Version 1.1 (older versions can be found on MtG Sally)
Show
Hide
*How to Play
Turns 1 to 3: The deck starts off like a run-of-the-mill UR control deck. Playing Sandstone Needle on turn one sets us up nicely for a second turn land destruction. When you don't have a turn two Stone Rain|Fourth Edition effect, Scour all Possibilities is there for the set up. Then there's Augur of Bolas|Magic 2013 for card filtering as well as slowing down weenies. You should have blown up at least 1 land during the first 3 turns, and worry about the creatures later.
Turns 4 to 6: With 14 land destruction spells, you should have no problem seeing 1 (or 2) in the mid game. A well-timed Fade Away clears creatures off the battlefield and Jilt and Fire / Ice is there to pick off whatever remains. Aftershock let's us choose whichever mode is needed at that time, and with over half of the deck being sorceries and instants, Pieces of the Puzzle acts as both card draw and selection.
Turns 7 onward: The singleton Archaeomancer|Magic 2013 acts as a recycler (specially tasty when bounced with Jilt!) of the most needed spell. And when you're certain that you've gained the upper hand, Flurry of Horns acts as the finisher (finishers?) of choice a la Izzet Puzzle Pieces.
*Deck Tricks
1) Targeting Augur of Bolas|Magic 2013 with Jilt is one the deck's value play: bounce Augur then deal two damage to an opposing critter, ready to be cast again.
2) As stated above, Archaeomancer|Magic 2013 can be also be bounced with Jilt to recycle spent spells.
3) Use the Ice part of Fire / Ice to tap an opposing player's land on their upkeep (acts as a CMC "Stone Rain!).
4) Hold off on Pillage|Alliances if you're facing Affinity as it can be used to destroy their Myr Enforcers.
*Deck Strengths
Able to color screw decks with greedy mana bases as well as decks that operate on fewer than 20 lands. It can hold its own against other control and midrange decks (UB Control, Mono Black Control, Boros), albeit a 50-50 split. And with the deck having so few creatures, creature removal will be "dead" cards in their hand. But please, hold your excitement when you see a bounce land on the opposite side of the board. Will add more to this soon
*Deck Weaknesses
As with any control decks, Izzet Ponza has trouble with swarm-type strategies, Affinity, especially, as it can operate on very few lands. Also, Burn. The sideboard is geared towards these certain match-ups, bringing in Firebolts and the additional Jilt for Stompy and Elves and Dispel|Return to Ravnica is there to delay the dreaded Burn clock. Aura Flux and Curfew|Urza's Saga for Bogles and Heroic, Pyroblast for Delver and Skred, and Tormod's Crypt for graveyard-based decks round out the SB plan. Will add more to this soon