Sign In

Best Control decks in Modern

Counterspells and removal to outlast the opponent and win in the late game.

Control decks trade one-for-one (or better) until the opponent runs out of threats, then close with a small number of powerful finishers or card-advantage engines.

Good control play is about knowing which threats to answer and which to ignore, and sequencing your mana so you always hold up the right interaction.

A high-powered, non-rotating format reaching back to the dawn of Magic's modern card frame in 2003.

Staple cards

  • Counterspell
  • Beast Within
  • Mind Stone
  • An Offer You Can't Refuse
  • Solemn Simulacrum
  • Negate
  • Generous Gift
  • Swan Song
  • Esper Sentinel
  • Boseiju, Who Endures
  • Feed the Swarm
  • Garruk's Uprising
  • Phyrexian Arena
  • Vandalblast
  • Assassin's Trophy
  • Black Market Connections
  • Abrade
  • Pongify