Tezzeret Control

[crovax]

I have spoken to several players who are thinking about building the new Tezzeret combo into a control frame. Several of them have been mulling over adding red for Goblin Welder and blasts. However my idea for the deck is UB.

Control
4x Mana Drain
4x Force of Will
4x Thoughtseize

Card Draw
4x Thirst for Knowledge
1x Fact or Fiction
1x Ancestral Recall
1x Brainstorm

Tutors
1x Gifts Ungiven
1x Vamp Tutor
1x Mystical Tutor
1x Demonic Tutor
1x Merchant Scroll

Bombs
3x Tezzeret
1x Time Vault
1x Voltaic Key
1x Yawgs will
1x Tinker
1x Darksteel Collossus

Misc
1x Echoing Truth
1x Time Walk

Mana
7x SoLoMoxen
1x Mana Crypt
1x Tolarian Academy
1x Academy Ruins
1x Library of Alexandria
2x Flooded Strand
4x Polluted Delta
4x Underground Sea
5x Island


Sideboard
3x Spell Snare
3x Extirpate
2x Tormod's Crypt
2x Pithing Needle
1x Hurkyl's Recall
1x Rebuild
1x Chain of Vapor


I have not done any play testing yet as this list is just a draft. I'm going to try an aggressive mana base to ensure that Tezz can be hard cast early and a strong control base. Mana Drain is a good control card that can help drop the decks 5 mana win card.
The sideboard is a throw together and subject to much change.

So what ideas for this deck have others come up with?


Edit updated the list.
Gifts Ungiven looks strong being able to grab 2 recursive parts (Yawgs Will, Academy Ruins) and 2 combo parts(Time Vault,Voltaic Key) . Though Ruins looks a bit week for a Gifts package.

[zeus-online]

I'd main deck a trinisphere, and cut the voltaic key....:

Voltaic key will probably not be usefull all that often. Afterall tezzeret can just untap the vault.

Trinisphere means that tezzeret hitting the board will likely result in GG versus combo decks...Although dropping Tez vs. combo is not likely to happen early enough.

I'd also change the misdirections into duress's...since that'll boost your combo match-up.

/Zeus

[EnialisLiadon]

I think a singleton Key is valuable--it allows you to still take infinite turns without Tezzeret.  I would also suggest a Sundering Titan in addition to DSC--Sundering can be insanely crippling against a lot of decks, and it gives you another win condition.

[Nydaeli]

Academy needs to be in here.  I'd cut Strip Mine for it, since it's largely unsupported.  I also think FOF is a good call, probably in for a Misdirection or Voltaic.

[M.Solymossy]

I'd main deck a trinisphere, and cut the voltaic key....:

Voltaic key will probably not be usefull all that often. Afterall tezzeret can just untap the vault.

Trinisphere means that tezzeret hitting the board will likely result in GG versus combo decks...Although dropping Tez vs. combo is not likely to happen early enough.

I'd also change the misdirections into duress's...since that'll boost your combo match-up.

/Zeus

Do NOT listen to Zeus about anything but the maindeck Trinisphere.  He's obviously not tested the deck.   Your build is a LOT like mine, except I have 2 Tezzeret, and Platinum Angel over DarkSteel Colossus.

Voltaic Key gives you the random "Oops I win" factor.  And I also play Explosives and Tormods Crypt.    Repeal is in over Echoing Truth in my build, as well.

[crovax]

Updated the deck list.
I like the Idea of EE and Crypt. Crypt is in the board because Tezz can grab it over Leyline.

[zeus-online]

He's obviously not tested the deck. 

True, but is key really all that good? :/

/Zeus

[desolutionist]

I noticed you listed Trinisphere in the "bomb" category. In my opinion, it should be moved to the "does not belong" category because it doesn't make any sense. 

Trinisphere means that tezzeret hitting the board will likely result in GG versus combo decks...Although dropping Tez vs. combo is not likely to happen early enough.

You wouldn't actually tutor out Trinisphere, would you?  Give your combo opponent another couple of turns to tutor out a Hurkyl's Recall or Chain of Vapor?  Or worse, lose your Tezzeret to a Tinker-DSC?   Haha, spend 3UU on a Trinisphere?  Why not just go for the kill with Force backup.  Play REBs, Daze, or something instead.  That aside, what else is Trinisphere good against?  Nothing!  Trinisphere is awful here.

Also, there is not a good reason NOT to play 4 Tezzerets.  More is better.

[zeus-online]

Also, there is not a good reason NOT to play 4 Tezzerets.  More is better.

Well that was sort of my thoughts about voltaic key....Why would i want a key when i could just up tezzeret to 4? Outside of hands with say time vault/key or key/tutor or something along those lines voltaic key is just a dead draw.

And in this particular situation:
I play tezzeret, find vault, end turn...He attacks tezzeret and kills him....I untap - Why would key be better here then tez? I was able to cast tez the previous turn, so if i have one i'd most likely be able to play him.

Oh and i'd much rather have the combo player using his tutors to find bounce for 3sphere then to get will and cave my skull in!

However, i got a better idea, why not just find cannonist? He's an artifact afterall...I think i'd much rather have him maindeck then 3sphere....He's also white...White would add creature removal (Balance, StP) which could help shield tezzeret

/Zeus

[M.Solymossy]

Is key that good?

Yes.   There are SO many times when paying  is so much less effective than  .  Test the deck, and every time you cast Vampiric or Demonic Tutor, or cast some other spell in order to cast a Tezzeret, think of how useful a key would be.  It's similar to Recoup in Gitfs circa 2006.

Well that was sort of my thoughts about Voltaic Key....Why would i want a key when i could just up Tezzeret to 4?

because you will never use more than 1 Tezzeret, and you shouldn't play the deck to turbo out Tez, you will want to

I play tezzeret, find vault, end turn...He attacks tezzeret and kills him....I untap - Why would key be better here then tez? I was able to cast tez the previous turn, so if i have one i'd most likely be able to play him.

Try keeping up Mana Drain when casting that Tezzeret.

However, i got a better idea, why not just find cannonist? He's an artifact afterall...I think i'd much rather have him maindeck then 3sphere....He's also white...White would add creature removal (Balance, StP) which could help shield tezzeret

I like that idea.   white also gives you Seal of CLeansing against shops and against Oath, and you could even actually play Decree of Justice as a win condition/way to protect Tezzeret.  Jotun Grunt doesn't seem that bad either.

[2ndMain]

I've been playing around with Trinket Mage in my list.  He really helps to grab Key early on, not to mention quick access to the rest of the package.

[Thegreatgonzo]

Honestly, I didn't test the deck, but I think Voltaic key is wrong here. I mean, if voltaic key is that good, why bother about tezzeret in the first place? V.key is the slot you need for fact or fiction, or gift, or bounce n°2, or whatever.


Also, playing tezzeret, tutor for 3sphere, then play 3sphere, is certainly good game against combo. But it's 8 manas. It means you already won a game you should have lost 3 turns ago.
If you think sphere is necessary against rituals, then play with 3 or 4 resistors, otherwise don't. But playing with a singleton 3sphere you plan to tutor with a tutor is just awful, in my (not so) humble opinion. Seriously, have you ever seen a drain deck whose plan against combo is to tinker into 3sphere? Well, tezzeret (and I really think it's a great kill, don't get me wrong) cost 2 more.

Aside from this, the list seems quite promising. Good luck with it, I'm waiting for more  

[Tabasco]

I noticed you listed Trinisphere in the "bomb" category. In my opinion, it should be moved to the "does not belong" category because it doesn't make any sense. 

Trinisphere means that tezzeret hitting the board will likely result in GG versus combo decks...Although dropping Tez vs. combo is not likely to happen early enough.

You wouldn't actually tutor out Trinisphere, would you?  Give your combo opponent another couple of turns to tutor out a Hurkyl's Recall or Chain of Vapor?  Or worse, lose your Tezzeret to a Tinker-DSC?   Haha, spend 3UU on a Trinisphere?  Why not just go for the kill with Force backup.  Play REBs, Daze, or something instead.  That aside, what else is Trinisphere good against?  Nothing!  Trinisphere is awful here.

Also, there is not a good reason NOT to play 4 Tezzerets.  More is better.

yes, because in a couple more turns you could not have found time vault and taken infy turns yet.

And think of how bad going mox, mox, island Trinishpere on the play is.  Why is Trinisphere restricted it is obviously not good at all.

Have you ever played Trinisphere in a control deck?  Surely the people who sided it at worlds can attest to a blowout or two when their opponent isn't expecting it.

4 Tezzerets? You know that he is Legendary right?  You would NEVER want to see 2 of them, ever, not to mention that it costs 5 mana and you play a draw engine and tutors.  4 Tezzeret would be the equivalent of 4 Karn in any deck with Mishra's Workshop in it, or 4 Tendrils in any deck with Dark and/or Cabal rituals.

It is a win condition, but too many copies can clog up hands and take up much needed deck space.

[Tabasco]

Honestly, I didn't test the deck, but I think Voltaic key is wrong here. I mean, if voltaic key is that good, why bother about tezzeret in the first place? V.key is the slot you need for fact or fiction, or gift, or bounce n°2, or whatever.


Also, playing tezzeret, tutor for 3sphere, then play 3sphere, is certainly good game against combo. But it's 8 manas. It means you already won a game you should have lost 3 turns ago.
If you think sphere is necessary against rituals, then play with 3 or 4 resistors, otherwise don't. But playing with a singleton 3sphere you plan to tutor with a tutor is just awful, in my (not so) humble opinion. Seriously, have you ever seen a drain deck whose plan against combo is to tinker into 3sphere? Well, tezzeret (and I really think it's a great kill, don't get me wrong) cost 2 more.

Aside from this, the list seems quite promising. Good luck with it, I'm waiting for more  

Sorry, but maybe you should read Tezzeret again:


What's this? Tezzeret puts the searched artifact INTO PLAY?!  Why, that's better than Tinker!!!

[zeus-online]

Is key that good?

Yes.   There are SO many times when paying  is so much less effective than  .  Test the deck, and every time you cast Vampiric or Demonic Tutor, or cast some other spell in order to cast a Tezzeret, think of how useful a key would be.  It's similar to Recoup in Gitfs circa 2006.

Well that was sort of my thoughts about Voltaic Key....Why would i want a key when i could just up Tezzeret to 4?

because you will never use more than 1 Tezzeret, and you shouldn't play the deck to turbo out Tez, you will want to

I play tezzeret, find vault, end turn...He attacks tezzeret and kills him....I untap - Why would key be better here then tez? I was able to cast tez the previous turn, so if i have one i'd most likely be able to play him.

Try keeping up Mana Drain when casting that Tezzeret.

However, i got a better idea, why not just find cannonist? He's an artifact afterall...I think i'd much rather have him maindeck then 3sphere....He's also white...White would add creature removal (Balance, StP) which could help shield tezzeret

I like that idea.   white also gives you Seal of CLeansing against shops and against Oath, and you could even actually play Decree of Justice as a win condition/way to protect Tezzeret.  Jotun Grunt doesn't seem that bad either.

Well i'm planning on getting some tezz's so i'll check the key out and see if i like it. I think i'm going with the canonist plan....After all it makes demonic/vampiric into game winners versus combo, and tez can end the game right away instead of needing a full turn (since they can't win with the canonist in play). And besides, he only needs to last a turn or two.

A nice thing about balance is that it dosn't kill tezz! I think i'm starting to like the idea of playing with balance in the tez deck.

/Zeus

[Thegreatgonzo]

erf, my bad (rtfc, gonzo) but still, 5 manas seems expensive against combo. But I have to agree it's way better than I imagine.

sorry about that

[crovax]

Does anyone have any lists they are working on they want to post?  Maby lists splashing Red or White.

[M.Solymossy]

There is a heavy chance that I'll be playing my list at the ICBM Open this weekend.  Hopefully I'll top 8 and you'll see the list.  If I don't, it's probably not worth posting.

[LordHomerCat]

There is a heavy chance that I'll be playing my list at the ICBM Open this weekend.  Hopefully I'll top 8 and you'll see the list.  If I don't, it's probably not worth posting.

That's not entirely true.  You're clearly an awful player, so just because you miss top 8 most of the time doesn't mean all your decks are bad =p

PS doesn't mean they are good either though =p

[crovax]

ELD's Mox 19 had 2 Tezzeret Control decks in the top 8. One of them finished first. Here are the lists.   


1st Stephen Houdlette

1   Vampiric Tutor   
1   Ponder   
1   Cunning Wish   
1   Mystical Tutor   
4   Force of Will   
1   Time Walk   
1   Brainstorm   
1   Merchant Scroll   
1   Echoing Truth   
1   Ancestral Recall   
1   Sensei's Divining Top   
1   Pithing Needle   
1   Tormod's Crypt   
2   Tezzeret the Seeker   
3   Mana Drain   
1   Tinker   
1   Fire/Ice   
2   Trinket Mage   
1   Engineered Explosives   
1   Time Vault   
1   Demonic Tutor   
2   Intuition   
4   Accumulated Knowledge   
1   Yawgmoth's Will   
1   Sundering Titan   
1   Tropical Island   
2   Volcanic Island   
2   Underground Sea   
1   Tolarian Academy   
1   Mana Crypt   
1   Library of Alexandria   
1   Sol Ring   
1   Mox Emerald   
1   Mox Sapphire   
1   Mox Jet   
1   Mox Pearl   
1   Mox Ruby   
1   Black Lotus   
2   Island   
3   Polluted Delta   
3   Flooded Strand   
     
2   Tarmogoyf   
1   Krosan Grip   
1   Massacre   
1   Pithing Needle   
2   Viashino Heretic   
2   Thoughtseize   
1   Tropical Island   
1   Extirpate   
1   Darkblast   
1   Red Elemental Blast   
2   Ancient Grudge   



7th Matthew LeBlanc     
4   Polluted Delta   
2   Flooded Strand   
4   Underground Sea   
2   Volcanic Island   
3   Island   
1   Tolarian Academy   
1   Sol Ring   
1   Black Lotus   
1   Mox Ruby   
1   Mox Pearl   
1   Mox Jet   
1   Mox Emerald   
1   Mox Sapphire   
1   Ancestral Recall   
1   Time Walk   
1   Timetwister   
4   Force of Will   
4   Mana Drain   
4   Thirst for Knowledge   
1   Brainstorm   
1   Merchant Scroll   
1   Demonic Tutor   
1   Yawgmoth's Will   
1   Vampiric Tutor   
1   Imperial Seal   
1   Mystical Tutor   
1   Time Vault   
1   Voltaic Key   
1   Gifts Ungiven   
1   Fact or Fiction   
2   Tezzeret the Seeker   
1   Tinker   
1   Darksteel Colossus   
3   Thoughtseize   
1   Fire/Ice   
1   Echoing Truth   
2   Gorilla Shaman   
     
4   Leyline of the Void   
4   Stifle   
2   Hurkyl's Recall   
2   Energy Flux   
1   Pyroblast   
2   Red Elemental Blast   

[crovax]

Found some more decks.

Team ICBM
Tezzeret Blue

8 Island
3 Polluted Delta
2 Flooded Strand
4 Wasteland
1 Strip Mine
1 Library of Alexandria
1 Mox Sapphire
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Emerald
1 Sol Ring
1 Black Lotus
4 Force of Will
4 Mana Drain
2 Negate
4 Mana Leak
4 Impulse
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Time Walk
4 Ophidian
2 Back to Basics
3 Powder Keg
3 Tezzeret the Seeker
1 Time Vault
1 Fact or Fiction

Sideboard:
4 Energy Flux
4 Propaganda
4 Chalice of the Void
3 Sower of Temptation


Team BHWW
Confidant Tez

4 Force of Will
2 Duress
2 Thoughtseize
1 Chain of Vapor
3 Repeal
3 Mana Drain
3 Mind Twist
2 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Brainstorm
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Time Walk
4 Dark Confidant
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Tinker
1 Regrowth
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Gifts Ungiven
2 Tezzeret the Seeker
1 Time Vault
1 Voltaic Key
1 Sundering Titan
1 Black Lotus
5 Moxen
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Vault
1 Academy Ruins
4 Polluted Delta
2 Underground Sea
2 Tropical Island
1 Bayou
1 Volcanic Island
3 Island
1 Swamp

SB:
2 Extirpate
1 Volcanic Island
2 Red Elemental Blast
1 Pyroblast
2 Ancient Grudge
3 Krosan Grip
4 Tarmogoyf

Team GWS
Death Magnetic, aka I Can't Believe It's Not Slaver

4 Thirst for Knowledge
4 Duress
4 Mana Drain
4 Force of Will
3 Tezzeret the Seeker
1 Darksteel Colossus
1 Time Vault
1 Voltaic Key
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Fact or Fiction
1 Ponder
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Time Walk
1 Brainstorm
1 Tinker
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Echoing Truth
1 Skeletal Scrying
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Tolarian Academy
1 Academy Ruins
3 Tropical Island
3 Underground Sea
2 Island
3 Polluted Delta
2 Flooded Strand
5 Moxen
1 Mana Vault
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Black Lotus

SB:
2 Sower of Temptation
2 Seal of Primordium
2 Krosan Grip
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Chalice of the Void
1 Platinum Angel

[M.Solymossy]

Death Magnetic is the list I played at the open as well as Brian,  and I gotta say it was a BRUTAL deck.  There were 2 things I would do.  First, I would change Skeletal Scrying to Sensei's Top. Scrying is a blowout, but it's not good early, which is when you want to start gaining advantage.   Next, I would change Green to red.   Brian and I both had a hardon for Krosan Grip and Tarmogoyf, but my two losses were to Dan Carp and Tommy Kolowith (Both who won power playing mono blue). 

Here's what I'd play:

Death Magnetic v1.01

4 Thirst for Knowledge
4 Duress
4 Mana Drain
4 Force of Will
3 Tezzeret the Seeker
1 Darksteel Colossus
1 Time Vault
1 Voltaic Key
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Fact or Fiction
1 Ponder
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Time Walk
1 Brainstorm
1 Tinker
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
1 Yawgmoth's Will
1 Echoing Truth
1 Sensei's top.
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Tolarian Academy
2 Volcanic Island
4 Underground Sea
3 Island
3 Polluted Delta
2 Flooded Strand
5 Moxen
1 Mana Vault
1 Mana Crypt
1 Sol Ring
1 Black Lotus

SB:
3 Sower of Temptation
2 Rack and ruin.
4 Chalice of the Void
3 Red Elemental Blast
3 Flame-tongue Kavu