AKH Esper Control (Standard)

Manabase

Check the Details tap to compare mana distribution.

Aether Hub - 3x Glimmer of Genius and 2x Live Fast gives a pretty decent amount of energy to use the otherwise useless energy that piles up. After testing, I feel that this can be played as if expecting it to be any color if holding a energy producing spell in hand.

Battle lands - There are seven basic lands, so I can't expect to play an untapped Sunken Hollow or Prairie Stream around 50% of the time. However, they are a good turn 1 when I can just Push any threats on my untap. Most 1cmc drops are going to be low impact and a control deck can afford to let cards like Cryptbreaker stay for a turn.

Shadow lands - There are a dozen basic land types among lands in the deck, meaning that there is a good chance that Choked Estuary and Port Town will enter the battlefield untapped unless there just isn't a hand to reveal from.

This means there are around 14 lands that can tap for black mana that enter untapped, which is pretty good to get an early t1/t2 Push. When counting the tapped sources, there are enough black sources to expect a t2/t3 Grasp of Darkness if you lead with a turn one tapland.

This deck does require some thought and foresight in what order to play lands. While holding the mana for turn one Push is good, it is almost never necessary. And especially so when on the play.

The mainboard has 5 cycle sources and 6 draw spells, so this helps alleviate some of the problems a t25 land control deck could have to reach six lands on turn 6.