Actual insight alert: blue/black isn't control

Okay, enough ripping off Limited Resources. I think I have the beginnings of the germ of a thread that may eventually lead to an insight about magic cards. That may be putting it too strongly. But it goes like this: I don't think blue/black is control is this expansion.

"Whaaaat?!" you cry. "But look at all these sexy controlling cards!"

  

And I think you have a good point. But the problem is that it just doesn't WORK very well. I ran this on Saturday and you land some sweet combos, unsummon a creature... and doink them for 1 damage with your Benthic Infiltrator. They resummon their 2/3 griffin and we're back where we started. The pace isn't there. Let's start with the basics: a tempo deck is an archetype that trades cards for time. The vanilla tempo cards are tappers and unsummons.





 

These cards have no enduring impact on the board. If you topdeck one of these cards, then cast it (ignore Awaken for the moment), and then say "Go" then next turn you'll find yourself in the exact same situation as you were before, just one turn later. Why bother? Well maybe you can get something done in that extra turn, like unsummon their big blocker and swing with your team. I consider tempo and control to be the opposites on the spectrum, not aggro/control. Tempo is the spiritual opposite of a control deck who wants the game to run long and (usually) crush you with card advantage (either more cards or better cards).

I think the bigger clue is here:
  

These are currently a bit underrated (well not the Sludge Crawler, that guy is a winner). The black/red devoid doesn't mind having them but ingest isn't a major deal for them so it's not a massive priority. But compare the following curve outs:

   

vs

   

These are both some serious best case scenario curve outs, but the top one cracks in for 2-5-8 where the bottom lands 1-2-5. The top one has a board state that can take advantage of living the dream of a turn 4 Murk Strider and a turn 5 (awakened) Rush of Ice and the bottom one has a fairly weak board state that is probably falling behind.

Interestingly both the processors and ingestors are split pretty evenly on control vs. tempo (skipping badass rarest)

Team Tempo

   

Team Control

   

Team Control has some great cards, don't get me wrong. But they're pure blue. There's no real control synergies from the black. Might as well go white (or even... green?!) and get some good control to go with your control.

Hooks to Grab you into the deck