Standard: Jeskai Control - Deck Tech and Sideboard Guide

Jeskai Control is an Azorius Control variant that splashes to red to take advantage of how valuable this color is in many matchups. It is particularly valuable in the current meta, as nowadays most decks center around combat and rely heavily on creatures. Decks like Dimir Midrange, Landfall, and Red lists overall are incredibly popular.

Decklist

The main game plan is simple: all you have to do is control the game until your opponent runs out of resources and you can easily play your win condition.

Elspeth, Storm Slayer is that win condition. She has great abilities, so, unsurprisingly, she is one of the few planeswalkers that still see play in the format. Her first loyalty ability fills the board with tokens and interacts really well with her passive ability. Her second ability makes your creatures even bigger and gives them evasion. Finally, her last ability removes enemy creatures that cost 3 or more.

Beza, the Bounding Spring mostly deals with aggro decks, but it also interacts really well with Elspeth. It is also a great finisher.

Marang River Regent is excellent in combat, creates card advantage, and removes creatures by bouncing them from the board. It is one of the most versatile cards in the entire deck.

Jeskai also plays an excellent removal kit, including spot removals for the most various situations. Lightning Helix, for instance, is exceptional against Red Decks, and Ride's End deals with recursive creatures (like Mosswood Dreadknight) really well.

The final touches are a few great counters so you can deal with problematic spells and effectively control the game. This list also plays Stock Up, the best card for these types of decks, as the heart of the entire strategy.

Why Play This Deck?

Standard is still changing and absorbing the new set and the latest rotation. Usually, in times like this, new and already existing decks that weren't affected by the new rotation or new set come out on top.

As I mentioned before, the format is currently centered around creatures, mostly. As such, decks like Jeskai Control are stealing the spotlight, as they play many control tools and removals, particularly. Furthermore, this version plays even more lifegain tools, so it performs even better against creature-centric decks.

Jeskai also performs decently against other control decks. In fact, it does rather well against most control decks seeing play right now.

Mulligan

This opening hand has a few great options, particularly if you're against an aggro deck. However, if you don't know what your opponent is playing, it could be risky because then you'll have to rely on manipulating your topdeck to find interaction.

This opening hand has more ways to interact with the opponent, but it needs land drops. Otherwise, you won't be able to put your plans in motion.

This opening hand is versatile. You can keep it in most cases because it can perform really well in many matchups.

This sideboard focuses on dealing with multiple strategies in Standard with pinpoint precision. So, it includes different tools that will be very useful in these matchups.

Tishana's Tidebinder is very versatile, as its ability lets you block many cards in the meta. Pinnacle Starcage and Fire Magic play a similar role but in different situations. Pinnacle, actually, is the "new Temporary Lockdown".

Rest in Peace is critical against graveyards, and Regal Caracal is one of the best cards you can play against aggro decks. Caracal complements Beza, the Bounding Spring, and plays its role when it can't.

Vs. Izzet Cauldron

Vivi Ornitier is still dominating Magic: The Gathering. In fact, in Standard, Cauldron is the deck to beat. With scary turns and powerful interactions, this strategy combines speed, efficiency, and recursion, all while getting a lot of value from Vivi's powerful abilities.

Your strategy in this matchup should be controlling your opponent. This means not letting them create value from their creatures, particularly if Cauldron is in play. Jeskai has enough removals to control the game this way until you can put your threats on the board safely, but don't give your opponent even an inch of freedom, and always have a backup plan in hand.

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Vs. Dimir Midrange

Dimir is great as an aggro strategy, but it can play as a control too and easily swap between the two. However, I believe Jeskai has the upper hand in this matchup, particularly in game 1. All you need to do is control the board and prevent them from creating value with their most problematic cards. Be careful with Kaito, Bane of Nightmares and his Ninjutsu.

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Vs. Esper Bounce

This matchup is very similar to the matchup above. Their entire game plan centers around their creatures, and, without them, they can't do much. However, Bounce can play incredibly strong sequences, so you must be careful with that.

Always play around your opponent and don't pass turns without any mana because this could be fatal. Keep a few global removals for the right time, and use them wisely.

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Vs. Mono-Red Aggro

This is one of the most favorable matchups for Jeskai. All you need to do is control your opponent's board and your life points really well. Be careful with Screaming Nemesis because it can be very problematic for you, and use your removals well. Save them for the right time.

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Vs. Manufacturing Combo

This is one of the new decks that started popping up recently. I believe it has a lot of potential, as it has been performing really well already. There are many versions of it in the meta, all very efficient. The 4-Color version is the most popular one.

Basically, your opponent will use Weapons Manufacturing to fill their board with artifacts. These artifacts, in turn, deal damage to you when they leave the board, but they'll still need an engine to complete their combo. All you have to do is disrupt this combo and their game plan in any way you can until you can play your own win conditions.

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Jeskai Control is quite fun and can easily compete in this Standard meta, though it is currently not as popular as other archetypes. I believe this version is better than the Azorius version in a few ways. Particularly, I believe it is more versatile, so it can be a bit better for the current meta.

What do you think? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!