Topic: B/W Midrangy Control

Howdy,

I'm working on a B/W Midrange Control deck.  In the little bit of play testing I've done it has actually come out pretty fast and if I can get enough control/sweeps to get past the initial aggro push I can generally close out with Sublimes/Obzedat.  It seems pretty good so far.  Any suggestions!?

http://deckbox.org/sets/312435?

Thanks!
K

Re: B/W Midrangy Control

I think it has potential, but you'll need to tighten things up a bit. The Champion of the Parish doesn't fit well--you're not running enough humans to pump it up.  Most decks that run it also use token generation (e.g., Gather the Townsfolk) to make him big quickly.

Dutiful Thrull and Thrull Parasite may be replacement options, as the former offers Regeneration (for multiple chump blocks), and the latter allows you to leverage the Extort mechanic.

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Re: B/W Midrangy Control

I played a bit more lastnight and totally agree that the Champions don't fit. I've tried the dutiful thrulls and they're ok. The parasites are only ok too. If I had to choose I think I'd go with the thrulls as I like the chump block aspect. Thanks for looking at the it!

Re: B/W Midrangy Control

To add a few more thoughts...

- Finding a way to let High Priest of Penance survive a little damage could be really useful.  That or having an ability to ping him yourself in response to things.  I saw a build using Staff of Nin for this exact purpose.  Dude was able to block a creature with the priest, then ping it and take out the other attacker.  But I'm thinking things like Divine Favor or Holy Mantle... hell... even Mask of Avacyn.  None are ideal, but if you can turn him into a mini Phyrexian Obliterator you won't be complaining.
- Why not rock the other Exalted knights?  I see some Knight of Glory in the SB.  But why not Knight of Infamy?  Why SB rather than MB?  Who needs a chump blocker if your nighthawk is lifelinking for 5-6 a turn?
-  I would say to run more concrete, hard removal than Tragic Slip.  OR at least add some variety to it.  Ultimate Price in the MB?  Even Murder could be really useful.  Drop Tragic Slip to maybe 2-3x and go from there.
- I might be wrong, but Mutilate strikes me as a terrible option for you here.  If you have even three swamps in play, the only one of your creatures that will survive is Obzedat, Ghost Council.  Funny if you have Blood Artists - not so funny in your case.  Odds are you would end up screwing yourself up more than them in most cases.
- I'd also suggest trying the deck with Blind Obedience in the mainboard.  It can stop blockers, slow down any aggro deck, and all with the added benefit of an extort trigger.  Paired with some Thrull Parasites, even a top-decked one drop can be a big deal.
- Blood Crypts?  You can cast Reckoner with just white mana.  Unless you need the red for something else, you'd be better off drawing a plains than one of these.
- I don't know that I would run Cavern of Souls in this build.  Sure, it can be a mana fixer, but it can also get you stuck if you name the wrong creature type, as then it's just a colorless mana producer.  If you had more synergy with more humans or thrulls or spirits, I could see it working, but I can see where it'll trip you up a fair number of times given your scattered creature types.

Re: B/W Midrangy Control

Its funny you mention the Staff of Nin, I was just talking about adding it in last night as well.  As far as why I have Mutilate in is I have a very Boros Charm meta and I was tired of my Murders being countered, and Frontline Medic, SilverBlade Paladin, Legion Loyalist were really  beating the hell out of me.  But last night I did actually take the Mutilates out and replaced with the Blind Obedience's. The Vampire Knighthawk with the added extort left me with plenty of life a majority of the time.  I will try the Parasite Thrull's again, maybe I can get the extort to work a little better.

The Knights of Infamy are actually in the MB, same as the ultimate price.  I like ultimate price a little better than murder as I can ultimate price into tragic slip on a multicolor for the same mana cost.  The blood crypts and Cavern of Souls were both tests.  I really haven't had any issues casting Boros Reckoner.  I just had a couple blood crypts and Caverns laying around.  Its actually been kinda nice to be able to mana fix with the caverns as I typically don't have an issue with mana but it has actually helped me more than hurt so far.

Thanks again for all the suggestions!  It helps to get an outside opinion!

Here's the updated deck:  http://deckbox.org/sets/312435?

Re: B/W Midrangy Control

I have something like it that I played for the first time today.  War Falcons actually worked great in the 1-drop slot...... I never thought there were that good, but this deck has plenty of knights and soldiers.

turn 1 war falcon -> turn 2 knight of infamy/glory and swing with flying 3/2.  not bad.  I finished with either Obzedat or Blood Baron of Vizkopa.  Here it is: http://deckbox.org/sets/391903

I like this way better than my previous straight Orzhov.  I need to get some of those Angels you're using.

Re: B/W Midrangy Control

Oh yeah, and the aura I like best on High Priest is Gift of Orzhova - works like a charm and can now block flyers.