Esper or Grixis Control
Standard forum
Posted on Sept. 22, 2013, 10:25 p.m. by Virtuous_Vice
We all loved Tamiyo, the Moon Sage and Think Twice and the old Esper control build, but now standard is changing and fast. What would you think about Grixis control this meta? Grixis has access to Izzet Charm and Mizzium Mortars and the Wild Ricochet and Young Pyromancer making it look really appealing
With Nephalia Drownyard rotating, I don't see Esper control being nowhere near as effective. I would assume that Grixis or USA is just as viable.
September 23, 2013 3:21 a.m.
harrydemon117 says... #4
Grixis for sure. Esper is what people have been used to to so it will have some numbers to start, but once people "realize the power of the dark side" they will go to Grixis :)
Here's my Grixis midrange/control deck to show an example:
It has control elements in removal, board wipes, counterspells, etc but ALSO has a nice early-midrange game using creatures like Frostburn Weird to build devotion to Thassa, God of the Sea
September 23, 2013 9:46 a.m.
thataddkid says... #5
Dallie, Esper lost a friend in Nephalia Drownyard but they gained a supermodel hot wife with Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver , the constant, one-time investment with a return investment version of drownyard. Besides, drownyard was only good in control mirrors where spells were unthinkable. Ashiok will drop reckoners against another player and can even drop gods, plus the +2 devotion makes it more durable then most walkers.
October 1, 2013 9:34 a.m.
harrydemon117 says... #6
Not to mention the exile portion of Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver so there is no chance of any graveyard shenanigans (well, at least not ADDING to it). Not to mention he can take care of their hands when he goes ultimate
October 1, 2013 2:21 p.m.
I agree that Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver is a great (even better) substitute, but in the control mirror, it is more susceptible to removal. With the newcomer Hero's Downfall a potential deck can play 8 Dreadbore effects.
Ashiok will definitely have his place in control decks running UB.
October 2, 2013 9:12 a.m.
notamardybum says... #8
I'm a fan of grixis. It just seems more fun to play over america and esper.
Bizarro Superfriends is my friends grixis build. Its so much fun and once its stabalized, theres no stopping it.
October 2, 2013 3:05 p.m.
Esper. If you look at the top 8 decks of the SCG Worcester Open, 3 of them are Esper, and 1 is U/W.
October 2, 2013 4:31 p.m.
harrydemon117 says... #10
@Chubbub:
Exactly why go to Grixis! Grixis beats Esper & U/W control :)
October 2, 2013 4:52 p.m.
But it loses to Mono Red, R/W aggro, and G/W Aggro the three other prominent decks, because it doesn't have Supreme Verdict or Sphinx's Revelation .
October 2, 2013 5:15 p.m.
180lbbagofsugar says... #12
Lets also not forget Blood Baron of Vizkopa being a powerhouse. White gives you alot of options for shutting down "Blitz" style decks. Imposing Sovereign , Blind Obedience and, granted it falls short of replacing Fiend Hunter , you have Banisher Priest . Plus, Wizards boasts that this will be an "Enchantment heavy" block, so spot enchantment removal may not be viable. Esper give you Merciless Eviction to counter that. While Grixis could be good at a later point in this block, I feel Esper shines just a little bit better.
DrFunk27 says... #2
Forget control and go Mono red aggro. It will win.
September 22, 2013 10:49 p.m.