Since the release of MTG Avatar, a handful of well-established archetypes have begun adopting new cards. From Simic Aggro with Badgermole Cub to Esper Self-Bounce with Boomerang Basics, there’s a variety of powerful decks that have only gotten stronger over the last week.
One of the most unique and innovative adaptations we’ve seen since the set released is the addition of a green Lesson to classic Jeskai Control. While this is definitely an unorthodox deckbuilding decision, the new sorcery does a great job setting up the strategy’s powerful plays. Fresh off a top-eight Standard Challenge finish, there’s a lot to like about how this Four-Color Control deck is constructed.
Ramp Meets Control
Like most traditional control decks, the goal behind Four-Color Control is to prolong the game long enough to take advantage of card draw spells and overwhelming threats. Standard control variants have been gifted with two incredible card advantage spells in Consult the Star Charts and Stock Up, which do a fantastic job not only pulling you ahead on resources but also digging for board wipes, finishers, or whatever else you might need.
As good as these tools are, though, they are a bit mana-intensive. An easy way to lose games is to get your hand glutted with clunky cards and not have the mana to deploy all of your excess fuel in a timely manner. Fortunately, Shared Roots is a game-changer in that department.
Even though the Lesson subtype is essentially irrelevant in this deck, just having access to a Rampant Growth effect on turn two sets up your bigger plays nicely. The extra lands fuel Consult on multiple levels, making it easier to Kick it for extra value while simultaneously giving you additional card selection. Getting to sink more mana into Wan Shi Tong, Librarian or cast Shiko, Paragon of the Way a turn ahead of schedule is a huge luxury. Even giving yourself a better chance to double spell on future turns has a lot of value.
Obviously, incorporating Shared Roots into Jeskai Control doesn’t come without some deckbuilding considerations. First of all, adding in a two-mana ramp piece means you have less room for two-mana removal like Lightning Helix, which is omitted here. Fortunately, with Mono-Red Aggro severely weakened by the ban to Screaming Nemesis, the life gain from Helix is less of a priority. You also need reliable access to green mana on turn two, but the presence of Multiversal Passage, Hushwood Verge, and Fabled Passage makes this trivial.
Even in a slightly slower environment, though, you do still need ways to interact with the opponent to keep your head above water. Otherwise, you risk getting completely run over by Simic Aggro. Unsurprisingly, though, Four-Color Control comes equipped with plenty of disruption.
Interaction
Rather than rely on a high density of two-mana removal spells, this deck opts to focus on some powerful board wipes. Split Up, in particular, is a highly efficient catch-up mechanism, and its synergy with Authority of the Consuls is incredible. Because any creatures your opponent plays will enter tapped, if they choose to attack with any they already have in play, they risk losing their whole board during your turn. Any of your untapped creatures get to live, too, giving you a chance to quickly turn the corner.
From there, while Split Up and Day of Judgment work to keep go-wide decks in check, Aang’s Iceberg and Get Lost play essential roles due to their versatility. Without these cards, Kaito, Bane of Nightmares would be completely unbeatable. As long as you can continue stalling the game with these cards, eventually, resolving a game-breaker like Jeskai Revelation will shut the door on your opponent.
A Strong Position
As a whole, this deck’s straightforward game plan lines up pretty well against some of the top-performing decks in the format. Your board wipes absolutely crush Simic Aggro, for instance, and if that weren’t enough, Sire of Seven Deaths out of the sideboard is a nearly unbeatable threat given Simic’s lack of removal. Meanwhile, the various black midrange decks of the format all fail to apply tons of early pressure, giving you plenty of time to cast Shared Roots and card advantage spells.
Where things get dicey is against matchups like Gruul Leyline Aggro, where your board wipes often won’t do the trick. In any games where you don’t draw Authority of the Consuls early, you risk getting run over by Haste creatures and pump spells before you even get your footing. This deck’s lack of life gain cards only makes things worse, especially since you have no good ways to counter Sunspine Lynx in games two and three.
Though giving up on Dispelling Exhale and Three Steps Ahead makes sense in a deck with early-game sorceries like Shared Roots and Stock Up, this decision also comes back to bite you versus Simic Omniscience and Jeskai Artifacts. These decks successfully attack on an axis Four-Color Control isn’t prepared for, making things exceptionally difficult due to the lack of pressure of your own.
Nonetheless, given how popular Simic Aggro and Dimir Midrange are, Four-Color Control is still in a good position at the moment. Obviously, things are bound to change as the metagame keeps evolving, but Four-Color Control has a lot going in its favor. This deck’s success goes to show that in a world of flashy designs, sometimes it’s the simple printings like Shared Roots that have the biggest impact.
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