Looking for honest opinions
Standard forum
Posted on Sept. 15, 2016, 2:47 p.m. by Firemedic623
I truly love playing magic and most of the time I have fun while playing. With that being said, the only time I find myself frustrated is when I play against control. Not necessarily mid range control but TRUE control decks who want to go long and kill you with a land creature.
I become so frustrated in being forced to sit there and be unable to play and this is the only time I hate playing. I dont mind taking 30 to the face, being burned, weenied, or some crazy combo because its pretty sweet you figured that out. But being unable to play is unnerving to me.
So here is my question. Should I go to the dark side and play control? Is the fact that my background involves always being in control within my profession subject me to needing to play control in order to maintain my sanity and love for the game?
Any opinion's are appreciated!
In my opinion, if your opponent is playing magic more than you, you're doing it wrong.
September 15, 2016 3:20 p.m.
In my opinion, if your opponent is playing magic more than you, you're doing it wrong.
September 15, 2016 3:20 p.m.
ork_mcgork says... #5
Control can be satisfying to play (as you get to be on the other end of dismantling someone's best laid plans and whatnot), but it is the most boring thing to play against... and as you say, it's unnerving.
This last Friday I went 2-2 at my local FNM, first loss was to WB control and second was to UW control. I'm currently playing a janky homebrew Jund deck that I've been piloting since SOI hit (mostly out of a lack of funds to switch to something new with the changing meta... I did 3-1 my local FNM regularly before EMN hit though).
It's so frustrating to just sit there and not be able to play your cards. At least with the WB control deck I'd get to resolve a spell... it made me feel like I was doing something (even though I wasn't). At that point, why bother? Unless I'm in an environment where I have a good sideboard to help mitigate the matchup, I almost always just feel like my time is better spent scooping, taking the 0-2 loss, and doing something else for the round time than wasting it letting someone else play Solitaire.
...and before I get any hard control players jumping down my throat about it, I am never going to be the one that would say "herr derr ban control! Control too stronk!" I've even played control decks before. it just doesn't have the thrill of the kill like an aggro deck does, or the good feeling of getting some combo or midrange deck to fire off. As such, Control (especially in Blue) is a necessary game mechanic. You have to have that option for players who enjoy it. I just see it as a "necessary evil" lol.
Now then, having said that, if you've never played control yet... give it a spin! You may find you really like it, and if you do, let none stop you. You better your skills as a player by being flexible enough to handle a changing meta and being able to pilot a variety of decks.
(... and, for reference, I usually almost always end up in U-X decks in limited even though Blue is my least favorite color in Magic. Go figure.)
September 15, 2016 3:22 p.m.
Souljacker says... #6
I think it can be helpful to try it out, if only to get to know the weaknesses so you can later use it against them. There's always a weak spot to a deck.
September 15, 2016 4:22 p.m.
Firemedic623 says... #7
Very good point Souljacker. Thanks for the feecback!
September 15, 2016 4:26 p.m.
pumpkinwavy says... #8
I understand what you mean. I'm currently playing u/w spirits in standard, and I've had some matches vs control where my hands are medium and I'm doing very little thinking, just deploying a creature when i draw one and attacking. Those were so boring. I just kept thinking "well if he has stuff then I lose". Some of those matches I won, some I didn't. Whenever I won I was just like "oh, I won? Cool." No flashy kills, no board stalls which are eventually broken in the most dramatic ways. You either crush control or get crushed, neither way is very fun.
I would not advise playing pure control. Generally controlling decks can be great fun, but pure control is just as linear as mono red burn or charlbelcher.
September 15, 2016 4:33 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #9
I find that patience is required to effectively play a dedicated control deck. I would avoid the archetype if you get frustrated easily in long or grindy games.
September 15, 2016 6:09 p.m.
I feel the same towards stupid grindy control decks like that specifically if they are blue. I will say that I played some super durdly Demonic Pact deck but I enjoyed it because it was demonic pact but I also hated it because it made people sit there while I durdle. I recommend not play a durdle control deck (definitely not blue since it provides the most feel bads) and just play a midrange control deck. Something probably with green in it so you can play powerful creatures like Tireless Tracker and Sylvan Advocate and still pressure them while grinding out other non control decks.
September 15, 2016 8:34 p.m.
IonImplant says... #11
You could always build against control specifically. Most standard decks now are so resilient that even heavy control decks struggle. (Or yuou could just smash fast)
It can be frustrating when you feel like you just draw and play and they react. That is the real frustrating time when the control deck is way ahead but it still takes ages to close you out. That's when it is not fun and doesn't feel like Magic. (those are the times when you have to shift gears and relax to find a window)
For me the decks I hate are the ones where you literally don't get to play. Some deck goes off for 20 minutes and you are staring at the wall saying let me know when it is my turn. I have conceded casual games against Part the Waterveil decks because even though my deck could compete I didn't want to sit around for 15 minutes every turn just waiting.
September 29, 2016 11:12 a.m.
Firemedic623 says... #12
@IonImplant I agree with you 100% on having to stare at a wall. I often just downsize the game and start a new one when I am on MTGO. Especially if they do something just to be "cute". In example, someone plays Restoration Angel and then on the next turn they play Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker. At this point they proceed to make unlimited copies of Restoration Angel. If you want to make 15-20 and kill me then fine but if you are going to slow roll me and literally make 100 then you can wait on my chess clock to time out when you finally decide to attack. Meanwhile I will be playing another game while you wait.
Ice_Water says... #2
If you were to try control for yourself, you'd see why people love playing it so much. Especially in standard. Check this out:
It's Miller Time (Vol. 2)
Standard* DriftWood96
SCORE: 9 | 23 COMMENTS | 1630 VIEWS | IN 4 FOLDERS
Mill is one of the most rewarding control archetypes out there in my opinion, not only do you counter everything the opponent does, but you get rid of any possible bombs the opponent could be hiding in his deck before he even draws them! Wonderful!
September 15, 2016 3:02 p.m.