What does Jund do against Esper Control?
Deck Help forum
Posted on March 26, 2013, 10:40 a.m. by meecht
I'm going to be running an unconventional Jund deck at an FNM that's been topped by Esper Control for the past couple of weeks.
What does Jund typically do against this match up?
SwiftDeath says... #3
Deathrite Shaman is also a good side option to get rid of their snapcaster targets and can be a good option against reanimator too if need be.
March 26, 2013 10:52 a.m.
SwiftDeath says... #4
also a jund deck that placed top 16 in scg open played Ground Seal as a one of in their sideboard that can also be an option and provide a nice cantrip.
March 26, 2013 10:54 a.m.
I've actually based some of my deck on David Ellwood's from SCG Birmingham, and he ran 2x Ground Seal mainboard. I'm not going that far, but I am including Grafdigger's Cage in the sideboard to stop Snapcaster, Think Twice, Reanimator, and zombies.
The biggest issue I have is I don't know HOW to sideboard. I know what cards need to go in against certain decks, but I have a hard time judging what needs to come out.
March 26, 2013 11:07 a.m.
meecht from what I've learned it's just experience and practice, be practical and look at your deck and figure out what didn't do well, what won't do well in this particular matchup and replace them. Ideally your first game shouldn't be about the win, but learning how your deck and theirs stack up and what does good and bad. I suggest practicing in any way you can (against a similar deck, proxied deck or what not) till friday, by then you should have a good idea of what to do.
March 26, 2013 12:36 p.m.
rockleemyhero says... #7
rakdos return destroys it. as well as slaughter games, liliana of the veil, and duress. I would recommend value creatures that require 2 for 1s such as huntmaster of the fells and thragtusk
March 26, 2013 1:10 p.m.
gufymike - Unfortunately, I can't play a lot between FNMs because I don't have an account for MTGO and Cockatrice got taken offline. Even if I proxy the deck myself, that doesn't mean I'll run it correctly.
March 26, 2013 1:28 p.m.
Yeah, as someone who plays esper control, I'd say Rakdos's Return , Slaughter Games and Duress are just cruel. Rakdos's return specifically is really good against control (if you can get it to resolve).
March 26, 2013 2:51 p.m.
What's the best target to name for Slaughter Games ? I would love to name Nephalia Drownyard , but it has to be nonland :(
March 26, 2013 2:54 p.m.
If you have problems with Nephalia Drownyard , Pithing Needle can be an easy fix.
March 26, 2013 3:59 p.m.
10vernothin says... #13
sphinx's revelation, def. Esper relies on it SO much.
Without it you can actually win out in the long run.
March 28, 2013 12:09 a.m.
Would Skullcrack be a worthwhile sideboard card against Control, or is the card draw really the biggest threat?
March 28, 2013 11:19 a.m.
Card draw is the biggest threat. Life gain is helpful, but not truly important, in the way I play it. I'm currently running 13 counter cards, including Dimir Charm in a control deck. But I also have 8 life gain cards (4 sphinx's and 4 Azorius Charm ). I will say it's nice to build a cushion against direct damage, but creature threats are usually not a big issue with the amount of creature removal I play (18 cards including the charms mentioned above and not including Desecration Demon ). The numbers do not include snapcaster (which is a 3 of and can target all of the above cards, to add to the numbers). Obzedat's life gain can be crucial also, this deck has no mill though. I would say include it, but know the life gain is not that big of a deal, just need to stay above 1, to mill you out.
March 28, 2013 11:29 a.m.
want to add: The direct damage is helpful and even if it is countered, you've made him/her use one of those so you can cast for something else.
March 28, 2013 11:30 a.m.
I'm also a little worried about tokens.
Bonfire of the Damned
would bet he ideal sweeper, but I can't afford it so I'm settling for Rolling Temblor
instead which only hits non-flying creatures. Although this is sufficient against Naya and Boros, it doesn't help against spirit tokens that I might run into against W/B decks.
I run 2 Temblor mainboard, so would the best sideboard option be Blasphemous Act , Homing Lightning , Electrickery , or more Mizzium Mortars ? Each has their pros and cons, and the biggest difference is mainly utility vs. effectiveness.
Maybe even Cower in Fear could be useful?
For reference, my deck is Not Your Momma's Jund.
March 28, 2013 2:33 p.m.
Illness in the Ranks is probably your best 'anti-token' card. I would run this specifically for tokens, sideboarding out a tragic slip or rolling temblor.
March 28, 2013 3:48 p.m.
Illness in the Ranks is a good drop for anti-tokens but even running something like Golgari Charm can be quite effective against them as an instant speed removal because there is the possibility of running across enchantment destruction. Sever the Bloodline is also a decent SB for mass tokens.
March 28, 2013 4:05 p.m.
I tend to forgot about Sever the Bloodline , even though I had it in my BG version. It pretty much does exactly what Homing Lightning does, but gets around indestructibility, undying, and Blood Artist .
March 28, 2013 4:12 p.m.
Also it can get around things such as multiple copies of Intangible Virtue and Collective Blessing where all token can be pumped above that 4 damage spectrum
10vernothin says... #2
duress , slaughter games, cavern of souls
March 26, 2013 10:42 a.m.