want to be taking much extra damage. I guess if it gets you to Cruel Ultimatum faster then the damage isn't as costly. I'll test both of these cards as well.

Finally, to address Damnation , I would love to run this card. It is by far the best board wipe available for Grixis. However, the card is a bit too expensive for my budget.

Thanks again, I'll make sure to report the results of my playtesting with the new cards.

You forgot a combo in this deck. Batterskull + Inferno Titan is an instant win for you.

you need to add Batterskull + Inferno Titan as a key combo.

Cruel Ultimatum is not worth having more than 1 of, and Ajani Vengeant isn't great at the moment.

JexInfinite, I feel like Ajani Vengeant fits pretty well in this deck because it is a Lightning Helix I can use multiple times, and a finisher if it gets there. Also, Cruel Ultimatum is too good to only run 1 of.

Cruel Ultimatum is far too slow to run any more than 1 of. You have Mystical Teachings and a heap of draw spells. Getting the Ultimatum to resolve is more of an issue, and when it does resolve, will you win that game? 7 mana is a lot. The card itself is great, but as a part of a deck, it falls short. Running 1 is the best way to run it.

JexInfinite, since this is a control deck, I can afford to play "slow" spells like ultimatum. I want to have it in my hand on turn 7 most games, and running two helps ensure that. Control decks like to drag out the game, so having bulky late game spells is good.

I play a control deck, and having 7 lands per game would be a pretty positive turnout. However, you're playing 25 lands, and already have a Batterskull for the late game. Ultimatum is statistically hard to cast. Run 26 land, with roughly 9-10 fetches, and the problem almost goes away.

It would be much stronger to run a Keranos than an Ultimatum. Keranos beats the grindy decks pretty well. Still, a single Ultimatum has a couple advantages.

• It makes the opponent play in fear, if they've seen it

• Sometimes it will win games

• It's an excellent card to fix the board state while you bank on the Batterskull to end the game

Disadvantages include

• It costs 7 coloured mana. WAY harder to cast than Sphinx's Revelation. It's a challenge to cast it, and doesn't always pay off.

• Sometimes it just doesn't win you the game, which is what you need it to do to justify running more than 1

• If it gets countered, you've hit a dead end, and need to try again, especially if it's the late-game plan. Tasigur, the Golden Fang could help fix this problem, and is a more solid card to be playing.

• It's pretty easy to play around once they know you have it

Why leyline over timely? Save yourself 120 bucks and just get 3 timelys instead of 4 leylines. It wins every game it resolves in, unlike leyline.

quesobueno123, I think leyline is better than timely, because it saves more life. Also leyline is more useful in other matchups.

JexInfinite, I think Cruel Ultimatum is way better than keranos. Keranos has the potential to do only 3 damage per turn, while ultimatum includes a 10 life difference (you gain 5, opponent loses five). Also, keranos can draw you up to one additional card every turn, but ultimatum has a 6 card difference (you draw 3, opponents discards 3). Therefore, in terms of card advantage and damage, ultimatum does in one turn what keranos would need 9 turns to do (doing 9 damage and drawing 6 additional cards takes Keranos 9 turns). In addition, cruel ultimatum kills an opposing creature and gets a snapcaster back from your graveyard. It also only costs two mana more, and once I get to 7 lands I always have the right colors available, so it really isn't hard to cast.

Sure, but is 120 dollars worth it? And I have won through a leyline 3 times out of the about 7 times I played against it. I have only won through a resolved timely once out of a much larger number of times I have played against it.

quesobueno123, I'm hoping it will be reprinted in mm2015.

I could see that. Just use timely until you know if it will.

Also keep in mind, a lot more decks have enchantment hate than they do counterspells, or anti-lifegain.

quesobueno123, that's what I use my counter spells for once I don't have to counter burn spells. Also, what do you think about running more Lingering Souls?

You could do it, three easy, four might be a little bit greedy. It is such a good card!

quesobueno123, it's hard to say whether more would be good. It's a great card and it also makes Liliana even better, but a lot of the time I don't want to be casting stuff on my turn.

Also, what do you think of Olivia Voldaren, quesobueno123, noahband?

It seems meh, it seems very slow, too slow to relevant against anything except abzan and u-tron. Maybe sideboard.

I agree quesobueno123, the first ability wrecks Lingering Souls, but it seems like the second would almost never be relevant. I think I'm going to test three souls, have any other suggestions?

Storm Crow imagine a Batterskulled up Storm Crow eating your face.

True quesobueno123. I was sort of thinking Vendilion Clique, but now I've changed my mind. Storm Crow is strictly better (one more though was then clique after all).

You are splashing white, but not playing Sphinx's Revelation?

micah1, I think Cruel Ultimatum is better, but I'm considering it.

Both are fantastic. Cruel Ultimatum has very specific mana requirements. I would run 2 of each.