Help with a Control Build

[vex]

Hi everyone. I've got a new build of a deck that I posted about a couple of weeks ago (turns out AP classes are _alot_ more work then you'd think) and would like to hear some ideas about it. Again, it's low powered, I don't have regular access to a credit card to buy online so its whatever I can trade for, and I'm very flexible about changes.

I'm going with some friends to a T1 tourney tomorow *cringe*, so just some quick thoughts would be great. This will be my first real experience playing outside of my regular group in a while, so I've got no idea about the metagame.

7  Swamp
6  Plains
9  Island
1  City of Brass

1  Chrome Mox

4  Counterspell
3  Memory Lapse
2  Mana Leak
2  Stifle

2  Cunning Wish
1  Brainstorm
1  Yawgmoth's Will
1  Relearn

1  Enlightened Tutor
1  Merchant Scroll
2  Diabolic Tutor (soon to be replaced by a demonic I ordered. Hurray for older friends )

2  Quicksilver Dragon (I want to swap these to Dec. O Justice, but only have one and don't want to risk that)

3  Swords to Plowshares
2  Disenchant
1  Balance

4  Isochron Scepter (four works really well playing with friends, but it seems like in a more serious metagame I should reduce this)
1  Sculpting Steel

1  Duress

1  Zuran Orb
1  Ivory Mask        

SB:
   I need alot of help here. I really have no idea what to expect.
1  Circle of Protection Red
2  Terror
1  Mana Leak
1  Memory Lapse
2  Trade Secrets (really thinking about maindecking this)
2  Disenchant
1  Stifle    
  So - Five reccomendations please. Hopoefuly I'll be able to throw it in.

Any comments would be great, including cards to try and get.

Finaly, I'd like some comments on running an Abyss or a Humility in this deck. I think it would _really_ help, but would like to hear what others think. Alot of builds of  control decks I've seen have stopped running these cards.

Thanks again!

[ScorchedEarth]

you dont need sculpting steel.
As far as mana goes, I recommend (if you can) picking up these dual lands from Revised(revised are cheapest)

4 Underground River
3 Tundra

also, get 4 polluted delta or 4 flooded strand if possible so you can fetch for either dual land.

as far as win condition goes, you have no moxen or lotus, or mana drains, so DOJ is almost useless.

Morphling is always a good choice as a win condition for blue. Try to pick up 2-3 copies of these, they may cost up to $25 USD each, but they will help you more than Quicksilver Dragon well in some situations.

you need 4 duress. this will seriously slow down your opponent while you whisk along. you need these because you are playing with no power9 which provide extreme card and mana acceleration.


how would abyss or humility help? it would shut down your win condition if you are using Morphling, Q. Dragon, or any other big creature as a win condition. Moat may be useful though.

get 4 BRAINSTORM! they are a must! so are Accumulated Knowldge.
if you get a playset of AK, try get an intution or two, they will help alot.

u probably only need 2 sceptar. 4 is too many.
and if you can, get some force of will. they are unbelievebly good.


hope this helps.

[vex]

I'd love to get the better lands, and have been trying to for a while now, but its not something that I see happening anytime soon. They're simply too much competition for them in my area. Actualy, almost all of the cards you've talked about are on my 'to get' list.

Great comments, especialy about duress. The reason that I would try to use humility or moat would be to keep creature heavy decks off me. This build is especialy weak against sligh type decks, and one of those cards would seriously help the matchup.

The problem with humility is, as you said, it stops my win condition. Still, when my condition is ready I could always destroy my own enchantment. Not very good, but if it keeps me alive long enough to do that

For the abyss, I would have to get the morphlings first, which I believe can be immune to the effects of the abyss due to thier 'pay u: can't be the target of abilities etc...'.

Thanks for the comments.