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Magic (The Gathering) => Discussion => Topic started by: Ekann1 on July 10, 2014, 10:38:28 PM

Title: Control vs Agro
Post by: Ekann1 on July 10, 2014, 10:38:28 PM
The old argument of control being for "smarter" people because there's more decisions, or whether agro is as, I guess, skill-intensive. (Is that the right word for it? I'm not sure.)

Discuss. Be nice. Go.
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: Mattao19 on July 10, 2014, 10:46:53 PM
No no no if this is going by my comment I meant it like control is how magic should be tons of decisions whereas aggro is more just pound face.

I play both so I'm not saying ones better. Just saying that I personally am a fan of decisions that's what makes magic fun for me. :D

Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: Remillo on July 10, 2014, 10:48:43 PM
I've seen control decks that are mindless and aggro decks that actually require thought.  There's a lot more thought to combat than people think, especially when you factor in any number of combat tricks that may be on either side.  When you get to EDH, most of the time, 'control' just means playing reactively and 'having a board wipe ready when someone gets out of hand'...  and attacking has a TON of political weight, so it takes a lot of thought to decide to be the one to draw first blood and go for it.

Which is why I play those kinds of decks now.
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: Ekann1 on July 10, 2014, 10:58:37 PM
Quote from: Mattao19 on July 10, 2014, 10:46:53 PM
No no no if this is going by my comment I meant it like control is how magic should be tons of decisions whereas aggro is more just pound face.

I play both so I'm not saying ones better. Just saying that I personally am a fan of decisions that's what makes magic fun for me. :D
This is from your comment. It's just an interesting discussion too, not just about that. Or it can be if people actually take sides.
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: Mattao19 on July 10, 2014, 11:01:13 PM
Quote from: E.kann1 on July 10, 2014, 10:58:37 PM
Quote from: Mattao19 on July 10, 2014, 10:46:53 PM
No no no if this is going by my comment I meant it like control is how magic should be tons of decisions whereas aggro is more just pound face.

I play both so I'm not saying ones better. Just saying that I personally am a fan of decisions that's what makes magic fun for me. :D
This is from your comment. It's just an interesting discussion too, not just about that. Or it can be if people actually take sides.

True :P

Well in personal experience I've played both sides and tbh I love them both but control just suits me better!

In the end midrange actually is my preference lol
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: Ekann1 on July 10, 2014, 11:02:17 PM
Quote from: Mattao19 on July 10, 2014, 11:01:13 PM
In the end midrange actually is my preference lol
Way to ruin a good discussion ;)
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: Mattao19 on July 10, 2014, 11:05:26 PM
Aggro is dumb and for MORONS!! Go home Red Green you're dumb and stupid!!
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: MuggyWuggy on July 10, 2014, 11:42:54 PM
Honestly, I really enjoy mixing Aggro and control(midrange??). The chaos of both sends your opponent in mixed directions. I've found I am a player who enjoys being able to send beat down in early, but I also like being able to last. Even if by top decking.

I had my BANT control deck before JOU and it was so fun, as I didn't have to sit there getting my face beat off the bat, people wanted to kill my fleecemanes ASAP, and as time playing that deck went on, it became a deck that definitely was well rounded for current meta.

Problems for control:
If they Aggro right on the play and your hand isn't really removing anything, you're done. A supreme verdict T4 after you've been attacked 3 times (t2/3/4) you're still down 12 life and they may have a few boros charms...

If you're not using green, that mana comes to you slowly, with Carytid existing, I find green players get so much mana so fast, they can let you counter a few of their spells and still overcome.

Playing another control player becomes a bluff game & who has more counters. Usually resulting in draws. Draws don't win you tournaments.

No board defense normally, so once a creature is down and can't be removed, they become your main problem, sometimes you even waste a wipe on one, then they cast another next turn (Blood Baron....)

Problems for Aggro:

A Nyx Fleece Ram T2 will just ruin your day. A 0/5 that will let reckoner beat on it all day without consequence. Plus the life gain starts to become very annoying once it starts to negate damage for a turn.

Card advantage: you always run out :(

Counters can cripple your whole plan.

Wipes. If you didn't see one coming, see card advantage.

Mass life gain after a wipe can also ruin your first 4 turns of doing amazing Aggro damage.
I had someone scoop on me after I wiped his Aggro. First time ever. I was surprised.

In strictly speaking standard constructed by the way.
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: 5/9 Turtle on July 11, 2014, 12:11:20 AM
Quote from: Mattao19 on July 10, 2014, 11:05:26 PM
Aggro is dumb and for MORONS!! Go home Red Green you're dumb and stupid!!

Excuse me, but I think you're AGGRO is showing
You need to CONTROL yourself a little
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: Mattao19 on July 11, 2014, 12:15:02 AM
Quote from: Mozilla butcher on July 11, 2014, 12:11:20 AM
Quote from: Mattao19 on July 10, 2014, 11:05:26 PM
Aggro is dumb and for MORONS!! Go home Red Green you're dumb and stupid!!

Excuse me, but I think you're AGGRO is showing
You need to CONTROL yourself a little

Lol I guess outta context that sounds bad lol
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: LinkCelestrial on July 11, 2014, 12:22:11 AM
Quote from: Mattao19 on July 11, 2014, 12:15:02 AM
Quote from: Mozilla butcher on July 11, 2014, 12:11:20 AM
Quote from: Mattao19 on July 10, 2014, 11:05:26 PM
Aggro is dumb and for MORONS!! Go home Red Green you're dumb and stupid!!

Excuse me, but I think you're AGGRO is showing
You need to CONTROL yourself a little

Lol I guess outta context that sounds bad lol

That's even better. xD
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: Agrus Kos, Enforcer of Truth on July 11, 2014, 12:23:56 AM
Control takes a lot more thought, but that doesn't mean that control players are smarter. Smart people have different interests. Maybe Stephen Hawking likes Defenders. Maybe Albert Einstein really likes {Lava Axe}. I think the only true thing you can say on this topic is that to be a good control player requires more thought and analysis than piloting an aggro deck.
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: Gocougs509 on July 11, 2014, 12:36:07 AM
I personally hate playing with or against control. I like closure, and I don't like being the one who is holding up everyone else in the tournament and wasting their time....and don't even get me started about what might happen when two hard control decks face off...they might not even finish game one! (and yes I've seen it happen before) How is that fun?!
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: Silent1236 on July 11, 2014, 12:43:32 AM
I'm the exact opposite of Gocougs.  Red is my least favorite color and I can't stand playing or playing against aggro.  Control is by far my favorite.  The control v. control mirror is a blast.  Trying to resolve that imperative Jace through counterspells and timing your own counters right is fun.  So much to think about throughout the whole game.  With aggro, you just play creatures and pump creatures, hoping there are no counters or {Supreme Verdict}s.  Meh.  I've played it several times, so I know it isn't mindless, but I don't feel mentally exhausted after playing a couple aggro mirrors like I do in the control mirror. 

Note: I'm not calling out aggro players or saying it's stupid.  It just isn't for me.  I like the long grindy games.
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: Mattao19 on July 11, 2014, 12:56:09 AM
Honestly there's nothing better than a 40 game 1 control mirror match. It's so intense!! I played against a guy playing Dimir Control and I played Esper it went to 40ish mins for game 1 we each had 3-5 cards left in library when he ults Jace and takes my AEtherling!!

I then supreme verdict and he scooped but our gys were about 40 cards high lol
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: Gocougs509 on July 11, 2014, 12:56:54 AM
Quote from: Silent1236 on July 11, 2014, 12:43:32 AM
I'm the exact opposite of Gocougs.  Red is my least favorite color and I can't stand playing or playing against aggro.  Control is by far my favorite.  The control v. control mirror is a blast.  Trying to resolve that imperative Jace through counterspells and timing your own counters right is fun.  So much to think about throughout the whole game.  With aggro, you just play creatures and pump creatures, hoping there are no counters or {Supreme Verdict}s.  Meh.  I've played it several times, so I know it isn't mindless, but I don't feel mentally exhausted after playing a couple aggro mirrors like I do in the control mirror. 

Note: I'm not calling out aggro players or saying it's stupid.  It just isn't for me.  I like the long grindy games.

It's not really the oppositte of me cause I don't like aggro much either....haha It's all midrange for this guy
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: Millionlittlee on July 11, 2014, 02:20:26 AM
This is why I play mazes end control much fun
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: Mattao19 on July 11, 2014, 03:21:43 AM
Quote from: Taysby on July 11, 2014, 02:51:37 AM
Quote from: Mattao19 on July 11, 2014, 12:56:09 AM
Honestly there's nothing better than a 40 game 1 control mirror match. It's so intense!! I played against a guy playing Dimir Control and I played Esper it went to 40ish mins for game 1 we each had 3-5 cards left in library when he ults Jace and takes my AEtherling!!

I then supreme verdict and he scooped but our gys were about 40 cards high lol

What a comeback!

My 5 cards were AEtherling Pack Rat and 3 land lol his 3 cards were {Prognasty Sphinx} a land and a {Divination} lol the verdict was in my hand since the beginning lol but helluva game!!

Also to add midrange is the best way to go except it sucks to some hyper aggro and it's awful to control
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: TreeSmoker on July 11, 2014, 05:40:13 AM
Quote from: Mattao19 on July 10, 2014, 11:05:26 PM
Aggro is dumb and for MORONS!! Go home Red Green you're dumb and stupid!!

Okay ):
Just let me ride off on my stormbreath :p
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: lotrwk on July 11, 2014, 08:39:51 AM
Unless you're playing the mirror, control doesn't take too much thought. And I play it. It's just counter your stud, wipe your board, them rev for enough to be just out of reach. With aggro, you have to consider if they have removal for your guys, whether or not they'll block, consider clocks, you have to know when to hold back your creatures, know when to burn them, aggro needs more thought than control (unless you're playing the mirror).
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: Hunteroffire9 on July 11, 2014, 10:15:10 AM
Depends on the deck but generally control is harder IMO.
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: IntoFire on July 11, 2014, 11:09:26 AM
Control get's kinda boring after awhile. I mean, all you have to do is lock the board down and then, BAM you win with your single {Ætherling}.
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: Mattao19 on July 11, 2014, 12:12:33 PM
Quote from: IntoFire on July 11, 2014, 11:09:26 AM
Control get's kinda boring after awhile. I mean, all you have to do is lock the board down and then, BAM you win with your single {Ætherling}.

But licking down the board is very hard! It's not as simple as T4 Verdict bc really you don't know what they could have T5 ({Stormbreath Dragon}, {Blood Baron of Vizkopa}) that usually are better to counter!

Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: TreeSmoker on July 11, 2014, 12:14:53 PM
T4 fatty? I get them out by t2 t3 :p
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: IntoFire on July 11, 2014, 12:38:51 PM
Quote from: Mattao19 on July 11, 2014, 12:12:33 PM
Quote from: IntoFire on July 11, 2014, 11:09:26 AM
Control get's kinda boring after awhile. I mean, all you have to do is lock the board down and then, BAM you win with your single {Ætherling}.

But licking down the board is very hard! It's not as simple as T4 Verdict bc really you don't know what they could have T5 ({Stormbreath Dragon}, {Blood Baron of Vizkopa}) that usually are better to counter!

Which is why I side in stuff like {Essence Scatter}.
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: Mattao19 on July 11, 2014, 12:41:05 PM
Quote from: IntoFire on July 11, 2014, 12:38:51 PM
Quote from: Mattao19 on July 11, 2014, 12:12:33 PM
Quote from: IntoFire on July 11, 2014, 11:09:26 AM
Control get's kinda boring after awhile. I mean, all you have to do is lock the board down and then, BAM you win with your single {Ætherling}.

But licking down the board is very hard! It's not as simple as T4 Verdict bc really you don't know what they could have T5 ({Stormbreath Dragon}, {Blood Baron of Vizkopa}) that usually are better to counter!

Which is why I side in stuff like {Essence Scatter}.

After your verdict you're tapped out and they can easily resolve the creature. It's tough for control to stabilize
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: IntoFire on July 11, 2014, 12:42:39 PM
Not with {U}{W} it's not.
Title: Re: Control vs Agro
Post by: Mlerner12 on July 11, 2014, 01:05:13 PM
Quote from: Mattao19 on July 11, 2014, 12:12:33 PM
Quote from: IntoFire on July 11, 2014, 11:09:26 AM
Control get's kinda boring after awhile. I mean, all you have to do is lock the board down and then, BAM you win with your single {Ætherling}.

But licking down the board is very hard!
Nobody going to point this out? Lol.

While I think some Aggro is mindless, most of it is pretty hard. Same goes with control