I have had a U/G build that I have not really wanted to throw out, and I figured I might as well add white and try for some Bant control. I am not fixated upon keeping the deck similar to what it currently is, I am mostly trying to find a build to work off of and figure out what Id like it to look like. If anyone knows of any Bant Control builds, please do share!

Also, I am unsure about Kiora's Folloers usefulness?

You talking about standard?

elpablo wrote:You talking about standard?

Oh sorry, meant to include that, yes standard.

If you want to play control in standard ATM then, its got to be the UW shell with verdicts, sphinx's,d-sphere, jace etc...

You're really just splashing green at that point for a kiora or two, plus some sideboard action with mistcutter hydras. Green doesn't add a whole lot to the archetype.

If you want to play control, UWx splash, red or black, is the way to go. In red you get counterflux and izzet charm, which are both good in the mirror and provide some added flexibility. Black, gives you access to hero's downfall and more hard removal if you're facing a lot of creature/planes walker decks, ala, GR aggro.

You could alternatively do a bant midrange, that used the sylesnya token generators, advent, sylesnya charm, conclave, voice, etc... splash some blue for things like prime speaker, and kiora

There's also some fringe hex-proof potential within these colors, but I think that's not really a strong deck in the format.

which do you think appeals to you more?

elpablo wrote:If you want to play control in standard ATM then, its got to be the UW shell with verdicts, sphinx's,d-sphere, jace etc...

You're really just splashing green at that point for a kiora or two, plus some sideboard action with mistcutter hydras. Green doesn't add a whole lot to the archetype.

If you want to play control, UWx splash, red or black, is the way to go. In red you get counterflux and izzet charm, which are both good in the mirror and provide some added flexibility. Black, gives you access to hero's downfall and more hard removal if you're facing a lot of creature/planes walker decks, ala, GR aggro.

You could alternatively do a bant midrange, that used the sylesnya token generators, advent, sylesnya charm, conclave, voice, etc... splash some blue for things like prime speaker, and kiora

There's also some fringe hex-proof potential within these colors, but I think that's not really a strong deck in the format.

which do you think appeals to you more?

You bring up very valid points, and some of my friends said I would more than likely get stomped with the bant control at the moment. I thought about doing Esper Control, but I don't really know if its for me, though I think it is the one I would probably try for over UW and UWr. The Bant midrange sounds quite interesting, considering I have a pretty decent build of a Selesnya Aggro.

Reid Duke built a Bant Control deck for GP Dallas (pre-BNG so no Kiora) that he called Prime Speaker Bant. It looked pretty cool. However, like all other Standard UWx builds, it's focused on Sphinx's Revelation.

Here's the deck tech for some ideas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUkJFKnw_0I

I think it's tough to build a control deck in the current Standard configuration based around Sylvan Caryatid and Prophet of Kruphix because Supreme Verdict exists, but Prophet is really tough to play against.

Let us know what you end up doing!

Timber wrote:Reid Duke built a Bant Control deck for GP Dallas (pre-BNG so no Kiora) that he called Prime Speaker Bant. It looked pretty cool. However, like all other Standard UWx builds, it's focused on Sphinx's Revelation.

Here's the deck tech for some ideas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUkJFKnw_0I

I think it's tough to build a control deck in the current Standard configuration based around Sylvan Caryatid and Prophet of Kruphix because Supreme Verdict exists, but Prophet is really tough to play against.

Let us know what you end up doing!

http://www.starcitygames.com/article/27772_Prophet-Bant-With-Born-Of-The-Gods.html
This is the deck that I first saw when I was looking to make a Bant build, and to be perfectly honest; I am 50/50 on it. I like it, but I am unsure about it, and certain cards that are set with it. its actually the reason I have a near playset of Prophet held back, and gives me some reason to keep some other cards I have, I just dont know how well it works, and I am willing to test it.

I've tested the Post Born of the Gods Reid Duke Prophet Bant, and all I can say is that I am in love. I may make some tweaks to it, but I am not sure at this point since half the deck is proxies!

majormogley wrote:I've tested the Post Born of the Gods Reid Duke Prophet Bant, and all I can say is that I am in love. I may make some tweaks to it, but I am not sure at this point since half the deck is proxies!

I just want to point out that Reid Duke could probably pilot a ham sandwhich to a 50/50 record at a large tournament. And while I'm sure the deck is decent enough to win games, it hasn't put up any big numbers.

Just be aware you're piloting a brew, albeit a brew by a pro, but still a brew and I haven't seen him or anyone else play it to any success.

elpablo wrote:

majormogley wrote:I've tested the Post Born of the Gods Reid Duke Prophet Bant, and all I can say is that I am in love. I may make some tweaks to it, but I am not sure at this point since half the deck is proxies!

I just want to point out that Reid Duke could probably pilot a ham sandwhich to a 50/50 record at a large tournament. And while I'm sure the deck is decent enough to win games, it hasn't put up any big numbers.

Just be aware you're piloting a brew, albeit a brew by a pro, but still a brew and I haven't seen him or anyone else play it to any success.

You bring up a very valid point, and I can understand why I isn't top tier as many of the other builds I have seen. So I think I may mess with it a bit to make it more so how I like it, but all in all mine more than likely will not see much more play than my local card shop/ playing with my friends. Nonetheless, it still may need some tweaking.

yeah, if it's an FNM deck and not going to see PTQ/5k play then it may not be a huge deal.

Even then, though, i know my FNM is fairly comparative. I've gone to more casual stores and crushed before, but I usually bat 500 at my usual haunt. YMMV...

elpablo wrote:yeah, if it's an FNM deck and not going to see PTQ/5k play then it may not be a huge deal.

Even then, though, i know my FNM is fairly comparative. I've gone to more casual stores and crushed before, but I usually bat 500 at my usual haunt. YMMV...

If I were to think it worthy of a PTQ or GP, then I would put quite a lot more time towards it, but I only have 1 deck that I would do that with, and it isn't even done to my liking. Still though I will put forth a decent amount of time trying to mess around with it. My store's main decks are rather troubling to play against, though only about 5 of them at most are of concern to play against, most other players are newer.

Update on play testing: I don't care for the build anymore after taking on G/R Monsters, and getting crushed by the time I could do anything. I might not be playing it right, but I don't think that is fully it. So now I dont know if I should either try to make a new version, work on this one, or just altogether scrap and move to a different format.

How many matches did you play? Did you try side boarding? What did you side board?

Timber wrote:How many matches did you play? Did you try side boarding? What did you side board?

We played about 4 or 5 before he told me to switch decks because he got tired of playing it. To be quite honest, I dont know what to substitute in for the matchup, especially since I don't fully understand the deck quite yet. And sideboarding in general is a task for me.

Okay, so what about the deck destroyed you?

- too fast?
- too big?
- too much card advantage from Domri/Garruk?
- too much trample?

You're a control deck, so what didn't you have answers for?
- Stormbreath dragon? I imagine there isn't a card in your deck that can take him out.
- Planeswalkers?

I've found that RG monsters just stomps control generally, but you can stabilize if you can kill its planeswalkers and have an instant-speed answer for Stormbreath.

Timber wrote:Okay, so what about the deck destroyed you?

- too fast?
- too big?
- too much card advantage from Domri/Garruk?
- too much trample?

You're a control deck, so what didn't you have answers for?
- Stormbreath dragon? I imagine there isn't a card in your deck that can take him out.
- Planeswalkers?

I've found that RG monsters just stomps control generally, but you can stabilize if you can kill its planeswalkers and have an instant-speed answer for Stormbreath.

His deck doesn't run garruk, but he gas domri who keeps picking off my creatures and getting him stormbreat and other big things. He also runs xenagod who hits pretty hard, especially with flying, and stormbreath is a problem to both of my decks thanks to protection from white. The deck as it's self does not have a ton of "control" feel to it considering it has little removal and counter magic to deal with all the creatures it's bound to face.

I would have called this build bant midrange. GR monsters will beat you because they just go bigger and do if faster than you can.

I play UWr control recently and I've done okay against RG monstes and jund monsters, though i've heavily tailored my deck to beat them and the aggro matchup. It is the supreme, verdict, detention sphere, shinx's rev shell though. I've rarely felt "stomped" like Timber said.

I run 2 main deck celestial flares and a main deck nullify. You have to save counters/flares for the storms breaths and deal with everything else with charms, spheres and verdicts. Also, pithing needle is great for domri.

After board, i put in more flares, more efficient counters and blind obedience.

in bant you still have access to some of that stuff, however it'd have to be in your sideboard or change the deck a little. some of the cards in the deck just look bad imo, Kiora's follower for example, a bear that untaps stuff? idk, doesn't seem very strong.

elpablo wrote:I would have called this build bant midrange. GR monsters will beat you because they just go bigger and do if faster than you can.

I play UWr control recently and I've done okay against RG monstes and jund monsters, though i've heavily tailored my deck to beat them and the aggro matchup. It is the supreme, verdict, detention sphere, shinx's rev shell though. I've rarely felt "stomped" like Timber said.

I run 2 main deck celestial flares and a main deck nullify. You have to save counters/flares for the storms breaths and deal with everything else with charms, spheres and verdicts. Also, pithing needle is great for domri.

After board, i put in more flares, more efficient counters and blind obedience.

in bant you still have access to some of that stuff, however it'd have to be in your sideboard or change the deck a little. some of the cards in the deck just look bad imo, Kiora's follower for example, a bear that untaps stuff? idk, doesn't seem very strong.

At the moment I think it is too creature based to really say its control-ish. Kiora's follower is mostly just a bear elvish mystic with this deck.
In all honesty I have no idea what to fix in the deck, or if I should re-vamp the entire thing to be less creature heavy.

IMO, i think the best options are to go full bant control, or take it more of a sylesnya route with advent of the wurm, voice, fleecemane. splashing detention sphere for removal and sphinx's reve for draw power.

elpablo wrote:IMO, i think the best options are to go full bant control, or take it more of a sylesnya route with advent of the wurm, voice, fleecemane. splashing detention sphere for removal and sphinx's reve for draw power.

Well considering I have a Selesnya deck already, I would rather stray from making something like it, and I don't want to modify it too much more. So Id say the control route is the way id like to go.