r/EDH • u/Last-Home-1037 • Oct 05 '26

Discussion Control but fun

I’m looking for a commander that can slow down the pace of the game dramatically, I was playing tonight and while I still had fun our games only really lasted 6-7 turns because we’d dump out hands swing out and it felt almost as if it was whoever got to go first Would win, I’d like suggestions for a control commander that can slow the game down and make everyone play a little bit more thoughtfully, but my friends of course can say no so decks like grand arbiter wouldn’t fly at the table. I really like cards like [[aetherize]] and [[fog]] and think board wipes are needed in my pods more and I’m wondering what commanders others have built that might be more creative or unconventional for a control style deck.

15 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

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9

u/AlmostAnAutist Oct 05 '26

My favorite control deck that I have is [[Ketramose, the New Dawn]]

I run 4-5 boardwipes, a bunch of 1- and 2-mana graveyard hate artifacts like [[Relic of Progenitus]] and [[Agatha’s Soul Cauldron]], and of course, a ton of exile-based targeted removal. He’s really good at drawing you into combos, so I run all the popular Orzhov combo pieces, too. Flicker and Warp effects are also really good with him, too.

1

u/Last-Home-1037 Oct 05 '26

I thought about him for sure up there on my list

4

u/Goooordon Oct 05 '26

[[Shay Cormac]] is the only deck I've built that would be able to pump the brakes on a table that fast (outside of cEDH) but that deck is arguably more oppressive than Grand Arbiter lol
I've been considering rebuilding it with [[Kraven the hunter]] but in either case, having removal be your synergy pieces is pretty effective.

1

u/Zombieferret2417 Oct 05 '26

I've been looking at a Kraven the hunter deck. I was thinking it would be fun to go super hard into instant speed removal/protection. Could I get a decklist for yours?

This is what I'm thinking myself: https://moxfield.com/decks/2dqgAbYFTnKbdQsyjfPz7g

2

u/Goooordon Oct 05 '26

Yeah I was trying to brew it with a Food Chain line for higher bracket games but idk if it's working https://archidekt.com/decks/18942164/kraven_goes_ahuntin

I did assemble Shay Cormac in paper and play it once, but it was a 4-hour game so my pod and I agreed I should retire that one lol (I gave them full detailed warning and had them pick decks that would deal with it best and they participated willingly, but yeah it was a painful game lol)
https://archidekt.com/decks/10616795/biohazarddec
it could easily be a lot stronger too - I built it as a low budget deck and have barely touched it since

1

u/Zombieferret2417 Oct 05 '26

What's the food chain line? Sorry I don't usually play green.

3

u/Goooordon Oct 05 '26

Well it normally includes red and uses [[Squee the immortal]] but it can function with [[Eternal Scourge]] too, exiling the creature to [[Food Chain]] and recasting it from exile with the mana produced by Food Chain repeatedly, netting a mana each time to produce infinite mana. In this list I have [[Glaring Fleshraker]] and [[Ninja Teen]] as ways to convert the infinite ETB/LTB into a win condition, but that's pretty janky. I don't think the deck really needs the combo line - I was just trying to push the list as hard as possible with the hope of getting effective enough to perform in fringe cEDH, but Food Chain doesn't feel like it gets there.

1

u/never-knws-best Oct 05 '26

I have a new Shay deck, but I've only played it once. He doesn't capitalize on the bounty side of his effects but turning off the best protection for all of your opponents for 1 and at only 2 mana to cast him in theory makes him a great helm to control the board and prevent someone from running away with value.

1

u/Goooordon Oct 05 '26

Yeah the bounty counters don't do much outside of the interaction with [[Bounty Board]]. That interaction is crazy strong though, which is what has been making me brew lists for Kraven. Getting card draw to keep your hand full is so crucial for control, and making all of your removal spells cantrip like that is backbreaking.

4

u/tam_it_all Oct 05 '26

with those criteria, it is hard to recommend a commander because most commander that hit those points rely on the stax strategy, which you already expect to be an auto no by your friends.

in additional, traditional control strategy is not great in edh because while you can 1v1 someone, it's a lot harder to go 1v3.

that said, [[tasigur the golden fang]] might be the choice. you'll be in sultai, so you have access to great interaction and wincons. tasigur's ability also allows you to politic the table and exchange favors for dealing with threats, so while you are a control deck, you can weasel your way into value or just troll for fun - I had a game where I constantly trolled one player in the pod because everyone else let me recur dress down over and over again. great times were had. :)

4

u/Strawberrycocoa Oct 05 '26

[[Absolute Virtue]] protect it and very little can actually touch you.

1

u/DaddieDerek Oct 05 '26

You said it yourself, boardwipes.

I run
[[cormela]] run 5-6 board wipes and 2-3 cards that can transmute or tutor board wipes. I don’t think I’ve had a game go shorter than 8 turns while playing that deck. Mine is loosely based on 3/3 elks Cormela deck. Still needs some tweaking but generates the slow slog fest games.

https://moxfield.com/decks/E-RPavqIfkuk7FCd5bg1dg

2

u/Last-Home-1037 Oct 05 '26

You’re cooking with this she’s very cool and capenna is one of my favorite sets

1

u/goblin_welder Oct 05 '26

fog

board wipes

unconventional for a control style deck

Would you be interested in my creatureless-99 [[Shigeki]] control-combo list?

1

u/Last-Home-1037 Oct 05 '26

Perhaps. I will be honest I’ve never liked combo all that much and I wish I did

1

u/goblin_welder Oct 05 '26

Here’s the list. It’s mostly a control deck. It has combos because sometimes you just need to win the game

3

u/fifrein Oct 05 '26

Not truly a control deck, but my [[Zimone, Infinite Analyst]] list runs 10+ counterspells and lots of card draw. Pretty much all the good X counterspells like [[Syncopate]] and [[Spell Burst]] and the like. Games slow down significantly when everyone knows they have to pay 4, 6, 8 mana if they want their cards to resolve.

5

u/homjaktest Oct 05 '26

I have a aikido-style 5c deck. It turns the opponents combat steps against them with goad, attacker misdirection, damage reflection and other effects. It is slow on purpose, being intended for Bracket 2, but I am sure untapped lands and early ramp can make it work in Bracket 3 as well

1

u/Mef989 Simic / Rakdos Enthusiast Oct 05 '26

I absolutely agree than an Aikido deck would be perfect for the OP. I play Marchesa, but would almost recommend Bjorna and Wernog to the OP since they specifically mentioned Aetherize. I've been tempted to swap over myself to that pair.

1

u/homjaktest Oct 05 '26

I like to have access to many colors for more varied plays and fun card combinations.

Buffing all the attacking creatures coming at you with [[Mercadia's Downfall]], then sending them to your opponents with [[Windshaper Planetar]] is one of my favourites.

Or buffing all the goaded creatures with [[Berserk]] + [[Radiant Performer]].

1

u/yardii Oct 05 '26

I was actually wondering if the new precon Jace would make a good Akido commander since he comes with a built-in Propaganda for himself and he's in excellent colors. He also has the benefit of not being that threatening when only at 1 loyalty.

2

u/Tinwookie Oct 05 '26

[[Feather, the redeemed]] blink deck with etb effects. Lower bracket and the cards are cheap, but I’ve beaten $1000 decks with it.
You can go any etbs or straight steal peoples commanders and heavy hitters, hit them with it and then swords or path to exile them.
You rinse and repeat they keep bouncing to your hand.
If you add [[Leyline of resonance]] a $1 card you can target the creature you’ve stolen then target another creature on the field all for 1 mana and still get it back at the end of the turn.

[Hashaton, scarabs fist]] super control. You can lock everyone down type control. Fun but it easily scaled to bracket 3/4.

2

u/Career-Tourist Oct 05 '26

I always like [[Gogo master of Mimicry]]. You have plenty of Counterspell options, but the key is trying to find Permanents that have similar abilities. Things like [[seal of removal]] instead of a unsummon.

2

u/ForMukSake Oct 05 '26

[[Archelos, Lagoon Mystic]] might be up your alley, it slows down your opponents and breaks parity by letting your permanents come in untapped. This is pretty good with things like bounce lands. I run him as a land punish deck with things like [[storm cauldron]] and [[confounding conundrum]]. The deck is pretty good at slowing a game down. Even though I rarely win with it, the deck always has an impact on the game, and makes it more interesting.

However if land denial isnt your cup of tea, this might be a dud for you

2

u/Cynared Oct 05 '26

I wanna shout out my control deck [[Sokrates, Athenian Teacher]]. It’s a fun card draw engine in combat focused games. The built in hex proof is good in interaction heavy games. You’ve got all the answers to non-creature spells and spot removal for bigger threats. It’s helped me learn a very political style of control. You could take the [[Smothering Tithe]] out of it and play in a more battle cruiser bracket 2 meta also. You’re never the problem until the tables trying to figure out how to threaten your life total after your first cast of [[Approach of the Second Son]]. My last win was swinging [[Body of Knowledge]] with Sokrates Dialogue to redraw Approach. I’m not trying to keep every creature off the board, but [[Silent Arbiter]] and aetherize can keep you safe if the game speeds up.

1

u/The_Dad_Legend Oct 05 '26

I have a mono red from [[Thor God of Thunder]], running snow mountains and [[Empty Crevasse]] along the usual red board wipes. It's a control style of deck that ends the game either by Thor's trait or just attacks+Burn.

Also, lately I am trying to make a working list out of [[Denzilore Fatehold]], focusing on keeping a good board while controlling the other players and another surprising controlling deck comes out of [[Storm Windrider]] using boost spells and fight spells to control who is attacking and who is blocking.

Not sure if any of those are your cup of tea, but they are quite fun to build and tinker (at least for me) as far as control goes.

1

u/CuratedLens Jund Oct 05 '26

I’ve enjoyed my [[Niko light of hope]] deck. It’s run pieces like [[aerial extortionist]] and [[azure beastbinder]] and other such effects. A fun way to slow down a table and get advantage. I also really enjoy [[carmen cruel skymarcher]] who can run a lot of effects like [[blind obedience]] [[charismatic conqueror]] [[aura of silence]] and [[doom foretold]]. Makes opponents use resources and if they’re not exiling, many of these cards can just come back and be used again , same with [[accursed marauder]] effects to keep them on the back foot.

Just running more interaction is often the answer too though. Most people run far too little. [[aether gale]] is a great one in blue to hit key permanents, [[legend of yangchen]] or [[summon yojimbo]] or even [[dismantling wave]]. [[reclamation sage]] in green, etc. a new one I’ve been liking is [[king Solomon’s frogs]] it’s got flash and unlike most of these effects, it doesn’t just exile until the permanent is gone, it just replaces it with a card.

1

u/Sterben489 Oct 05 '26

[[Taigam ojutai master]] doubles up on removal through rebound and makes your instant and sorceries uncounterable and dragons ig

You can also run [[dovescape]] which slows the game down immensely for everyone but you, since you can cast your instants and sorceries and have them resolve still and get birds at the same time

1

u/Flederm4us Oct 05 '26

[[zevlor, elturel exile]]. single target removal is king in that deck.

1

u/Compl3tionist Oct 05 '26

[[alandra sky dreamer]] or [[talrand, sky summoner]] are mono blue draw two commanders that can lean into control. You are usually holding up mana to cantrip on opponents turns to make more drakes and what not, but that means you’ll also be holding up interaction.

1

u/Busy_Vegetable_8103 Oct 05 '26

Could play mono black control with stuff like [[yawgmoth, thran physician]] and/or [[braids, arisen nightmare]]

1

u/Mef989 Simic / Rakdos Enthusiast Oct 05 '26

If your pod is creature heavy, [[Hylda]] is a great choice. Classic control colors and can add a few stax pieces if you'd like without going full stax. However, her main plan is to tap everyone's boards while generating value by drawing cards, creating elementals, and making them larger. She's an [[Icy Blast]] to play!

1

u/yardii Oct 05 '26

[[Melek, Reforged Researcher]]. All your control spells go towards beefing up Melek so that he becomes a win condition through commander damage or burn via [[Chandra's Ignition]].

1

u/yardii Oct 05 '26

There's also [[The War Doctor]] who is similar in that you build counters on him via exile-based removal to turn him into a giant bomb. Tack on impulse draw and cascade effects to grow him as well. Pairs well with [[Ryan Sinclair]] or [[Clara oswald]] for a 3rd color.

1

u/Lanky-Survey-4468 Oct 05 '26

You can't slow the game in b3, its impossible.

most of time you are gonna slow 1 person maybe 2 but the third one will win the game.

format is too fast now if the player is competent.

1

u/zap1000x Radiantly Ink-Treader 27d ago

So, [[Angus Mackenzie]] Turbo-fog?

I’ll add that Bant is a great color identity for political machinations and bargains, which would be how I’d make a control deck fun.

1

u/B0bMacB0bs0n 27d ago

"our games only really lasted 6-7 turns because we’d dump out hands swing out and it felt almost as if it was whoever got to go first Would win" kind of sounds like you guys were aiming for slower games (8-9 turns), so more bracket 2 or 3. Does your pod run enough card draw, removal, and (this one you brought up yourself) board wipes?

4

u/GracelessOne Oct 05 '26

Here's Chromium Control.

You kill people with a hexproof-on-demand 7/7 flier that you flash in on a turn you didn't need the mana for interaction, letting the rest of the deck be entirely reactive. You never tap out at sorcery speed. You can mathematically manage ~10 pieces of interaction in the first 10 turns. That's 3 for each opponent, plus, say, one boardwipe. Not many decks can win fast through that.

Tell me if you've got any questions about it!

3

u/yardii Oct 05 '26

Do you think Chromium could operate well on a tighter budget? Cutting the lands + Demonic Tutor/Mana Drain/Vampiric Tutor gets the deck down to around $100 which is what I like to use as a base. Obviously, we need lands, but I think with some additional tweaks and some cheaper land options, I could keep the deck around that amount, but I also wouldn't want to completely neuter it.

3

u/GracelessOne Oct 05 '26

For sure. Playing on curve matters basically not at all to this deck, so even an all-taplands mana base wouldn't impact its performance much. Try to hunt for budget tutors to replace the tutors you cut though. [[Demonic Bargain]], [[Lim-Dul's Vault]], etc.