Introduction
This deck was made because it has a personal meaning to Mr Hills (me) . This was one of the decks used when I played competitively, and I have made them again so other people can experience what MTG was like at the time, and can share my passion for the game.
This deck list specifically was taken from yamademon, and was played during the 2012 Standard Format.
Key Strategy
The Heartless Control deck is built around a powerful synergy between Heartless Summoning and a suite of high-impact creatures. By leveraging the Heartless Summoning enchantment, which reduces the mana cost of your creatures, you can deploy your threats more efficiently and take control of the game.
Early Game Setup
The deck aims to establish its strategy by quickly finding and playing Heartless Summoning. Once on the battlefield, Heartless Summoning reduces the cost of your creatures by 2 mana, allowing you to cast powerful creatures much earlier than usual. Early plays like Solemn Simulacrum become especially potent—under Heartless Summoning, it can be cast for just 1 mana, allowing you to fetch a land and draw a card upon its death.
Key Creatures and Their Synergies
With Heartless Summoning in play, your suite of high-impact creatures becomes even more formidable. For example, Rune-Scarred Demon, which typically costs 5 mana, can be cast for just 3 mana. When paired with Phyrexian Metamorph, you can use the Metamorph to copy the Demon, searching out another key card for just 2 life and 0 mana. This combo can generate substantial card advantage and board presence.
Control and Removal
The deck features a range of control and removal options to manage your opponent’s threats. Black Sun’s Zenith provides a scalable way to clear the board of creatures, while Doom Blade and Go for the Throat offer targeted removal for individual threats. The inclusion of Ratchet Bomb adds versatility by allowing you to deal with problematic artifacts and creatures.
Late Game Power
In the late game, your powerful creatures can dominate the battlefield. Frost Titan and Massacre Wurm are particularly effective in disrupting your opponent’s strategy. Frost Titan can tap down key blockers or threats, while Massacre Wurm can clear out swarms of smaller creatures and put your opponent on the back foot.
Card Advantage and Utility
The deck includes several card advantage tools such as Ponder and Sign in Blood to help you dig through your deck and find the pieces you need. Solemn Simulacrum also doubles as both a card draw and a land-fetching tool, providing additional value when it enters the battlefield or dies.
Utility and Protection
To protect your strategy and ensure your critical spells resolve, the deck includes Spellskite, which can redirect targeted spells and abilities to itself. Cavern of Souls further helps by ensuring your key creatures cannot be countered.
Overall Strategy
The Heartless Control deck combines elements of ramp and control. By leveraging Heartless Summoning to cast powerful creatures ahead of schedule, you can build a dominant board presence and effectively manage your opponent’s threats. Early game setup, effective use of removal, and powerful late-game threats make this deck both versatile and resilient.
Key Cards
Cards to look for in the opening hand