I have updated the deck to marry up to what I have been actually playing. Main changes:

Additions are:

Negate to foil those pesky board wipes and also Igin

Skycat Sovereign replaces Watcher of the Spheres - and typing this I am not sure that was the right move.

Sea Gate Restoration for a bit of card draw later in the game

So this is my first published control deck - and it is a little different from many control decks you will have played. With this I have tried to stay away from Mill and Ramp formats as these are very well understood and also stay away from the Meta as much as I can. In fact I have tried to make it a bit Anti Meta – slowing down Ramp and Dimir Roques.

Archon of Emeria is just a great card - but it is a bit tricky to play with. That said I have been playing it - and modifying decks around it - for a while now ... and at times it has not done well for a spell and then dropped back as the Meta has changed. You might say – that’s obvious – but it is important to note because you have to keep working at this deck to keep it winning.

For now though it is now performing great against most decks with just a little luck in the first few cards. 

But I think the balance is about right now. It sits at around 52% to 56% win rate in its current form and (very) slowing climbing – and this includes all the losses that I have incurred along the way making changes. This in Platinum 3 so ... we shall see how we get on later. 

So; the Archon of Emeria only allows players to cast 1 spell per turn – and really importantly against Ramp it makes non basic lands come into play tapped. This is great but what do you do with it – I have opted to use bouncing of permanents and counterspells galore.

For counterspells:

Miscast is really nice at protection for the few creatures we have against removal and also counters the counterspells for only 1 mana – which we always like. It is also great at slowing down the ramp as that 1 mana stops them dipping for land.  

Neutralize gives you the option of cycling for an emergency card draw

Cancel is just straightforward counter spelling.

Starlit Mantle is nice – although not a counter it has flash and the instant speed Hexproof has saved my bacon many a time. Add to this the +1+1 and it’s a winner for me.

Now there are a few other – lower mana cost – regular favourite counterspells out there but these cards are mostly all rounders.

For bouncing:

As you would expect Brazen Borrower is in there and this sits beside Into the Roil which I favour as the kicker gives you a card - but its expensive. 

Card draw comes from Wavebreak Hippocamp and Dream Trawler. 

So the key wincon in the deck is when you can start to play Sublime Epiphany - this gives you counter, bounce, draw and copy - all for 6 mana. 

Most important thing for this deck is that its fun!! It wins enough to keep it being played - and it is not a Dimir Flash Rogue deck or a RDW. 

Have fun and be magic to everyone