Yes I believe UB control is viable. A Disinformation Campaign strategy is what I used last season before the release of WAR. It could compete well against Sultai Midrange, Esper Control and Mono blue Tempo. And was tap-out strategy.
As for your list, there is absolutely no reason whatsoever to be a UB control strategy and not run 4x Thought Erasure. It is purely a mistake not to.
4x Murder is too many. Cut down to 0-2. Or even replace it with the new Ob Nixilis's Cruelty.
Board sweepers are must for any control strategy to survive. Three to four Ritual of Soot main deck are required.
You asked if there were other ways for UB to deal with resolved planeswakers besides Contempt. Those would be The Eldest Reborn and The ElderSpell
Nightveil Predator and Dream Eater a surprisingly quality win-cons. WAR now brings us God-Eternal Kefnet which a high quality creature in a instant speed strategy. One or two of these should be included.
And yet there are still some mad lads like Coluche to try and make UW Control works. Here is the list he used to 5-0 a MTGO Competitive Leage: https://aetherhub.com/Deck/Public/107028#
This list is strictly UW and only has three each of Teferi, Hero of Dominaria and Absorb??
The changes would be to drop all creatures and Karn, Scion of Urza. And replace them with three to four each of Kaya, Orzhov Usurper and Gideon Blackblade as the finishers. Gideon would be nothing more than a 4/4 indestructible beater.
I do love the new cards and possibilities for BW Control, but I don't know if you could rely solely on those 2 as finishers. Gideon Blackblade would seem to be better in an aggro-type or midrange deck that had other creatures; standing alone, he doesn't protect himself against opposing creatures attacking him and any random exile effect would get rid of him.
This is one of the primary reasons that I have been off of this strategy since its inception: lack of quality finishers. God-Eternal Oketra is a possibility. But here again there is no real way to maximize her potential.
As always, suggestions are welcome.
The changes would be to drop all creatures and Karn, Scion of Urza. And replace them with three to four each of Kaya, Orzhov Usurper and Gideon Blackblade as the finishers. Gideon would be nothing more than a 4/4 indestructible beater.
Hi, Can anyone post a UW list for the current meta?
There is no UW list. That is because UW control is terrible in the current meta. UW control will have a terrible matchup vs Esper Control and Sultai midrange. Who both have access to Thought Erasure and Duress. Settle the Wreckage ramps Sultai into bigger Hydroid Krasis
Even Jeskai Control is not viable right now.
If you want to play control, you would be better suited to play Esper, Grixis, or even straight UB
I really don't think Teferi has any warrant for a ban in Standard and to be honest I don't really think any legal card in standard is could get banned right now since the format is rather weak to be honest.
The concept of Dimir Campaign centers around the enchantment Disinformation Campaign that looks to leverage card advantage while denying your opponent their game plan.
The strategy of Dimir Campaign is CONTROL. Tapping out on our turn to deny your opponent cards. Or a significant board state. This style of control looks to fight other control strategies on a different axis. Using hand disruption and manipulation rather than fighting counter wars on the stack.
The Cards of Dimir Campaign
The Core
Disinformation CampaignThe core of the deck is this enchantment that provides us card advantage. Many may claim that this card bad or does nothing to affect the board. However Campaign WILL gain us card advantage after only playing it twice. While at the same time putting the opponent in the uncomfortable position of discarding. This effect is magnified if the opponent has mulliganed.
Since each individual Campaign in the deck replaces its self, we are never down a card by casting it. Recasting the same Campaign positively nets cards.
Even late game, Campaign always replaces itself when the opponent has no cards.
Lets look at some examples of how effective Disinformation Campaign can be:
T1 - land
T2 - Thought Erasure
T3 - Disinformation Campaign
T4 - Ritual of Soot / Cast Down
In this scenario, we have denied our opponent two cards while also addressing the battlefield
Here is another:
T1 - land
T2 - Cast Down
T3 - Disinformation Campaign
T4 - Discovery // Dispersal (Return Campaign to our hand)
T5 - Disinformation Campaign
In this scenario we have cast the same campaign twice. There fore gaining us a +3 card advantage.
The first Campaign replaces itself. Replaying the same campaign now gains us a card.
Thought Erasure The all powerful affect of seeing your opponents hand. And stripping them of valuable resources. Triggers Campaign.
Discovery // Dispersal Filters through the deck while triggering Campaign. Disperal also serves as removal.
Win Conditions
Nightveil Predator This unassuming gem is extremely difficult for opponents to deal with.
Dream Eater YES. Dream Eater. This nightmare sphinx is HIGHLY underated. Triggers Campaign while setting up our draws with a powerful surveil FOUR. The surveiled cards can then be quickly acquired with Campaign or Discovery. Dream Eater further gives us the option to return a permanent to the opponents hand. To later be dealt with through our discard campaign strategy.
Flashing in Dream Eater at the opponent's EOT allows us to turn the corner and go on the attack. It is important to note that Dream Eater is almost always an OFFENSIVE strategy and NOT a defensive one. Win rates tend to be high once Dream Eater is in involved.
The Eldest Reborn Another enchantment that provides discard. Return a Dream Eater from the grave to battlefield and triggering its ETB affects again is significant. Or choose of our opponents creatures or planeswalkers that were dicsarded or destroyed.
The Strategy of Dimir Campaign
Ideally we want to start with a turn 2 Thought Erasure followed by a turn 3 Disinformation Campaign to start disrupting out opponents strategy. Then follow up with which ever 4cmc card is tactically appropriate.
Since Dimir Campaign is a tap out strategy we will not be holding up counter spells. However, access to a couple Negate main board is highly effective in protecting our plan.
Strategies that Dimir Campaign can deafeat:
Esper Control
Grixis Control
Sultai Midrange
Izzet Drakes
Mono Blue Tempo
Orzhov Knights
Rakdos Aggro
Bant Arcades' Defenders
The Sideboard of Dimir Campaign
Duress / Negate - Against Control and Reclaimation
Thats cool, Man. congrats
After watching that entire video, I find it funny that Jim says the deck is terrible the entire time he is playing it. But goes 4-1
However what straight UB lacks is a quality control planeswalker. The new Liliana, Dreadhorde General does make up for this a bit. As well as The Eldest Reborn
As for your list, there is absolutely no reason whatsoever to be a UB control strategy and not run 4x Thought Erasure. It is purely a mistake not to.
4x Murder is too many. Cut down to 0-2. Or even replace it with the new Ob Nixilis's Cruelty.
Board sweepers are must for any control strategy to survive. Three to four Ritual of Soot main deck are required.
Essence scatter is still a good and serviceable card
For counter spells in a draw go strategy, I like 4x Essence Scatter, 4x Sinister Sabotage and 0-2x Negate all mainboard.
You asked if there were other ways for UB to deal with resolved planeswakers besides Contempt. Those would be The Eldest Reborn and The ElderSpell
Nightveil Predator and Dream Eater a surprisingly quality win-cons. WAR now brings us God-Eternal Kefnet which a high quality creature in a instant speed strategy. One or two of these should be included.
As always, suggestions are welcome.
"Exile ALL multicolored permanents"
Settle the Wreckage ramps Sultai into bigger Hydroid Krasis
Even Jeskai Control is not viable right now.
If you want to play control, you would be better suited to play Esper, Grixis, or even straight UB
The concept of Dimir Campaign centers around the enchantment Disinformation Campaign that looks to leverage card advantage while denying your opponent their game plan.
The strategy of Dimir Campaign is CONTROL. Tapping out on our turn to deny your opponent cards. Or a significant board state. This style of control looks to fight other control strategies on a different axis. Using hand disruption and manipulation rather than fighting counter wars on the stack.
The Cards of Dimir Campaign
The Core
Disinformation CampaignThe core of the deck is this enchantment that provides us card advantage. Many may claim that this card bad or does nothing to affect the board. However Campaign WILL gain us card advantage after only playing it twice. While at the same time putting the opponent in the uncomfortable position of discarding. This effect is magnified if the opponent has mulliganed.
Since each individual Campaign in the deck replaces its self, we are never down a card by casting it. Recasting the same Campaign positively nets cards.
Even late game, Campaign always replaces itself when the opponent has no cards.
Lets look at some examples of how effective Disinformation Campaign can be:
T1 - land
T2 - Thought Erasure
T3 - Disinformation Campaign
T4 - Ritual of Soot / Cast Down
In this scenario, we have denied our opponent two cards while also addressing the battlefield
Here is another:
T1 - land
T2 - Cast Down
T3 - Disinformation Campaign
T4 - Discovery // Dispersal (Return Campaign to our hand)
T5 - Disinformation Campaign
In this scenario we have cast the same campaign twice. There fore gaining us a +3 card advantage.
The first Campaign replaces itself. Replaying the same campaign now gains us a card.
Thought Erasure The all powerful affect of seeing your opponents hand. And stripping them of valuable resources. Triggers Campaign.
Discovery // Dispersal Filters through the deck while triggering Campaign. Disperal also serves as removal.
Win Conditions
Nightveil Predator This unassuming gem is extremely difficult for opponents to deal with.
Dream Eater YES. Dream Eater. This nightmare sphinx is HIGHLY underated. Triggers Campaign while setting up our draws with a powerful surveil FOUR. The surveiled cards can then be quickly acquired with Campaign or Discovery. Dream Eater further gives us the option to return a permanent to the opponents hand. To later be dealt with through our discard campaign strategy.
Flashing in Dream Eater at the opponent's EOT allows us to turn the corner and go on the attack. It is important to note that Dream Eater is almost always an OFFENSIVE strategy and NOT a defensive one. Win rates tend to be high once Dream Eater is in involved.
The Eldest Reborn Another enchantment that provides discard. Return a Dream Eater from the grave to battlefield and triggering its ETB affects again is significant. Or choose of our opponents creatures or planeswalkers that were dicsarded or destroyed.
The Strategy of Dimir Campaign
Ideally we want to start with a turn 2 Thought Erasure followed by a turn 3 Disinformation Campaign to start disrupting out opponents strategy. Then follow up with which ever 4cmc card is tactically appropriate.
Since Dimir Campaign is a tap out strategy we will not be holding up counter spells. However, access to a couple Negate main board is highly effective in protecting our plan.
Strategies that Dimir Campaign can deafeat:
Esper Control
Grixis Control
Sultai Midrange
Izzet Drakes
Mono Blue Tempo
Orzhov Knights
Rakdos Aggro
Bant Arcades' Defenders
The Sideboard of Dimir Campaign
Duress / Negate - Against Control and Reclaimation
Moment of Craving - For Mono Blue tempo and hyper aggro strategies
Current list:
4 thought erasure
4 discovery // dispersal
4 cast down
2 negate
4 disinformation campaign
4 ritual of soot
4 vraska's contempt
2 the eldest reborn
4 Nightveil Predator
3 Dream Eater
Lands - 25
1 dimir guildgate
1 detection tower
1 field of ruin
4 drowned catacomb
4 watery grave
7 island
7 swamp
After all, we do surveil at upkeep with Azcanta
After watching that entire video, I find it funny that Jim says the deck is terrible the entire time he is playing it. But goes 4-1
So are there any other changes you wold make?
Sinister Sabotage for negate and dive down?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wXGChwYr0I&t=3601s