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

Buy This Deck

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