Tier roguecontrol

Cycling Control

Featured list~$454FMN @ Linköping (Sweden)

Overview

"Cycling Control is a WR control deck that turns cycling cards into engines via Astral Slide and Lightning Rift, blinking or burning the opponent every time it cycles. It leans on Swords to Plowshares, Wrath of God, and Slice and Dice for board control, recurs Eternal Dragon and Decree of Justice from the graveyard, and uses Renewed Faith and Rune of Protection: Red to survive aggression."

Game Plan

Stabilize behind sweepers and Astral Slide/Lightning Rift triggers, then grind to victory with recurring Eternal Dragon beats and an X-large Decree of Justice for soldier tokens.

Key Cards

Core engine & flex

Signature

Swords to Plowshares

$8.05

TCG MP CK

Eternal Dragon

$9.05

TCG MP CK

Secluded Steppe

$0.23

TCG MP CK

Decree of Justice

$16.96

TCG MP CK

Renewed Faith

$0.28

TCG MP CK

Seal of Cleansing

$0.57

TCG MP CK

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Sample Decklists

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FMN @ Linköping (Sweden)

1st PlaceSep 1, 2025

Slatan Olsson

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Slatan Olsson

TCG

Mainboard (60)

$323

Creature (5)

$73.60

4Eternal Dragon

$36.205WW

1Exalted Angel

$37.404WW

Instant (12)

$34.04

4Renewed Faith

$1.122W

4Spark Spray

$0.72R

4Swords to Plowshares

$32.20W

Sorcery (10)

$93.10

$18.201R

$50.88XX2WW

$1.084RR

$22.942WW

Enchantment (8)

$70.74

1Astral Slide

$0.892W

1Humility

$67.832WW

4Lightning Rift

$1.241R

1Rune of Protection: Red

$0.211W

1Seal of Cleansing

$0.571W

Land (25)

$51.88

4Battlefield Forge

$42.56

4Forgotten Cave

$1.24

3Mountain

$2.46

10Plains

$4.70

4Secluded Steppe

$0.92

Sideboard (15)

$131

1Akroma's Vengeance

$1.894WW

1Circle of Protection: Black

$0.241W

$20.822

$16.96XX2WW

$0.181W

$74.804WW

$0.231W

$1.141W

$0.364RR

$2.620

$11.472WW

Est. Total$454

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IiII Agroliga Jornada 5

1st PlaceJun 21, 2025

Futson

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Futson

TCG

Mainboard (60)

$796

Creature (14)

$139

$0.252W

$9.055WW

$1124WW

$0.905GG

$14.251G

$1.891G

Instant (9)

$35.48

1Naturalize

$2.161G

4Renewed Faith

$1.122W

4Swords to Plowshares

$32.20W

Sorcery (7)

$74.36

2Breath of Life

$0.543W

3Decree of Justice

$50.88XX2WW

2Wrath of God

$22.942WW

Enchantment (5)

$4.13

4Astral Slide

$3.562W

1Seal of Cleansing

$0.571W

Land (25)

$544

$13.20

$4.55

$2.35

$0.46

$1.02

$167

$355

Sideboard (15)

$135

$16.672WW

$5.981G

$48.40G

$26.061

$4.611W

$0.571W

$27.301G

$5.361W

Est. Total$931

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Monthly @ Singapore Premodern Society

1st PlaceFeb 25, 2024

Lin Ruizi

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Lin Ruizi

TCG

Mainboard (60)

$387

Creature (4)

$36.20

4Eternal Dragon

$36.205WW

Instant (14)

$102

2Enlightened Tutor

$68.18W

4Renewed Faith

$1.122W

4Spark Spray

$0.72R

4Swords to Plowshares

$32.20W

Sorcery (9)

$80.75

4Decree of Justice

$67.84XX2WW

4Slice and Dice

$1.444RR

1Wrath of God

$11.472WW

Artifact (1)

$13.03

1Phyrexian Furnace

$13.031

Enchantment (7)

$69.85

1Humility

$67.832WW

4Lightning Rift

$1.241R

1Rune of Protection: Red

$0.211W

1Seal of Cleansing

$0.571W

Land (25)

$84.75

$42.56

$32.99

$1.24

$3.28

$3.76

$0.92

Sideboard (15)

$223

1Abeyance

$29.281W

1Akroma's Vengeance

$1.894WW

1Aura of Silence

$9.551WW

1Circle of Protection: Red

$0.221W

$10.412

$32.99

$1124WW

$18.44R

$5.70R

$1.141W

$1.310

Est. Total$610

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Archetype Anatomy

Based on 67 decks with known dates2021-12-12 to 2026-06-05

Mana Base

Average24.7lands

Median25lands

Range19–27lands

Spells35.3avg non-land

Based on 67 decks (All-time)

core Cards(>80%)

Swords to Plowshares

99%

4.0x

Eternal Dragon

99%

3.5x

Secluded Steppe

97%

3.9x

Renewed Faith

96%

3.9x

Decree of Justice

96%

3.2x

Seal of Cleansing

88%

1.4x

flex Cards(30-80%)

Lightning Rift

78%

3.9x

Enlightened Tutor

78%

2.3x

Slice and Dice

76%

2.9x

Astral Slide

76%

1.9x

Rune of Protection: Red

76%

1.0x

Forgotten Cave

75%

4.0x

Spark Spray

75%

4.0x

Battlefield Forge

75%

3.9x

Wrath of God

75%

2.0x

Humility

66%

1.0x

Dust Bowl

39%

1.1x

fringe Cards(<30%)

Exalted Angel

27%

2.3x

Phyrexian Furnace

27%

1.2x

Auramancer

25%

1.0x

Wall of Blossoms

22%

3.7x

Tranquil Thicket

21%

3.8x

Windswept Heath

21%

3.6x

Cartographer

18%

3.2x

Wasteland

18%

2.4x

Nantuko Monastery

15%

1.5x

Burning Wish

13%

2.6x

Krosan Tusker

13%

2.4x

Temple of the False God

13%

1.2x

Clear

12%

1.0x

3.8x

1.0x

1.0x

1.0x

2.0x

2.0x

Forbidding Watchtower

1.5x

4.0x

2.3x

1.3x

1.0x

Rune of Protection: Black

1.0x

4.0x

3.0x

2.5x

2.0x

2.0x

2.0x

1.5x

1.0x

1.0x

1.0x

Rune of Protection: Artifacts

1.0x

Rune of Protection: White

1.0x

4.0x

4.0x

4.0x

4.0x

4.0x

4.0x

4.0x

3.0x

3.0x

2.0x

2.0x

2.0x

2.0x

2.0x

2.0x

2.0x

2.0x

1.0x

1.0x

1.0x

1.0x

1.0x

1.0x

1.0x

1.0x

1.0x

Rune of Protection: Blue

1.0x

Rune of Protection: Green

1.0x

1.0x

1.0x

1.0x

1.0x

1.0x

1.0x

Sideboard Anatomy

core Sideboard Options(>80%)

Tormod'S Crypt

83.8%

1.5x

flex Sideboard Options(30-80%)

Exalted Angel

69.6%

1.9x

Cursed Totem

47.8%

1.2x

Aura Of Silence

46.2%

1.3x

Seal Of Cleansing

46.1%

1.4x

Sacred Ground

40.9%

1.2x

Disenchant

40.3%

1.2x

Red Elemental Blast

40%

2.2x

Pyroblast

39.5%

1.8x

Circle Of Protection: Red

30.2%

1.2x

fringe Sideboard Options(<30%)

Phyrexian Furnace

26.6%

1.4x

Akroma'S Vengeance

24.3%

1.2x

Warmth

24%

1.1x

Auramancer

22.9%

1.1x

Wrath Of God

21.7%

1.1x

Compost

18.4%

1.2x

Decree Of Justice

18.3%

1.0x

Abeyance

16.4%

2.4x

Uktabi Orangutan

15.3%

1.0x

Gilded Light

14.9%

1.6x

Karmic Justice

14.7%

1.0x

Slice And Dice

13.8%

1.1x

Teroh'S Faithful

13.6%

1.5x

Gaea'S Blessing

13.4%

1.8x

Spiritual Focus

13.2%

1.0x

Pyroclasm

12.7%

1.4x

Null Rod

12.2%

1.0x

Cleansing Meditation

12%

1.6x

Mystic Enforcer

11.5%

1.3x

Ivory Mask

11.2%

1.0x

Monk Realist

11%

1.0x

Astral Slide

9.9%

1.0x

Dust Bowl

9.8%

1.0x

Karmic Guide

9.4%

1.0x

Seedtime

9.1%

2.0x

Enlightened Tutor

8.7%

1.2x

Sphere Of Law

8.7%

1.0x

Argivian Find

7.7%

1.6x

Circle Of Protection: Black

7.7%

1.0x

Scour

7.1%

1.3x

Wing Shards

7.1%

2.0x

Boil

1.1x

Meltdown

6.8%

1.6x

Powder Keg

6.7%

1.0x

Monk Idealist

5.5%

1.0x

Wasteland

5.5%

1.0x

Replenish

5.3%

1.0x

Tsabo'S Web

5.2%

1.0x

Presence Of The Master

1.0x

Rune Of Protection: Red

4.5%

1.0x

Silver Knight

4.4%

3.0x

Light Of Day

4.4%

1.0x

Humility

4.4%

1.0x

Cartographer

4.1%

1.0x

Kor Haven

4.1%

1.0x

Orim'S Chant

2.0x

Blood Moon

3.9%

1.0x

Avalanche Riders

3.9%

1.4x

Gigapede

3.9%

1.0x

Crumble

3.6%

2.0x

Cataclysm

3.6%

1.5x

Choke

3.4%

1.0x

Flametongue Kavu

3.3%

1.0x

Morningtide

3.3%

1.6x

Pillage

3.3%

1.9x

Serenity

3.2%

1.0x

Rune Of Protection: Artifacts

2.5%

1.0x

Rune Of Protection: Blue

2.5%

1.0x

Rune Of Protection: Green

2.5%

1.0x

Rune Of Protection: White

2.5%

1.0x

Sowing Salt

2.5%

1.0x

Starstorm

2.5%

1.0x

Aura Fracture

2.5%

1.0x

Scald

2.5%

1.0x

Conversion

2.4%

1.0x

Masticore

2.3%

1.0x

Illumination

2.2%

2.0x

Repopulate

2.2%

2.0x

Planar Birth

2.2%

1.0x

Scrap

1.9%

1.0x

Price Of Progress

1.9%

1.0x

Clear

1.9%

1.0x

Glowrider

1.9%

2.0x

Hidden Gibbons

1.8%

4.0x

Thawing Glaciers

1.7%

1.0x

Chill

1.6%

1.0x

Gemstone Mine

1.6%

1.0x

Kjeldoran Outpost

1.6%

1.0x

Krosan Tusker

1.6%

1.0x

Meddling Mage

1.6%

1.0x

Blinding Angel

1.4%

1.0x

Solitary Confinement

1.4%

1.0x

Sterling Grove

1.4%

2.0x

Overload

1.3%

1.0x

Renewed Faith

1.2%

3.0x

Ensnaring Bridge

1.1%

1.0x

Honorable Passage

1.0x

Recent Events Featuring this Archetype

Eternal Sunday II (By Emjati) @ De Kolonisten (Turnhout, Belgium)

2026-05-31•Turnhout, Belgium•22 Players

Highest Finish: 7th

VIEW EVENT

1K @ Through the Decades (Louisville, KY)

2026-05-09•Louisville, USA•18 Players

Highest Finish: 5th

VIEW EVENT

Liga Feijoada 2026 #5 @ Santa Cruz do Sul (Brazil)

2026-05-02•Brazil•12 Players

Highest Finish: 2nd

VIEW EVENT

Premodern LeagueApril262026 (2026-04-26)

2026-04-26•Magic Online•16 Players

Highest Finish: 1st

VIEW EVENT

Side Event - Campeonato Nacional Premodern Portugal 2026 (Premodern)

2026-04-18•Coimbra, Portugal•128 Players

Highest Finish: 4th

VIEW EVENT

Quick Facts

Tierrogue

Stylecontrol

Meta Share0.2%

Avg Lands24.7

Est. Price~$454

Colors

Deck Weaknesses

The Astral Slide and Lightning Rift engines are enchantments vulnerable to Naturalize, Disenchant, or Seal of Cleansing.
It needs an engine in play before cycling converts into removal or burn, so fast starts can land lethal before it is online.
Its board answers lean on Wrath of God and Slice and Dice, so threats that regenerate, carry protection, or recur dodge its sweepers.
Eternal Dragon and Auramancer build a graveyard — dependent late game that collapses to graveyard exile.

How to win with it

Mulligan any hand that cannot cycle on turn two or lacks a white mana source: a keepable hand needs at least one of Renewed Faith, Astral Slide, or Swords to Plowshares alongside two or more lands, because the entire engine depends on generating cycling triggers before the board runs you over.
Sequence your early turns around establishing the Astral Slide and Lightning Rift enchantments before you need them, not in response to a crisis: play Seal of Cleansing or Rune of Protection: Red on turns one or two to buy time, then resolve Astral Slide on turn three so every subsequent cycling card pulls double duty as removal, life gain, or damage.
Hold Renewed Faith rather than jamming it when your life total is comfortable: cycling it for two life is rarely wrong, but hard-casting it for six against a fast clock, or holding the cycle to flicker your own creature out of a Wrath of God window with Astral Slide, is often the line that stabilizes the board.
The dream draw is Astral Slide plus Lightning Rift down by turn four with three or more cyclers in hand: from there you cycle one card per turn to ping for two with Lightning Rift, exile an attacker until end of turn with Astral Slide, and filter into Eternal Dragon or Decree of Justice, grinding any fair deck out without ever attacking.
The grind plan when you lack the enchantment engine is to resolve Wrath of God or Slice and Dice to clear the board, use Enlightened Tutor to find Astral Slide or Humility depending on what the board demands, then plainscycle Eternal Dragon for a Plains to fix mana and return it from the graveyard each upkeep until you deploy it as a 5/5 flying finisher.
The winning line in long games is a cycled Decree of Justice for X of four or more to make Soldier tokens at instant speed during the opponent's end step, then untap and attack with Swords to Plowshares held open as combat insurance, while Auramancer loops back a spent Seal of Cleansing or Lightning Rift to extend your enchantment engine beyond what any opposing deck can outpace.

How to beat it

Destroy Astral Slide and Lightning Rift with enchantment removal to shut off its repeatable value.
Go wide so a single cycling activation cannot answer the whole board, since Astral Slide exiles only one creature per cycle.
Race the stabilization window with an early board to make Wrath of God a panic button rather than a tempo swing.
Pressure its mana so Decree of Justice and Eternal Dragon must be spent defending instead of closing.
Time graveyard hate right after a sweeper to sever Eternal Dragon and Auramancer recursion.

Last Updated: May 2026