The deck below is what I would have played at GP Detroit. I can publish now as one of the deck’s inventors is playing a similar build in the fourth round at GP Detroit now, and there is no longer a need for secrecy.
This history of this anti-aggro BW Control (as opposed to Zvi’s anti-control BW Control at Premium) is as follows:
My good buddy Evan Blake of Florida sent a decklist to me a week ago. Worked on hard my himself and his friend Chris (the Detroit player with this deck) for a solid month, I could find nothing wrong with the main deck, though play testing showed me the 2nd Visara would be better off being a 25th land, an Unholy Grotto.
After reading Zvi’s articles on the strengths and weaknesses of BW Control, I completely redid the sideboard, save 2 of the 3 Wipe Cleans Evan/Chris had. I also provide sideboard subs, and by all means be critical. The subs are a result of reading what Zvi thought were the strengths/weaknesses of this archetype in the metagame, and actual playtesting on my part.
Note: this archetype will change considerably to adapt to the ever changing metagame all season, as good control decks always do. But this is a strong deck, and much play testing needs to done first before playing if you wish to understand all its synergies. Please don’t just net deck and expect to do well, unless you’re playing cheese like Goblins.
REMOVAL.dec
Pre-Detroit Last Build July 12, 2003
OnBC
by Evan Blake/Chris, tuned by Rakamir
4 Exalted Angel
3 Twisted Abomination
3 Cruel Revival
3 Infest
2 Eternal Dragon
2 Graveborn Muse
2 Pacifism
4 Renewed Faith
1 Visara the Dreadful
4 Akroma’s Vengeance
4 Wing Shards
3 Smother
1 Unholy Grotto
3 Barren Moor
3 Secluded Steppe
8 Swamp
10 Plains
SB:
1 Graveborn Muse
2 Head Games
4 Withered Wretch
1 Cruel Revival
1 Smother
1 Infest
3 Wipe Clean
2 Decree of Pain
SUBS
GOBLINS
-1 Visara -2 Graveborn Muse
+1 Smother +1 Infest +1 Cruel Revival
ZOMBIES (bidding)
-2 Graveborn Muse -3 Cruel Revival -1 Eternal Dragon
+2 Head Games +4 Withered Wretch
BEASTS
-1 Exalted Angel -2 Graveborn Muse
+1 Cruel Revival +2 Head Games
MIRROR or MWC
-3 Smother -3 Infest -2 Exalted Angel -1 Renewed Faith
+2 Head Games +4 Withered Wretch +2 Decree of Pain +1 Graveborn Muse
SLIDE
-3 Smother -3 Infest -2 Pacifism
+3 Wipe Clean +4 Withered Wretch