Sideboard Guide

A guide for sideboarding against each Legacy archetype – explaining what to take out and bring in against those decks. Keep in mind that this is a rough tutorial and sometimes straying from these instructions is correct. Situations, game states, and the opponent often call for a different plan of attack.

» Download a PDF sideboard guide

[[Force of Will|]]

[[Deafening Silence|]]

[[Force of Negation|]]

Navigating the Control matchups isn’t the easiest task, there’s a lot to consider: “What are the odds the opponent has free counter-magic in hand?” to winning the game before [[Deafening Silence]] hits the table in post-board games.

You can find the mathematical probability of free counter-magic in the opponent’s opening hand, on the data page. You can also find the number of [[Goblin Token]]s you’ll need to successfully beat a [[Stoneforge Mystic]] into [[Batterskull]]!

The plan in the past has traditionally been to “go-under” Control decks before those decks have time to lock TES out of the game with cards such as [[Counterbalance]] and [[Ethersworn Canonist]] or for Control decks with a card advantage engine with something like [[Jace, the Mind Sculptor]]. While this plan can still work, depending on the hand, it’s certainly a lot more risky in a world that contains [[Force of Negation]]. This is because the increased percentage of the opponent having free counter-magic in the opponent’s hand went up. With the printing of cards like [[Force of Negation]], [[Drown in the Loch]], and [[Mystic Sanctuary]] waiting too long can also be an issue as the Control player can “grind” out games using incremental advantages.

What if effective in this matchup?

“If the opponent is strong in the early game and has a good long-game, how does TES win?” It plays a different game. Cards such as [[Veil of Summer]], [[Orim’s Chant]], and sometimes even sideboard options such as [[Galvanic Relay]] allow the deck to overwhelm the opponent by playing the game differently. These cards are all “critical-hits” and if the opponent doesn’t have the right tools immediately, there’s a good chance that they’re not long for this world. How TES overwhelms the opponent is building a presence, start off by getting a copy of [[Wishclaw Talisman]] in play along with some artifact mana. Then cast something like a “must-counter” business spell or [[Orim’s Chant]]. Now, protect the spells with [[Veil of Summer]] from hand or even in the deck with the [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. The deck is able to not feel pressured to race [[Deafening Silence]] due to having access to a pair of [[Abrupt Decay]] which can be searched for.

A friendly reminder that the stipulation on [[Wishclaw Talisman]] is that it can only be used during your turn, meaning it can be used as instant speed.

An added benefit of the protection spells being heavy hitting, must-counters, is their effects and how it synergizes with the deck. [[Echo of Eons]] is a reasonable “Storm-engine” against blue-based Control decks when paired with [[Veil of Summer]] and [[Orim’s Chant]] as they won’t be able to interact with their freshly drawn hand from [[Echo of Eons]]. [[Thoughtseize]] isn’t as ideal, which is why you won’t find any copies in our deck list.

With Modern Horizons 2 (MH2), Control decks gained a new tool in [[Prismatic Ending]] which is possibly the most efficient board answer printed to this day. It makes casting an early [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Wishclaw Talisman]], or [[Defense Grid]] possibly a risk. This is something to keep in the back of your mind, if your hand can afford to wait until the combo turn to cast these spells — it’s worth it. Another effective spell against these cards is [[Kolaghan’s Command]], that said, you can always “counter” that spell with a [[Veil of Summer]].

Control decks weren’t the only ones that received an upgrade in Modern Horizons 2, The EPIC Storm received [[Galvanic Relay]] as a [[Burning Wish]] target. Essentially, an “uncounterable” card advantage engine in a match-up that is often defined by available resources. This changes the dynamic of the match-up quite a bit by making [[Burning Wish]] an incredibly dangerous card to let resolve, which was often the play pattern previously. Before MH2, the worst thing that could happen to a control deck was a lethal Storm spell much later in the game which allowed them plenty of time to manipulate the game to not matter or a [[Thoughtseize]] which could be rendered ineffective by their own copies of [[Veil of Summer]]. The EPIC Storm now has an easily castable, lower-power level, mini-[[Mind’s Desire]] to dominate games.

Sideboarding Concepts

[[Deafening Silence]] and [[Ethersworn Canonist]] are rising in stock from blue-based control decks, which means in post-board games, it’s rare to activate [[Wishclaw Talisman]] before passing the turn back to the opponent. TES can help prepare for these cards by siding in [[Abrupt Decay]] as a clean answer. Try to cast copies of [[Abrupt Decay]] when the opponent is unable to cast [[Veil of Summer]].

One of the best things you could do with [[Mind’s Desire]] is to reveal another copy of it to itself. That also applies to [[Galvanic Relay]]. To increase our odds of finding [[Galvanic Relay]], there are four total, with the idea that we’ll side in three copies and leave one as a [[Burning Wish]] target. In order to maximize this strategy, we’re keeping in all of those additional copies of [[Chrome Mox]], [[Mox Opal]], and [[Rite of Flame]] which are cards that would’ve left our deck after game one in the past. Instead, we’re siding out [[Ponder]] which might seem wild, but with good reason.

Each piece of acceleration cast, essentially replaces itself with [[Galvanic Relay]] which helps us continue the overall goal of achieving a dominating board-presence early against the control deck. You need lots of mana both pre- and post- [[Galvanic Relay]] to make this concept work. Meanwhile, the opponent is siding in effects such as [[Pyroblast]], [[Narset, Parter of Veils]], and [[Hullbreacher]]. By reducing our number of blue draw spells, we’re naturally making ourselves better against the opponent. We’re trading card selection for a mass-volume of cards which is extremely desirable here.

Important Cards in the Match-up

Control’s Key Cards

Main Deck

[[Force of Will]]
[[Force of Negation]]
[[Plague Engineer]]
[[Kolaghan’s Command]]
[[Prismatic Ending]]
[[Veil of Summer]]
[[Snapcaster Mage]]

Sideboard

[[Leovold, Emissary of Trest]]
[[Counterbalance]]
[[Deafening Silence]]
[[Rest in Peace]]
[[Pyroblast]]
[[Collector Ouphe]]

TES’s Key Cards

Main Deck

[[Veil of Summer]]
[[Orim’s Chant]]
[[Wishclaw Talisman]]
[[Burning Wish]]
[[Echo of Eons]]
[[Ad Nauseam]]

Sideboard

[[Prismatic Ending]]
[[Abrupt Decay]]
[[Galvanic Relay]]
[[Tendrils of Agony]]
[[Peer into the Abyss]]
[[Echo of Eons]]

Sideboarding

Grixis Control:

-4 [[Ponder]]
-1 [[Echo of Eons]]
+3 [[Galvanic Relay]]
+2 [[Abrupt Decay]]

BUG Control:

-4 [[Ponder]]
-1 [[Echo of Eons]]
+3 [[Galvanic Relay]]
+2 [[Abrupt Decay]]

BUG Leovold:

-4 [[Ponder]]
-1 [[Echo of Eons]]
+3 [[Galvanic Relay]]
+2 [[Abrupt Decay]]

4c Control:

-4 [[Ponder]]
-1 [[Echo of Eons]]
+3 [[Galvanic Relay]]
+2 [[Abrupt Decay]]

Miracles:

-4 [[Ponder]]
-1 [[Echo of Eons]]
+3 [[Galvanic Relay]]
+2 [[Abrupt Decay]]

Stoneblade:

-4 [[Ponder]]
-1 [[Echo of Eons]]
+3 [[Galvanic Relay]]
+2 [[Abrupt Decay]]

Resource Links

Articles

07-22-2021 Through the Looking Glass: Bant Control with Anuraag Das by Greg Sor on theepicstorm.com

07-14-2021 TES Matchup Battles: Bant Control by Alex Poling on theepicstorm.com

07-08-2021 Matchup Mulligan: Bant Control by Bryant Cook on theepicstorm.com

09-25-2019 TES Matchup Battles: UW Stoneblade by Alex Poling on theepicstorm.com

08-22-2019 Through the Looking Glass: 4c Snow Control with Rugved Karhade by Anthony LaVerde on theepicstorm.com

08-13-2019 Matchup Mulligan: 4c “Snow” Control by Bryant Cook on theepicstorm.com

07-12-2019 TES Matchup Battles: 4c Control II by Alex Poling on theepicstorm.com

06-24-2019 Through the Looking Glass: Miracles II with Lawrence Harmon on theepicstorm.com

06-17-2019 Matchup Mulligan: Miracles II by Bryant Cook on theepicstorm.com

04-24-2019 Matchup Mulligan: UW Stoneblade by Bryant Cook on theepicstorm.com

01-28-2019 TES Matchup Battles: Miracles by Alex Poling on theepicstorm.com

12-24-2018 TES Matchup Battles: Landstill by Alex Poling on theepicstorm.com

11-14-2018 TES Matchup Battles: Grixis Control by Alex Poling on theepicstorm.com

11-07-2018 Combating Miracles by Bryant Cook on theepicstorm.com

10-16-2018 Through the Looking Glass: Grixis Control with Brian Braun-Duin by Anthony LaVerde on theepicstorm.com

10-10-2018 Matchup Mulligan: Grixis Control by Bryant Cook on theepicstorm.com

09-20-2018 TES Matchup Battles: Esper Stoneblade by Alex Poling on theepicstorm.com

02-19-2018 Through the Looking Glass: Miracles with Anuraag Das and Sam Roukas by AJ Kerrigan on theepicstorm.com

02-07-2018 Matchup Mulligan: 4c Pile by Bryant Cook on theepicstorm.com

01-17-2018 Matchup Mulligan: Miracles by Bryant Cook on theepicstorm.com

07-04-2017 Fighting Miracles in the Post-Top Era by AJ Kerrigan on theepicstorm.com

04-20-2017 TES Matchup Battles: 4c Control by Alex Poling on theepicstorm.com

02-02-2017 TES Matchup Battles: Leovold Sultai by Alex Poling on theepicstorm.com

08-04-2016 Fighting the Miracles Menace by AJ Kerrigan on theepicstorm.com

09-04-2015 Xantid Swarm Vs. The Metagame by Bryant Cook on theepicstorm.com

Videos

10-10-2021 Legacy Challenge – Bryant Cook vs Ark4n with RUG Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

10-10-2021 Legacy Challenge – Bryant Cook vs Xpz98 with Shardless RUG on Magic: the Gathering Online

09-04-2021 Legacy Pro Tour Qualifier – Bryant Cook vs McWinSauce with Bant Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

08-26-2021 Legacy Preliminary – Bryant Cook vs Purplegambit with Bant Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

07-24-2021 Legacy League – Bryant Cook vs Arboro with 4c Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

06-20-2021 Legacy Challenge – Bryant Cook vs btraut with Bant Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

06-06-2021 Legacy Showcase – Bryant Cook vs AnziD with Miracles on Magic: the Gathering Online

06-06-2021 Legacy Showcase – Bryant Cook vs Ark4n with Jeskai Stoneblade on Magic: the Gathering Online

05-20-2021 Legacy League – Bryant Cook vs lukystrike with Miracles on Magic: the Gathering Online

05-09-2021 Legacy Challenge – Bryant Cook vs Ozymandias17 with SnowDay on Magic: the Gathering Online

05-09-2021 Legacy Challenge – Bryant Cook vs Chefen with BUG Leovold on Magic: the Gathering Online

04-27-2021 Legacy League – Bryant Cook vs hermanomlg with Miracles on Magic: the Gathering Online

01-17-2021 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. Jenara19 with 4c Snow Control

01-17-2021 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. wambocombo2020 with SnowDay

11-29-2020 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. tuckbear with 4c Snow Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

11-29-2020 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. Jenara19 with Landstill on Magic: the Gathering Online

11-22-2020 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. joker10289 with Miracles on Magic: the Gathering Online

11-22-2020 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. Do0mSwitch with 4c Snow Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

11-01-2020 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. wiky with 4c Snow Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

10-11-2020 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. moatzu with 4c Snow Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

09-13-2020 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. Do0mSwitch with 4c Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

09-13-2020 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. moatzu with 4c Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

09-13-2020 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. ziggy_stardust with 5c Omni-Tell on Magic: the Gathering Online

09-12-2020 Legacy PTQ – Bryant_Cook vs. r0cknati0n with 4c Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

09-12-2020 Legacy PTQ – Bryant_Cook vs. Stryfo with Stryfo Pile on Magic: the Gathering Online

09-12-2020 Legacy PTQ – Bryant_Cook vs. Ozymandias17 with 4c Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

07-26-2020 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. Stryfo with 4c Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

07-04-2020 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. ZYURYO with 4c Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

05-03-2020 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. TheJigIsAlwaysup with Miracles on Magic: the Gathering Online

05-03-2020 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. Svaca with Grixis Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

05-03-2020 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. Bedell with Grixis Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

04-25-2020 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. Gernardi with Miracles on Magic: the Gathering Online

03-29-2020 Legacy Preliminary – Bryant_Cook vs. BaronOfBacon with 4c Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

03-29-2020 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. Wurst_ with Miracles on Magic: the Gathering Online

03-26-2020 Legacy Super Qualifier – Bryant_Cook vs. jacetmsst with 4c Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

03-26-2020 Legacy Super Qualifier – Bryant_Cook vs. Zaracias with 5c Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

01-27-2020 Allen Yee vs. Phil Blechman with 4c Thopter Sword at Gamestoria, NYC

01-26-2020 Showcase Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. Svaca with 4c Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

01-26-2020 Showcase Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. Eli12 with BUG Leovold on Magic: the Gathering Online

01-05-2020 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. TheZooKeeper with Miracles on Magic: the Gathering Online

09-29-2019 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. WarAndMagicTV with Grixis Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

09-29-2019 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. _maddy with Miracles on Magic: the Gathering Online

03-24-2019 Q1 Legacy Playoff – 03/24/19 – Bryant_Cook vs. Ark4n with UW Stoneblade on Magic: the Gathering Online

03-24-2019 Q1 Legacy Playoff – 03/24/19 – Bryant_Cook vs. PhilLesh with UW Stoneblade on Magic: the Gathering Online

03-24-2019 Q1 Legacy Playoff – 03/24/19 – Bryant_Cook vs. stainerson with Miracles on Magic: the Gathering Online

02-17-2019 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. Stryfo with 4c Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

02-17-2019 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. t_gaule with Grixis Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

02-17-2019 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. Ozymandias17 with Grixis Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

01-20-2019 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. FirstToThirst with Miracles on Magic: the Gathering Online

12-02-2018 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. Denym with Miracles on Magic: the Gathering Online

11-04-2018 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. Convo with Shardless BUG on Magic: the Gathering Online

10-07-2018 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. AnziD104 with Miracles on Magic: the Gathering Online

10-07-2018 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. flowerdayonyon with Grixis Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

10-07-2018 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. Redviking1993 with Grixis Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

10-07-2018 Legacy Challenge – Bryant_Cook vs. Condescend with Miracles on Magic: the Gathering Online

08-08-2018 Bryant Cook vs Brian Braun-Duin with Grixis Control on Legacy Premier League

07-14-2018 Michael Connin vs. Ali Mirghahari with UW Stoneblade at Prodigy Games: Lake Worth, FL

06-24-2018 Bryant_Cook vs. atdawn_theysleep with 4c Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

06-24-2018 Bryant_Cook vs. Iwouldliketorespond with UW Control on Magic: the Gathering Online

04-29-2018 Bryant_Cook vs. flowerdayonyon with Deathblade on Magic: the Gathering Online

04-29-2018 Bryant_Cook vs. Mikeantor11 with UW Stoneblade on Magic: the Gathering Online

03-04-2018 Bryant Cook vs. Jim Davis with Miracles at StarCityGames: Worcester, MA

08-06-2017 Albert Lindblom (alli) vs atdawn_theysleep with 4c Control (Round 4) on Magic Online (MTGO)

08-06-2017 Albert Lindblom (alli) vs Momsen with 4c Control (Round 3) on Magic Online (MTGO)

05-04-2017 Romario Neto vs Anuraag Das with UWr Stoneblade on Legacy Premier League

04-17-2017 Nick Linder vs. Gabriel Meier with Miracles at Gameplace in Lucerne, Switzerland

03-18-2017 Bryant Cook vs. Joe Stempo with 4c Control at Eternal Extravaganza VI in Washington, DC

04-22-2016 Steven Fierro vs. Fred Chen with Deathblade at Fire & Dice in Woodland Hills, CA

08-22-2015 Joey Valente vs. Corey Armstrong with Shardless BUG at Fire & Dice in Woodland Hills, CA

08-11-2015 Jordon Robbins vs. Jon Ha with Miracles at Ready to Play Trading Cards in Columbia, SC

01-10-2015 Bryant Cook vs. Zane Knapp with Esper Deathblade at StarCityGames: Philadelphia, PA

08-10-2014 Bryant Cook vs. Lloyd Kurth with Shardless BUG at StarCityGames: Syracuse, NY

06-13-2014 Bryant Cook vs. Reid Duke with Miracles at StarCityGames Invitational: Columbus, OH

08-27-2013 Bryant Cook vs. Harry Corvece with Shardless BUG at StarCityGames: Baltimore, MD

06-23-2013 Matthew Bevenour vs. Brad Nelson with Esper Deathblade at StarCityGames: Philadelphia, PA

03-17-2013 Bryant Cook vs. JD Nir with Esper Stoneblade at StarCityGames: Washington, DC

05-12-2012 Bryant Cook vs. Sam Roukas with BUG Control at Jupiter Games in Binghamton, NY

02-11-2012 Bryant Cook vs. Tariq White with Stoneblade at Jupiter Games in Binghamton, NY

[[Daze|]]

[[Spell Pierce|]]

[[Delver of Secrets|]]

The tempo decks are the one archetype that became more difficult from the switch to [[Wishclaw Talisman]] and [[Mox Opal]] based lists. The EPIC Storm added a fourth color and cut the basic [[Island]], which obviously isn’t ideal against [[Stifle]] and [[Wasteland]] strategies.

What is effective in this matchup?

How TES beats these decks is by setting up its mana efficiently. With decent mana, the rest will become much more obtainable. Sitting on your fetchlands and then using [[Mox Opal]] and [[Chrome Mox]] to cast your set-up spells can do wonders. If you can set it up, protecting [[Orim’s Chant]] with [[Veil of Summer]] goes a long way as [[Orim’s Chant]] can shut down [[Stifle effects]].

A few tips: [[Stifle]] can still counter abilities through [[Veil of Summer]], don’t fall into this trap. [[Stifle]] can also stop [[Wishclaw Talisman]], do not forget this!

A good practice is not to cast spells into the opponent’s copies of [[Daze]]. The easiest way of beating the opponent is to turn their cards into dead cards as [[Delver of Secrets]] strategies live on thin margins. If just a few of their cards become not effective, it’s a lot easier to navigate through whatever is left in the opponent’s hand.

A more recent addition to The EPIC Storm is [[Peer into the Abyss]]. Previously, our options for tempo match-ups were either pressured by our life total ([[Ad Nauseam]] or [[Empty the Warrens]]) or symmetrical ([[Echo of Eons]]). Against these tempo decks, the life-total concern is very real against [[Delver of Secrets]] or [[Dragon’s Rage Channeler]], while [[Echo of Eons]] gives our blue opponents access to more copies of [[Force of Will]] and [[Force of Negation]]. It was a real tough spot to be in. Enter [[Peer into the Abyss]]! While it does use the life total — it doesn’t really. [[Peer into the Abyss]] can be cast from two life! This allows some time to set up a less-risky kill. The concern here is that [[Burning Wish]] into [[Peer into the Abyss]] is a nine-mana line.

A more cost-efficient method has arrived from Modern Horizons 2 (MH2) — [[Galvanic Relay]]. A great option in the match-up as a [[Burning Wish]] target to bull-doze through the multiple copies of [[Force of Will]], [[Force of Negation]], and [[Daze]]. This is a match-up where the “During your next turn, you may play that card.” part of the text is actually relevant. Against the deck with [[Delver of Secrets]], [[Dragon’s Rage Channeler]], and [[Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer]] backed by [[Lightning Bolt]] and [[Chain Lightning]] it can be difficult to time correctly. Admittedly, this card is more devastating post-board in our opening hands.

Sideboarding Concepts

With the rise of [[Null Rod]] as well as [[Collector Ouphe]] in the Tempo archetype, TES’s answer to [[Deafening Silence]] against Control strategies doubled as an answer to these two permanents — of course, we’re talking about [[Abrupt Decay]].

MH2 completely changed our approach for post-board games. For the last few years, we’ve been looking to side out cheap acceleration such as superfluous copies of [[Chrome Mox]] and/or [[Mox Opal]] for more stable mana such as [[Carpet of Flowers]] — those days are gone. With [[Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer]] in the format, [[Carpet of Flowers]] value has never been lower. These tempo decks no longer need to play an [[Island]] to accomplish their game-plan, they can survive off of [[Mountain]] and some copies of [[Wasteland]]. Not to mention, today’s [[Delver of Secrets]] variants are extremely fast — [[Carpet of Flowers]] is a card that gains value over the course of a longer game as a continuous mana source which isn’t what’s happening at the moment. That said, it’s only partially the reason the game-plan adjusted.

Each piece of acceleration cast, essentially replaces itself with [[Galvanic Relay]] which helps us continue the overall goal of achieving a dominating board-presence early against the control deck. You need lots of mana both pre- and post- [[Galvanic Relay]] to make this concept work. Meanwhile, the opponent is siding in effects such as [[Pyroblast]]. By reducing our number of blue draw spells, we’re naturally making ourselves better against the opponent. We’re trading card selection for a mass-volume of cards which is extremely desirable against the deck with [[Force of Will]], [[Force of Negation]], and [[Daze]].

Speaking of red Storm spells, [[Empty the Warrens]] has a natural friction in the deck because giving the opponent a [[Wishclaw Talisman]] at some point during the game and then turning off all of TES’s Storm cards. [[Empty the Warrens]] isn’t a reasonable plan if the opponent gets a tool to search up an answer to a horde of [[Goblin Token]]s.

Important Cards in the Match-up

Tempo’s Key Cards

Main Deck

[[Daze]]
[[Stifle]]
[[Spell Pierce]]
[[Force of Will]]
[[Delver of Secrets]]
[[Wasteland]]

Sideboard

[[Null Rod]]
[[Collector Ouphe]]
[[Plague Engineer]]
[[Blazing Volley]]
[[Flusterstorm]]
[[Surgical Extraction]]

TES’s Key Cards

Main Deck

[[Swamp]]
[[Mox Opal]]
[[Lotus Petal]]
[[Veil of Summer]]
[[Orim’s Chant]]
[[Burning Wish]]