I dabbled abound with the esper mentor list, I felt like it's power level is fairly low, when it goes off it goes off hard and that can lead to some big board states very quickly, but I found the deck to feel very threat light. They don't really play anything that leads real card advantage so if you can stop the first tasigur or mentor they have trouble getting that critical momentum going. And a lot of time when a threat was landed, they have like 1-2 cards in hand. However an unanswer turn 3 mentor is very dangerous
Spell snare is good but it's got it's limits too. what happens if turn 2 they play a 1 drop? And what if turn one they played a mana dork and now turn 2 they play a 3 drop. If I was sitting with a spell snare in hand I think I would much rather them be leaks. So don't short change mana leak. In a perfect world where everyone hits their land drops and curves perfectly them maybe there are better options but mana leak and forcing people to pay 3 is quite relevant early game for several turns not just "literally" turn 3.
Also lots of times logic knot is active turn 2 with a fetch but what about when you didn't have early fetches, it's dead too, Or after the first one a second right away is dead also, you need a few turns to build the GY again.
@cmor I find most abzan players never get rid of all decays, maybe go down to 2 instead of 4. Most experienced junk and jund players realize the hate that's getting brought in against them costs 3 or less so even if there isn't a target game one, there probably is game 2, so they'll keep in a few for things like rest in peace which really mess with souls, goyfs and oozes.
Try swapping one mana leak for a logic knot then. I play a few more 1 drops but with 8 fetches logic knot is usually turned of for the curve. I personally am trying a 3/2 split between leak and knot. Another option to fight tron is shadow of doubt. Doesn't help if they naturally esemble tron but shadow has many other matches where it's good too.
I think the list looks nice. How has it been fairing? I personally think utter end isn't efficient enough for modern when youre comparing it to the likes of path, But your explanation as a consessuon to tron seems valid, at least it's a catch all. Did you play around with detention sphere filling that role at all. My biggest thumbs up for your deck is lingering souls. I think that after esper charm it's the second biggest reason to actually have black in the UW deck. I'm currently playing 3. And when I played an opposing deck playing 4 copies I wished I had 4 as well.
Well done! Id love to hear specificaly about you collaected company match. Ive yet to run across one but i see the deck being played more at the LGS. Seems like a tough match between the finks and voices
@sentimental i think that list looks really good! Mind sharing some match details about the 3 events? I know there were a lot of games but if you wanna share ill read.
Anyone over in the actual esper control thread won't hesitate to make the distinction that this list falls nowhere near the realm of control. its midrange. its not fast enough to be all out agro and its not really controlling what the other person does. its just trying to play out threats and make sure that the way is either clear or made clear to get those threats to connect. very much like junk, jund or URW Geist midrange decks do.
@yellowmimic options include condemn, oust, doom blade, smoother. infect is relatively threat light like boggles, if you can stop the first wave they flood out on pump spells. But it is a good deck that preys on decks like ours so its a tough match but not unwinnable. I sometimes prefer playing kill spells on my turn so if they vines to protect thats less pump they can do during the attack. Also hand disruption is MVP against them to take their key cards.
I think rally is some incredibly exciting tactics for this deck, i will definitely be testing that out. I've been liking courser in some numbers in the deck. This deck is very much like pod in that it is only going to get better as they print more exciting ETB 3CMC creatures. it'll be tier 1 some day. also i think the spoiled lili from origins could be definitely find a home in here as well
Also lots of times logic knot is active turn 2 with a fetch but what about when you didn't have early fetches, it's dead too, Or after the first one a second right away is dead also, you need a few turns to build the GY again.