Here's the up-to-date Grixis control list that I run; this is my favorite deck to play.

4 x Izzet Guildgate
4 x Dimir GUildgate
4 x Rakdos Guildgate
8 x Mountain
5 x Swamp

4 x Shock

4 x Think Twice

4 x Bolt of Keranos
4 x Auger Spree
3 x Tribute to Hunger
2 x Anger of the Gods

4 x Ogre Jailbreaker
3 x Inspiration

2 x Flesh to Dust

1 x Inferno Titan

2 x Rune-Scarred Demon
1 x Sphinx-Bone Wand

1 x Kozilek, Butcher of Truth

Did it ever stop being your favourite deck to play, Hakeem?

It looks pretty tight about now, but after many terrific wins I'll never stop using the Sparkmage.

No, control is just too much fun.

I love that list.. all it does is win.

Only thing I've done differently is add Stormbreath Dragon.. the much maligned 61st card ; )

Heretic!

Burn him!

Angry Mob!

Actually I would make the same switch I did in my Jund list that had 4x Ogre Jailbreaker and switch one out for the Stormbreath Dragon.

61 cards!?!?!?!? Not in my DotP!

The difference between four and five mana is pretty big in this deck because the Jailbreaker is a stabilizer first and a threat second. Since there are no counterspells, tapping out on T4 isn't usually a big deal unless you get caught by a big Armored Ascension or something.

Stormbreath is good, but if I were to play it I would cut a removal spell like Bolt or Tribute or maybe even an Inspiration. I like the deck as it stands, though, but I certainly think the Dragon is playable here.

Yeah, I see what you're saying, my Jund build is a bit heavier at the 4-spot and has the gatekeepers as well. Maybe taking out a single Bolt would work. I wouldn't remove the Inspiration.

Stormbreath is every bit as much of a must run in red as Baneslayer is in white.. in my opinion.

I am not sure on this deck. Tapping out for a 4/4 flier is not that exciting when the haste is usually not relevant as you are usually on defence.

The way I see it, this deck is all about smart trades. They play something, you kill it.. until time comes for you to stabilize with Ogre Jailbreaker or drop bombs. Now the opponent must spend his next turn removing/answering your threat (trading). So even though you tapped out, you're still in the same position of trading card for card.

Saying "Well.. you don't wanna tap out with this deck to play a creature" is silly. If I can slam down any of the bombs in this deck, I'm going to.. if the opponent has removal in his hand for it.. fine.. it's going to come out sooner or later anyway. I'd rather Stormbreath eat it than all the other creatures further up the curve. Also.. I'm not typically on defense with this deck, I'm sitting around with a fist full of removal, staring at my opponent's clear board, waiting for a creature to come into my hand so I can start winning the game. Stormbreath will win the game on his own.

The major advantage is the pro vs white.. 4/4 hasted flying is nice, but the pro/white is huge in this meta. The only negative Stormbreath has in this deck is a lack of synergy with Augur Spree. This is all my opinion of course.

I pretty much agree with everything mega had to say regarding the board state and the usefulness of the Dragon. This is a deck I have extensive experience with too, it's a great build.

Another great thing about this deck is that the opponent starts second guessing their selves when throwing down creatures because every single time they throw something down it gets destroyed. That results in the opponent keeping more cards in their hands which also makes the Stormbreath Dragon's Monstrosity ability even better.

Speaking of the Dragon's Monstrosity ability, that also makes it work just fine with Auger Spree and with the amount of draw and lands this deck pumps out it is nothing to get this Dragon into "beast mode" so to speak. I don't find myself on defense with this deck very often at all because my defense = destroying anything and everything that comes around.

That being said I do think removing a Bolt, and not a Jailbreaker, might be the way to go here as I do find with this deck I am waiting a little longer than I would like at times for a creature.

It strikes me as unnecessary. You have your finisher as Kozilek, running a second one just lowers your consistency in the interest of closing a game slightly quicker.

Neb: I completely forgot about the monstrous ability.. probably bc I almost never use it. Very good point.

Overmaster: Kozi is a great finisher in this deck (Sphinx Bone Wand is even better) but.. both are an Angelic Edict away from being permanently out of the game. Stormbreath's pro white is very helpful in this meta IMO. Good/smart players playing white decks are typically smart enough to include Angelic Edict. Bad players playing white typically won't.. but it's funny watching them cast Banisher Priest and be unable to target the Dragon. Also helps handle G/W token annoyances like Triplicate Spirits, stonewalls a big Seraph of the masses or Baneslayer (which matters as this deck only has 5 spells that can one-shot Baneslayer.. 3 Tribute to Hunger, 2 Flesh to Dust). Personally, I see that as one of the biggest weaknesses of the build... vulnerable vs decks that can really spam bombs.. especially ramp decks. It leads to getting 2 for 1ed often.. either with doubling up on removal for one bomb, or using Augur Spree on their bomb and saccing a Jailbreaker.

Also.. I see nothing wrong with adding another finisher. If anything it will finish more consistently.

Solid points all around, I do like the Dragon a lot. If you're making room for it then I agree that Bolt is the cut.

You're usually not tapping out to play Dragon anyway. Turn 5 you want to hit your land and use a removal spell to get rid of something. Much latter in the game, 5 is not a big deal and the Dragon closes games FAST, espacially due to protection from the most popular color in the game. I agree, it's the Red Baneslayer, in the sense that you always plays it if you can.



Except Dragon does nothing against Baneslayer except trying to race it

Dragon can sit there and infinitely block Baneslayer.. and kill it if it's monstrous.

Read Baneslayer again. Those Protections aren't flavor text

Ohh snap. I totally forgot about the protection from Demons and Dragons. You're right.. my bad.