2001)

I read the Type 1 deck for less article posted on our site and I thought, ´´here is a Type I deck for WAY less than what Travis was suggesting.´´ Granted, Cullum's deck will do a lot better against the field of Type 1 decks. However, I believe that this is the deck to beat in the common environment for overall control and paths to victory. It is a deck that has the speed and pressure of suicide black while offering the control of a Necropotence (without Necro of course). Beat-down and board control makes this a powerhouse against many decks common or not! For you card lovers out there, the entire deck is black bordered too!

Spells:
4:Drain Life (Mirage)
4:Duress (Urza's Saga)
4:Hymn to Tourach (Fallen Empires)
4:Expunge (Urza's Saga)
4:Diabolic Edict (Tempest)
4:Serrated Arrows (Homelands)
4:Unearth (Urza's Legacy)

Creatures:
4:Skittering Skirge (Urza's Saga)
4:Skittering Horror (Urza's Destiny)

Mana:
4:Dark Ritual (Urza's Saga)
20:Swamps

Card Analysis:

The creature control consists of some basic cards that try to cover all of the bases. The Expunge is solid targeted removal while allowing you to cycle it away against those troublesome decks with black creatures and untouchables. The Diabolic Edict has been a favorite of the pros because it can get rid of anything as long as they have only one choice on the board (Blastoderm control). Diabolic Edit has a problem with a lot of small creatures, so the deck includes Serrated Arrows. The arrows mow down goblins, weenies, and protection from black critters to make the way for the beatdown. Even the mighty Drain Life is an excellent choice for spot removal and life gain.

The creature attack is based on the skittering creatures. Their drawback is their dis-ability to prevent you from casting another one. However, do you really need two Skittering Horrors smashing an opponent? I didn't think so! The four Unearth cards are critical to the smackdown! These efficient cards keep the tempo while allowing you to cycle them away if you have a hand full of creatures. In essence, there are twelve virtual creature cards in the deck. The perfect opening draw won't even have creatures, so don't worry about getting them too early.

The perfect opening draw will have the Dark Rituals and the discard power. The Duress is great for spot hand removal (bye bye Rancor!). The Hymn to Tourach is the best hand removal of them all. Image this draw: Swamp, Dark Ritual, Duress, Hymn to Tourach. Granted, you just gave three cards for three of theirs, but which player will snap back faster? If you can drop another swamp and play the Skittering Skirge, the game is pretty much over.

Suppose the opening doesn't go that well. I have played the deck enough to say that it will crawl into some pretty amazing draws. The deck can work three ways. It can be a suicide creature deck, a creature control deck, or a discard hand-destruction deck! If you stall the game long enough, you can save all of the Dark Rituals and Drain Life cards for a massive drain combo. I have drained opponents for twelve to fifteen points and left their jaw hanging wide open as the common deck destroyed them to pieces!

In summary, I hope this deck gave some you some ideas for a fun creature control deck that has answers for most everything except some pesky enchantments. If you put this deck together, try adding your own flair and enjoy yourself. Besides, if your opponents aren't playing by the all-commons rule, stick a rare or two in. You won't believe how much fun creatures, discard, and control can be!

-MARC-

Deck Stats:

Mana producers: 24 (20 land)
Creatures: 8 (4 creature recycle cards)
Direct Damage: 4
Creature Removal: 16
Discard: 8

Non-common cards to consider for the deck:

Demonic Tutor
Hypnotic Specter
Necropotence
Nevinryyal's Disk
Pox (only for the suicidal)
The Rack
Vampiric Tutor
Yawgmoth's Will

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