Azor and Angel of Grace were two interesting things I hadn't thought of since Standard. Would anything with flash work in that slot? Torrential Gearhulk seems good as I can cast either a counter or the Hieroglyphic Illumination that got cycled earlier in the game, as well as ambush a beater. Would maindecking Elspeth be possible as well? It seems rather slow, but with the amount of card draw my virtual land count is at least 28 or so.
So you'd suggest something for like this, with the sideboard being whatever? I'm not sure what wincons to run other than planeswalkers other than Ojutai.
Sorry for the late reply. Cataclysmic Gearhulk is supposed to be a third wrath effect that can't get Spell Queller'd, and doesn't get Thalia, Guardian of Thraben taxed, as well as is another sweeper to be named with Meddling Mage. It could honestly be moved to the sideboard though. Archmage's Charm seems like it could be hard with the mana though, as it isn't getting cast on 3 if you play a field. Would I want to run Fact or Fiction as an additional Hieroglyphic Illumination or over one of the walkers? Recently I was playing this deck with proxies and Gideon, Ally of Zendikar felt bad, and didn't even feel that good against Jund and Junk, which was where I thought he'd shine due to them being very grindy. Teferi, Hero of Dominaria has shot up in the past few days, so I'm thinking of getting a Dragonlord Ojutai over him, as much as I'm biased towards Teferi due to his days in Standard. Is the snow package that good without fetches to find your snow basics?
I'm not quite sure that list is where I'd like to be going, but thanks for showing it to me. I'd ideally be able to upgrade my deck into a non-budget T1 UW Control after a few years, but that list seems to be its own archetype. I'd like to try to use the cheaper good cards and then later upgrade into the more than $50 apiece ones. However, Jace Jace, Unraveler of Secrets is a card I'd forgotten about, and I'll definitely consider it since it's roughly $15 cheaper than big Teferi, which I like. I'll definitely think about Fact or Fiction and Archmage's Charm, and might even buy a singleton of each to try at an FNM in the future. I've also made a few changes after talking with a friend of mine with more experience in modern, which are down below. I'm wondering whether Logic Knot is good at all without fetches, and if not what should I run in its place? I was thinking Search for Azcanta but it's a little pricier than the Knot.
As the title says, I'm looking to build budget Azorius Control in modern. The only cards I already own from the list below, other than the basic lands, are Elspeth and one of the Hieroglyphic Illuminations. I recently got back into magic via Arena after taking a lot break for personal reasons, and it's been a blast. I'm looking to build a semi-competitive list for FNMs and the like, and down below is the list I came up with. If anyone could suggest optimizations or cheaper replacements(such as for the Mystic Gate) I'd be very glad. The deck currently comes out to $230, because I already own Elspeth, and if anyone could advise me for trimming it further I'd be grateful. Thanks for your help.
2 Supreme Verdict
1 Settle the Wreckage
Spot Removal(6)
4 Path to Exile
2 On Thin Ice
Creatures(2)
2 Wall of Omens
Card Draw(6)
4 Opt
2 Hieroglyphic Illumination
4 Arcum's Astrolabe
Planeswalkers(8)
1 Jace, Architect of Thought
2 Gideon of the Trials
1 Gideon Jura
2 Narset, Parter of Veils
1 Jace, Unraveler of Mysteries
Counters(7)
2 Mana Leak
2 Spell Snare
2 Archmage's Charm
3 Boreal Shelf
2 Celestial Colonnade
4 Field of Ruin
2 Hallowed Fountain
2 Glacial Fortress
6 Islands
5 Plains
2 Celestial Colonnade
2 Hallowed Fountain
3 Glacial Fortress
3 Irrigated Farmland
1 Mystic Sanctuary
1 Geier Reach Sanitarium
4 Path to Exile
2 Spell Snare
4 Opt
1 Oust
2 Mana Leak
2 Wall of Omens
1 Cataclysmic Gearhulk
2 Detention Sphere
1 Gideon Jura
1 Gideon of the Trials
1 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
1 Logic Knot
3 Narset, Parter of Veils
2 Timely Reinforcements
2 Supreme Verdict
1 Teferi, Hero of Dominaria
1 Secure the Wastes
2 Restoration Angel
1 Jace, Architect of Thought
1 Disenchant
2 Celestial Purge
2 Disdainful Stroke
2 Dovin's Veto
2 Rest in Peace
1 Lyra Dawnbringer
1 Blessed Alliance
2 Dispel
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2 Faerie Conclave
2 Hallowed Fountain
4 Glacial Fortress
5 Island
4 Plains
2 Irrigated Farmland
1 Mystic Gate
1 Geier Reach Sanitarium
4 Path to Exile
2 Spell Snare
4 Opt
1 Oust
2 Mana Leak
1 Wall of Omens
1 Cataclysmic Gearhulk
1 Torrential Gearhulk
2 Detention Sphere
1 Gideon Jura
1 Gideon of the Trials
1 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
1 Spreading Seas
3 Narset, Parter of Veils
2 Timely Reinforcements
2 Supreme Verdict
1 Teferi, Hero of Dominaria
1 Secure the Wastes
2 Hieroglyphic Illumination
1 Jace, Architect of Thought
1 Blessed Alliance
2 Celestial Purge
1 Disdainful Stroke
2 Dovin's Veto
2 Rest in Peace
1 Baneslayer Angel
1 Lyra Dawnbringer
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
2 Restoration Angel
1 Relic of Progenitus
1 Damping Sphere