Absorb, on a normal basis proves to be just as good, if not better than Counterspell. Though it requires WUU to cast, 8 dual lands make casting cost requirements quite easy to meet. Counterspell, needs no explanation as a counter. Syncopate provides a spot for the only other card that can counter second turn (not including Prohibit). Syncopate is a great replacement for Power Sink, which rotated with 7th edition. It is also a great defense against Flashback cards and having your opponent reach Threshold. Divert is the only questionable counter in the deck. In MBC and T2 Misdirection has proven its usefulness. A cheaper and more efficent (Casting Cost and Card Advantage) card is a great replacement for Divert.
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Miscellaneous:
3 Fact or Fiction
2 Gerrard's Wisdom
4 Standstill
2 Rout
3 Wrath of God
2 Dismantling Blow

Fact or Fiction is the strongest card drawing in current T2 and definitely deserves a place in U/WControl. Standstill, is the second best card drawing in T2, and the best in Odyssey Block (For now). Standstill allows for card advantage, which leads to winning with control decks. Playing land turn after turn while gaining counters with a Control deck is always VERY good. Even if your opponent casts a spell during your discard phase, "Brainstorming" is never bad, when even when you lose 1-3 cards to gain better ones. Wrath/Rout count, is 3/2 and works perfectly. Casting a Wrath of God turn 4 is not always needed, while casting an Instant Rout is good late game. Both cards have their own level of usefulness in a game, but prove good at any point. The only questionable Miscellaneous card in the deck is Gerrard's Wisdom. Gerrard's Wisdom allows a player to win vs beatdown, while it is not as good vs Control. Wisdom has proved its usefulness in both matchups and should be in most every White deck that has trouble vs creatures. Dismantling Blow works well vs Prison and that is all that matters.
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Creature Base:
2 Mahamoti Djinn
3 Thieving Magpie

The creature base is small for one good reason; my five Mass Creature removal cards. Some people would argue that Meddling Mage is a better creature choice for the deck. The only problem with Mage, is that if I am FORCED to cast a Wrath or Rout the turn after I play it, it gives me a card disadvantage, where as Magpie cancels out disadvantage. If Ophidian was in this format, I would still play Magpie over it (even though it is better), because of the amount of Fliers compared to Non-Fliers. Mahamoti are played because they are game (or close to) as soon as they hit the board.
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Land Base:
4 Coastal Tower
4 Adarkar Wastes
10 Island
6 Plains

The 8 Dual lands are currently the best answers to mana problems. Basic lands… do not need an explanation. I do not play the new Filter lands because I am not able to counter with double U on turn 2.
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Sideboard:
SB: 2 Aegis of Honor
SB: 3 Disenchant
SB: 1 Gerrard's Wisdom
SB: 3 Reprisal
SB: 4 Standard Bearer
SB: 2 Sacred Ground

As you can probably see from my sideboard, I mostly fear Kicked Urza's Rage and Prison. Standard Bearer is probably one of the most overlooked Tech creatures in T2. It not only cancels Opposition but it also hurts Enchant Creature cards, Urza's Rage, and other annoyances. The only other questionable card in the sideboard is Reprisal. I played Reprisal during UBC T2 and I am happy to say it has killed more Masticores than the amount of fingers and toes on my hand and feet added up. Spiritmonger, Mahamoti, and Deselation Angel are all new targets for the best White spot removal in T2.

All and All, U/W Control is still alive and kicking. Expect to see it as a Teir 1 deck sometime soon.

-Naim

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Originally posted by TheFireStarter:
Blue White control, is thought to be dead.

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MOTL Moderator for:

quote:

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Originally posted by iakae:
On the topic of the article, however, that's a very solid decklist that you posted, TheFireStarter, and a nice synapsis.

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Muhahah, less talk, more playtesting Iakae. I was gonna write an article on Sqirrel Opp, but I saw *Tedman*'s and I haven't playtested it enough. I must say though the deck is very nice and fun to play, but it may not be the best deck in the enviorment (though it wrecks creature based decks).

Oh, and on the topic of U/W Control being dead, I have heard many people bitching about "It sucks now, Story Circle isn't in anymore". I just like to smile at them and think "No cards have left the deck... its still some good".

synapsis: The junction across which a nerve impulse passes to a nuron or other cell
synopsis: A general brief outline or general view, as of a written work.

quote:

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Originally posted by TheFireStarter:
Muhahah, less talk, more playtesting Iakae.

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Ugh, no, I'm playing the frigging U/W Control matchup again. I'm sick of testing the thing. Heck, I've been playing various incarnations of it for over a year already, and pretty much only Story Circle is gone. Too much repetition makes for stale gameplay.

Your Reprisals really caught my eye, as I too consider it an excellent sideboard card in this style of deck (expecially with Blastoderm leaving the format). Good job :o)

I'm concerned about Fat Moti as a win condition though. The mana cost is frightening with no alternate casting cost countermagic spells around (that's been said by others 100 times, I know). I don't know what the answer is, but my testing tells me it is NOT Millstone LOL.

quote:

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Originally posted by Euthyphro:
Hey, great article, definitely. But for what it's worth, in regards to your topic, I assume you're quoting the Simpsons? If so, it's "Mable" not "Maple". Just thought I'd nitpick on one tiny thing, thanks

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