How to 5c Control
Modern forum
Posted on Aug. 27, 2015, 10:39 p.m. by Servo_Token
Hey guys,
So I want to build a second modern deck, and I want it to be something wacky. I had the thought of 5 color control because it seems like fun, hard to read, and I just like to play goodstuff.dec.
Question is, what would you guys do for this deck? I know that the deck needs a few things, but what would you say are the best options? We'd need Win conditions, Resource advantage, Threat removal, and resource diruption. I'm not sure what I would pick for the best of each category given that we have access to the entire modern card pool. Let me know what you guys would do to make this deck!
Note, this may turn into a deck help thread, but at the moment is just looking to be a generic archetype discussion.
Servo_Token says... #3
Which color do you exclude? I was thinking leave black out because it's the only one that I don't see an immediate benefit from having. The mana is going to have to be worked on last, but yes, lifegain is a must. I would say that Batterskull is just the play over Thraggles though.
August 27, 2015 10:50 p.m.
MattTheNinja says... #4
4c Gifts, which I highly recommend, usually excludes red. slovakattack and I both have good lists if you want examples.
August 27, 2015 11:02 p.m.
NoPantsParade says... #5
I think four color gifts like Matt said would be neat. I've always liked that deck actually. I don't think red is necessary except for Anger of the Gods and friends.
August 27, 2015 11:04 p.m.
PasorofMuppets says... #6
Batterskull seems pretty bad right now with Kolaghan's Command in so many decks, Thragtusk also has the benefit of being able to reanimate with Unburial Rites.
August 27, 2015 11:05 p.m.
NoPantsParade says... #7
True story. I'm not a fan of Batterskull, either. Thragtusk is the way to go. Or Kitchen Finks, but maybe in the sideboard? I don't know much about 4 color gifts.
August 27, 2015 11:10 p.m.
Servo_Token says... #8
While gifts is a fine deck, it is something that I wouldn't want to play. I play loam decks often (If we haven't met, Hi, that's what I do), and Gifts plays very similarly to Loam wherein they are an off-axis grind em out ordeal, though Gifts does get access to that fun reanimator package.
That's just not something that I want to be doing though. I'm looking for more of a Cruel Control feel here where i'm just playing bigger better cards than the opponent.
And this, I believe is where we step into deck-help territory.
As for BSkull v Thragtusk, You're probably right that kolaghan's command is a big hinderance, but I really like holding it up to block, not dying to bolt, and having access to bounce it or equip it. Will have to come back to that once more of the deck is in place, however.
August 27, 2015 11:11 p.m. Edited.
Unforgivn_II says... #9
Batterskull 4 life yo. Silence that hate. You play it as an 8 drop and tell the K Commanders to suck it
August 27, 2015 11:12 p.m. Edited.
I second Kitchen Finks. I'd probably play Tarmogoyf as well, then just start packing in all of the removal and a card drawing engine (Keranos, God of Storms, Sphinx's Revelation, etc.).
Being in 5 colors means you get Abrupt Decay, Lightning Bolt, Path to Exile, Kolaghan's Command, Lightning Helix, Dismember, Terminate...all of which get recurred by Snapcaster Mage.
August 27, 2015 11:57 p.m.
Hjaltrohir says... #11
If you are playing hard control as opposed to a gifts deck, I would consider cutting green. The traditional Jeskai control build has proven to be very solid in the past and splashing black allows for Terminate, Tasigur, the Golden Fang and Gurmag Angler among others. Green doesn't really have many proper control pieces.
August 28, 2015 2:02 a.m.
JexInfinite says... #12
I played UWRb for a while, and I can definitely recommend it as the best 4c list. 5 colours is just disgusting and messy.
August 28, 2015 2:40 a.m.
PasorofMuppets says... #13
If we are talking about UWRb, what does the red actually add to the deck? I was facing this question a few weeks ago and the more experienced modern players concluded that the deck is just as strong and more consistent as purely Esper. I ended up landing on an Esper Control/Delve list that preys pretty heavily on fair decks and does ok vs combo. I haven't had the chance to play it a lot, but the deck was pretty sweet vs Abzan, Jund, Grixis, UR Twin, and Affinity.
That said, with the 'limit' of playing 4 or 5 colors I would definitely consider some kind of loam and/or rites package. Past that I would go for everything but red. You lose some decent sideboard cards, k command, and good removal -- but it's probably worth it for the sake of consistency.
August 28, 2015 3:17 a.m.
JexInfinite says... #14
Burn spells are actually the best. It's not only amazing removal, but it's also how you can win games. You get a heap of value just by including Bolts in your deck. All these purist Esper control players who aren't running Mentor are doing it wrong; you NEED a proper gameplan, and drawing cards and relying on very few win cons does not get you there.
For something like Gifts, red is useless, because you go over the top, but for every other deck, green is pathetic, whereas red gives you amazing cards.
August 28, 2015 3:35 a.m.
PasorofMuppets says... #15
I feel like you're really underestimating Lingering Souls value in terms of win conditions, Esper also gives you access to Tasigur and Angler as well (not to mention Colonnade of course).
I don't think this is the purpose of the thread though, I'd be interested in discussing further on your wall or something about it if you are wanting to.
August 28, 2015 3:47 a.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #16
I know that this is the more unpopular opinion, but I prefer leaving out white in a four-color control build. Logic:
Green instead of white allows access to powerful cheap beaters (Goyf, Scooze), meaning that your deck can just as easily be a tempo build as a heavy control build, depending on the matchup, making it much more adaptive to the meta and much more consistent then heavy control decks. It also allows for great cards such as Maelstrom Pulse and Abrupt Decay meaning that you can deal with basically any threat.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #2
Personally, I prefer four-color control. But whatever XD
There are a couple routes you could go. Tempo, with a bunch of value creatures coupled with cheap disruption/burn/counters/drawing. Hard control, with big finishers and expensive spells. Some kind of Gifts Ungiven build could probably work too. Something to keep in mind is that your manabase is likely to be extremely painful, so lifegaining cards (such as Thragtusk) would be welcome.
August 27, 2015 10:42 p.m.