Has anyone else had issues with how they want to build their sideboards? I've always wanted to build my sideboard as a 'good against anything' sort of style, but I also don't like the idea of having to accept almost instant losses if I can't gear the sideboard for specific decks.
I'm not that huge a fan of Ceremonious Rejection right now, though that could just be my local meta of Tron decks main decking the full set of Cavern of Souls. I figured making the sideboard a little more proactive than reactive. Has there been a general consensus as to what should be in Faeries sideboards nowadays?
Its really dependant on your list.
IMO, thoughtseize and collective brutality should make the 75 of almost every list.
Kalitas is also very strong, and not something I personally like to skip.
Graveyard hate of some kind (surgical, leyline, spellbomb, grafdigger's cage, etc) is pretty required, but which one you play varies (cage is better with 0-1 snap, extraction is better the more snaps you have, etc).
EE and/or ratchet bomb have been popular in the past, I'm definitely a fan of EE myself.
misc removal spells (go for the throat, victim of night, dismember, slaughter pact, hero's downfall, damnation, etc) are popular, as are misc counterspells (rejection, countersquall, flashfreeze, disdainful stroke, shadow of doubt, dispel, etc).
Then random planeswalkers (different jaces, ashiok, lilianas)
Some people also play ghost quarter/tect edge/field of ruin in their sideboards. Rain of tears and spreading seas have popped up from time to time if you prefer spells to do that (or fulminator mage if you prefer dudes).
Pithing needle is a pretty underrated card in modern right now, but could definitely warrant a slot.
Both glen elendra archmage and sower of temptation have made lists before as well.
I have played a sword of light and shadow in my board on and off for a while, and it can definitely be very strong at times. Its kind of like a 1/3 value planeswalker, 1/3 clock, 1/3 lifegain, which definitely looks appealing in the board.
Hostage taker does not strike me as having what it takes for modern, nor does gonti. Getting things without having to pay the mana for them is pretty decent.
Entrancing melody seems alright, but this meta is seems a bit hostile. When cards like goyf and bob are on top, not reality smasher and tasigur, it might be playable. As it is, strikes me as too narrow/worse than sower.
Yea, I was just curious about Hostage Taker cause I remembered all the hype around it vs Death's Shadow. It probably wouldn't be bad in a removal light matchup like Eldrazi, take their Thoughtknot Seer or something and profit if they don't have Dismember.
I'm heading to my local weekly modern tournament tonight with this current list:
Nothing in the main deck has changed since last week, though I have been considering switching a Secluded Glen to an Island to combat Blood Moon.
The real changes are in the sideboard
I'm going to test my 'Planeswalker deck' sideboard plan this week, as I had some luck with the Jace and Liliana plan last week vs UR Delver in match one. Hopefully the meta is friendly to Ashiok. I do want to try and sneak Kalitas back in, or maybe something else for Burn (like my favorite, Jorubai Murk Lurker, though Burn isn't around too much, so I can always hope to avoid the match). I'm never too happy with the Thoughtseizes either. Sometimes it feels like I should play a 4th in the sideboard to make sure I draw one, or get rid of them and try to fight Combo style decks on a different axis. I've also wanted to try Spreading Seas to fight the big mana decks, though I'm wary about clogging up the 2 drop slot. Man, why are sideboards so difficult to build in modern?
Here's my report of last nights event;
I took the above list and faced off against TitanShift (0-2), BW Tokens/Soul Sisters (2-1), and Jeskai Control (2-0)
Again, I'm quite happy with Jace, Cunning Castaway so far, and the curve of Bitterblossom into him (with turn one Opt if lucky) feels very powerful and the card selection is almost exactly what I think Faeries need. I'm not sure if Liliana of the Veil would be better in that slot, but I think if you were going that style, having maindeck Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek would be better suited (make it like a Jund style deck). Chart a Course has continued to impress me as well. The only reason I don't want to play more is that I don't want to overload on 2 cost cards. What is everyone's opinion on Vendilion Clique? It's one of the 'sacred cows' of Faeries, and I do think it is good, but I'm of the mind that it's disruption is a little too slow for modern right now. Would it be better to run a Liliana in it's place, or maybe even something else? Also, what do people think of playing Field of Ruin? I've seen it replace Ghost Quarter and Tectonic Edge in some deck lists and was wondering if it would make it's way into this archetype. There's so many things I want to try in this deck, but I don't have MtGO right now, so my testing is restricted to just one night a week and the occasional game with friends at draft.
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Decks I have in my bag of tricks- Needless to say, someone who wants to play will probably have a deck UB/x Faeries UR Storm XURWB Affinity G Elves UW control
What is everyone's opinion on Vendilion Clique? It's one of the 'sacred cows' of Faeries, and I do think it is good, but I'm of the mind that it's disruption is a little too slow for modern right now. Would it be better to run a Liliana in it's place, or maybe even something else? Also, what do people think of playing Field of Ruin? I've seen it replace Ghost Quarter and Tectonic Edge in some deck lists and was wondering if it would make it's way into this archetype. There's so many things I want to try in this deck, but I don't have MtGO right now, so my testing is restricted to just one night a week and the occasional game with friends at draft.
Clique is good against certain decks; not sure you want to go down all of them, as they add to the faerie count. Best way to check, is do you side it out a lot? Noticed you sided both out against soul sisters, but how about other games not listed above?
As for field of ruin, I think it's too slow at a key time. Bad to use when trying to keep shields up early (when it is arguably most effective), it can mean not resolving a cryptic later on. LD is less important late game when we can afford to pay for field of ruin.
I tend to board Clique our vs decks that have Lingering Souls or Liliana, the Last Hope, as it kinda just dies in those matches. I often don’t have issues with the Faerie count, as I try to avoid playing Mistbind without having at least two Faeries in board, since it can lead to blow outs. Most times, I’d prefer to leave the Vendilion Clique on the battlefield, since it adds to my clock. Maybe I could move one to the sideboard, and leave one in. I wonder what would be better to put in that spot, a Heroe’s Downfall, or the fourth Snapcaster Mage (or Torrential Gearhulk?), maybe Dismember?
Here’s some other cards I’d like some thoughts on for sideboard consideration: Bontu’s Last Reckoning, Yahenni’s Expertise, and Invasive Surgery
Has any one thought of trying Nimble Obstructionist? Can act as a Stifle vs Storm or Primeval Titan, or just a 3/1 beater when you need it. It kind of fills the same slot as Vendilion Clique, but has different uses
Has any one thought of trying Nimble Obstructionist? Can act as a Stifle vs Storm or Primeval Titan, or just a 3/1 beater when you need it. It kind of fills the same slot as Vendilion Clique, but has different uses
Has any one thought of trying Nimble Obstructionist? Can act as a Stifle vs Storm or Primeval Titan, or just a 3/1 beater when you need it. It kind of fills the same slot as Vendilion Clique, but has different uses
But is no Faerie
Very true, though in my experience, Vendilion Clique doesn't live on the board long enough for the Faerie part to matter. I've just grown less impressed with Vendilion over the past little while, but I don't know what would be better in it's place.
I've been toying with Scion of Oona in it's spot. I had the same problem where Vendilion Clique seemed like it was getting answered to easily.So I switched to Scion to close games out faster. It demands and answer right away or things can get pretty hairy for them. Clique didn't have the same feel. Not great as a replacement but it has been running pretty well for me so I'm not going to change until I see a reason too.
I've been toying with Scion of Oona in it's spot. I had the same problem where Vendilion Clique seemed like it was getting answered to easily.So I switched to Scion to close games out faster. It demands and answer right away or things can get pretty hairy for them. Clique didn't have the same feel. Not great as a replacement but it has been running pretty well for me so I'm not going to change until I see a reason too.
I’ve tried Scion and haven’t been at all happy with it. It was good as a two of when Abrupt Decay was around a lot, as it would protect Bitterblossom, but having just one has never been good for me. I’ve liked the idea on paper, but unless you have 2 to protect each other, Scion eats a removal spell, or can’t attack/block profitably at all. If it was a 2/2, maybe it would be better. I’ve also had issues with the Shroud cutting off re-equipping any equipment, or doing some Cryptic Command shenanigans. If you want to speed up the clock, it’s almost better to play Glen Elendra Leige, as it pumps Snapcaster Mage, and is a flying 2/3. There may be a build of the deck that leverages Scion, maybe a less controlling build, but I’d be surprised if that version was better than the common builds (maybe I’ll think up a list and post it, maybe build it and try it for a bit)
Haven't seen many new lists posted recently, but I checked the past year and all lists have now given up on river of tears. Is there a specific reason for this? I always kinda liked that card. Is it due to fatal push becoming more important?
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Here's my current sideboard
2 Liliana of the Veil
2 Nihil Spellbomb
2 Ceremonious Rejection
2 Collective Brutality
1 Countersquall
1 Liliana, the Last Hope
1 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
1 Damnation
The Thoughtseizes get brought in for Combo matchups and sometimes even Tron/Eldrazi decks alongside Ceremonious Rejection to help slow them down. Collective Brutality is brought in for Combo and Burn (though I prefer Thoughtseize for Combo as it's easier to Snapcaster back). The Kalitas, Damnation, and Liliana, the Last Hope all come in for Creature decks (with Kalitas pulling double duty vs Burn). The Liliana of the Veils come in vs Control and Combo, and even some attrition based decks, as my plan sometimes is to side into a Planeswalker heavy deck to invalidate removal. The Spellbombs are for Storm and sometimes Death's Shadow, and Countersquall is also for Control or Combo decks.
I'd rather make my sideboard something along the lines of this:
2 Countersquall
2 Nihil Spellbomb
2 Liliana of the Veil
2 Jorubai Murk Lurker
1 Damnation
1 Liliana, the Last Hope
1 Dispel
1 Disdainful Stroke
I'm not that huge a fan of Ceremonious Rejection right now, though that could just be my local meta of Tron decks main decking the full set of Cavern of Souls. I figured making the sideboard a little more proactive than reactive. Has there been a general consensus as to what should be in Faeries sideboards nowadays?
IMO, thoughtseize and collective brutality should make the 75 of almost every list.
Kalitas is also very strong, and not something I personally like to skip.
Graveyard hate of some kind (surgical, leyline, spellbomb, grafdigger's cage, etc) is pretty required, but which one you play varies (cage is better with 0-1 snap, extraction is better the more snaps you have, etc).
EE and/or ratchet bomb have been popular in the past, I'm definitely a fan of EE myself.
misc removal spells (go for the throat, victim of night, dismember, slaughter pact, hero's downfall, damnation, etc) are popular, as are misc counterspells (rejection, countersquall, flashfreeze, disdainful stroke, shadow of doubt, dispel, etc).
Then random planeswalkers (different jaces, ashiok, lilianas)
Some people also play ghost quarter/tect edge/field of ruin in their sideboards. Rain of tears and spreading seas have popped up from time to time if you prefer spells to do that (or fulminator mage if you prefer dudes).
Pithing needle is a pretty underrated card in modern right now, but could definitely warrant a slot.
Both glen elendra archmage and sower of temptation have made lists before as well.
I have played a sword of light and shadow in my board on and off for a while, and it can definitely be very strong at times. Its kind of like a 1/3 value planeswalker, 1/3 clock, 1/3 lifegain, which definitely looks appealing in the board.
Entrancing melody seems alright, but this meta is seems a bit hostile. When cards like goyf and bob are on top, not reality smasher and tasigur, it might be playable. As it is, strikes me as too narrow/worse than sower.
I'm heading to my local weekly modern tournament tonight with this current list:
4 Cryptic Command
4 Fatal Push
4 Opt
2 Go for the Throat
2 Chart a Course
2 Mana Leak
1 Spell Snare
2 Jace, Cunning Castaway
4 Spellstutter Sprite
3 Snapcaster Mage
2 Mistbind Clique
2 Vendilion Clique
4 Polluted Delta
4 Darkslick Shores
3 Mutavault
3 Island
2 Secluded Glen
2 Flooded Strand
2 Creeping Tar Pit
2 Watery Grave
1 Swamp
1 Pendelhaven
Nothing in the main deck has changed since last week, though I have been considering switching a Secluded Glen to an Island to combat Blood Moon.
The real changes are in the sideboard
2 Liliana of the Veil
2 Collective Brutality
2 Countersquall
2 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Damnation
1 Dispel
1 Liliana, the Last Hope
1 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
I'm going to test my 'Planeswalker deck' sideboard plan this week, as I had some luck with the Jace and Liliana plan last week vs UR Delver in match one. Hopefully the meta is friendly to Ashiok. I do want to try and sneak Kalitas back in, or maybe something else for Burn (like my favorite, Jorubai Murk Lurker, though Burn isn't around too much, so I can always hope to avoid the match). I'm never too happy with the Thoughtseizes either. Sometimes it feels like I should play a 4th in the sideboard to make sure I draw one, or get rid of them and try to fight Combo style decks on a different axis. I've also wanted to try Spreading Seas to fight the big mana decks, though I'm wary about clogging up the 2 drop slot. Man, why are sideboards so difficult to build in modern?
I took the above list and faced off against TitanShift (0-2), BW Tokens/Soul Sisters (2-1), and Jeskai Control (2-0)
The TitanShift match was fairly one sided, with me mulliganing to 4 game one, then him end stepping Through the Breach for Primeval Titan game 2. I could've Cryptic Commanded the Through the Breach, bouncing a Valkut to buy a couple of turns, but I just let it resolve, Go for the Throating the Titan and ending up dead to the other one in his hand.
Sideboard Plan -2 Mana Leak, -4 Fatal Push, -1 Cryptic Command, +3 Thoughtseize, +2 Liliana of the Veil, +2 Countersquall
The Tokens/Soul Sisters match was interesting. I won the die roll and played my turn two Bitterblossom, which let her resolve her own Bitterblossom. I was able to race through a couple of the Soul Wardens, and counter the Archangel of Thune to take a fairly close game. Game 2, I ended up on the back foot after she resolved a turn 2 Bitterblossom with a Soul's Attendant out, then resolved a couple of Lingering Souls. I cast Damnation, but a flashed back Lingering Souls and an Archangel of Thune later and I was done. Game 3, I passed on turn two, Spell Snared her Bitterblossom, played my own, then just steamrolled through.
Sideboard Plan -1 Cryptic Command, -2 Vendilion Clique, +1 Damnation, +1 Liliana, the Last Hope, +1 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
The Jeskai match was fun, but another pretty one sided affair. I won the die roll, and resolved Bitterblossom turn two, with a pair of Spellstutter Sprites in hand. He threw some Lightning Bolts at my face, but couldn't get me dead fast enough. Game two, he mulliganed to 4 and missed hitting a red source. He Spell Quellered a Snapcaster Mage (which I was using to turn 3 Opt), but I had the Fatal Push for it the next turn, which he countered with a Cryptic Command, and left himself open to getting Liliana, of the Veiled. Once I got rid of the Spell Queller, he was on the back foot, and I soon resolved the Ashiok and a Jace, Cunning Castaway, and ran away with the game.
Sideboard Plan -1 Cryptic Command, -1 Mistbind Clique, -2 Mana Leak, -2 Fatal Push, +2 Countersquall, +2 Liliana of the Veil, +1 Dispel, +1 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
Again, I'm quite happy with Jace, Cunning Castaway so far, and the curve of Bitterblossom into him (with turn one Opt if lucky) feels very powerful and the card selection is almost exactly what I think Faeries need. I'm not sure if Liliana of the Veil would be better in that slot, but I think if you were going that style, having maindeck Thoughtseize or Inquisition of Kozilek would be better suited (make it like a Jund style deck). Chart a Course has continued to impress me as well. The only reason I don't want to play more is that I don't want to overload on 2 cost cards. What is everyone's opinion on Vendilion Clique? It's one of the 'sacred cows' of Faeries, and I do think it is good, but I'm of the mind that it's disruption is a little too slow for modern right now. Would it be better to run a Liliana in it's place, or maybe even something else? Also, what do people think of playing Field of Ruin? I've seen it replace Ghost Quarter and Tectonic Edge in some deck lists and was wondering if it would make it's way into this archetype. There's so many things I want to try in this deck, but I don't have MtGO right now, so my testing is restricted to just one night a week and the occasional game with friends at draft.
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UB/x Faeries
UR Storm
XURWB Affinity
G Elves
UW control
Clique is good against certain decks; not sure you want to go down all of them, as they add to the faerie count. Best way to check, is do you side it out a lot? Noticed you sided both out against soul sisters, but how about other games not listed above?
As for field of ruin, I think it's too slow at a key time. Bad to use when trying to keep shields up early (when it is arguably most effective), it can mean not resolving a cryptic later on. LD is less important late game when we can afford to pay for field of ruin.
Here’s some other cards I’d like some thoughts on for sideboard consideration: Bontu’s Last Reckoning, Yahenni’s Expertise, and Invasive Surgery
Same question
UB Faeries (15-6-0)
UWR Control (10-5-1)/Kiki Control/Midrange/Harbinger
UBR Cruel Control (6-4-0)/Grixis Control/Delver/Blue Jund
UWB Control/Mentor
UW Miracles/Control (currently active, 14-2-0)
BW Eldrazi & Taxes
RW Burn (9-1-0)
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Very true, though in my experience, Vendilion Clique doesn't live on the board long enough for the Faerie part to matter. I've just grown less impressed with Vendilion over the past little while, but I don't know what would be better in it's place.
I’ve tried Scion and haven’t been at all happy with it. It was good as a two of when Abrupt Decay was around a lot, as it would protect Bitterblossom, but having just one has never been good for me. I’ve liked the idea on paper, but unless you have 2 to protect each other, Scion eats a removal spell, or can’t attack/block profitably at all. If it was a 2/2, maybe it would be better. I’ve also had issues with the Shroud cutting off re-equipping any equipment, or doing some Cryptic Command shenanigans. If you want to speed up the clock, it’s almost better to play Glen Elendra Leige, as it pumps Snapcaster Mage, and is a flying 2/3. There may be a build of the deck that leverages Scion, maybe a less controlling build, but I’d be surprised if that version was better than the common builds (maybe I’ll think up a list and post it, maybe build it and try it for a bit)
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