Bant Control or Esper Control?
Standard forum
Posted on April 1, 2014, 9:14 p.m. by BaceJeleren
So I've given up on American control until the next set, and I think these 2 decks are better at the moment. I will be taking one of these decks to SCG Dallas, but I'm not sure which one. A Bant control did pretty well this past weekend, but Esper has access to cards like thoughtseize, blood baron, and better removal. I could also go for a less controllish style of bant with sylvan carytids and coursers of kruphix. I'm leaning towards esper right now. Thoughts?
BaceJeleren says... #3
That's my thought process as well. But at the last open there were only 2 control decks in top 16- bant at 8th and esper at 6th. Maybe if Esper decks are in the decline, Bant will perform better?
April 1, 2014 9:34 p.m.
InconspicuousPotato says... #4
Go Bant. It's more fun, and Esper hasn't been doing as well recently.
April 1, 2014 10:29 p.m.
BaceJeleren says... #6
I do agree that esper didn't put up as good results as it has this last week. However I for a tournament with large prizes, I don't really want to choose a deck based on how fun it is. I know that sounds bad, but I really want to do well and winning is fun.
April 2, 2014 12:19 a.m.
ChrisHansonBiomancin says... #7
If it's purely about winning, Esper is the better deck clearly due to the reasons listed above. The only argument that could be made.in Bant's favor- besides Mistcutter Hydra - is that people will be expecting a heavy dose of Esper and will thus sideboard for it whereas Bant may slip thru the cracks. However, I'm struggling to think of sideboard cards that are good v Esper and not v Bant.
April 2, 2014 1:44 a.m.
For reference, this is my version of Bant Control;
Bant_Walkers Playtest
Standard
SCORE: 7 | 12 COMMENTS | 1772 VIEWSI really don't think it can be done better, aside form maybe swapping a few Last Breath for Revoke Existence here an there, and I have a lot of fun piloting it.
Esper lets you play Thoughtseize and Hero's Downfall and Doom Blade .
Bant Control let's you play Kiora, the Crashing Wave and Selesnya Charm and Sylvan Caryatid , Mistcutter Hydra doesn't really work against mono-blue has you lose the race in that scenario, it's pro blue means nothing when you swing for 5 and they crack back for 10, it works best out of the side against other control decks, as they're the ones that have the most trouble answering as they are punished for ignoring it, unlike mono-blue which can ignore it and still win.
April 2, 2014 2:32 a.m.
Bant just doesnt contain as many answers as esper because black is the source of highly effective killcards whereas green opens you up to selesnya charm which is only slightly effective because it's not going to hit a lot of things.
Kiora is fine, but not amazing and the rest seem like peculiar choices in a control deck.
April 2, 2014 3:48 a.m.
Hjaltrohir says... #10
Myself, I am a bant player and I think bant is more fun to play, but at the moment, standard is obviously biased towards esper so if you go esper you will probably do better. Go esper for power level, go bant for fun.
April 2, 2014 4:05 a.m.
ChrisHansonBiomancin says... #11
You could also conceivably play Advent of the Wurm in Bant and it wouldn't be horrible, tho the double Green could prove to be tricky.
For a more aggressive but still somewhat controlly version of Bant, there was someone who made top 8 at my FNM last week with a list that ran Voice of Resurgence , Brimaz, King of Oreskos and Ephara, God of the Polis alongside the Azorius staples.
April 2, 2014 4:05 a.m.
Hjaltrohir says... #12
How about not going 3c control and going GB Aggro/Pressure, GR Monsters, Selesnya Aggro or Junk Midrange?
April 2, 2014 4:10 a.m.
Rasta_Viking29 says... #13
I run Advent of the Wurm in 2 Girls and a Jace. Works well for me.
Bant Control is pretty good but not great, I expected it to preform better. Esper is the better deck.
April 2, 2014 10:23 a.m.
BaceJeleren says... #14
I'm going to do some testing this FNM and Saturday, so I'll decide by then. Here is the build I have so far: Bant Can (Bant Control). I'm think people will be expecting esper so I may have the element of surprise, but most SB cards against esper work against bant.
kmcree says... #2
Go Esper. Thoughtseize , BBoV and the kill spells available in black are stronger than anything green has to offer.
April 1, 2014 9:27 p.m.