Deciding on a modern control deck.
Modern forum
Posted on Jan. 9, 2015, 3:09 p.m. by calaw00
I'm thinking about getting into modern but I can't decide on a deck. I usually play control in standard so I was thinking about doing the same in modern. Based on the current meta and how you think the meta will advance, should i make a Scapeshift, Blue Moon, or UWR Control deck?
Not many pure control decks exist in modern at the moment except Scapeshit, which as GlistenerAgent explained is very good.
January 9, 2015 3:20 p.m.
JexInfinite says... #4
As far as control decks go, there's no 'best deck'. It all comes down to deck-building skill and how good you are at Magic.
Jeskai Control is my favourite of the playable control decks, because of my personal play style, and dislike of 
cards. It's versatile as hell, and you can do whatever you want with it, making it more of your own deck than any other deck in the format. I see it as the most pure control deck in the format, because it doesn't let your opponent play Magic, while you can do whatever you want, with absolutely no restrictions.
Scapeshift is a great deck because there are very few ways to stop it from winning. Unlike Jeskai Control which ends up winning, Scapeshift can win out of nowehere. The personalization is quite low, because you have to play a lot of particular cards for the deck to be at its best. The playstyle is more restrictive than Jeskai, but the ability to win against a far superior board state and on 1 life is impressive.
Blue Moon sucks at the moment. It has no advantages over aggro, and does nothing against other control decks. It is overall a slow and clunky deck which has been hurt a lot by Onslaught fetchlands.
January 9, 2015 3:24 p.m.
CrazyLittleGuy says... #5
I'm with GlistenerAgent on this one, right now Scapeshift has been my deck of choice for Modern events as of late. The thing is, the Modern meta has a few different decks that all rise and fall in popularity, which causes decks to rise and fall in power level correspondingly based on their matchups. In fact, several Modern decks, if you looked at an overall picture including a changing meta, are pretty close to each other in power level. So it's always a consideration that the best deck to play isn't necessarily the one with the highest power level, but the one you're most comfortable piloting. You'll gain way more advantage by knowing the ins and outs of your deck then just by playing the strictly best one at the time. In my opinion, right now Modern rewards playmaking more than card or deck choices.
Also of note though, if Treasure Cruise/Dig Through Time see bans in the upcoming months, we may see BGx Rock/Attrition decks start reappearing, which would make Scapeshift fall in power level, but would give decks like Blue Moon some added advantage. So really, the best deck now might not be the best in a few months, even if you just look at the swinging meta and not at potential bannings.
January 9, 2015 3:26 p.m.
FreddyFlash311 says... #8
I've been playing around with BUG control. Abrupt Decay shenanigans always puts a smile on my face. But I'm still trying to figure out a list I really like.
January 9, 2015 3:59 p.m.
JexInfinite says... #9
All your Green decks suck. Colonnade is way better than your rubbish non-man-lands and bad-man-lands.
January 10, 2015 5:28 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #10
I don't know, Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle does a damn good man-land impression. :)
January 10, 2015 5:58 p.m.
I wouldn't say Rhino Pod is broken. It's very resilient but can be beaten. This new Jeskai Pyro Ascendancy is whack as fuck though. Stupid card.
January 10, 2015 9:09 p.m.
That seems like a pretty natural transition for it to make, to be honest. Do you not see it as problematic for the deck to have to tap out T2 for Pyromancer Ascension, then tap out T3 for Jeskai Ascendancy, then tap out T4 for Fatestitcher?
January 11, 2015 4:08 a.m.
Actually casting Fatestitcher defeats the purpose of the card. It's better T4 to just loot it with Ascendancy and then Unearth it and start your shenanigans.
January 11, 2015 11:57 a.m.
kingofcramers says... #15
Play cruel control aka grixis control. Yeah sure it's not exactly a tier 1 deck but resolving a Cruel Ultimatum, getting back a Snapcaster Mage and watching your opponent discard his hand is the most wonderful feeling in the world. Also it's the least derpy control deck to play against, so maybe you'll get to keep your friends.
GlistenerAgent says... #2
Scapeshift is far and away the best control deck in the format right now, and I'd say it's the second best deck on overall power level (Rhino Pod is broken as shit). It uses Dig Through Time better than any other deck, even Jeskai Control, and has a way to explosively win even when it's far behind. Try some games with it, and if you don't like the playstyle I'd make Jeskai Control your second choice.
In case you want reference points for those decks, you can check out my lists here and here.
January 9, 2015 3:13 p.m.