Locations
Recently, Ralph Betesh, landed a Top 8 slot in GPNY with the following Grixis Deck. This is the premiere control deck of the format, but its high creature count makes it play more like a midrange strategy. It is a mix of great creatures that can generate value — paired with a diversified removal suite capable of answering anything. Ralph has managed to build it with a good curve and has included a boat load of card advantage. Oh, did I mention it plays Silumgar's Command? That card is such gas. If you like Jund in Modern this is almost certainly the deck for you!
Deck Tech
Grixis Control ? Shadows over Innistrad Standard | Andrew Boswell
- Creatures (12)
- 1 Dragonlord Silumgar
- 3 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
- 4 Goblin Dark-Dwellers
- 4 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
- Planeswalkers (1)
- 1 Chandra, Flamecaller
- Spells (21)
- 1 Silumgar's Command
- 2 Grasp of Darkness
- 2 Ultimate Price
- 3 Fiery Impulse
- 3 Kolaghan's Command
- 2 Radiant Flames
- 2 Transgress the Mind
- 3 Read the Bones
- 3 Ruinous Path
- Lands (26)
- 1 Island
- 1 Mountain
- 5 Swamp
- 2 Sunken Hollow
- 3 Evolving Wilds
- 3 Shivan Reef
- 3 Wandering Fumarole
- 4 Foreboding Ruins
- 4 Smoldering Marsh
- Sideboard (15)
- 1 Ruinous Path
- 2 Radiant Flames
- 3 Duress
- 1 Rending Volley
- 1 Virulent Plague
- 1 Grip of Desolation
- 1 Dragonlord Silumgar
- 1 Transgress the Mind
- 1 Ob Nixilis Reignited
- 2 Dragonmaster Outcast
- 1 Dark Petition
Match 1: G/W Tokens
Match 2: 4-Color Company
Match 3: U/W Midrange
Match 4: 4-Color Rites
Match 5: B/G Midrange
Conclusion
All in all, I liked this deck quite a bit and could certainly see myself playing it at a tournament. Similar to the The Great Aurora deck I introduced last week, this deck is a lot of fun and well rounded, and it doesn't have a huge weakness. With good sideboarding, I would feel confident being able to beat anything. My one complaint is the mana is a little sketchy. If I was going to make one change right away, it would be to change a Smoldering Marsh into a Sunken Hollow, I want turn two Jace more frequently! Other than that, I really liked every card, even the one Grip of Desolation. This deck gets a solid A in my book and it is no wonder the archetype has been doing so well.
Until next week, GLHF friends. May you smite thy enemies with a Golden Axe!
— Andrew Boswell
