Ok, cool then. Cause I really like Grixis colors but I find Ultimatum to be really bad, I Mean it's 7 mana and doesn't win the game, yet I love these colors for control.
So here's what I've been working on, now that we have a beater:
There has only been one time where I cast a Cruel Ultimatum and it did not win the game on the spot. Every other time the opponent conceded or was decimated.
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Level 1 Judge
Level 2 in progress...
UUU Merfolk UUU "Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR "The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas
Hello, is this thread ONLY for builds that run Cruel Ultimatum? Or is it for Grixis Control in general? I want to know if this is the right thread, thanks!
If you rock Grixis colors, you are welcome here mate.
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Level 1 Judge
Level 2 in progress...
UUU Merfolk UUU "Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR "The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas
I am currently running a pair of main deck batterskulls as an experiment. I played a couple of burn decks and having the batterskulls game one was beneficial, but I am still skeptical about them in the main deck. One card that has been fantastic is the Mogis, God of Slaughter I have in the sideboard, wrecked a couple of abzan players with him.
UUU Merfolk UUU "Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR "The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas
monastery siege and dragon's claw are good options for burn. I prefer siege because it is relevant in more matchups. I run main deck batterskulls for a chance to stabilize against burn.
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Level 1 Judge
Level 2 in progress...
UUU Merfolk UUU "Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR "The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas
Why do you have 2 islands If you arent going to play 3 islands to cast cryptic under blood moon i don't get why you have 2
Because i'd rather just side them out since they're not insanely necessary to win, instead I side in Keranos god of storms which I have 2 of in my sideboard and is fantastic against blood moon decks. I tried out 3 islands for a while but I kept drawing them in my openers and they made my fixing less fluid, also fetching 3 islands and a swamp vs blood moon decks is not that likely might have to play a lot of fetches to make that likely.
Btw guys! I was watching top 8 of pro tour fate reforged and saw the splinter twin player had a Jace, AoT in the sideboard ! yay maybe it will be more popular now.
why have two then and not just one Keranos only cost 1 island
Sometimes you don't want to take 2 from a Watery Grave or Steam Vents if you need untapped blue mana.
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Level 1 Judge
Level 2 in progress...
UUU Merfolk UUU "Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR "The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas
UUU Merfolk UUU "Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR "The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas
i was thinking, would steam augury be better then think twice if you're playing tasigur, the golden fang as you're putting extra cards in to your graveyard and digging for cards and either getting 2 good cards or 3 mediocre cards? and you can snapcaster steam augury?.
i also think im going to try Godo, Bandit Warlord for the midrange matchup to find batterskull put it in to play while getting a 3/3 creature giving you a second combat phase even better for batterskull, seems good against junk.
i think grixis control is well positioned now, although its one poor match up atm is burn as grixis doesn't have the best life gain.
I tested steam augury extensively and found it to be a decent card advantage tool. It is especially great when you reveal a snapcaster mage and spells altogether. The hardest thing about using steam augury is deciding what to cut in the deck.
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Level 1 Judge
Level 2 in progress...
UUU Merfolk UUU "Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR "The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas
Got another modern tourney report for everyone. I was using the same list posted earlier.
Round 1: Burn
Game 1: I get burned out after holding him off for several turns with counter magic.
Game 2: I side in batterskull and I was able to counter all his spells and finish him off with a Snapcaster beatdown.
Game 3: I get him to 8 life with a batterskull on the field and a Clique in hand, I am at 3 life and he topdecks to kill me.
0-1
Round 2: Junk
Game 1: I counter and remove all his threats, but eventually lose to a lone siege rhino.
Game 2: I side in batterskull, Mogis, Keranos and thoughtseize. I strip his rhinos out of his hand and resolve Mogis. I let Mogis kill him while countering and removing his creatures.
Game 3: I resolve Mogis again and burn him out.
1-1
Round 3: Weird Land Destruction deck with howling mines?!?
Game 1: He blows up some lands, but I beat him down with snapcasters.
Game 2: He lands two howling mines... which leads to his demise as I draw three each turn and counter everything.
2-1
Round 4:Burn
Game 1: Shot down in flames, Ain't it a shame, to be shot down in flames.
Game 2: I counter everything he has and win with snapcaster and clique.
Game 3: We both get to low life totals, I have a batterskull in hand. He cast skullcrack, I cast countersquall then promptly get boros charmed.
2-2
I will probably use some Dragon's Claws for this store as I saw a lot of burn in the room. I will be putting the cryptic commands back in after I test this list a bit more. I don't really see a need for anger of the gods, but it is good against zoo and dredge I guess.
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Level 1 Judge
Level 2 in progress...
UUU Merfolk UUU "Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR "The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas
So I've been lurking around here for quite a bit and I thought it was time to contribute to the thread. Modern night was tonight and I came in first place with this list.
Game 1: Counter summer blooms and bolt Azusa. Opponent resolves two Prime Times, but I had terminates for them. Win with the Creep.
Side in thoughtseize and slaughter games
Game 2: She drops land and I go thoughtseize, thoughtseize, snapcaster, thoughtseize talk about cruel lol. Opponent goes for a summoner's pact on my end step and I bounce her simic growth chamber so she can't pay for it on the upkeep.
1-0
Round 2 Dredge
Game 1: Grindfest. I manage to counter and remove his threats long enough to win with the Creep. Opponent could have won by using rite of consumption on a death's shadow, but he did not see that line.
Side in batterskull
Game 2: Batterskull does work and takes it home after countering and bouncing all the things.
2-0
Round 3 UWR Delver
We are both undefeated and decide to split but play for fun.
Game 1: I counter and remove all the threats I can. I am at 2 life with a Clique and Tar Pit and he is at 8 life with a Young Pyromancer in play. I attack with tar pit he casts lightning helix at me and I countersquall it
side in batterskull, thoughtseize and night of souls betrayal.
Game 2: I resolve double batterskull GG.
3-0
I've played this deck since it was the five color version in standard. I was testing the Steam Augurys and they seem alright. I had molten rain in the side but took them out due to the prevalence of combo in my meta.
UUU Merfolk UUU "Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR "The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas
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There has only been one time where I cast a Cruel Ultimatum and it did not win the game on the spot. Every other time the opponent conceded or was decimated.
Level 2 in progress...
UUU Merfolk UUU
"Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR
"The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas
If you rock Grixis colors, you are welcome here mate.
Level 2 in progress...
UUU Merfolk UUU
"Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR
"The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas
Another card that has performed well post board is Night of Souls' Betrayal
Level 2 in progress...
UUU Merfolk UUU
"Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR
"The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas
Level 2 in progress...
UUU Merfolk UUU
"Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR
"The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas
Sometimes you don't want to take 2 from a Watery Grave or Steam Vents if you need untapped blue mana.
Level 2 in progress...
UUU Merfolk UUU
"Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR
"The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas
Level 2 in progress...
UUU Merfolk UUU
"Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR
"The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas
I tested steam augury extensively and found it to be a decent card advantage tool. It is especially great when you reveal a snapcaster mage and spells altogether. The hardest thing about using steam augury is deciding what to cut in the deck.
Level 2 in progress...
UUU Merfolk UUU
"Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR
"The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas
Round 1: Burn
Game 1: I get burned out after holding him off for several turns with counter magic.
Game 2: I side in batterskull and I was able to counter all his spells and finish him off with a Snapcaster beatdown.
Game 3: I get him to 8 life with a batterskull on the field and a Clique in hand, I am at 3 life and he topdecks to kill me.
0-1
Round 2: Junk
Game 1: I counter and remove all his threats, but eventually lose to a lone siege rhino.
Game 2: I side in batterskull, Mogis, Keranos and thoughtseize. I strip his rhinos out of his hand and resolve Mogis. I let Mogis kill him while countering and removing his creatures.
Game 3: I resolve Mogis again and burn him out.
1-1
Round 3: Weird Land Destruction deck with howling mines?!?
Game 1: He blows up some lands, but I beat him down with snapcasters.
Game 2: He lands two howling mines... which leads to his demise as I draw three each turn and counter everything.
2-1
Round 4:Burn
Game 1: Shot down in flames, Ain't it a shame, to be shot down in flames.
Game 2: I counter everything he has and win with snapcaster and clique.
Game 3: We both get to low life totals, I have a batterskull in hand. He cast skullcrack, I cast countersquall then promptly get boros charmed.
2-2
I will probably use some Dragon's Claws for this store as I saw a lot of burn in the room. I will be putting the cryptic commands back in after I test this list a bit more. I don't really see a need for anger of the gods, but it is good against zoo and dredge I guess.
Level 2 in progress...
UUU Merfolk UUU
"Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR
"The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas
4 Creeping Tar Pit
4 Polluted Delta
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Island
2 Steam Vents
2 Watery Grave
1 Temple of Epiphany
1 Temple of Malice
1 Dragonskull Summit
1 Sulfur Falls
1 Blood Crypt
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Swamp
1 Mountain
4 Rune Snag
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Grixis Charm
3 Spell Snare
3 Countersquall
3 Terminate
3 Electrolyze
2 Steam Augury
2 Cruel Ultimatum
2 Damnation
Creatures
3 Snapcaster Mage
1 Vendilion Clique
1 Keranos, God of Storms
1 Night of Souls' Betrayal
1 Mogis, God of Slaughter
2 Batterskull
2 Slaughter Games
2 Counterflux
2 Anger of the Gods
4 Thoughtseize
Match-ups
Round 1 Bloom Titan
Game 1: Counter summer blooms and bolt Azusa. Opponent resolves two Prime Times, but I had terminates for them. Win with the Creep.
Side in thoughtseize and slaughter games
Game 2: She drops land and I go thoughtseize, thoughtseize, snapcaster, thoughtseize talk about cruel lol. Opponent goes for a summoner's pact on my end step and I bounce her simic growth chamber so she can't pay for it on the upkeep.
1-0
Round 2 Dredge
Game 1: Grindfest. I manage to counter and remove his threats long enough to win with the Creep. Opponent could have won by using rite of consumption on a death's shadow, but he did not see that line.
Side in batterskull
Game 2: Batterskull does work and takes it home after countering and bouncing all the things.
2-0
Round 3 UWR Delver
We are both undefeated and decide to split but play for fun.
Game 1: I counter and remove all the threats I can. I am at 2 life with a Clique and Tar Pit and he is at 8 life with a Young Pyromancer in play. I attack with tar pit he casts lightning helix at me and I countersquall it
side in batterskull, thoughtseize and night of souls betrayal.
Game 2: I resolve double batterskull GG.
3-0
I've played this deck since it was the five color version in standard. I was testing the Steam Augurys and they seem alright. I had molten rain in the side but took them out due to the prevalence of combo in my meta.
Level 2 in progress...
UUU Merfolk UUU
"Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR
"The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas