Pauper
Esper Control
Few creatures, lots of removal and counterspells, surviving long enough to take over late.
Esper — a control shell built on removal and card advantage, closing games slowly and deliberately.
Esper Control
68% (120 games, 24 decks)
Cards That Overperform in Control
Not yet broken out by color identity specifically — these numbers are for Control across Pauper as a whole.
- Reckless Impulse+10% (n=25)
- Grim Bauble+10% (n=39)
- Razortide Bridge+10% (n=38)
- Gut Shot+9% (n=76)
- Searing Blaze+9% (n=94)
- Goldmire Bridge+9% (n=43)
- Ancient Den+8% (n=53)
- Deem Inferior+7% (n=67)
- Sleep of the Dead+7% (n=87)
Cards That Underperform in Control
Not yet broken out by color identity specifically — these numbers are for Control across Pauper as a whole.
- Mystical Teachings-11% (n=41)
- Stonehorn Dignitary-11% (n=32)
- Razortrap Gorge-10% (n=48)
- Vampire's Kiss-9% (n=62)
- Alms of the Vein-9% (n=69)
- Kitchen Imp-9% (n=68)
- Contaminated Aquifer-9% (n=48)
- Jagged Barrens-8% (n=66)
- Rakdos Carnarium-8% (n=54)
Most-Played Cards in Control
- Hydroblast51% (n=2543)
- Pyroblast50% (n=2506)
- Blue Elemental Blast44% (n=2218)
- Lórien Revealed41% (n=2056)
- Nihil Spellbomb41% (n=2051)
- Red Elemental Blast36% (n=1822)
- Brainstorm34% (n=1722)
- Counterspell33% (n=1666)
- Dispel31% (n=1571)
- Lightning Bolt30% (n=1505)