[DTB] Blade Control

[SirTylerGalt]

I really like Michael Bernat's list from the invitational.

http://sales.starcitygames.com//deck...p?DeckID=60172

With so many shardless bug and tempo running rampant in my metagame, baleful strix is the silver bullet for this deck. If they destroy it, you are still a card ahead.

I did cut some of his discards for more lingering souls though. What can i say, i just love that card

I also like some of his ideas.

I wonder why he plays 4 Kor Firewalkers, though... Does he really hate Burn? Submerge is also rarely seen in Esper Blade sideboards. I'm not sure about the 1-of Flusterstorm maindeck, but hey, I play a Misdirection maindeck :)

I also wonder if he plays 2 Jaces instead of 3 for availability reasons, or if he prefers to lower his curve. I've been considering going down to 2 Jaces, but I'm not sure if that's the right play...


Here is what I am considering for tonight:

// Artifact [4]
1 Batterskull
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Sensei's Divining Top

// Creature [10]
4 Stoneforge Mystic
3 Baleful Strix
1 Snapcaster Mage
2 Vendilion Clique

// Instant [15]
4 Brainstorm
3 Force of Will
1 Misdirection
2 Spell Pierce
1 Counterspell
4 Swords to Plowshares

// Sorcery [5]
1 Ponder
1 Lingering Souls
1 Supreme Verdict
2 Thoughtseize

// Planeswalker [3]
3 Jace, the Mind Sculptor

// Lands [23]
1 Academy Ruins
1 Karakas
2 Wasteland
4 Flooded Strand
4 Polluted Delta
1 Marsh Flats
3 Tundra
2 Underground Sea
1 Scrubland
2 Island
1 Plains
1 Swamp

// Sideboard [15]
SB: 1 Pithing Needle
SB: 1 Sword of Feast and Famine
SB: 1 Ethersworn Canonist
SB: 2 Notion Thief
SB: 2 Rest in Peace
SB: 1 Surgical Extraction
SB: 1 Darkblast
SB: 1 Disenchant
SB: 1 Flusterstorm
SB: 1 Force of Will
SB: 1 Zealous Persecution
SB: 1 Cabal Therapy
SB: 1 Supreme Verdict


I was considering a 24th land to ensure my land drops against tempo decks, but I will try 23 lands + 1 Ponder + 1 Sensei's Divining Top. Ponder and SdT let me find lands in the early game, and powerful 1-of's in the late game... I'm trying a split of discard and counterspells. Instead of playing the usual 2 Inquisition of Kozilek / 2 Thoughtseize, I play only 2 Thoughtseize, and play more counterspells. That way, I still have a few discard spells against combo :)

The Lingering Souls might be better as a 4th Strix or a 2nd Snapcaster. I had to reduce the number of creatures to play Supreme Verdict maindeck... I also want to move the 4th FoW to the maindeck, but I don't know what to cut. Maybe go down to 2 Jaces?


I think I will also play Blade Control at the BoM, with True-Name Nemesis. I'm not yet sure if I want to play Esper Blade for Strix + Discard + Toxic Deluge or Patriot with a small red splash for Pyroblast / Blood Moon.