Black Metal - B/W Control

[lordmayhem]

I have been constantly developing, tweaking and testing (on MWS) my black/white control deck for the past couple of months now.

The deck is designed to work as pure Hatred to deal with the current metagame.

But without further delay, the list :

// Lands
    3  Bloodstained Mire
    3  Polluted Delta
    4  Scrubland
    1  Strip Mine
    4  Swamp
    4  Wasteland

// Creatures
    4  Exalted Angel

// Spells
    1  Decree of Justice
    1  Demonic Tutor
    1  Lotus Petal
    1  Mind Twist
    3  Night's Whisper
    2  Skeletal Scrying
    4  Swords to Plowshares
    1  Vampiric Tutor
    1  Yawgmoth's Will
    4  Duress
    1  Black Lotus
    1  Mox Jet
    3  Vindicate
    1  Sol Ring
    2  Crucible of Worlds
    4  Dark Ritual
    1  Balance
    1  Seal of Cleansing
    1  Enlightened Tutor
    2  Pithing Needle
    1  Mox Pearl

// Sideboard
SB: 1  Vindicate
SB: 3  Seal of Cleansing
SB: 1  Pithing Needle
SB: 3  Chalice of the Void
SB: 3  Engineered Plague
SB: 3  Engineered Explosives
SB: 1  Null Rod



Card choices:

Manabase: The manabase has rarely given me any trouble whatsoever. Pretty standard stuff in regards to lands. 6 fetches. 8 fetch targets. 5 strip effects. Nothing of note. Sol, Petal, Lotus and the 2 on-colour moxen are no brainers too. Dark Ritual was included and kept since it helps power out turn 1 wonders like Night's Whisper, powers up Mind Twist, DoJ and SkS and helps make that Yawg Will that much more spectacular.

Creatures: Exalted Angel is a powerhouse that swings games in your favour as soon as it deals its first points of damage. The angel is hardly the win condition, it just acts as the finisher.

Crucible of Worlds: Works wonders as an enabler for recurring Strip effects and recycled fetches. It has multiple uses in other matchups as it deals with opposing land destruction, effectively nullifying it.

Balance: No brainer here folks. Not only does it act as a board clearing powerhouse, but can effectively chop hands down to size and disrupt opposing mana.

Whisper + SkS: The best combination of card drawing that testing has led me to find. Whisper provides early card advantage, whilst SkS provides late game hand-reloading.

Pithing Needle: With the current state of the metagame, Pithing Needle is without any doubt, incredibly amazing. It disables Welder, Slaver, Wasteland, Fetchlands, Man-Lands, Scepter, Jitte, Belcher, Wretch...etc...etc

Vindicate: Admittedly, the card which I hate seeing multiples of. At 1WB, it doesn't see play early, however the flexibility just makes me keep it and it has never proven to be a dead card.

SB Engineered Explosives: Useful against combo to destroy moxen which manage to get through the CotV which I side in. Explosives is also great against Fish, WTF and Goblins, due to the low casting cost of their spells.

SB Chalice of the Void: This is rather obvious and I do not feel the need to explain.

Decks which I have tested this against, include WTF, Belcher, WGD, Stax, Tendrils, Slaver, Workshop Aggro, Landstill, Oath, Goblins, Fish and as is the nature of the MWS meta, a load of random rogue decks.

I'm afraid I never kept any statistics about matchups, so I cannot really say much about its performance against these matchups. Sorry.

[yespuhyren]

Nice idea, but it has the same problem as all B/W control decks do.  Combo would WRECK this deck horridly.  3 SB chalices is not enough to make combo cringe, as they can get around a lot more hate than that.

[silvernail]

you should think of chains to help vs combo and the new suppresion field in ravnica can help you too.

[policehq]

I think Robert The Swordsman tried this ages ago, to little success.

I do think your sideboard is too Anti-Aggro as opposed to Anti-Combo. With Swords, Decrees (chump blockers), life-gaining Angels, Vindicates, and Balance do you really need Engineered Plague?

[zulander]

Where is the skull!!!!!!! Necropotence should be in here as a no brainer. you are running 4 ritualls and all you lands tap for black (well obviously not the strippers). And put in 4 rule of law in the board for combo.

[lordmayhem]

My sideboard is completely anti-aggro since I tend to face more aggro than combo, but yes I SHOULD address combo more.

@Zulander : I have tested this list with the skull with little success. I have resolved first turn Necros to discover that despite my digging, I couldn't find an Angel. That kind of throws me into a Necro-lock. Also, it makes Vampiric tutor suck all that much more. I believe that Necro belongs in decks with Drain-Life effects or a sui-styled playing of a lot of threats.

I like the Rule of Law idea. I believe I do have one in my binder. Just have to trade for some more. 

@yespuhyren : Actually combo doesn't wreck this deck horribly at all. Whilst playing against combo, I am often instructed to burn in a fire, because really, gray control pieces do make a lot of difference. I am not saying that combo is a great matchup for me, actually control is a great matchup for me, but to say that this deck would not hold its own against combo is far-fetched. I think that I should stick to 3 Null Rod in the side though, and as pointed out above, Rule of Law is a good idea and I am very much in accordance with it.

@policehq : Engineered Plague does more than just perform an anti-aggro function. We all know and love Goblin Welder until its on the opposing side of the board, don't we? Swords often can deal with a single Welder, however, resolving an Engineered Plague spells out an answer to future welders. Naturally, it does have its anti-aggro properties, such as taking care of FCG and other random Goblin nonsense. Without Mana Drain mana, I don't see how effective Decree will be in producing chump blockers, and Vindicate is sorcery speed removal.

Any other suggestions/changes? I really, really like the idea of Rule of Law (thank you zulander), because it improves my matchups wonderfully.

[policehq]

Well, my logic was that Mana Drain usually provides three (same as Dark Ritual) or four mana, so you were using Dark Ritual to pump out tokens. If it's slower than that, I doubt it's very useful.

[lordmayhem]

Its kind of hard to pull that off very often seeing as DoJ is really a 1-off. DoJ is probably just random but its an alternate finisher, uncounterable except by stifle, provides the chump blockers in an aggressive match...etc...etc.

[[supa_t(im)]]

How has mind twist been working for you?  I always found it meh in non drain based control, but I haven't played it in your deck.

Also, I know you had consult in there at one point.  Why vamp over consult?

[lordmayhem]

Rituals help make Mind Twist good. In the late game it either empties hands or is counter-bait.

Vamp was in there along with Consult. Consult is great and all but it just doesn't cut it since I am never in the situation where I am thinking "Oh shit they dropped a threat I need an StP NOW!" and I was too afraid of tutoring for restricted cards which didn't automatically win me the game. So it got cut and Vamp remained, since it tutors for restricted cards/one-ofs without any problem.

[Pave]

3 Pithing Needles AND 3 Engineered Plagues seems like excessive Welder hate to me.  The Plagues are good against Oath too, but there you already have 4 Swords and 4 Seals.  If you need room on the board for Rule of Law, I'd cut an Engineered Plague or three.

[[supa_t(im)]]

Pithing needle is more than just hate against welder.  It can target fetchlands, wastelands, lavamancers, mongrels and a plethora of other spells.  Its sorta a general hate card rather than welder specific.

[Liam-K]

I think you should consider tormod's crypt especially since you already run enlightened tutor.  In a deck with no counters, a stumbling block for some tough matches seems solid.  Gifts, storm combo, and dragon all look capable of largely ignoring you and going off for the win, and the crypt would at least slow them down.

I desperately want no mercy to be good against aggro so I will mention it even though it really isn't.

[lordmayhem]

Actually, I have been considering the latest grave hate from Ravnica.

Shred Memory  1B
Instant 
Remove up to four target cards in a single graveyard from the game.
1BB Transmute  (1BB, Discard this card: Search your library for a card with the same converted mana cost as this card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library. Play only as a sorcery.)

It seems pretty solid for grave hate and can tutor for more hate cards with Transmute.

As for No Mercy : Its total crap. Besides, I don't usually have problems against aggro.

[Liam-K]

Actually, I have been considering the latest grave hate from Ravnica.

Shred Memory  1B
Instant 
Remove up to four target cards in a single graveyard from the game.
1BB Transmute  (1BB, Discard this card: Search your library for a card with the same converted mana cost as this card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library. Play only as a sorcery.)

It seems pretty solid for grave hate and can tutor for more hate cards with Transmute.

Throwing transmute on it is kinda nice, but seeing as though it finds 3 cards, one of which is a tutor and none of which is yawgmoth's will, I'm not sure it helps you all that much.  As for the main text I don't like how you have to actually cast it to block yawgwill or gifts abuse, as it is vulnerable to being countered.  The nice thing about the crypt is it goes down for 0 as a threat BEFORE their setup, and it's fairly resistant to bounce both due to mana cost and using it in response.

As for No Mercy : Its total crap. Besides, I don't usually have problems against aggro.

I know

[Nastaboi]

Rapid Decay does the same thing and cycles for  . It removes only three cards though, but it rarely makes difference. What makes the difference is: is ability to sorcery tutor for Balance or Seal at    and sorcery speed better than instant cycling for  ?

[lordmayhem]

@ Nastaboi : Ebony Charm is superior to Rapid Decay. I like how Shred Memory removes 4 instead of 3, and how it can tutor for Night's Whisper, Null Rod, Balance, Seal and Demonic. It very well may not be the best grave hate card, but it certainly isn't half bad, and I like it. I just hate its art.

@ Liam-K : Crypt is also vulnerable to a lot of things. Welder, Mox Monkey, Chalice, Null Rod, Pithing Needle, Explosives/Powder Keg, Disenchant/Seal/Naturalize, Deed, along with the usual bounce-fare.

[jCoKn]

Re: Mind twist...

Gifts combo, potentially one of the strongest decks in the format, plays misdirection... oftentimes 2-3 maindeck. Good luck winning after they misdirect your twist for 3-4 back at ya.

[lordmayhem]

So you took ONE card out of my deck and automatically thought "This deck gets devastated if he plays this ONE spell against ONE type of deck."

Cute.

[Liam-K]

@ Liam-K : Crypt is also vulnerable to a lot of things. Welder, Mox Monkey, Chalice, Null Rod, Pithing Needle, Explosives/Powder Keg, Disenchant/Seal/Naturalize, Deed, along with the usual bounce-fare.

That's a dreadful statement.  Only mox monkey and chalice are relevant. 

Welder has nothing to weld in for it in your deck.  Pithing needle naming tormod's crypt is probably good for you, since it doesn't target your better stuff, and the crypt can be used in response to needle.  Null rod is played in decks that crypt is not good against except MAYBE uba stax, which it could potentially damage but honestly stax wouldn't care much.  The rest of the stuff you named are cards that are bad against your deck and someone siding them in is good for you.  Your deck doesn't even run a full compliment of acceleration so chalice taking up slots is probably good for you too.

I really do think that people are programmed into having force/drain backup when they try to go nuts with broken cards and trying to use the instant at the time will bite you in the ass, while ripping crypt and plopping it down either soaks up a drain or actually does it's job.

[lordmayhem]

Dreadful?

Disenchant/Naturalize, hell or Shattering Pulse are very wishable. As far as I know, some Dragon decks run blue AND wishes.

Welder CAN weld it out. Simple really. I counter your Sol Ring/Lotus Petal/Crucible of Worlds and I weld your Crypt out.

If the graveyard is an issue, then Needle for Crypt it an issue and won't be good for me at all. And responding to the needle by sacrificing Crypt is generally what they want, so that they can set up the graveyard later.

Null Rod : Got me there.

Chalice for 1 hits me hard in the nuts, so Chalice can be kept MD against me and dropped for 0 to prevent grave hate.

The problem with dropping it before they start going nuts is that they know they have to deal with it before they go nuts.

Don't get me wrong. I love Crypt. But I'm not going to pretend that its manna from the gods. I like Shred Memory but it has the vulnerabilities that you mentioned. Ie: A huge susceptibility of being countered. So I agree with your arguments. Despite all my arguments however, I think Crypt just MIGHT be the better choice.

I WOULD go for Planar Void, but that just ruins my Will and my recurring lands. Heh

EDIT :

I have been considering maindecking 2-3 Shadow of Doubt.

But what do I cut?

I've been thinking of cutting Enlightened Tutor and the Seal of Cleansing and keep another Shadow in the side. Opinions on this?

[Liam-K]

I think shadow is good but not better than a normal counter.  That said it probably fits into your deck.  Enlightened is the best candidate for cuttage.

[lordmayhem]

I think shadow is good but not better than a normal counter.

Keep in mind that it doesn't just stop tutors and stuff like Gifts / Intuition but it also stops fetchlands, providing a nice tempo boost. Its a never a dead card either cos it cantrips for 2 mana. Its like it cycles.

The list as it stands now:

// Lands
    3  Bloodstained Mire
    3  Polluted Delta
    4  Scrubland
    1  Strip Mine
    4  Swamp
    4  Wasteland

// Creatures
    4  Exalted Angel

// Spells
    1  Decree of Justice
    1  Demonic Tutor
    1  Lotus Petal
    1  Mind Twist
    3  Night's Whisper
    2  Skeletal Scrying
    4  Swords to Plowshares
    1  Vampiric Tutor
    1  Yawgmoth's Will
    4  Duress
    1  Black Lotus
    1  Mox Jet
    3  Vindicate
    1  Sol Ring
    2  Crucible of Worlds
    4  Dark Ritual
    1  Balance
    2  Shadow of Doubt
    2  Pithing Needle
    1  Mox Pearl

Still working on a sideboard. So far I have:

1 Needle
1 Shadow
3 CoTV
4 Seal
3 Rule of Law
3 Engineered Plague

Something like that anyway. The 4 Seals are for the Stax matchup.

Shadow of Doubt has been damn good in testing, countering fetchlands and tutors whilst cantripping. I found 2 to be a good number for the maindeck. Still testing this.

[Liam-K]

It occured to me that since you mostly don't care about sorcery speed (shadows may change this?) you might enjoy a copy of grim tutor.  Dunno though.

[lordmayhem]

Mostly I'm thinking of getting rid of that Mind Twist for something a tad more useful. Don't know what it could be though. I don't think a Grim Tutor would be a good solution since I don't really need to tutor for anything much.

I was thinking of going with either a 2nd Decree or a 3rd Shadow.

Decree is very mana intensive and Shadow is situational.
They both replace themselves by cantripping.
They both create card advantage, and Shadow can create tempo advantage.

I think a 3rd Shadow of Doubt wouldn't be too shabby.

[Liam-K]

Tempo cards always get better the more tempo cards you have, so a high count of shadow seems better than a low one.  Do you really need more than one decree?

[lordmayhem]

I don't think I really need another Decree, and countering fetchlands all day seems to be awesome sauce 

Turn 1 Duress
Turn 2 Shadow your land, draw a card.

Seems good.

What else could I try instead of a 3rd SoD though?

[[supa_t(im)]]

What else could I try instead of a 3rd SoD though?

Maybe an enlightened tutor to get rod or needle when you need it?  It would be good post board as well, getting seal, rule of law, and CotV.

[lordmayhem]

What else could I try instead of a 3rd SoD though?

Maybe an enlightened tutor to get rod or needle when you need it?  It would be good post board as well, getting seal, rule of law, and CotV.

Enlightened Tutor is what I had in there originally (read the decklist in the first post) and it wasn't too great. The card disadvantage wasn't really worth it for what it did.

[Dralock]

I don't think I really need another Decree, and countering fetchlands all day seems to be awesome sauce 

Turn 1 Duress
Turn 2 Shadow your land, draw a card.

Seems good.

What else could I try instead of a 3rd SoD though?

Supression field. Nothin says lovin` like lockdown. And you can transmute for it too!