I've been looking at the UW control vs UW tempo lists, but I'm not sure I understand how the deck philosophies work. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
UW Control seems to play a lot more counterspells. It feels like a permission deck. Make the game go past turn 6 and then play a finisher.
UW Tempo seems to have more cheap aggressive creatures and a smaller counterspell package...I must be missing something else about this deck style.
However, the confusing part for me is that in UW Control lists, I see Squadron Hawk and Vendilion Clique. Aren't those cheap creatures suited in a tempo deck?
Control wants Squadron Hawk because it's card advantage on a stick. It slows down your opponent because they need to go through each squadron hawk, plus it's a wincon with a sword or a batterskull.
Clique is awesome because it neuters combo and, since it has flash, you can keep counter mana up and still advance your board if needed.
I've been looking at the UW control vs UW tempo lists, but I'm not sure I understand how the deck philosophies work. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
UW Control seems to play a lot more counterspells. It feels like a permission deck. Make the game go past turn 6 and then play a finisher.
UW Tempo seems to have more cheap aggressive creatures and a smaller counterspell package...I must be missing something else about this deck style.
However, the confusing part for me is that in UW Control lists, I see Squadron Hawk and Vendilion Clique. Aren't those cheap creatures suited in a tempo deck?
You are correct about UW Control. UW Tempo doesn't really seek to control the game. Rather, they want to throw out a cheap threat (Delver, Giest of St. Traft, Etc.) and use their high amounts of removal to clear the way, and their smaller counter suite to stall the game for a few turns so they can win. The difference is that UW tempo doesn't want to control the whole game. Instead they just want to stop you from doing anything for a few turns to they can kill you, and never get to the late game. This is why they play cards like Remand and Spell Pierce; they're awful after turn 6 or so, but the tempo decks don't ever want to get that far.
The reason Clique is in both lists is because in UW Control, it's a cheap threat they can play late game and still keep up counters, and it's ability is very relevant to help control the game. UW Tempo likes it because it's an efficient threat they can slam on turn 3, that has an ability that helps them stall the game.
UW Control seems to play a lot more counterspells. It feels like a permission deck. Make the game go past turn 6 and then play a finisher.
UW Tempo seems to have more cheap aggressive creatures and a smaller counterspell package...I must be missing something else about this deck style.
However, the confusing part for me is that in UW Control lists, I see Squadron Hawk and Vendilion Clique. Aren't those cheap creatures suited in a tempo deck?
Clique is awesome because it neuters combo and, since it has flash, you can keep counter mana up and still advance your board if needed.
You are correct about UW Control. UW Tempo doesn't really seek to control the game. Rather, they want to throw out a cheap threat (Delver, Giest of St. Traft, Etc.) and use their high amounts of removal to clear the way, and their smaller counter suite to stall the game for a few turns so they can win. The difference is that UW tempo doesn't want to control the whole game. Instead they just want to stop you from doing anything for a few turns to they can kill you, and never get to the late game. This is why they play cards like Remand and Spell Pierce; they're awful after turn 6 or so, but the tempo decks don't ever want to get that far.
The reason Clique is in both lists is because in UW Control, it's a cheap threat they can play late game and still keep up counters, and it's ability is very relevant to help control the game. UW Tempo likes it because it's an efficient threat they can slam on turn 3, that has an ability that helps them stall the game.
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