Standard - Bant Control

18 38 19
4 24 8 24
Control

List modified. The write up will be updated to reflect the Tamiyo and Nissa inclusions.  Both are amazing. Tamiyo for search and recursion (infinite absorbs, etc.).  Nissa is a 5cmc that creates a 3/3 haster with vigilance and “tap this creature for GG”. The next turn it makes another, and if it’s not answered for three turns you win the game (we run 8 Forests by way of dual lands).  The current write-up is for an earlier version and has not yet been modified.

 

 

Bant Control is a permission-based deck suited for players who enjoy options, combos, and of course control. The cards in this list have numerous synergies and mid-to-late game can often feel like you are playing a combo deck. Wilderness Reclamationimage and Search for Azcanta // Azcanta, the Sunken Ruinimage is one such combo. By putting a "STOP" on your end phase, you can trigger Search for Azcanta // Azcanta, the Sunken Ruinimage multiple times, per turn. This is further increased by Teferi, Hero of Dominariaimage. We play Spark Doubleimage for its incredible synergy with Planeswalkers, as it comes into play as a NON-LEGENDARY copy. Gideon Blackbladeimage is being tested right now, and its utility has so-far proven to be very effective (though this slot may change)). Teferi Jr. or Teferi, Time Ravelerimage is fantastic against control match-ups, and can also provide you a little breathing room in faster matchups. Lastly, Spark Doubleimage synergizes very nicely with Shalai, Voice of Plentyimage by providing you, your planeswalkers, and your creatures with hexproof.

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Wilderness Reclamationimage + Search for Azcanta // Azcanta, the Sunken Ruinimage + Teferi, Hero of Dominariaimage Once you have a transformed Search for Azcanta // Azcanta, the Sunken Ruinimage and Wilderness Reclamationimage out it’s important to do the following - especially if you have two Wilderness Reclamationimage on the board. First, place a stop on your end steps (the last two phases of your turn to be safe) and keep enough mana to use Search for Azcanta // Azcanta, the Sunken Ruinimage (assuming you don't have a main phase play). Next, on your end step, tap Search for Azcanta // Azcanta, the Sunken Ruinimage using it's ability. This will place it on the stack before Wilderness Reclamationimage resolves. Pick your card, hit resolve and let Wilderness Reclamationimage resolve. Repeat for multiple Wilderness Reclamationimage . If you also have a Teferi, Hero of Dominariaimage out and have used the +1 ability, the same concept applies. This synergy generates you a tremendous advantage against your opponents. NOTE that you should be keeping mana open for your opponents turn. Use your last casting of Search for Azcanta // Azcanta, the Sunken Ruinimage on your opponents turn - essentially, you want to save one “search” to cast in response to an opponents spell or at the end of their turn as they will see which card you took selected. Also, its probably a good habit to just always place a stop on your opponent's end step. 
 
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Settle the Wreckageimage as a 3-of provides a solid answer to creature based decks, and is integral to the gate matchup as well. One of the few ways to get rid of Gate Colossusimage. If you cheap out and run less than three you will get run over in the aggro match-ups.
 
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Ixalan's Bindingimage is fantastic in this meta. A single resolved Ixalan's Bindingimage can shut down so many decks that are currently played at top levels. Also provides removal of a lot of cards that this deck is weak to, such as Rhythm of the Wildimage. Many popular decks that are currently played at high ranking use only a few win condititions, and a single Ixalan's Bindingimage can often win you the game on the spot.
 
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With no “x”-costed cards, Wilderness Reclamationimage might seem like an unconvential inclusion. However,  playing this four-cost enchantment allows you to abuse search for Search for Azcanta // Azcanta, the Sunken Ruinimage, safely play cards on you main phase while keeping mana for counter spells, and provides immense pressure upon your opponent as a bluff-tool. 
 
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In my opinion, Warrant // Wardenimage is one of the most underplayed and undervalued cards that was recently released; Warrant // Wardenimage provides early game control against aggro while concomitantly functioning as a late game kill condition. Another oft overlooked benefit is the ability to return a creature to the top of the deck. Use this on an opponents attacker to lock-out your opponent’s next draw, or cast it on your own attacking Frilled Mysticimage / Hydroid Krasisimage to guarantee a clutch top-deck for yourself.
 
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Growth Spiralimage allows you to play Wilderness Reclamationimage on turn 3, Settle the Wreckageimage on turn 3, Teferi, Hero of Dominariaimage on turn 4, etc. Alleviate wrong-color hands, dump extra mana. Early game, if playing against a deck with blue-mana, consider playing Growth Spiralimage on your turn to avoid being spell pierced. An early game Growth Spiralimage (or Search for Azcanta // Azcanta, the Sunken Ruinimage) needs to make it onto the board. This is how you ensure that you have enough mana to hit spells on curve.
 

24 LANDS (why not more??)
I see a lot of information saying that a deck needs to run 26 lands to effectively use Growth Spiralimage.  With 26 or even 25 lands I found myself flooded too often. Twenty-four lands, in my practice, has been the sweet spot for consistently hitting your four-mana-by-turn-four requirement. Keep in mind that Growth Spiralimage and Search for Azcanta // Azcanta, the Sunken Ruinimage are what allows our land count to stay low. However, if you are without the wildcards for Search for Azcanta // Azcanta, the Sunken Ruinimage or Growth Spiralimage stick to 26 lands (two more islands to provide turn 3 counterspell consistency).
ISLANDS ARE IMPORTANT.
ISLANDS ARE IMPORTANT.
And again, ISLANDS ARE IMPORTANT.
A two-land hand with one blue source is better than a three-land hand with no blue sources.
 
Matchups
I have a positive win rate against every matchup in the meta with this deck. Understandably, though, some can be tough.
 
Mono White Lifegain:
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Ixalan's Bindingimage and Warrant // Wardenimage will win you games. Remember that Warrant // Wardenimage will cause the card you target to go to the top of their deck. Use it on an Ajani's Pridemateimage and it loses its counters and clogs their next draw. Aggro decks typically play fewer lands, so Warrant // Wardenimage can cause your opponents mana issues in a lot of games. Don't burn all your mana once you have Wilderness Reclamationimage / Teferi, Hero of Dominariaimage down- keep mana open to counterspell your opponent's Ixalan's Bindingimage.
 
Boros Aggro:
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Watch out for Heroic Reinforcementsimage by floating enough counterspell mana. Try and keep your life out of Banefireimage range. Otherwise, this is similar to the Mono White Lifegain matchup.
 
Mono Red Aggro:
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Warrant // Wardenimage again. Sometimes its ok to use a Settle the Wreckageimage against a single creature if you're preventing spectacle activation (Light Up the Stageimage or Skewer the Criticsimage. If you need to, use Absorbimage on one of your own spells to gain a little extra life in a pinch. Though favorable due to our life gain, our Settle the Wreckageimage and/or Warrant // Wardenimage, this is the least favored matchup, ometimes your opponent will win by turn four and you will not have drawn a Warrant // Wardenimage or an Absorbimage.
 
Gates:
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Float mana to counterspell Guild Summitimage. Ixalan's Bindingimage priority number one is Guild Summitimage, next is Gatebreaker Ramimage, and last is Gate Colossusimage. Be mindful of Banefireimage, and keep your lifetotal above your opponent's mana total.
 
Mono Blue:
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Warrant // Wardenimage on a creature with Curious Obsessionimage hurts your opponent. Frilled Mysticimage is great in this matchup because it can't be countered with Negateimage or Spell Pierceimage. Get it out early and start swinging. Be wary of Siren Stormtamerimage and target that as a priority over every other card. Float mana so you can counterspell their counterspell. This is your second toughest matchup after mono red, though you are still favored due to the amount of counterspells you run and your Wilderness Reclamationimage.
 
Sultai Control:
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Counterspell their Wilderness Reclamationimage. If your opponent lands a Wilderness Reclamationimage, this is going to be a long game. You run more counters, and instead of Vraska's Contemptimage you have a Ixalan's Bindingimage. You have Teferi, Hero of Dominariaimage, which will put you at an edge over this matchup.
 
Esper Control:
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Keep your mana open for counters. This is a slow but easy matchup. Wilderness Reclamationimage + Search for Azcanta // Azcanta, the Sunken Ruinimage allows you to out-value your opponents here. You want to be the second to drop Teferi, Hero of Dominariaimage if you have no other removal so that you can use the -3 ability.
 
Mirror:
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First one to resolve Wilderness Reclamationimage wins. Play it slow and safe.
 
Nexus:
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This isn't going to be in Bo1, but if you're piloting the deck in Bo3 sideboard in Devious Cover-Upimage.

 

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4 comments

biackmagics
Why are there 2 versions of this deck?
braccio982
Sideboard?
ninegrand
This deck is very fun and very hard to deal with. I'm having a lot of fun with the new WAR inclusions as well.
LuckyGreenhorn
Hey Jamoke, really liked to play your previous Bant deck and now looking forward to climb the ladder again with your new deck. :-)
CaptainJamoke
Last Updated: 24 May 2019
Created: 27 Apr 2019
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Mainboard - 60 cards (19 distinct)

Creature (4)
$0.25€0.100.03
Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (24)
$0.21€0.160.03
$4.51€2.370.03
$0.75€0.490.02
$0.25€0.120.03
$0.38€0.230.03
$3.10€2.940.02
$0.49€0.460.03
$1.70€1.010.03
$9.00€5.180.57
Land (24)
$17.50€15.480.34
$4.64€3.350.02
$9.45€9.530.27
$12.08€9.620.30
$1.89€1.810.02
$1.98€1.730.02
Planeswalker (8)
$18.68€22.270.17
$8.38€8.007.93
$0.50€0.330.02

Sideboard - 15 cards (7 distinct)

$3.98€2.340.08
$4.51€2.370.03
$0.75€0.490.02
$0.21€0.160.03
$0.29€0.150.03
$1.53€1.040.51
$4.84€2.730.02

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