Mono Black Control

Well, if the Infect version of MBC isn't the best way to run the deck, how about this deck, by Lewis Laskin (who I am really starting to like as a deckbuilder)?

3 Everflowing Chalice
2 Ratchet Bomb
2 Mimic Vat

1 Duress
4 Inquisition of Kozilek
3 Mind Sludge

1 Wurmcoil Engine
2 Grave Titan
3 Phyrexian Rager
2 Skinrender
3 Vampire Hexmage

2 Black Sun's Zenith
1 Disfigure
3 Go for the Throat

3 Sign in Blood (not Dark Tutelage )

21 Swamp
4 Tectonic Edge (at least I originally had the mana base right)

Sideboard
2 Ratchet Bomb
3 Precursor Golem
1 Disfigure
1 Doom Blade
1 Black Sun's Zenith
2 Consuming Vapors
2 Duress
3 Memoricide

This deck has a ton better game against Valakut game 1 than my original list, but I don't really like how it still doesn't have a great matchup game 1 unless you Sludge him.

Consuming Vapors is making the rounds as an out to Thrun.

Vampire Hexmage has a strong interaction with Black Sun's Zenith (remove the counters on your own creature).

I'm trying to figure out what else it has a decent matchup against other than Valakut. It seems like it could have a good matchup against KRed with the first striking Hexmage and main deck BSZ. Seems like control would have a field day against it, but there were only 3 UB and 1 UW in the top 16 so... maybe?

Vs. Control, the deck plays out small threats to poke away with some early damage, then lays out Duress/Inquisition into Mind Sludge to keep the control player on its heels. Above all, Control doesn't have a ton of counters, so normally you can poke with small creatures, then land a biggie when your opponent taps down to get rid of those small creatures.

Mimic Vat can also be a house, and it is difficult for the control deck to handle with a complete inability to handle the card in the main deck (Game 1).

I think the decklist is really tight, and I wonder if this list is good enough in the current metagame. I would certainly give it a whirl, and it is definitely worth testing.

In every single category, we have to ask ourselves: how is it better than UB right now?

Card Draw?
Dealing with Aggro decks?
Dealing with Ramp decks?
Dealing with the Control mirror?
Consistency?

If someone can convice me that MBC is better than UB in three of the five categories, I'll get behind it all the way. Otherwise, let's sleeve up them Jaces.

Joey wrote:In every single category, we have to ask ourselves: how is it better than UB right now?

Card Draw?
Dealing with Aggro decks?
Dealing with Ramp decks?
Dealing with the Control mirror?
Consistency?

If someone can convice me that MBC is better than UB in three of the five categories, I'll get behind it all the way. Otherwise, let's sleeve up them Jaces.

I'm not backing this deck up, I used to play MBC and it was pretty terrible. Does Phyrexian Rager actually make this deck good? No.

Card Draw? No where close Preordain and Jace is a house

Dealing with Aggro decks? Slightly better but almost the same.

Dealing with Ramp decks? Counters vs Mind Sludge. I think counters win in this current format with Summoning Trap going away. Also turn 4 Titan beats mind sludge.

Dealing with the Control mirror? Jace hitting the table should be the win. Hexmage is not enough.

Consistency? I've played this MBC list a few times and it seems fairly consistant maybe more than UB. Sometimes when I play UB I'm not sure what UB wants to do.

I definitely think that UB is probably more powerful, but Ken's last point is particularly pertinent: MBC is more consistent.

Plus, it is easier to play with its consistency. This can be played around by better players, but you should have a consistent opportunity to win matches with MBC that you won't with UB Control unless you are highly proficient with the deck.

Tom

MBC
1. Mind Sludge

UB Control
1. Preordain
2. Creeping Tar Pit
3. Mana Leak
4. Spell Pierce
5. Spreading Seas
6. Stoic Rebuttal / Cancel
7. Jace 1.0
8. Jace 2.0

?

Fine....

<3