Is Cruel (Grixis) Control Viable in Standard?
Standard forum
Posted on Jan. 13, 2014, 11:53 a.m. by MagnusMTG
I love the mix of blue, black, and red magicks, but it seems no one is using it in the current meta.
I've only encountered one person using a Cruel Control style deck in the past couple months, and even with my subpar deck, I gave him a very hard time. It had Stormbreath Dragon , AEtherling , Desecration Demon , Dissolve , etc. and I was holding my own pretty well with Insatiable Harpy s..
Is there a (not too expensive, I know running tri-color mandates dual lands, but ..) Cruel Control build that could top-8 at an FNM?
What about next month with BNG? The spoilers are out - has anyone considered the U/B/R option with the new cards yet?
killroy726 says... #3
Ive tried to make something like that but I havent had the time nor the cards to make it yet Obey your master
January 13, 2014 12:31 p.m.
10vernothin says... #4
the main problem is how diffuse RTR guilds are when it comes to grixis
RB is aggro, the only cards that are good for control are --> Master of Cruelties , Dreadbore , Slaughter Games , Blood Crypt
UB is control, but it's not that strong --> Psychic Strike , Watery Grave , Far / Away
RU is combo, and it's pretty low in control elements --> Counterflux , Izzet Charm . Turn / Burn , Steam Vents
And you have AEtherling , Cancel , Syncopate , Ultimate Price and other things.
On the other hand, UB is a control colour in Theros.
Detention Sphere , Sphinx's Revelation and Supreme Verdict is just too good...
January 13, 2014 1:15 p.m.
Thanks, killroy726. I don't have any Master of Cruelty and I guess I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and get sets of dual lands.
Here was a Modern attempt quickly thrown together and not yet tested:
All Your Base Are Belong To Nicol Bolas. Playtest
Modern*
SCORE: 0 | 0 COMMENTS | 91 VIEWSThese are the cards I have available for consideration in a Standard Grixis control theme:
Rakdos Burn Prototype Playtest
Standard*
SCORE: 2 | 2 COMMENTS | 66 VIEWS
Ruthless Control Playtest
Standard
SCORE: 0 | 2 COMMENTS | 170 VIEWSJanuary 13, 2014 1:19 p.m.
Rasta_Viking29 says... #6
Cruel control requires Cruel Ultimatum so no it not possible in standard.
Running a Grixis Midrange deck with the creatures you listed is. Will you win some games at FNM? Sure. Will it be competitive with the current Teir 1 and 1.5 decks? Not a chance. There are a few standard Grixis control deck lists on this site, most listed as control are midrange decks though. Also there superfriends control builds like this one here from Brian Braun-Duin, Decklist, that are okay. I ran one at the start of standard and it didn't fare well. Grixis lacks access to a sweeper and means of stabilizing in standard right now.
There are rumors of a black sweeper coming out in BNG. If it does Grixis has a good chance of being viable.
January 13, 2014 1:21 p.m.
10vernothin says... #7
standard Cruel control actually refers to Master of Cruelties
January 13, 2014 1:37 p.m.
[@Rasta_Viking29: Well, Shards of Alara block is not in Standard right now, so of course saying things like "Cruel Control" or "Grixis" are just code words for a recognizable theme.]
For board-sweeping, Mizzium Mortars and Anger of the Gods are available as well as AEtherize , Cyclonic Rift , etc.
It just seems like there are so many cards that either force discard, counter spells, bounce things, burn things, outright kill things . . that A non-U/W or non-Esper control strategy is possible. I know Azorius is best at that style right now, but . . I just don't like playing it.
January 13, 2014 1:55 p.m.
CommanderOfBolas says... #9
i have had a top 8 with my grixis deck. it is a midrange deck,
Grixis Meets Theros Playtest
Standard*
SCORE: 11 | 16 COMMENTS | 1199 VIEWSthe problem is as Rasta said, lack of a good sweeper, and lack of cards to stabilize. by making a midrange deck, i was able to include Whip of Erebos to help me stabilize. unfortunately though, Anger of the Gods misses a lot of the relevant threats. if grixis gets a reliable sweeper, it will definitely see more play
January 13, 2014 2:17 p.m.
Rasta_Viking29 says... #10
A simple google search will clear up what Cruel Control is. Feel free to call a deck Cruel because of Master of Cruelties . I was corrected for thinking that cruel control meant something else months ago, did a little research and now I know. It is a very specific deck.
I evidently define RDW wrong but that doesn't stop me :P
January 13, 2014 2:37 p.m.
Rakdos control is very underrated.
Rakdos Control is better than Esper Playtest
Standard
SCORE: 16 | 22 COMMENTS | 2871 VIEWSJanuary 13, 2014 8:06 p.m.
And depending on what Mogis does, it could get even stronger.
January 13, 2014 8:07 p.m.
Rasta_Viking29 says... #14
The flavor of Mogis leads me to believe he will be an aggro curve topper and probably worthless in control. My guess is he has a static Orcish Oriflamme or all attacking creatures get +2/0. Maybe a ability triggered by creatures dying.
January 13, 2014 9:02 p.m.
harrydemon117 says... #15
Of course anything can do well, it just has to be tailored to the current meta game.
I have a Grixis Control build that I have been working on for the past month or so, AND has been putting up consistent solid #'s at my FNM (only "tier 1" deck that has been giving me fits was monoblue, but I have made adjustments and will be testing again as soon as I get the chance to)
Born of the Gods has a couple of GREAT black removal spells/sweepers that will help make the deck more competitive against aggro.
Right now, I see more and more U/W or Esper control lists top 8'ing or winning tournaments. I built mine with the "rock, paper, scissors" aspect that is continually thought about in standard (what are the current major archetypes, and how do I beat them?)
gufymike says... #2
I can't answer the early part as I haven't looked at it seriously or know the deck list, having the best cards doesn't always mean having a strong deck.
As for BNG, the spoilers are just starting, we have over a 100 more cards to go before they are finished with the spoilers and at least 4 more days of good stuff before a mass dump.
January 13, 2014 11:58 a.m.