Top X lists are some of my favorite articles to write. The excitement of a new set keeps the passion fire burning, especially with the increasing power level. It seems like there is no ceiling, as we have seen cards like Snapcaster Mage and Path to Exile become unplayable options in any control strategy. Typing that last sentence hurts me; however, the replacement spells have kept control alive and well across most competitive formats.
Standard, a format that control used to dominate, has been a wasteland for our favorite archetypes as of late. Most of the spells are strong enough to breathe viability into it, except that midrange has co-opted those cards with better success. Playing reactively in Standard is a dangerous game, which is why the top cards of March of the Machine provide control additional tap-out avenues for victory. My hope is that these cards do not become unbearable in the hands of the midrange decks, which seem to have a monopoly on Tier 1 decks in Standard.
#10: Jin-Gitaxias
The ward 2 of Jin-Gitaxias frustrates me and is the reason why this win condition is so low on the list. The draw engine, size, and absurd transformed abilities make it a potential powerhouse, if not for its fragility. Most spells can effectively maneuver around ward 2, which is why other blue win conditions with this ability have not made the competitive cut. Blue used to produce creatures with hexproof, especially when they cost five or more mana. If the format gets to a place where the removal does not hit the toughness floor with this creature, or costs too much, Jin-Gitaxias may see play as a control win condition.
#9: Boon-Bringer Valkyrie
Whenever the next iteration of Baneslayer Angel arrives, it immediately reserves spots in white-based control sideboards. The giant evasive body hits the battlefield, immediately stunting attackers. In addition, it begins to recuperate lost life points, while ending the game quickly on its own. Boon-Bringer Valkyrie has an additional ability that puts it miles above my beloved Angel of the past. This creature can make a temporary version of itself, immediately getting into the red zone and gaining life. It will often put the counter on itself, essentially becoming a Baneslayer Angel, but its versatility can win you matches.
#8: Invasion of Ravnica
I am a sucker for Elspeth Conquers Death effects, and this battle brings those vibes. When it hits the battlefield, it takes out a nonland permanent that does not consist of exactly two colors. For five mana, that exile effect is fairly stock and reasonably priced. The kicker is that once it flips, it begins to generate beautiful card advantage in a properly built deck. There are many good spells that have a two-color cost, and crafting decks to support this engine takes little effort. To add injury to card advantage, it comes with a 5/5 bruiser that can assist in the win condition category.
#7: Invasion of New Phyrexia
Once I saw Invasion of New Phyrexia previewed, I knew it would appear in any Azorius or Esper Control deck I pilot in Standard. I love producing a ton of creature tokens in control, especially when there is powerful upside. Playing a copy or two of Invasion of New Phyrexia will lead to a late-game haymaker crashing out of the sky onto the opponent, making an absurd number of creatures to charge into battle with.
The flip side of this battle is Teferi Akosa of Zhalfir, a planeswalker that will draw some cards, buff your army of Knights, and/or remove dangerous nonland permanents from the opponent’s battlefield. These types of win conditions have tremendous upside in control decks, avoiding the “dies to Doom Blade” argument, and can quickly close out a game.
#6: Archangel Elspeth
One of my favorite planeswalkers of all time is Elspeth, Knight-Errant. It checks the cliché box that makes a planeswalker good, being able to protect itself. Archangel Elspeth continues that legacy, making Soldier tokens with lifelink to defend their leader.
With this incarnation, the lifelink is what makes it strong enough to compete. There are many naysayers out there on this card, and for good reason. The times have changed, and it may not be as good as The Wandering Emperor in a vacuum. Still, there are many matchups where Archangel Elspeth, and its army of lifelinking Soldiers, will outshine any competition in that curve slot. Control’s success is often on the back of versatility, and Archangel Elspeth fit well into the new game-plan of Azorius Control in Standard.
#5: Hidetsugu and Kairi
My favorite card of all time is Hidetsugu’s Second Rite, and it is destiny that the return of this legend is in the form of a control card. Hidetsugu and Kairi is a broken creature that will see extensive play in Standard, even though there is not much buzz about it so far. For the mana value of five, I cannot believe how much it does for the controller.
Just by the stats, it is a 5/4 flyer in the Dimir colors, making it an easy inclusion for control decks that have strayed away from white. When it enters the battlefield, it triggers a Brainstorm, and then casts the top card of the library if it is an instant or sorcery when it dies. These abilities are fantastic, but my fear is its eventual home will likely be in midrange decks. Since black-based control has lost favor, the likelihood of it being played against us is higher. Either way, I am always happy to see the creatures that are full of value land in my favorite colors for potential play.
#4: Invasion of Innistrad
Invasion of Innistrad is not the best card in March of the Machine, but it is my favorite. I get excited when I can pay four mana for an instant-speed removal spell that can take out difficult-to-kill creatures, while gaining some side value in the process. Invasion of Innistrad takes out a giant creature on the opponent’s turn, then opens the door for a dynamic win condition if the battle is won.
Once it transforms, the enchantment left behind makes two 2/2 black Zombie creatures and provides a reusable source for additional threats. Like The Meathook Massacre, any removal spell that sticks around to do more stuff in black-based control is worth considering. I am a big fan of Invasion of Innistrad, and it is another reason why Dimir or Esper Control may be the best choice in Standard.
#3: Monastery Mentor
The return of Monastery Mentor was enough on its own to get me pumped for March of the Machine. It is a win condition that has been near and dear to my heart, as I have summoned it across most competitive formats. In Standard, it is good enough to get a starting role in Azorius or Esper Control, if the supporting spells adjust accordingly.
Monastery Mentor thrives on cheap noncreature spells, an element of deckbuilding that control has shifted away from lately. It would not take many modifications to make a home for one of the strongest control win conditions we have seen in a very long time. I am not concerned with the interaction between sweepers and Monastery Mentor, since the play pattern often has it hitting the battlefield after everything has been cleared. This way, there is mana open to protect it with disruption and gain full value as it goes off with the natural cantrips that control uses.
#2: Sunfall
It was a difficult decision, but I believe Sunfall ranks higher than Monastery Mentor and all the cards I have discussed so far. The strength of this sweeper cannot be underestimated, and it will immediately lift the power level of white-based control. Depopulate did the best it could while waiting for a stronger option to hit the format, and it has. I also believe Sunfall is significantly stronger than Farewell, just because of the one-mana difference. That one mana more on a sweeper can make or break its viability in competitive play.
Farewell can still answer the many troublesome enchantments, artifacts, and graveyards, but it will be a one- or two-of in support of Sunfall. With these two sweepers, white-based control will have an upper hand on the difficult-to-kill creatures. To add to the exile effect of Sunfall, the win condition that the sweeper creates after is very strong. With a cheap two-cost requirement, the Phyrexian artifact springs to life and can quickly protect you and/or crush the opponent.
#1: Sheoldred
The best card by a country mile, again, is Sheoldred. I am sure most players are sick of this character ruining everyone’s fun, but at least control decks can actively use it. It has the body that can equally defend and attack, while being difficult to block. The enters-the-battlefield trigger is what makes it obscene, forcing each opponent to sacrifice a nontoken creature or planeswalker. This will automatically put it in every black midrange deck, in addition to it becoming a control staple. Control can sculpt the battlefield to make Sheoldred’s trigger hit the intended target. That aspect is why a five-cost Edict is not too weak for black-based control.
The flipped side of Sheoldred is what makes it an absolute rock star in control decks. When flipped, it immediately destroys another creature or planeswalker, then forces the opponent to discard three cards, and then returns all creatures to the battlefield under your control. This Saga is far too strong, especially when combined with the initial power that Sheoldred brings to the battlefield. These great control cards will likely be played against us more frequently, a reality we must accept in this new age of powerful creatures.
