[Post Zen T2] Baneslayer Ascension - R/w Control

[wv]

Hey dudes,

In preperation for the up coming league, I'm trying to build a control deck. So far we haven't got anything REALLY great from blue to build control, so I'm initially looking at R/W.

Here's the list:

Land 26

8x Mountain
10x Plains
4x Arid Mesa
2x Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
2x Emeria, The Sky Ruin

Creatures

4x Baneslayer Angel

Sorceries

4x Day of Judgement
2x Martial coup

Enchantments

4x Luminarch Ascension

Instants

4x Intimidation Bolt
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Volcanic Fallout
4x Path to Exile

Planeswalkers

4x Chandra Ablaze

----

I'm anticipating a mass amount of Vampires, and general aggro dominance for the up-and-coming format, so control is going to have a rough time without a crap ton of removal.

So, the plan is to get Luminarch Ascension online using sweepers and spot removal, then overwhelm with a butt load of angels.

Card advantage comes (eventually) from Chandra (ish) and Emeria, and Martial Coup acts as a second LATE game win-con.

My initial thoughts are that Volcanic Fallout isn't great with the Ascension, and intimidation bolt seems... kind meh (but synergistic).

I've thought about adding blue to the deck, in the form of:

Sphinx of lost truths
Ior Ruin Expedition
Spell Pierce
Time Warp

Anyone else thought about this?

[Amar Dattani]

baneslayer angel
wall of denial
wall of reverence
counterspells (soul manipulation)
luminarch ascension
path
maybe enigma sphinx?

seems like aggro will have a very hard time fighting through that...

[wv]

I thought about going U/W/x, but I think U/W lacks spot removal, more specifically, for Lotus Cobra, which can do STUPID things before turn 4 if not dealt with.

Red at least gives you bolt to nail the thing before it gets silly... I've never been a fan of walls, as they don't actually win you the game - although I like the idea of hiding behind them while the ascension gets ready to go super fucking sain!

Amar Dattani said:

baneslayer angel
wall of denial
wall of reverence
counterspells (soul manipulation)
luminarch ascension
path
maybe enigma sphinx?

seems like aggro will have a very hard time fighting through that...

[Amar Dattani]

you could go red instead of black if you wanted

but uwb gives you deathmark, doomblade, path, the new 'oblivion ring', and im sure that is enough to deal with pesky critters.

[James Mills]

Did you consider Ajani Vengeant for this deck?

[wv]

I like it... I like it alot...

James Mills said:

Did you consider Ajani Vengeant for this deck?

[Dan Barrett]

You're only ever going to get 3 activations per Valakut, MAX, and that's if you get all of your mountains into play - it seems to me you're trying to force two strategies (valakut/chandra + emeria) which strongly encourage mono-colour decks together, and not making the most of either. I still think you can play 2 colours here, just not both in equal amounts.

[James Mills]

Make a G/W sigil of the empty throne deck instead. That's more interesting.

[wv]

Agreed... Valakut should go, and more support for Emeria should stay...

That's because this deck pretty much folds to counter control, but Emeria can give you late give infi Baneslayers ftw...

Dan Barrett said:

You're only ever going to get 3 activations per Valakut, MAX, and that's if you get all of your mountains into play - it seems to me you're trying to force two strategies (valakut/chandra + emeria) which strongly encourage mono-colour decks together, and not making the most of either. I still think you can play 2 colours here, just not both in equal amounts.

[wv]

Helpful...

James Mills said:

Make a G/W sigil of the empty throne deck instead. That's more interesting.

[Dan Barrett]

- 2 Valakut
- 4 Chandra

+ 1 plains
+ 1 Gargoyle Castle
+ 2 Angelsong
+ 2 Banefire

?

[wv]

Hmmm....

these are the changes I was thinking:

-4 Volcanic Fallout, +4 Pyroclasm (more ways to deal with Cobra ramps, and first turn 2/2s)
-2 Chandra, -1 Path, -1 Valakut, +4 Ajani Vengeant
-1 Valakut, +1 plains

So list would look something like:

------

Land 25

8x Mountain
11x Plains
4x Arid Mesa
2x Emeria, The Sky Ruin

Creatures

4x Baneslayer Angel

Sorceries

4x Day of Judgement
2x Martial coup

Enchantments

4x Luminarch Ascension

Instants

4x Intimidation Bolt
4x Lightning Bolt
4x Pyroclasm
4x Path to Exile

Planeswalkers

4x Ajani Vengeant
2x Chandra Ablaze

----------

I like Angelsong... ish. Depending on how overkill aggro is, it seems like a good fit to fuel the Ascensions...

Why Gargoyle Castle? Just seems like 1 less plains to help Emeria?

Also, Chandra is way to nuts to not play if you're in red... seriously... she flings Flame Javelins to protect herself, rinses control hands, and gives u 3 fresh cards if you're stuck with a dead hand.

Dan Barrett said:

- 2 Valakut
- 4 Chandra + 1 plains
+ 1 Gargoyle Castle
+ 2 Angelsong
+ 2 Banefire

?