Esper Control

A friend and I built and tested this deck in an attempt to defeat the green midrange decks that are popular right now. The main deck is geared toward that goal, hence the four copies of Disdainful Stroke. Most of the sideboard is an answer to aggro. Even Gainsay and Negate can come in vs. Jeskai Aggro. I've won a fair share of Game 1s against aggro though; it all comes down to landing a Sorin, basically. We both played the deck at a local tourney on 11/5/14, making the Top 2 and splitting the prize pool. My friend's deck had one Flooded Strand and a third Dig Through Time in place of one Plains and the one-of Jace's Ingenuity (this being because I didn't have those cards). He went 3-1-1, while I finished 4-1 going into the finals (did not face off, just split). Here is the break down of matches:

vs. Boss Sligh: 1-0
vs. Jeskai Aggro: 1-1
vs. Jeskai Heroic Combo: 1-0
vs. Mardu Control: 1-0
vs. U/B/R Control: 1-0
vs. G/B Whip: 0-0-1
vs. Abzan Midrange: 1-1
vs: Abzan Aggro: 1-0

Just gear your removal toward the speed of your opponent's deck and draw your answers. Do not take out any draw spells EVER, not even against an aggro opponent. And while it may seem counterintuitive, side out Thoughtseize only against Boss Sligh. The Jeskai Aggro bombs are diverse (Ashcloud Phoenix, card draw, planeswalkers) so you still get use out of Thoughseize. I also realized that even though vs. Abzan Mid Disdainful Stroke is best against Siege Rhino, take that card out against the aggro version of this wedge. It still plays the rhino, but that is now the only target, whereas the midrange version still plays walkers that Stroke can stop. Against Abzan aggro take the Strokes out for all four Rams. They will block monstrous Fleeceman Lions all day.

• Control
• Esper
• Standard
• Khans of Tarkir