Preparation for the Mythic Championship III
I played Esper Control at GP Kansas City. It seemed pretty reasonable, but there felt like there was room for improvement.
I'm playing this in Kansas City
— Greg Orange (@orange_greg) 2019年5月31日
So if you're my opponent keep that in mind pic.twitter.com/3NwpDqfxYc
I decided to grind my way to Mythic on MTG Arena to help prepare for Mythic Championship III. It seemed like the least I could do. I used my Esper deck to start. It didn’t have much to smooth out its draws but it felt good when it drew a good combination of land and spells.
I was a bit unimpressed with the 6 mana Planeswalkers and 《Karn, Scion of Urza》. I didn’t really know what to replace them with though since 《Chemister’s Insight》 and 《Absorb》 were basically unplayable with 《Narset, Parter of Veils》 and 《Teferi, Time Raveler》 around.
Then I saw the Esper list from GP Taipei and figured I’d try something similar. The main difference was the addition of 《Basilica Bell-Haunt》 and 《Command the Dreadhorde》. I was a bit skeptical about the 《Basilica Bell-Haunt》s but they seemed to line up pretty well. Being a 3/4 made them good at blocking 《Nissa, Who Shakes the World》 elementals. The life gain was nice with 《Command the Dreadhorde》. Also having a ‘comes into play’ trigger kept it from getting embarrassed by 《Teferi, Time Raveler》. Also the ability doesn’t even get shut off by 《Narset, Parter of Veils》.
The Esper Control deck seemed nice and I was able to grind my way to Mythic on MTG Arena in no time.
Final Decklist and Result
- Gregory Orange
- – Esper Control
- Mythic Championship III
1 《Plains》
1 《Swamp》
4 《Godless Shrine》
4 《Hallowed Fountain》
4 《Watery Grave》
4 《Drowned Catacomb》
4 《Glacial Fortress》
4 《Isolated Chapel》
-Land (26)- 3 《Basilica Bell-Haunt》
-Creature (3)-
1 《Swamp》
4 《Godless Shrine》
4 《Hallowed Fountain》
4 《Watery Grave》
4 《Drowned Catacomb》
4 《Glacial Fortress》
4 《Isolated Chapel》
-Land (26)- 3 《Basilica Bell-Haunt》
-Creature (3)-
4 《Thought Erasure》
2 《Cast Down》
2 《The Elderspell》
1 《Moment of Craving》
1 《Cry of the Carnarium》
3 《Kaya’s Wrath》
2 《Command the Dreadhorde》
1 《Search for Azcanta》
3 《Oath of Kaya》
4 《Narset, Parter of Veils》
4 《Teferi, Time Raveler》
4 《Teferi, Hero of Dominaria》
-Spell (31)-
2 《Cast Down》
2 《The Elderspell》
1 《Moment of Craving》
1 《Cry of the Carnarium》
3 《Kaya’s Wrath》
2 《Command the Dreadhorde》
1 《Search for Azcanta》
3 《Oath of Kaya》
4 《Narset, Parter of Veils》
4 《Teferi, Time Raveler》
4 《Teferi, Hero of Dominaria》
-Spell (31)-
3 《Despark》
2 《Hero of Precinct One》
2 《Duress》
2 《Dovin’s Veto》
1 《Hostage Taker》
1 《Lyra Dawnbringer》
1 《Moment of Craving》
1 《The Elderspell》
1 《Cry of the Carnarium》
1 《Enter the God-Eternals》
-Sideboard (15)-
2 《Hero of Precinct One》
2 《Duress》
2 《Dovin’s Veto》
1 《Hostage Taker》
1 《Lyra Dawnbringer》
1 《Moment of Craving》
1 《The Elderspell》
1 《Cry of the Carnarium》
1 《Enter the God-Eternals》
-Sideboard (15)-
This is the list I settled on for Mythic Championship III. It’s a relatively boring version of Esper Control. In the event itself I had a strong start going 6-0 and becoming the only undefeated player on day one. Unfortunately my luck dried up quickly on day two and I was out of the tournament after only 2 more rounds. Still I’m happy with how I did and glad that I did well enough to qualify for the next Arena MC.
Congratulations to @orange_greg, @kaibudde, @raphlevymtg, and Matias Leveratto (someone get him a Twitter)! 🎉🎉
— Magic Esports (@MagicEsports) 2019年6月22日
These 4 challengers have earned themselves an invite to the next Arena Mythic Championship (#MythicChampionshipV)! pic.twitter.com/JSI5ggFvZ8
Sideboard Guide
The Mirror
Against Esper Control Mirror
Out
In
《Hero of Precinct One》
It may seem like a bit of a strange 2 of, but I generally think very few cards actually need to be 4 or nothing. In this case I didn’t really want to draw multiples. Also there were open decklists and when I boarded them in against decks with creature removal I wanted their sideboarding decisions to be slightly more difficult.
Esper Hero
Against Esper Hero
Out
In
This is a bit of a tough match up to sideboard for. The key is to try to balance answers for their creatures while also being able to battle through the supply of Planeswalkers.
Mono Red
Mono Red is probably the easiest matchup in the format for Esper Control. The 《Basilica Bell-Haunt》s were not added specifically for this matchup but they are quite good here. All you really need to do is not get run over in the early game and have an answer for 《Experimental Frenzy》. Esper Control is pretty good at doing both of those things. Also with all of the life gain in Esper it is pretty hard to get burned out.
Against Mono Red
Out
In
《Despark》
You have to have a decent amount of answers to 《Experimental Frenzy》 and 《Despark》 does that and also kills 《Chandra, Fire Artisan》 which can be a problem.
《Tibalt, Rakish Instigator》
I think Tibalt is a reasonable sideboard card but it is not one that you really have to keep in mind too much. The tokens often get swept up with 《Cry of the Carnarium》 or 《Kaya’s Wrath》 and the static ability is only somewhat inconvenient.
Mono White
Mono White is a bit scarier than Mono Red. I think Esper Control has the edge but a lot more can go wrong. Mono Red is most threatening when it casts a bunch of creatures and Mono White is much better at doing that. They have better creatures and no burn spells that don’t really accomplish much.
Against Mono White
Out
In
《Narset, Parter of Veils》
You often don’t get to get 2 cards out of the Narset and the static ability doesn’t do anything against Mono White but digging for 《Kaya’s Wrath》 or 《Cry of the Carnarium》 can still be pretty nice. Keeping 1 or 2 in the deck is reasonable.
Izzet Phoenix
I think this matchup is pretty close. Narset is pretty good against them but it is not always easy to keep her around. A lot of the games don’t feel super close in either direction but I suppose that is how the format is with so many powerful cards running around.
Against Izzet Phoenix
Out
In
《Hostage Taker》
It can be a nice answer to 《Sorcerous Spyglass》 if they have it.
《Basilica Bell-Haunt》
It doesn’t get to block very well in this matchup but it can attack the occasional Planeswalker.
Bant Ramp
I think this matchup is also relatively close. 《Kaya’s Wrath》 is usually pretty good against them. Also taking their payoff spell with 《Thought Erasure》 can be really back breaking sometimes.
Against Bant Ramp
Out
In
《Cry of the Carnarium》
It is a pretty good answer to various ramp creatures. It is a particularly good answer to 《Paradise Druid》 since it gets around Hexproof.
《Despark》
It is important to answer 《Nissa, Who Shakes the World》 and 《The Immortal Sun》.
Sultai Dreadhorde
You both get to cast 《Command the Dreadhorde》 but you don’t have to play a bunch of green creatures in your deck.
Against Sultai Dreadhorde
Out
In
Simic Nexus
I have mixed feelings about the Nexus matchup. On one hand Narset and 《Teferi, Time Raveler》 are really good against them but on the other hand you give them a lot of time to set up the combo and they can kill your 3 cost Planeswalkers with 《Blast Zone》.
Against Simic Nexus
Out
In
《Despark》
It kills 《Wilderness Reclamation》, 《Tamiyo, Collector of Tales》, 《Nissa, Who Shakes the World》, and 《Biogenic Ooze》 out of the sideboard. I just want to mention how nice it is against them.
Conclusion
Thanks for reading,
Gregory Orange (Twitter)
