I can't believe Shadows is some big revelation for you guys. You're building a control deck centered around killing stuff, every time something gets killed you get to Scry, Scrying is great for control.. and it's a cheap, instant speed, wincon.. that gives you lifegain.

It's one of the cornerstones of my mono-black aggro/control deck. It's so good there, that I can get away without running any draw spells. It's a great card for kill-based control.

Covert said in his stream that one of the things he intended with his deck was that he wanted no shuffle effects, so that when he scryed something to the bottom, it wouldn't show back up later.

Were you lumping me in there? You read my post in response to Lex questioning Shadows?




elk

Yeah.. I was.. Bc why not My bad honey.

I only ran two Shadows in my mono black deck originally.. but it was so good, and such a strong advantage that I eventually went to all three copies. I want to see it EVERY single game.. if I draw a second.. fine.. I now get double Scry for an extra two mana.. but if I see the second copy on top, I scry it away.

I've been working a lot on Orzhov Control also, though I don't have a deck list I'm fully happy with yet. But one thing that has worked well for me is running 4x Cleric of the Forward Order, 4x Felidar Cub, and 4x Read the Bones along with 3xShadows of the Past. This combination allows enough life-gain to support all four Read the Bones, enough creatures to get Shadows online, and enough two drops to have game against aggro decks and a bit of pressure against ramp and control decks. Also running 3x Gravedigger, so it really, really hoses mill and other enchantment reliant strategies.

Seems like a good base, randomname. Add some removal, sweepers and win cons and you have yourself a deck.

It's ok pooky.


elk

In a "normal" environment I would be very interested in playing an Orzhov control deck.
In the current environment, I picture myself looking at the removal in my hand while the opponent plays ramp spell after ramp spell, and I try to race his Nissa's renewals with my felidar cubs until Ulamog, Gaea's revenge and plated crushers start hitting the board... and I am driven back to my infectious bloodlust.

They really need to add castigate to the card pool. Maybe the thought-knot seer will make it into the next set?

Orzhov actually has answers for all that though. Celestial Flare and Fleshbag for the hexproof, Angelic Edict for the indestructible.. Suppression Bonds for planeswalkers. RDW isn't the only deck that can beat ramp.

Racing with Felidar Cubs? What are you smoking? Pass it this way..

So here's the Orzhov ally deck I have been running so far it's worked well as both a short game aggro and long term attrition tell me what you think or any ideas to improve it
Creatures

4 x Cliffside lookout
1 x serene steward
3 x Kor Bladewhirl
2 x Kor Castigator
4 x Kalastria Healer
2 x Lantern Scout
4 x Makindi Patrol
3 x Hagra Sharpshooter
3 x Nirkana Assasin
2 x Drana's Emissary
3 x Bloodbond Vampire
2 x Hero of Goma Fada
2 x Angel of Renewal

Enchantments

2 x Retreat to Emeria

Planeswalkers

1 x Gideon, Ally of Zendikar

Lands

6 x Swamps
8 x Plains
2 x Shambling Vent
2 x Isolated Chapel
1 x Sandstone bridge
2 x Mortuary Mire
1 x evolving wilds


Cmc stats are 0-4-10-14-6-2-2 so far I have played against everything from burn/eldrazi/mill/acidmoss/ etc and its fared alot better than I originally thought it would, with such low cmc and plenty of life gain it easily hits early then either slowly drains life while I build solid defense or allow my bloodbonds to build up and pick off heavy hitters to open them up for endgame swarming.

[dеck][/dеck] tags would be perfect so autocard could work. First above your decklist, second below it.

Sorry I will get that fixed having to use phone laptop is down

Hey i was wondering if i could get some input on my current build. i am still buying packs of zendikar set so not everything is unlocked.

current deck is
Deck:
1 Kytheon, hero of akros
2 cliffside lookout
2 Knight of the white orchid
3 consul's lieutenant
4 topan freeblade
4 grasp of the hieromancer
4 nimbus wings
1 reprisal
3 blessed spirits
2 blood-cursed knight
1 archangel of tithes
2 kytheon's irregulars
1 gideon ally of zendikar
2 hixus, prison warden
2 patron of the valiant
2 knightly valor

Lands:
16 plains
1 swamp
2 shambling vent
2 isolated chapel
2 rogue's passage
1 mortuary mire

I was going mono white but i didn't have any cheap heal choices so i made some, and the off chance of a bringing a card back is a gamble that has paid off nicely a few times. what do you guys think?

Hello all! Only a week left till we receive the new fix of Duels

What do you guys think about the Orzhov control CGB posted in his latest Diaries? Here's a link: https://www.hauntedflower.com/blogs/due ... oath-duels

It's almost identical to the one I've been brewing in my head after all the spoilers, especially mythic- and removal-wise.

BW feels strongest than ever with all the sexiness we're going to get!

Here's where I'm at with Orzhov Control:

Creatures

4 x Cleric of the Forward Order
1 x Felidar Cub
1 x Lilliana, Heretical Healer
3 x Fleshbag Marauder
3 x Gravedigger
1 x Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
1 x Archangel Avacyn
2 x Gilt-Leaf Winnower
2 x Emeria Shepherd

Non-Creatures

2 x Declaration in Stone
2 x Anguished Unmaking
4 x Read the Bones
1 x Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
3 x Cruel Revival
2 x Planar Outburst
1 x Ob Nixilis Reignited
1 x Sorin, Grim Nemesis

Lands

2 x Isolated Chapel
4 x Orzhov Guildgate
9 x Plains
9 x Swamp
2 x Shambling Vent


The idea is that this deck can (hopefully) deal with Kozilek, on the theory that Ramp decks won't have many 5 drops or 2 drops (meaning that Cruel Revival and Declaration in Stone are both reasonably likely to get through Kozilek's counter ability). I've run some preliminary games against CGB's Green/Colorless Ramp with Kozilek swapped in and a Pulse of Murasa swapped out his list, and it's done pretty well so far.

I think it's got quite a good overall card quality for a Duels deck. By my count, 22 out of the 34 non-land cards have seen, or are expected to see, Standard play. It also has quite a lot of internal synergy.

I've also tested it with proxies and me playing both sides against CGB's Green/Colorless Ramp deck, with a 10-10 record in 20 games. I'm curious to see how it does once we get the expansion.

I want to address a couple of concerns regarding control lists.

First, with an exclusion of Myr I desperately need a 2-drop to defend vs early aggro (especially RDWs) and, preferably, not to suck late game. Ayli seems the best to me for this spot and thank god she's confirmed now. I know randomname digs his Clerics but they’re not my cup of tea Any other cheap but efficient cards to replace Myr with?

Second, with a ton of new exiling removal (Unmaking, Declaration, Purge) everyone’s favorite Shadows of the Past kinda becomes obsolete, don’t you think? There are still some ways to send creatures to the GY (Outburst, Languish) and the death of your own chump blockers but I’m afraid it’ll be irrelevant too often. Anybody still plans to run it?

And the last one, also related to the new removal suite. Do you think Celestial Flare still will be relevant as anti-Gaea’s measure? I’m planning to drop it b/c there are new powerful bombs incoming but I’m afraid that sometimes missing this silver bullet will be crucial against ramp decks.

Expedition Envoy? I mean...it will suck late game but...meh.

Ghoulcaller's Accomplice maybe? Seems decent early and gives value late. Obviously better in Zombie Madness, but probably good enough here.



I don't see why it should be that much worse than before. Maybe you now have better ways to gain actual card advantage, but I don't think it is completely obsolete. Not sure I'd run it, though.



Maybe. Flare is not a bad card per se, which is why I can see it staying in; but you don't exactly know how common Revenge is going to be; and that is a deciding factor.

Slightly more agressie take on Orzhov, Vamps midrange with a pinch of lifedrain.

Let me know how hard it sucks.

3 x Indulgent Aristocrat

2 x Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim
1 x Carrier Thrall
4 x Kalastria Healer
2 x Asylum Visitor
3 x Heir of Falkenrath
1 x Call the Bloodline
2 x Declaration in Stone

3 x Drana's Emissary
2 x Anguished Unmaking
3 x Read the Bones

1 x Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
2 x Cliffhaven Vampire
2 x Elusive Tormentor
1 x Gideon, Ally of Zendikar

1 x Ob Nixilis Reignited

1 x Sorin, Grim Nemesis

2 x From Under the Floorboards

2 x Shambling Vent
2 x Isolated Chapel
7 x Plains
9 x Swamp
4 x Orzhov Guildgate

Looks to me like the allies don't quite get there, particularly the Kalastria Healers, in a deck with only ten total allies including Gideon. Perhaps cutting the Kalastria Healers and Cliffhaven Vampires for Lilliana, 3x Fleshbag Marauder, and 2x Cruel Revival would be correct. It would raise the curve, but would really increase the deck's power level and ability to interact. If you did do that, I think Twins of Maurer Estate would be a better fit than the Emissarys, as you have a lot of discard outlets but not much to discard for value. I'd probably cut the Indulgent Aristocrats and Carrier Thrall for some combination of land, grasp of darkness, murderous impulse, ghoulcaller's apprentice, and maurer twins. It's certainly an interesting concept though. I rather hope something like that is good enough to get there.

Like randomname, Kalastria Healer seems a bit off for me; you don't have that many Ally triggers. Think I'd cut them as well.
Also I'd definitely want to see a couple more Madness cards to go with Heir of Falkenrath/Call the Bloodline/Tormentor; even if it's just Twins or Gisa's Bidding, the two Zombies make nice sac fodder

I don't think going the Marauder/Cruel Revival route is the best for this deck though; and I don't think Murderous Compulsion is good in an aggressive deck. Grasp of Darkness however just seems too good for this deck to pass up; that card is amazing.