Standard - Bant Control - Pre-Season 3

25
40
16
6
28
2
24
Control
TCGPlayer $347
Cardmarket €275
Cardhoarder 8 Tix
  • Deck contains 22 invalid cards for this format: Settle the Wreckage (XLN), Ixalan's Binding (XLN), Glacial Fortress (XLN), Sunpetal Grove (XLN), Search for Azcanta // Azcanta, the Sunken Ruin (XLN), Hinterland Harbor (DOM), Teferi, Hero of Dominaria (DOM), Temple Garden (GRN), Sinister Sabotage (GRN), Wilderness Reclamation (RNA), Absorb (RNA), Growth Spiral (RNA), Hydroid Krasis (RNA), Frilled Mystic (RNA), Warrant // Warden (RNA), Breeding Pool (RNA), Hallowed Fountain (RNA), Ixalan's Binding (XLN), Nexus of Fate (M19), Devious Cover-Up (GRN), Kraul Harpooner (GRN), Tithe Taker (RNA)
Main 60 cards (18 distinct)
Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (28)
$0.36€0.230.03
$0.24€0.230.03
$0.23€0.160.03
$3.06€2.860.03
$1.74€1.020.03
$0.28€0.100.02
$0.50€0.550.02
$4.55€2.380.03
Planeswalker (2)
$18.71€22.410.17
Creature (6)
$3.36€3.130.33
$0.25€0.110.03
Land (24)
$0.81€0.280.03
$17.70€15.420.34
$1.91€1.810.02
$1.98€1.740.02
$9.60€9.560.27
$4.65€3.340.02
$12.05€9.600.33
Side 15 cards (5 distinct)
$0.25€0.110.03
$0.50€0.410.02
$0.15€0.090.03
$0.24€0.230.03
$17.35€7.520.49

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Description

NEW LISTS FOR SEASON 2: 

BANT CONTROL SEASON 2

BANT MID SEASON 2 (BO1)

 

3/23/19 - Updated! Sideboard modified and sideboard guide added. Still being finalized.

PRE-SEASON 3

In pre-season three, this list reached Mythic on March 8, 2019.

In pre-season two, this Bant Control made it to mythic with at least a 69.27% win rate. I ultimately hit Mythic ranking with 192 games won and 133 games lost. .This list is for the control variant of Bant, which, in my opinion is the best color combination for control presently available. Unlike Esper, Sultai or Temur control- Bant gives us access to the absolute best of all worlds.


Unlike Esper, you have the access to Wilderness Reclamationimage, Hydroid Krasisimage and Frilled Mysticimage. You also have the amazing synergy of (see below) of Wilderness Reclamationimage and Search for Azcanta // Azcanta, the Sunken Ruinimage.


Unlike Sultai and Temur you have access to Ixalan's Bindingimage, Settle the Wreckageimage and Warrant // Wardenimage. Keep in mind that Wilderness Reclamationimage supercharges the effectiveness of Ixalan's Bindingimage by diminishing the draw back of playing it on a main phase.

Bant has access to the best, and is uniquely strong in its positioning against the entirety of the current meta.


69.27% is probably a little lower than the actual winrate, because on a few of the nights I played way too late, got sleepy and started playing jank decks like land destruction. I know that win rate sounds a little high to be believable, so I decided to link a playlist of my twitch VODs below. All 24+ hours of the climb, less a few games played from a separate computer. My average game time was about 6 minutes per game


If you have a question relating to gameplay of this deck, post it in the comment section below. I'll try to respond to all of them very quickly. I also receive Discord notifications on my phone. @CaptainJamoke on the Aetherhub Discord or the Compleat Discord servers.

 
LETS START WITH THE CARD CHOICES
SCROLL DOWN FOR DECK MATCHUPS AND GAMEPLAY
 

image + image + image

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. 

 

image

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.

 

image

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.

 

image

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. 

 

image

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.

 

image

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.

 

image + image

If you have the emblem from Teferi, Hero of Dominariaimage  and you cast a Hydroid Krasisimage your opponent will probably be conceding immediately. The card draw from Hydroid Krasisimage will trigger Teferi, Hero of Dominariaimage multiple times, and you'll even be able to target their lands once you've removed everything else. Don't be afraid to use the -8 ability of Teferi, Hero of Dominariaimage even if it only has 8 loyalty counters. Getting that emblem out is a #1 priority.

 

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:

image

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:

image

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:

image

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:

image

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:

image

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:

image

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:

image

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:

image

First one to resolve Wilderness Reclamationimage wins. Play it slow and safe.

 

Nexus:

image

This isn't going to be in Bo1, but if you're piloting the deck in Bo3 sideboard in Devious Cover-Upimage.

 

SIDEBOARD 

Due to popular request here's the write-up for the sideboard. The first thing you may notice is Nexus of Fateimage. YES, we will be siding that it for Bo3 games. By not having it in the main deck, you have a huge advantage in surprising your opponent.

 

Mono White Lifegain:

image

+ 3 Nexus of Fateimage

-1 Frilled Mysticimage

-1 Ixalan's Bindingimage

- 1 Hydroid Krasisimage

 

Boros Aggro:

image

+ 3 Nexus of Fateimage

-1 Frilled Mysticimage

-1 Ixalan's Bindingimage

- 1 Hydroid Krasisimage

 

 Mono Red Aggro:

image

+ 3 Nexus of Fateimage

-1 Frilled Mysticimage

- 2 Ixalan's Bindingimage

-1 Sinister Sabotageimage

 

Gates:

image

+ 3 Nexus of Fateimage

-1 Frilled Mysticimage

-1 Sinister Sabotageimage

-1 Settle the Wreckageimage

-2 Warrant/Warden

 

Mono Blue:

image

+4 Kraul Harpoonerimage

+4 Tithe Takerimage

-2 Absorbimage

-1 Sinsister Sabotage

-1 Wilderness Reclamationimage

-1 Growth Spiralimage

-1 Search for Azcanta // Azcanta, the Sunken Ruinimage

-2 Teferi, Hero of Dominariaimage

 

 Sultai Control:

image

+4 Nexus of Fateimage

+3 Tithe Takerimage

+1 The Immortal Sunimage

-3 Settle the Wreckageimage

-4 Warrant // Wardenimage

 

Esper Control:

image

+4 Nexus of Fateimage

+1 The Immortal Sunimage

+3 Tithe Takerimage

-3 Settle the Wreckageimage

-4 Warrant // Wardenimage

 

Nexus:

image

+3 Devious Cover-Upimage

+3 Nexus of Fateimage

+3 Tithe Takerimage

-4 Warrant // Wardenimage

-3 Settle the Wreckage

-1 Growth Spiralimage

-1 Teferi, Hero of Dominariaimage

 

Mirror:

image

First one to resolve Wilderness Reclamationimage wins. Play it slow and safe.

 

This list and minor variations got me to mythic in February 2019 with a 69.27% win rate. Almost the entirety of the climb was streamed, and the playlist of it can be found here:
https://www.twitch.tv/collections/bG2z9LKPiBU1TA

 

EDITS AND UPDATES:
3/23/19 - Modified Sideboard and added Sideboard write-up.
3/14/19 - Migrated deck to new list for Pre-Season 3. (old list here)
3/13/19 - Modified main deck to correspond with current list. Changed title as we are now in Pre-season 3. Modified sideboard for Bo1 including Immortal Sun.

About CaptainJamoke

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Full time job: Attorney (No legal advice)

Location: North East, United States

 

 

 

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11 comments

ProblematicBaker
Hey Jamoke, did u change something in your deck? Last videos I saw u played with Angel of Grace. :-)
CaptainJamoke
@backagain - the sideboard is not 100% final. Good eye! I play mostly Bo1 so the sideboard isn't fully optimized. Taking any suggestions : ) From my experience, the sideboarding in of nexus really throws your opponent off, so its mostly a surprise factor. Keep in mind the list will change a bit when the new set is released.
backagain
i think he meant add it to the main for b01 idk....i was confused by the part also.....and the board doesnt change for being on the draw or play????also are you completely bought in to that sideboard.....usually the more diverse the more successful....i never ran the deck so idk what real problems you hit but are they reallly that straight forward we only need 5 different cards in the sb....seems a bit strange....especially since there are so many good cards in these colors and with reclamation.
Psychedelic
Thanks for the sideboard guide. What would you substitute Nexus of Fate with if you had to?
Balenciaga
Where are you getting the Immortal sun from?
CaptainJamoke
Sorry for the delay, but the sideboard has been updated. Please let me know if you have any questions. : )
pikkulena
Watch out for Shalai too, save Ixalan for that, or else the opponent will be hexproof. Found myself in that situation before any Hydroid Krasis came up. Then Colossus killed me :(
davellllll
i dont know , maybe im just unlucky but i had to add a 2nd island because i found myself in mana screw too many time and lost for that . Love the deck btw im winning a lot with it
Psychedelic
Thanks for the interesting guide and deck. I will wait for the Sideboard guide as well. Thanks again. :)
CaptainJamoke
Will do thanks for the input!
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CaptainJamoke
Last Updated: 06 Apr 2019
Created: 14 Mar 2019
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