Ultimate Control Deck – The Wizard’s Spire
By 
Welcome to My Fortress
“Back where I come from there are men who do nothing all day but good deeds. They are called phila… er, phila… er, yes, er, Good Deed Doers.” – The Wizard of Oz
You’ve heard of the brilliant Wizard up on the hill who jealously guards his secrets in an impenetrable magic fortress, guarded by all manner of arcane tricks.
Usually with a bunch of floors and for some reason, increasingly more difficult traps and monsters that allow you to level up along the way.
Don’t judge, the really strong monsters cost a lot more!
Dragons need a whole treasure hoard. A hoard. You can’t risk some lucky hobbit stealing a ring of invisibility on floor one. Dragons go at the top.
The legends of old don’t do me justice my friend. And for the low low price of one tiny sliver of your soul I’ll share my secrets with you.
The most powerful and sneaky control deck known to man with a surprisingly strong offensive potential.
What’s that you say? Impossible? SILENCE WHIPPER-SNAPPER! I’m a gosh darn Wizard! Get off my beautiful life-sized marble chess set with pieces that watch you as you move!
Show me the cards you troll!
“There are some things you can’t share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them.” – Harry Potter
I’m not a troll, I’m a Wizard, but fine!
Background
“The highest ideals are human intelligence, creativity and love. Respect these above all.” – Penn Jillette
So this deck is based off of a deck shared by AveragePichu as a 20 win CRL challenge deck:
It’s good stuff, and if I didn’t think it was a great deck I wouldn’t have modified it to end up with my deck. Pichu is better than me at the game, and rumor has it both taller and better looking, so I won’t feel bad if you like his/her/its version better.
So the original deck is great, and makes use of the undervalued Hunter card. But if you know me at all, you know I’m a freaking 2 cent trollop for the shiny new hotness. Especially if that card is unpopular.
Well I wanted to use the Magic Hunter as a serious win-condition.
Which if you read my Magic Archer guide, is very much possible, if you pack a Tornado. So I changed the Pichu deck. I used Tornado instead of a Zap.
And because the Hunter is awesome, but as some learn the hard way “not a splash troop”, I thought I should replace him with a splash damage troop, since those love Tornado so much.
Well, I’m losing serious DPS by replacing the Hunter, which is how I came to Ice Wizard, whose slow effect, especially when combined with Tornado, more than offsets his low damage as a defense.
What’s the Plan?
Tempo
“People are stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything.” – The Wizard’s First Rule
So there are 3 primary ways this deck wins, if you’re familiar with Tempo (A.K.A. Bridge Spam) this has several cards that are quite good at just dumping attack cards at your opponent.
- Royal Ghost
- Bandit
- Battle Ram
Control
“Here is your flaw, Shaitan, Lord of the Dark, Lord of Envy, Lord of Nothing, here is why you fail. It was not about me. It’s never been about me.” – Rand al’Thor
If you’re familiar with Control style decks this card also has several cards that are quite good at it. This deck can play defend-and-counter-attack quite well
- Zappies
- Tornado
- Ice Wizard
Chip
“Surprises seldom grow more welcome as one gets older.” – Elminster
This deck also has serious chip damage potential and is entirely capable of winning using primarily chip damage
- Magic Archer (Especially with Tornado)
- Poison
So what is this deck? It’s the ultimate control deck. Even more than my old Ravager Deck, this deck has the ability to just decide “no this is how we’re gonna play for the next 30 seconds.”
Wanna defend and beat through that beat down?
No freakin’ problem, slow/stun plus splash-nado and you have both Elixir advantage and surviving troops.
Forced to play defensively all game?
Well you can chip him out.
Ready to just TO JUST FREAKING GO now now now nownownonwonwonoowownon-oops-i-ate-MyOwnFace?
Do it. This deck will let you go from low key space pirate to full on Reaver in less than 10 Elixir and your opponent is never ready for that change up.
It can play tempo, beat down, control, and siege chip all at once and while it isn’t a master of any game mode, it’s capable of emulating any of the major deck archetypes, and most importantly, switching between them to suit you current need.
So right! The PLAN!
You have the ability to punish players for over spending. You also have the ability to play defensively. That flexibility is the crux of this deck.
Your opponent can make any move they like, and you have the ability to respond in a way that benefits you.
If Control decks are defense, and Tempo are offense then this deck is just Doffensive. NO I will not apologize for that word!
Gameplan
How Do I Start?
“A Wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.” – Gandalf The Gray
This deck allows you to start fast or slow, depending on your starting hand and your mood.
In this deck, there really are no “bad” starting hands. Almost any starting hand or card rotation is perfectly fine for you, and that is largely true throughout the match.
If your opponent is the type to throw you off your game this deck is amazingly good at adapting to any scenario..
This deck plays best once you understand your opponent’s strategy.
As with almost any deck, start by waiting for 10 Elixir. The best starting moves are either small probing attacks, or a slow-moving investment that will allow you to react to your opponent.
In no particular order I offer all of the best starting moves:
- Royal Ghost – This is probably your best first play. He’s cheap, and he can do an epic #$*(&-ton of damage if your opponent struggles to defend it. It’s a lot like spamming the Hog at the bridge, only cooler because he’s a legendary card and smarter because you read it in a guide.
- Battle Ram – This is probably your best first play. Battle Ram is a “must answer” card whose Tower-threatening potential is unique. For now your main goal is to force your opponent to describe his own deck to you. If it connects, GREAT, if not, well he showed you some of his key defenders didn’t he?
- Split Zappies – This is probably your best first play. Zappies are a powerful defensive troop, capable of reducing any push. By splitting them you force your opponent to wait or play into a disadvantage. Drop behind the king Tower.
- Ice Wizard – This is probably your best first play. Much Like Zappies except you have to pick a lane, drop him behind the king Tower.
- Bandit at the bridge – This is probably your best first play. A relatively cheap card who forces the next move or does serious damage. Either way it’s a good thing.
- Magic Archer– This is probably your best first play. Drop Behind the King, You’re forced to pick a lane, but he can’t Fireball for a profit unless he also dropped a troop as soon as he hit 10, you’re winning the Elixir war and/or you know more about his deck.
Oh gods I started. Now how do I win?
“If you think you’ve gotten a good deal from a Deveel, first count your fingers, then your limbs, then your relatives.” – Aahz
The main goal with this deck is “stay in control”.
You can do this by wrecking your opponents attacks and using the counter-attack, or just by placing a spam attack and forcing your opponent to abandon his cards already in play.
Your objective, should you choose to accept it, is to exploit your opponent’s play.
Your opponent will make moves, and you will destroy them by cheating them out of those moves and stealing thousands, possibly billions of damage.
What is your opponent’s Deck?
Beatdown
Build Up A Defense to punch them on the counter-attack
Split Zappies and Combo-Defend/Attack them
Pound their face right now for the fun of it
Chip them out because cheating is fun
Chip Deck (Goblin Barrel/Hog/etc.)
One Shot One Kill. (Hey look, chip damage! I’m better at it tho.)
Deploy S-Foils in Attack Position
YOU SHALL NOT PASS (You Can Out-defend them)
Siege
Magic Archer them because cheating is fun.
“I mean, it’s sort of exciting, isn’t it, breaking the rules?”- Hermione Granger
Split it because WTF is siege anyways, like a crappy Goblin Barrel?
Three Musketeers
I consider 3 Musketeer a unique deck.
It is largely a bait deck, but instead of chipping it is a split-push+beat-down all at once.
Sorry about the lack of GIFs, the Musketeers appear to off fighting the enemies of the French people right now, I haven’t got a single replay to show.
Since the deck basically plays “Pump in the back as spell bait, drop Musketeers at some point”
This deck you Poison the Pump, to avoid a ridiculous Elixir advantage. If you just spent Poison, instead dive for the throat.
When the Musketeers are in play you can defend pretty effectively with a Magic-Nado combo on the 2 Musketeers side, get it out there early so you can use the piercing to plink the Tower.
You’ll probably bleed a bit on the one-Musketeer side but what you’ll play into it depends a bit on his combos.
Weaknesses
“Enough! You are, all of you are beneath me! I am a god, you dull creature, and I will not be bullied by… ” – Loki
Sparky: Sparky is just a trash can on wheels! But you really have no ways to shut her down.
Why would you?!
She isn’t even popul-BOOM-ow. Your ability to split troops is limited to the Zappies, you have no cheap sacrifice troops, and you have zero resets in this deck.
Your best move will be to kill it before it closes range, and she’s tanky as heck, so it’s not easy.
Battle Ram can tank a shot to produce two brutal Barbarians who will wail on her, but that’s almost never enough unless you’ve already injured her or the Tower is helping.
A really good Sparky deck/player is a lost match. Thankfully she’s “popular” now, and still isn’t very common.
Accept that this is a rough match. Do your best, and don’t feel bad if you lose this one.
Over-Levels: There are a few interactions in this deck that matter.
And because this is a legendary-heavy deck you’re bound to see some of them. Namely, interactions where the Ice-Wizard takes two shots to kill Skeletons/Bats, or Royal Ghost takes two hits to kill Goblins will have a brutal impact.
SHUT UP ALREADY!
Okay jeeze, I too feel like this went on too long, so I’ma shut up now.
As always, love your feedback, and if you’ve got a Reddit account, hit me up at /u/DArchAngels13. I’ll read up the comments here for a day or two, but I don’t get the notifications, so if the guide is old, sorry I missed ya.
I do monitor the reddit account, so y’know….
Hit me up with hate, if you’ve got a good criticisim. I deserve it.
Hit me up with love, if you liked anything.
Hit me up if you’ve got a good question and you feel like anyone in the world might want to know the answer. I try to edit in good commentary.
clap clap clap I’m the first clap clap clap
1st
hehe boi 😉
Nice! That was Great deck
My favourite guide xD so funny and detailed! LOVE it!!!!!!
dayum…. This guide REALLY is a master piece. I woul’ve donated you 500$ for another guide like this! This guide…. Deinitely took as long as it takes to brew a love potion (took 14 days, as it is said in the Harry Potter film)
Love the reference ^_^
hehe 😀
This is the best guide i have seen yet, great job and keep it up!
2nd
one of the best guides ive ever seen, i dig this *thumbs up*
Very detailed and just GOOD over all, 100/10
Hey, I really liked this deck, but I don’t have magic archer. Which card would be a good sub?
Princess or Executioner. Wizard would also work but is probably worst of the 3. You will have to rely a little more on good counter attacks behind the ghost/battle ram/bandit since you are sacrificing the chip attack. But ultimately you need the anti air power so you can’t replace it with a good chip card.
This is one of the best writing I ever read her , clap clap clap .
Now to the deck “forget everything you think you know” Mordo
I love to call myself Golem player and magic Archer admirer , MA Nado is far more devastating than ExeNado , but you can pretty much struggle in Def without swarm card ( guards for exmp ) or a cycle card ( spirts , log , skilli ) , thats said I see this a very offensives with high potential .
I agree the Magic Archer is kind of the “attack” card to the Executioner’s “defense” card. Much more fragile but also much easier to deal direct tower damage with.
i rate this
WHAT A LEGEND
Everyone recommend this deck!
Very nice job on the guide! Very detailed and enjoyable to read!
Can Do ^_^
new poll : have you used control before? I guess I have, because my deck is hybrid with control.
Also nice deck and nice guide. And nice name for the deck.
How would you lovely people feel about zappie three musketeers? If yes I’ll wriye a guide
Not to bring it up again, but THIS is what a great guide with an equally fine introduction looks like.
3rd nobody claimed
By far, one of the best written article on this site…So many quotes, GIFs, enjoyable to read…and not to maintain those 2 Harry Potter references…man, I love this one…keep up the great work dude!
That’s what I’ve been talking about in “Be yourself” on my article! Nice job.
The most unique and enjoyable guide in CRA so far
Also a really good version of bridge spam
Great guide!
The best guide on this site, based on the writing skill of the author. As for the deck, will have to test it.
Also, Mr Author, if you’re quoting someone, it has to be exactly what the person said. Saying that, here is a correction – “A wizard is never late, Master Baggins, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to” – Gandalf the Grey
Well…rat farts! I actually went to the trouble to look up the right quote and everything! Apparently that particular misquote is all over the internet! My apologies
No worries, after all, you’re just a mortal *wink, wink*
Replacements for magic archer?
You need splash and anti-air, ultimately. This forces you to go the route executioner, princess or wizard.
Princess keeps the chip power and can bait out the log, which can be useful if that’s one of his main counters to the battle ram.
Executioner will sacrifice the chip attacks for a spell proof defense , and you can consider replacing ice wizard for something more offensive
Wizard feels a little wrong, to me but it should still work. While it has most of the fragility of the magic archer, it is a stronger support card for battle rams/bandits, but less useful for scoring chip attacks.
Thanks! I’ll decide between the princess and executioner.
His old ravager deck? https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f498d9a23744ac8f70792b6a01a3abbbbb9b968d4cf8e86ac57c60fa8abc468d.png
Probably nobody wiil get this.
ARK is too dead to be a reference.
How dare you say that about the best game in the world?
I guess some people might revive it like it’s dinos :F
Please explain more, I am afraid I do not understand
4th none claimed
Everyone is praising you for this in-depth guide. I won’t. I still have many doubts and questions about how to use this deck’s elements and a few other things.
This is a powerful deck, that’s out of the way but you have kind of mixed it into something a bit more different- and I don’t like this ‘different’. The deck is slowed down by different occasions, e.g Ice wiz and Zappies are very slow cards and this deck overall is more on the aggro side as a bridge spam with that poison, bandit, ram, ghost and mArcher.
The Control archetype balancing ways down the aspects and intentions of the deck and this causes it to start peeling off and becoming weaker. Having a deck being half defense and half offense might sound control-ly but it’s actually not without a proper tank and a mix of units. I find it very hard counter-attacking, leftovers after our defense are usually cards that get weakened easily, resulting an easy death for them and without a Miner they’re slowness weighs down the bridge spam part’s speed. This causes the opponent to stop the counter-pushes and let’s be real, without counter-pushes in this level you’re better off not playing the game.
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
Bridge Spam is being used by the pros as bandit and dprince earned a good spot in the meta, particularly dark prince, there are people who enforce their bridge spam with MA but most have not mastered the card properly enough for the value of a 4 elixir card getting good value. Now that pros are going to dump dark prince, bridge spam is going to die again and lavaloon is going to rise, with lightning and fireballs decimating this deck’s defense and let’s not forget that if lavaloon returns exenado is going to see even more play and with exenado already destroying this deck the new version runs cards that directly counter it.
I believe it’s still mixed and there are many issues to fix once the patch comes, so we may as well enjoy the last three days of this deck’s life before it’s all over.
“For even the very wise cannot see all ends.”
-Sally
This deck has no problem with fireballs or lavaloon! A good spread will allow you set up a defense that can withstand it.
Lightning in its current incarnation is no problem, but I agree the buff it is about to receive may ring a death knell for this style of defense.
I have a miner-control deck I used to run, (long before zappies were part of the game) that used princess, electro wizard and ice wizard-nado to defend. It was forced to change when Golem/Lava Lightning decks were popular.
As for whether this deck fits control, yes. You should consider the tanking power of battle ram. In sustained defense the battle ram serves as primary tank, with band or ghost as secondary. You can choose to go into an entirely defensive mode by playing the slow moving defense troops in cycle and tanking with the 3 elixir troops and battle ram, until the push falls apart and then any of the mini tanks will serve for the counter attack. Try it! It works.
You haven’t explained how any of this is done once again, I need to know how to use these in different situations, simply giving a general idea is not good enough, singular cards and pushes are very important for this deck and I am getting crushed by them.
Sorry that wasn’t useful… Perhaps this is best demonstrated? Can you send a friend invite link as a DM to my Reddit. We can some matches, you play the deck(s) giving you trouble and I will do my best to demonstrate.
I also have discord as an option.
Near as I can tell there isn’t a private message feature for disqus or I would send an invite here.
Oh uh I keep my reddit/discord is anonymous so like I don’t take the risk of it, not that it’s you that’s trying to trick me lmao but it’s a long story of why I do, I could still send a friend link over here I guess, I’ll do it around 3 hours after this message since I am busy , so if you see it come online then and it won’t be expired. Thanks for sympathizing and I am sorry about being too harsh but I’ve gotta keep up the sharpness of my comments or else the authors underwhelm the comment.
Dude, salty much? People are praising him for this guide is better than most–not that it does not have flaws, he even went out of his way to create all those GIF’s. either give him some slack or write a better guide.
Salty for what? You misunderstood what I meant there, it meant that I actually had criticism and questions other than a gj ,lmao stop hating on my comments kiddo :2
you are a gm so everyone hates you :v (have you beaten legendary retribution? I have like 50 attemts on it and die at the last heavy assalut ;-;)
Yeh I beat retribution as Moira with three other fellow gm friends, I also beat expert with no deaths (the assassin spray), it was first try on legendary and third try on the assassin spray, my main tip is lure and stay away, reaper is a tank in that game mode, genji is for deflecting eforcer, jebaiting assassin and deflecting and luring Heavy, Mcree is the dps alongisde support from moira (the healer main or best player should play moira).
plz friend me xD nah srsly would be really cool I really want to beat retribution maybe you can help me? c: please! c: lsiriusl#21751
All good my dude. I can take criticisms; I appreciate that you appreciate the guide.
What should I say? Impressive guide!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/53fa7ea22218911aa1ede6e433715b7eac6b3867df24e5b479a68605f865e5c0.jpg
*plays the song, because why not*
Very well written and thought out guide, complete with gifs, quotes, and other funny tidbits. I would definitely consider using this deck if I were not such a die-hard Sparky user. Also, I feel good that I can beat this deck, as I am a “really good Sparky player”. Looking forward to more guides!