Hey, this is Francesco from the UWx Midrange/Control communinity on FB. I've been sharing your daily 5-0's and have advocated for this approach to UW players and others looking to play a viable and adaptable Control deck in Modern. Fantastic work. I agree with many of your points, including that Omens is very good alongside Trials to force overextension. I first played 2 Trials in UW Midrange with Omens, Finks, Clique, Resto, etc. and loved it. I also talk to Keenan quite a bit about this deck.
I have 2 questions, because the rest is truly on point to me -
1. How have 2 CC been over the common 3?
2. Have you tested or considered Glimmer of Genius? The card is a nice bridge to Rev, but I see you're on Think Twice.
I'm currently testing a UWb version of this and I'm loving it. I splashed B for Fatal Push, Tasigur (just recently), and Collective Brutality (3 side because they're arguably the best vs Burn, but are also good vs some Combo, mirrors, and Company).
For more, please follow the discussion about this deck in Deck Creation so we don't take away from Esper Mentor/Geist/Delver (this is NOT those decks).
Narset is one of the best cards in the deck. I'm actually its designer and I have a thread dedicated to it in Deck Creation. Dylan, the pilot who finished 21st, has been testing the deck extensively (he's on my team) and agrees that Narset doesn't go. Lilly + Narset is almost unbeatable. She presents an 'unfair' angle and is our card advantage/value engine who is also a win condition vs heavy non-creature spell decks. And no - Jace is not a replacement. They impact the board and game differently.
She's contributed to a lot of lopsided wins vs Midrange and Control variants. For instance, it doesn't matter how many AV's go off, or Rev's, because none of their draws will beat a resolved Narset, which ultimately leads to her locking them out. The deck has other ways to deal with their minimal threats, too. She's essentially the deck's own Rev/AV. It's quality > quantity.
In testing, he averaged close to an 85% win pct vs Grixis, Jeskai, UW, BGx, etc., going 2-0 vs most control variants. Others, including myself, have experienced similar. Then the deck has proven to be very good vs Aggro and Combo decks, too.
Its hardest MU is Eldrazi Tron and U Tron. GR/GW Tron, Lantern, and Valakut are tough G1, but the deck can steal wins because of disruption into Lilly/Narset. It's better G2/3. Dredge can be a pain in the ass, too, even without GGT.
It's definitely like a 'Blue Junk', but more on the Control end of the spectrum.
It's a Midrange deck that's immune to removal. Doing so means our opponents have more dead cards in hand, and we get to overwhelm them more easily. It forces them to board a predictable way, which you can capitalize on, and also allows you to make their average card quality much worse.
With Burn potentially on the decline because of Collective Brutality, and us having a plan vs Tron and Combo decks, dominating Midrange and Control (they're basically bye's or highly favored), and being solid vs Infect and Affinity, this deck is in great shape for the format.
Advice:
Test the deck extensively as is before making changes. A lot of work has gone into its design, card selections, gameplan, etc. It also 5-0'd in a competitive MTGO with a similar 75 (his friend), but it had Sorin, SV over Ally (inferior) and no Mage/Geist (which are great).
Don't fix what isn't broken. The core has been established. Now it's just a matter of learning it and how it navigates vs different decks.
Dylan Brown gives my ET community a shoutout and shares his thoughts on the deck during the event. He also emphasizes the significance of Narset Transcendent in ET.
I think Secure the Wastes is more flexible, efficient, and better positioned than White Sun's Zenith. It's fine early, mid, and late, it's less mana restrictive, synergizes with Snap, and can create more bodies, which can be more problematic than more power (i.e. Lingering Souls).
Im really annoyed by neo7hinkers showmanship here. This is about draw go, no one in here is interested in your tap out deck which by the way isnt your creation at all. The idea was out there before you picked it up and it even did put up results online before you claimed to create it. Lets pls go on with discussing draw go and you go back to your fb communities and try to thrill some kids with your planeswalker deck.
Fyi - I didn't bring it up. Scroll back to page 386. I simply provided info on the deck in response to the series of posts about it.
I'd rather not engage in a discussion made up of points that are only going to be counter-argued and refuted by your skepticsm - that have been discussed in detail by many players actually playing this deck beyond just a dozen or so games. There's several points you made that I can touch on that have been thoroughly evaluated, and tested (hours upon hours by several players, including myself, that have contributed to this deck's design from main to side), through application, not just theory or wishful thinking. From your SB analysis to the MU assessments, particularly Ad Naus, Jeskai Control, and Grixis Control, are misconceived. In fact, there's been extensive testing being done vs many of these MU's, and there's been consistent wins vs Ad Naus and Grixis Control recently. The deck is hitting its stride. There's an established core, design philosophy/formula, and gameplan. The recent 5-0 on MTGO was comprised of the following wins:
2-0 vs Ad Naus
2-1 vs Grixis Control
2-1 vs Grixis Control
2-0 vs Living End
2-1 vs Jund
I highly recommend checking out my community and feedback from players heavily invested in this deck if you want a better perspective of the deck. Regardless, the proof is in performance, and that will speak louder than any words or opinions.
The article also includes my Esper version, which Ben and Keenan (Heatchecker) like quite a bit if we were to splash black.
Enjoy!
https://www.cardknocklife.com/2017/07/02/modern-uw-control-mtgos-bennyhillz/#more-3525
Hey, this is Francesco from the UWx Midrange/Control communinity on FB. I've been sharing your daily 5-0's and have advocated for this approach to UW players and others looking to play a viable and adaptable Control deck in Modern. Fantastic work. I agree with many of your points, including that Omens is very good alongside Trials to force overextension. I first played 2 Trials in UW Midrange with Omens, Finks, Clique, Resto, etc. and loved it. I also talk to Keenan quite a bit about this deck.
I have 2 questions, because the rest is truly on point to me -
1. How have 2 CC been over the common 3?
2. Have you tested or considered Glimmer of Genius? The card is a nice bridge to Rev, but I see you're on Think Twice.
I'm currently testing a UWb version of this and I'm loving it. I splashed B for Fatal Push, Tasigur (just recently), and Collective Brutality (3 side because they're arguably the best vs Burn, but are also good vs some Combo, mirrors, and Company).
Sorry, bud. We have a personal team group, but we'll get around to posting it in the public community.
Esper Transcendent's Favored, Fair, & Unfavored MU's:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-gnPUq35a84Pg0XSSMMv_5WIOCX9GqapWlqh_nZ8wjQ
For more, please follow the discussion about this deck in Deck Creation so we don't take away from Esper Mentor/Geist/Delver (this is NOT those decks).
This deck also blanks a lot of removal.
Here's how his Day 1 & 2 MU's went down:
https://i.imgur.com/mRqzza2.jpg
She's contributed to a lot of lopsided wins vs Midrange and Control variants. For instance, it doesn't matter how many AV's go off, or Rev's, because none of their draws will beat a resolved Narset, which ultimately leads to her locking them out. The deck has other ways to deal with their minimal threats, too. She's essentially the deck's own Rev/AV. It's quality > quantity.
In testing, he averaged close to an 85% win pct vs Grixis, Jeskai, UW, BGx, etc., going 2-0 vs most control variants. Others, including myself, have experienced similar. Then the deck has proven to be very good vs Aggro and Combo decks, too.
Its hardest MU is Eldrazi Tron and U Tron. GR/GW Tron, Lantern, and Valakut are tough G1, but the deck can steal wins because of disruption into Lilly/Narset. It's better G2/3. Dredge can be a pain in the ass, too, even without GGT.
It's definitely like a 'Blue Junk', but more on the Control end of the spectrum.
It's a Midrange deck that's immune to removal. Doing so means our opponents have more dead cards in hand, and we get to overwhelm them more easily. It forces them to board a predictable way, which you can capitalize on, and also allows you to make their average card quality much worse.
With Burn potentially on the decline because of Collective Brutality, and us having a plan vs Tron and Combo decks, dominating Midrange and Control (they're basically bye's or highly favored), and being solid vs Infect and Affinity, this deck is in great shape for the format.
Advice:
Test the deck extensively as is before making changes. A lot of work has gone into its design, card selections, gameplan, etc. It also 5-0'd in a competitive MTGO with a similar 75 (his friend), but it had Sorin, SV over Ally (inferior) and no Mage/Geist (which are great).
Don't fix what isn't broken. The core has been established. Now it's just a matter of learning it and how it navigates vs different decks.
Indeed.
Day 1 & 2 MU's:
https://i.imgur.com/mRqzza2.jpg
If you're interested, I have a thread dedicated to it in Deck Creation. I'm its designer.
Dylan Brown - 21st
Esper Transcendent
Day 1:
Lantern (L)
Grixis Control (W)
Affinity (L)
Affinity (W)
Boggles (W)
Kiki chord (W)
Abzan (W)
Jund (W)
Abzan (W)
Day 2:
Death's Shadow Jund (W)
Goryo's Expertise (W)
Cheerios (W)
Grixis Delver (W)
Burn (W)
Dredge (L)
Dylan Brown - 21st
Esper Transcendent
http://magic.wizards.com/en/events/coverage/gpbri17/9-32-decklists-2017-02-19
Day 1:
Lantern (L)
Grixis Control (W)
Affinity (L)
Affinity (W)
Boggles (W)
Kiki chord (W)
Abzan (W)
Jund (W)
Abzan (W)
Day 2:
Death's Shadow Jund (W)
Goryo's Expertise (W)
Cheerios (W)
Grixis Delver (W)
Burn (W)
Dredge (L)
Dylan Brown gives my ET community a shoutout and shares his thoughts on the deck during the event. He also emphasizes the significance of Narset Transcendent in ET.
http://magic.wizards.com/en/events/coverage/gpbri17/top-5-moments-grand-prix-brisbane-2017-02-19
Fyi - I didn't bring it up. Scroll back to page 386. I simply provided info on the deck in response to the series of posts about it.
2-0 vs Ad Naus
2-1 vs Grixis Control
2-1 vs Grixis Control
2-0 vs Living End
2-1 vs Jund
I highly recommend checking out my community and feedback from players heavily invested in this deck if you want a better perspective of the deck. Regardless, the proof is in performance, and that will speak louder than any words or opinions.
Admins:
I'm ending my ET talk here.
Note: Tips, Decks, and targets. Some tip references are for ET. You can ignore those.
The Runed Halo Guide
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10fAugZq4Y29uTHQFsA3PhbPbLkamnnKMeVtP5B7XGv4
You could even add this to the OP if you'd like. It's definitely one of the most valuable, cross-performing SB cards.
Just responding to the initial question and following responses. Understood.