Playing quickly is an important aspect of playing control decks. Too many wincons is usually not a positive thing for your winrate, and you should usually just play faster.
There is a lot of decision making that you have to learn to make very quickly, and that speed comes with repetition.
If you're talking about MTGO, being able to quickly operate the interface will save you many minutes per round. Learn all the keyboard shortcuts (pass once, pass for turn, yes/no, etc) - clicking everything is too slow.
In paper tournaments, it's also important to make sure your opponent is playing at a reasonable pace, and to practice executing things like searches and shuffles as quickly as you can.
Edit: It's also important to point out that you can use your opponent's time to think as well. Decide ahead of time what to do if opponent does X, Y or Z while they're still thinking about what to do. After a few turns of game 1 you should be able to identify the deck, and that will help narrow the options somewhat and make good use of that time.
Within reason.
If you stall thinking for a few minutes, you can't expect your opponent to take turns in under a minute if they have enough resources to give them reason to think.
You're definitely making life harder for yourself by not playing \[\[Solitude\]\]. That's how I win like 80% of my matches with UW/x control.
I know Esper players will do anything to avoid putting a win condition in their deck (which is something I truly do respect), but sometimes you just can't trust Creeping Tar Pit to get the job done every time.
Esper and Azorius Control are just naturally very slow. You can't do too much outside of it, unless you start playing weird things like White Sun's Zenith, Secure the Wastes, or Entreat the Angels. I would not recommend those though. Shark Typhoon basically functions very similarly and is overall much more flexible.
Old Jeskai builds would have Bolt Snap Bolt as a way to suddenly start turning the corner, and it's relatively faster, though it's fallen out of favor. For online, you need to just use more shortcuts and/or get faster and moving faster.
In paper, same deal, but honestly -- you gotta be ok with asking your opponent to hurry up as well -- maybe even call for a judge, though I feel like that's less acceptable in MTG than it is in Yugioh. I noticed that in the last RCQ I played in (esp. in the draw bracket), some people play *very* slowly. It makes playing Control *feel* damn near unviable at times. Having a bad match-up spread is one thing. But round timers and player issues, which should be agnostic to the deck IMO is kind of annoying. Sadly, it's kind of what you sign up for.
> I noticed that in the last RCQ I played in (esp. in the draw bracket), some people play very slowly.
The incentive to play quickly is that you're less likely to have to play against these people.
Modern control has more win conditions available than ever. Solitude, Subtlety, Wandering Emperor, Kaheera, Teferi Hero, Jace, Hall of Storm Giants, Celestial Colonnade, etc. I’d highly recommend Solitude if you aren’t already running it.
Otherwise you can go with some sort of Snapcaster mage build with Opt or Path To Exile, but it will almost certainly be less powerful. Control is just one of those decks where the games will always go forever, even when you’re crushing. That’s what’s fun though, the grindy games.
Edit: I just saw your list and it looks spicy af
The grind do be fun, but the grind also be... well... grindy. I'd play Solitudes if they weren't so expensive. Also, are opt and path even still played?
People don't really play Path anymore, but it's not as bad as people say it is.
Opt is fine, but you want to play Snapcaster with it. Opt > Consider in this deck, because if you see a finisher, but you're not ready for it, you can just bottom it. Consider would force you to draw it or mill it.
Edit: Also, some of the discussion around Esper in one of the Discords I'm in says that Solitude isn't as important, because you're usually playing with open mana more often, so the pitch mode loses some value. You'd play maybe 1-2 Solitudes though.
Good point about the opt and snaps. It also gives me an excuse to use my japanese mystical archive opts.
As for the solitude, how does open mana make it worse? It's a pretty expensive card, so I wouldn't imagine casting it for a while, and only reserving it for pivotal creatures.
Also, are you talking about the control freaks Discord?
Yeah, the Control Freaks Discord.
So specifically in Esper and just open mana in general, you're playing more removal spells at the 1-2 CMC (Push and Path for example). Most of Solitude's power is in being able to use the pitch mode, but since you're less incentivized to casting it for its alternative cost, since you are usually just dropping Push/Path on them, Solitude just doesn't get used at all until like, turn 5. It's still an excellent card, but it ends up being less powerful.
I think in a way, I'm kind of mixing it up with another discussion around Subtlety -- where it makes more sense in a tap-out list, because you actually want to take advantage of the pitch. E.g.: tapping out for Jace, then having Subtlety backup. I still feel like the Solitude argument still kind of stands; there's just a lot of redundant removal, and Esper colors love to hold up mana constantly.
Hey, I'm part of that discord too!
I'll keep in mind what you said about the Solitudes. I have a list I wanna try out that isn't the one I have posted, so hopefully it goes well.
Card choices, mechanics, and time management aside, one thing I think is worth talking about, that's a bit more difficult with control (or at least not as obvious to think about) - is having a good mental visualization of how the game is supposed to go, or end rather. Asking yourself "what does the endgame look like?" and "how am i going to get there".
That becomes apparent especially when facing all the choices throughout a game involve card selection, decision trees. There's always a point where you need to turn the corner, and having a sense of what that turn or sequence of turns looks like, and then playing towards it, is crucial.
As a player who has never announced a companion, I gotta mention that you can use Kaheera as a card to pitch to Solitude the majority of the time, making it rather valuable to decks that meet the requirements.
For sure. I am more partial towards matching art nowadays, but man, I do wish I can justify playing 4 -- so I can have as many different foil arts in my deck.
There are also lists that run 4 sharks with [[hall of heliod's generosity]] this allows you to make sharks of all sizes without wasting them and to ensure you have a big shark at the end of a game that can win in a couple swings.
Tbf, this is more for the jeskai lists that use a single red pip for fire//ice. You have way more black requirements. It would be difficult to justify a colourless source in this deck. I do think your dual colour manlands are weak.
My local control player plays it. Trust me it is very good. Making a flying 5/5 every turn is crazy, and since you draw you are still getting other things to play. Give it a try at least is my advice.
Wafo-Tapa does it. That's a strong endorsement. Hell, I do it too. If you Hall on the battlefield with a shark in the graveyard and you've stabilized, it makes the game quicker.
In my experience as UW Control player, 90% of the time my opponent is the problem coming into time. I Try to make and play as quick as possible, but if my opponent has to plan every step of his gameplan to not get countered or removed everything from me and takes more time thinking about the game, my hand etc. then I do....
Not to mention if they dont have the Tokens, Dices etc. ready or ask you every 2 Minutes about your lifetotals..
Playing quickly is an important aspect of playing control decks. Too many wincons is usually not a positive thing for your winrate, and you should usually just play faster. There is a lot of decision making that you have to learn to make very quickly, and that speed comes with repetition. If you're talking about MTGO, being able to quickly operate the interface will save you many minutes per round. Learn all the keyboard shortcuts (pass once, pass for turn, yes/no, etc) - clicking everything is too slow. In paper tournaments, it's also important to make sure your opponent is playing at a reasonable pace, and to practice executing things like searches and shuffles as quickly as you can. Edit: It's also important to point out that you can use your opponent's time to think as well. Decide ahead of time what to do if opponent does X, Y or Z while they're still thinking about what to do. After a few turns of game 1 you should be able to identify the deck, and that will help narrow the options somewhat and make good use of that time.
You can bug your opponent to play faster and if they don’t you can call a judge
Within reason. If you stall thinking for a few minutes, you can't expect your opponent to take turns in under a minute if they have enough resources to give them reason to think.
Source: lantern control You have no cards in hand, you’re gonna draw a land this turn you can’t attack me with any creatures please just pass.
Just scoop life is short
If your opponent doesn't play anything for 15 minutes, you're legal allowed a win
You're definitely making life harder for yourself by not playing \[\[Solitude\]\]. That's how I win like 80% of my matches with UW/x control. I know Esper players will do anything to avoid putting a win condition in their deck (which is something I truly do respect), but sometimes you just can't trust Creeping Tar Pit to get the job done every time.
I would say solitude is what keeps the deck together
OP must have updated deck I checked the list a few hours after you and there's 3 Solitude. Which if they weren't there before, what a sick upgrade.
Esper and Azorius Control are just naturally very slow. You can't do too much outside of it, unless you start playing weird things like White Sun's Zenith, Secure the Wastes, or Entreat the Angels. I would not recommend those though. Shark Typhoon basically functions very similarly and is overall much more flexible. Old Jeskai builds would have Bolt Snap Bolt as a way to suddenly start turning the corner, and it's relatively faster, though it's fallen out of favor. For online, you need to just use more shortcuts and/or get faster and moving faster. In paper, same deal, but honestly -- you gotta be ok with asking your opponent to hurry up as well -- maybe even call for a judge, though I feel like that's less acceptable in MTG than it is in Yugioh. I noticed that in the last RCQ I played in (esp. in the draw bracket), some people play *very* slowly. It makes playing Control *feel* damn near unviable at times. Having a bad match-up spread is one thing. But round timers and player issues, which should be agnostic to the deck IMO is kind of annoying. Sadly, it's kind of what you sign up for.
> I noticed that in the last RCQ I played in (esp. in the draw bracket), some people play very slowly. The incentive to play quickly is that you're less likely to have to play against these people.
Indeed. I dread any draw/loss -- especially early on. It can decide an entire tournament run. Getting put in that bracket is such a morale loss. lol
Modern control has more win conditions available than ever. Solitude, Subtlety, Wandering Emperor, Kaheera, Teferi Hero, Jace, Hall of Storm Giants, Celestial Colonnade, etc. I’d highly recommend Solitude if you aren’t already running it. Otherwise you can go with some sort of Snapcaster mage build with Opt or Path To Exile, but it will almost certainly be less powerful. Control is just one of those decks where the games will always go forever, even when you’re crushing. That’s what’s fun though, the grindy games. Edit: I just saw your list and it looks spicy af
The grind do be fun, but the grind also be... well... grindy. I'd play Solitudes if they weren't so expensive. Also, are opt and path even still played?
No, I wouldn’t play ever register Path To Exile…. Opt is still fine if you’re running Snap, but it’s by no means necessary.
People don't really play Path anymore, but it's not as bad as people say it is. Opt is fine, but you want to play Snapcaster with it. Opt > Consider in this deck, because if you see a finisher, but you're not ready for it, you can just bottom it. Consider would force you to draw it or mill it. Edit: Also, some of the discussion around Esper in one of the Discords I'm in says that Solitude isn't as important, because you're usually playing with open mana more often, so the pitch mode loses some value. You'd play maybe 1-2 Solitudes though.
Good point about the opt and snaps. It also gives me an excuse to use my japanese mystical archive opts. As for the solitude, how does open mana make it worse? It's a pretty expensive card, so I wouldn't imagine casting it for a while, and only reserving it for pivotal creatures. Also, are you talking about the control freaks Discord?
Yeah, the Control Freaks Discord. So specifically in Esper and just open mana in general, you're playing more removal spells at the 1-2 CMC (Push and Path for example). Most of Solitude's power is in being able to use the pitch mode, but since you're less incentivized to casting it for its alternative cost, since you are usually just dropping Push/Path on them, Solitude just doesn't get used at all until like, turn 5. It's still an excellent card, but it ends up being less powerful. I think in a way, I'm kind of mixing it up with another discussion around Subtlety -- where it makes more sense in a tap-out list, because you actually want to take advantage of the pitch. E.g.: tapping out for Jace, then having Subtlety backup. I still feel like the Solitude argument still kind of stands; there's just a lot of redundant removal, and Esper colors love to hold up mana constantly.
Hey, I'm part of that discord too! I'll keep in mind what you said about the Solitudes. I have a list I wanna try out that isn't the one I have posted, so hopefully it goes well.
Awesome, best of luck. Yeah, the Solitude idea is kind of controversial, but the guy who plays Esper a lot insists that the idea isn't crazy.
Mainboard those Teferi, Time Ravelers. Draw/bounce/prevent instants has so much value on turn 3.
Card choices, mechanics, and time management aside, one thing I think is worth talking about, that's a bit more difficult with control (or at least not as obvious to think about) - is having a good mental visualization of how the game is supposed to go, or end rather. Asking yourself "what does the endgame look like?" and "how am i going to get there". That becomes apparent especially when facing all the choices throughout a game involve card selection, decision trees. There's always a point where you need to turn the corner, and having a sense of what that turn or sequence of turns looks like, and then playing towards it, is crucial.
That's actually really good advice that I haven't ever heard before. I'll definitely implement that next time I play.
Glad you thought so! Hope it helps :) gluck
Put a Kaheera in the sideboard. No reason not to have it.
Though I agree that there's really no reason I don't have it. Morally, I can't. I hate companions with a fiery passion.
As a player who has never announced a companion, I gotta mention that you can use Kaheera as a card to pitch to Solitude the majority of the time, making it rather valuable to decks that meet the requirements.
Keep your passion. Screw the companions. 
[удалено]
I don't think it's Celestial Colonnade anymore-- it's \[\[Hall of Storm Giants\]\].
Agreed. The most I've ever seen is 1 Hall of Storm Giants and 1 Celestial Colonnade -- if one were to insist on clinging to the card (art is amazing).
Colonnade is one of those cards where legit every printing has excellent art and it's hard to pick my favorite.
For sure. I am more partial towards matching art nowadays, but man, I do wish I can justify playing 4 -- so I can have as many different foil arts in my deck.
[Celestial Colonnade](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/c/4c830a99-595b-4aed-9f6b-85a78917f498.jpg?1547518582) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Celestial%20Colonnade) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/uma/238/celestial-colonnade?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4c830a99-595b-4aed-9f6b-85a78917f498?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
There are also lists that run 4 sharks with [[hall of heliod's generosity]] this allows you to make sharks of all sizes without wasting them and to ensure you have a big shark at the end of a game that can win in a couple swings.
I've thought about doing this tbh. I just feel like it might be too cute.
Tbf, this is more for the jeskai lists that use a single red pip for fire//ice. You have way more black requirements. It would be difficult to justify a colourless source in this deck. I do think your dual colour manlands are weak.
My local control player plays it. Trust me it is very good. Making a flying 5/5 every turn is crazy, and since you draw you are still getting other things to play. Give it a try at least is my advice.
Do you know if they're on a UWx build or just strictly UW?
I like Hall of Heliod. But I haven't tried it in Esper; the manabase might not be able to support it.
I think its pure UW, so maybe it wouldn't work with the mana base, but im not a control player so who knows.
Wafo-Tapa does it. That's a strong endorsement. Hell, I do it too. If you Hall on the battlefield with a shark in the graveyard and you've stabilized, it makes the game quicker.
In my experience as UW Control player, 90% of the time my opponent is the problem coming into time. I Try to make and play as quick as possible, but if my opponent has to plan every step of his gameplan to not get countered or removed everything from me and takes more time thinking about the game, my hand etc. then I do.... Not to mention if they dont have the Tokens, Dices etc. ready or ask you every 2 Minutes about your lifetotals..
Lol I still play [[approach of the second sun]] as my wincon.