Bringing standard Grixis control back
Deck Help forum
Posted on Nov. 26, 2013, 10:44 p.m. by Myogenesis
Looking for some TappedOut community brainstorming to form a good viable Grixis control deck (black, red, blue in colours - leaving your opponent in the same condition).
Starting maybe with a list of good options, I was hoping to put together a fun but competitive version of the deck. After building my mono-blue deck, and with mid-range decks kind of out of the format due to mass removal, I figured I'd try a control deck in order to cover the main archetypes.
Cards I'm interested in including:
Jace, Architect of Thought and Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver as planeswalkers
Anger of the Gods as the board wipe? Without verdict, something is needed. Mizzium Mortars along with Anger of the Gods in order to cover both early and late game? Curse of the Swine even?
What about draws/counters/discard/control? Read the Bones , Counterflux , Hero's Downfall or Dreadbore ?
Should a Master of Cruelties get thrown in as a win-con, or just take advantage of the powerful Desecration Demon ? Or further control on our creature sticks with Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius ?
Let me know!
Cobthecobbler says... #3
I honestly think Grixis control is pretty devastating this season. It gets all the best pieces, and only really loses Azorius Charm , Supreme Verdict and Sphinx's Revelation . The majority of players think that control right now should ALWAYS have the revelation but I feel that it is not completely necessary.
For wraths, Grixis gets Mizzium Mortars and Anger of the Gods . Since Midrange really isn't that powerful right now, Mortars should take care of most threats, and since you have access to black, Hero's Downfall , Dreadbore , and Doom Blade /Devour Flesh /Ultimate Price should take care of what's left.
And, something Grixis control didn't have before rotation was AEtherling and Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver .
I think KrazyCaley should jump on this. It's not bolas, but it's still doable.
November 26, 2013 11:15 p.m.
Myogenesis says... #4
Do you think instead of the 'fancy' utility from Turn / Burn and Far / Away I should just mainboard alot of downfalls, Doom Blade s, Devour Flesh , and Ultimate Price s? Sideboard in the fuse cards for tricky gods, hexproof, protection, etc.?
I haven't played control too much so looking for all advice. And yes, I also think KrazyCaley should jump on this!
November 26, 2013 11:21 p.m.
Cobthecobbler says... #5
Here's what I came up with. It's not perfect, but I think it has everything it needs for the current meta.
November 26, 2013 11:34 p.m.
Cobthecobbler says... #6
Just one edge too edgy
November 26, 2013 11:35 p.m.
Myogenesis says... #7
I like it, didn't feel the need for any mainboarded Anger of the Gods ? I might go with a version similar to yours.
Only problem after building my mono-blue is my motivation for collection 12x shocks and 4x Temple of Deceit s is bottomed out haha, i miss my 20x+ Island . Also the store I currently have store credit with online (Canada, only so many options) has no Mizzium Mortars , that's a shame. I'll have to work with what I can.
November 27, 2013 12:01 a.m.
Myogenesis says... #8
Side-question: for priorities, I have $50 in store credit (sold a lot of junk rares actually, surprised to get so much in return) - should I just get ~4-5x shocks to start, or pick up random pieces such as Dreadbore , Cyclonic Rift , Counterflux , Jace, Memory Adept , etc? I don't think my version will be able to afford Hero's Downfall and Thoughtseize , but the rest might be okay.
November 27, 2013 12:02 a.m.
Cobthecobbler says... #9
I also added a description if you want to check that out.
Hero's Downfall isn't completely necessary, as you can just run 4x Dreadbore . And while it's not optimal, Duress is a good enough replacement for Thoughtseize , but it doesn't hit as much threats right now.
The shocks are the most necessary, as you'll never be able to play the rest of the cards as consistently without them, so I'd make those top priority.
November 27, 2013 12:10 a.m.
Cobthecobbler says... #10
Also, you could just opt not to use hand disruption and add more counter magic and board disruption.
Lifebane Zombie might want to hit your sideboard in the case of Voice of Resurgence matchups, as that's what Thoughtseize was mainboarded for (mainly).
November 27, 2013 12:11 a.m.
Myogenesis says... #11
What are your thoughts on Rakdos's Return ? I have traded for two (honestly they pulled me into Grixis to begin with, I love it) - considering I'm going to be missing a few of the key expensive cards, should I sub it in? I know its hardly ramp, but with Chromatic Lantern fixing and such, I think it wouldn't be such a bad idea.
I'll definitely have to take awhile to build it, as I have no Dreadbore , Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver , Jace, Memory Adept , Mizzium Mortars , etc...Shocks are priority though, as you said.
November 27, 2013 12:16 a.m.
Myogenesis says... #12
Also, no Slaughter Games in the sideboard?! Shouldn't this be a Grixis staple? :)
November 27, 2013 12:18 a.m.
Cobthecobbler says... #13
Oh shit oh shit ohshit OH SHIT I forgot about Slaughter Games . DAMMMMMNNN
Anyway, Rakdos's Return is a good card, just make sure its backed up by something along the lines of AEtherling . You could definitely use it.
Its one of those decks that you'll just have to work towards over time. Don't sweat it man. I don't even have all the cards in my version, I use these decklists as a shell that my deck should look like, and I acquire what I can when it's readily available and my funds allow for it.
November 27, 2013 12:24 a.m.
I think the more important question is to ask what Grixis gets you over the more popular UW and Esper lists, which lean on Supreme Verdict and Sphinx's Revelation , and what those cards do for the match-ups.
Rakdos's Return if you've ever redirected to kill a planewalker and eaten up their hand this card feels absolutely sick. - Very good for midrange and control.
Dreadbore even setting aside the planewalker aspect and despite the sorcery speed, not having to worry about black creature Doom Blade , multi-colored Ultimate Price or running less optimal interactions Devour Flesh seems pretty nice. Nightveil Specter isn't the menace it usually is to removal suites. Downside though, it can't kill Master of Waves . - Decently good all round.
Slaughter Games out of the sideboard for control mirrors, and please always name their win-condition. I've shrugged and won so many games of Slaughter Games naming Sphinx's Revelation . It's a good card, but it doesn't actually kill you. - Good in the control mirror.
Counterflux another good sideboard. Forcing cards like AEtherling to the board. - Also good in the control mirror.
Izzet Staticaster a lot of folks have forgotten about this card, but with all the mono-red and RW aggro running around to combat the devotion decks, this is a great card to have in the board. An Anger of the Gods might clean up a board, but Izzet Staticaster demands an answer and just starts blanking cards in their hand. - Good vs hyper aggro.
November 27, 2013 1:50 a.m.
Hello,
I'm a new player and also a Grixis supporter. This is my control deck - Grixis Controls All!.
I also have a midrange build - Grixis Midrange Beatdown.
A big problem for me is the life gain - or rather the lack of it in my decks, especially in the control build, because in the midrange if I manage to get the Whip of Erebos out I usually stabilize.Also, I prefer to keep 3x Anger of the Gods mainboarded, beacuse my meta is realy heavy on aggro decks. And last but not least, it hits hexproof creatures (very often Sylvan Caryatid )
November 27, 2013 3:49 a.m.
My bad, the control deck is Grixis Controls Everything.
November 27, 2013 3:51 a.m.
notamardybum says... #17
Quicken into Anger of the Gods at the end of your opponents turn sounds hilarious.
Myogenesis says... #2
Also guess I should post:
My deck in its current state is: Grixis Shank to the Face
Whereas what I 'so far' want the deck to look like eventually is something like: Grixis Shank to the Wallet.
November 26, 2013 10:57 p.m.