Pumping the Brakes
Keeping the Power in check with Bant Control
By Ryan Nichols | @pixellnerd
Counterspell illustrated by Mark Poole
Season 9 has had many powerful decks looking to end the game quickly through the use of moxen and other fast mana. Throughout this push for speed, Bant Control has been pulling in the other direction, trying to slow games down. Utilizing countermagic, removal, and planeswalker finishers, the deck is able to fight against the extreme speed of this season.
Controlling the Board
The “control” part of Bant Control
The core tenet of any control deck is to stop your opponent’s biggest plays with a large suite of interaction. With Bant Control, this largely manifests in the efficient and versatile countermagic available in this season. The classic Counterspell shows its premier nature in how it can counter most any bomb your opponent tries to cast while often being positive on mana. Its restrictive mana cost is often not an issue when only in three colors, as the ABU duals, in addition to Gemstone Mine, make the {U}{U} cost well within reach. In a similar, though more narrow, vein, Dovin’s Veto also slots in as 2-mana countermagic, though only for noncreature spells. However, with many of the most potent top ends in this season being various planeswalkers, this restriction is not debilitating. In addition, it being uncounterable itself makes it especially valuable in the mirror match while also being more resilient against potential sideboard cards from the opponent.
Where Dovin’s Veto misses creature threats, Swords to Plowshares picks up the slack. Being some of the most efficient creature removal ever printed, it's another valuable tool for control, being able to hit creatures that get onto the battlefield under Counterspell. Additionally, exiling the creature means it can effectively stop reanimator strategies while also being excellent removal for the Eternalize cards and the gods from Hour of Devastation.
Keeping your Hand Full
Staying on pace with Power
In order to keep up with the density of threats available this season, Bant Control also packs a range of card draw spells to keep their countermagic open as much as possible. At the top end of this card draw is Fact or Fiction. Digging 5 cards deep and netting anywhere from 1 to 4 cards, this card is a large part of what allows the deck to survive later into the game. It being an instant allows it to be held open to be used in the opponent’s end step if you have extra mana due to not needing to counter spells. Tragic Lesson presents another instant speed way to refill the hand, though to a slightly lesser extent than FoF. Both cards have the added benefit of working with the graveyard, allowing some extra synergy with Champion of Wits and Tamiyo, Collector of Tales.
Another good tool to stay ahead of the opponent on cards is Narset, Parter of Veils. In addition to giving two deep looks for what you need, Narset keeps the opponent from drawing out from under you. Her static ability makes opposing wheels useless, and other draw spells are significantly weakened.
Uninterrupted Value
Taking advantage of the clear battlefield
With all that this deck does to shut down the opponent’s game plan, it can often leave the board open for some of the best planeswalkers available this season. Teferi, Time Raveler can help clear the board with his -3, as well as shut down the opponent’s instant speed plays, which disables their own countermagic, meaning you can be safer casting spells in their end step. Tamiyo, Collector of Tales works to maintain card advantage. Tamiyo can dig for draw spells or countermagic, as well as buy back spent spells to guarantee that you have interaction going into your opponent’s turn. Lastly, Nissa, Who Shakes the World serves as the deck’s primary finisher. Offering a “board-in-a-box” over time, she can take over a game while also providing excellent blockers. Additionally, her ability to immediately untap a land makes it easier to cast her and hold open countermagic, defending her from removal.
Conclusion
Teferi, Time Raveler illustrated by Adam Rex
The Bant Control deck has consistently placed at the top for a few weeks now, demonstrating its power. With efficient board control backed up by some of the most potent planeswalker threats this season has to offer, the deck can take advantage of power while curbing the power of other decks. Congrats to Ryan and Nikolay for their victories with the deck.
