Need help vs Azorius Control
Deck Help forum
Posted on Oct. 13, 2012, 8:03 a.m. by OrgasmAndTea
Basically, I've been trying to construct a standard worthy Nicol Bolas deck, but I can find few effective ways to deal with the likes of Oblivion Ring , Detention Sphere etc. Little help?
if your goal is to be competitive standard (at least on an FNM level) I'd suggest possibly trying out a 4 color control deck (all but white). Knight of Infamy should only ever be used in a format that's too full of white aggro, and even then it should only be used by aggro. If you're going with control with nicol bolas I'd suggest having enough copies of your key cards to where Oblivion Ring won't be a problem, of course if you go 4 color you can have Naturalize in the sideboard and Vraska the Unseen mainboard to deal with problem cards.
October 13, 2012 10:47 a.m.
shaistyone says... #4
Slaughter Games is probably your best bet without access to white or green.
October 13, 2012 10:49 a.m.
OrgasmAndTea says... #5
Actually Demarge the deck I have in mind doesn't play like a control deck at all, and Azorius decks tend to pack not only four Oblivion Ring s but also Detention Sphere s, Supreme Verdict AND card draw spells, so trading card for card normally favours the other guy. Basically, I'm struggling with what we call the fun police deck. I'm playing with mostly basic lands so I really don't want to go four colours as it makes my mana curve untenable, ruling green out as an option.
I quite like the Slaughter Games idea, but I never feel comfortable relying on just a single card... if I don't draw it I'm screwed.
Thanks for the input guys, any more suggestions?
October 13, 2012 12:16 p.m.
As a control player, particularly one who plays UW, I can tell you the things I hate most, in no particular order.
1) Landkill.
2) Beatdown that really can win by turn 6.
3) Pithing Needle being used against me.
4) Countering my counters.
The funny thing is, with a Grixis deck, all of those are suddenly options. Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker can beat the ever-loving sh*t out of my mana base, Pithing Needle screws with my utility creatures, your early curve can make me scared of losing to you before things heat up on my end, and you have access to Dispel and even Dissipate as counter-control.
Dispel is particularly nasty because it hits any and all Type 2 countermagic for 1, and if I don't have one of my own in hand, I have to pay through the nose to make sure my first counter resolves. What would have been a frustrating "MY NICOL BOLAS IS EXILED GAHHHH" effectively becomes a "Force Spike ? What a trivial problem."
October 13, 2012 12:55 p.m.
Correction: Dispel doesn't hit Counterflux , but every rule has an exception.
October 13, 2012 1 p.m.
gheridarigaaz says... #8
Whenever i've played control what's really ticked me off is discard. Even in reanimator control where i want certain things in the graveyard i will hate you for the rest of the game if you force me to get rid of cards in my hand. If you reduce their options and answers (and i know Loxodon Smiter could be a problem here) they won't be able to do much to your threats. Also, if your main problems are Oblivion Ring and Detention Sphere try running spells like Devastation Tide it'll clear the board and grant you back your threats, even momentarily, they'll have to build up to regain whatever advantage they got over you while you stay a step ahead and they fumble to re-answer the threats they just dealt with a few turns ago.
October 13, 2012 7:58 p.m.
OrgasmAndTea says... #9
Thanks for the input guys! I'll definitely be considering some of these suggestions.
OrgasmAndTea says... #2
Best I've got so far is Knight of Infamy , but I can't rely on one card.
October 13, 2012 8:10 a.m.