Sideboard against Burn!
Modern Deck Help forum
Posted on Aug. 7, 2015, 5:20 a.m. by TheLivingCME
Hello everybody! I was building the sideboard for this deck (Devotion to Black), and I thought to use Soul Spike against Burn (a matchup I find moderately difficult), but it just doesn't work, giving me some serious card disadvantage. I was thinking to put 2 Wrench Mind in, do you have any suggestions?
TheLivingCME says... #3
Yep, it's a bad matchup. I could try the Pharika's, while I already had bad experiences with the Nighthawk: sure, good card, but it costs 3 and it's bolted the moment it enters the battlefield. Not to mention Searing Blaze ...
Actually the deck runs smoothly with 19, since the Sign in Bloods and the Arenas dig through the deck. Maybe I should run 20-21, anyway.
August 7, 2015 8:01 a.m.
notamardybum says... #4
There's an artifact that let's you gain 1 life for every red spell that is cast. I can't remember the name at the moment, but play 3
August 7, 2015 8:11 a.m.
TheLivingCME says... #5
You mean Dragon's Claw. Eh, tried it, but too slow and too narrow. Without considering their artifact hate ...
August 7, 2015 8:14 a.m.
NoPantsParade says... #6
When I used to play Burn, Dragon's Claw slowed me down a lot.
August 7, 2015 8:53 a.m.
TheLivingCME says... #7
I don't say it has no use, it sure helps, but I don't like how it works.
I could end up putting it in my side, but I was wondering if there were other tricks worth at least a test.
August 7, 2015 10 a.m.
notamardybum says... #8
Green and white are best when it comes to sideboarding against burn. You need lifegain.
August 7, 2015 10:07 a.m.
ToolmasterOfBrainerd says... #9
VERY cool deck.
Burn is a weird deck in that their main limitation is their card advantage. If they lose a card in their hand, you 'gain' 3 life. Hand removal is the best thing in black to beat them, but you already have 6 pieces mainboard. After that if you can stop their creatures, then you're getting even further against them. They unfortunately have a fantastic topdeck, but I think yours is better with Gray Merchant of Asphodel to stabilize. So your problem time is turns 3-5 where they force the majority of their spells. Pharika's Cure is a very good start to their deck because it hits every creature and gains life, which is important. Additional options include Spellskite to steal their spells and block, although you will have to pay life for it.
I personally have had lots of luck with Vampire Nighthawk and play it as a 4-of in my own Grixis midrange deck.
The biggest thing you need to do is have sideboard options for burn that are relevant against other decks as well. Spellskite passes this test easily. Pharika's Cure could also see use against Elves and Merfolk to remove their lords, but your Obliterators are better at that job. Nighthawk just causes groans and ragequits from midrange players, but midrange decks look like a good matchup for you with Obliterators and Garys on board. Unfortunately Spellskite is also really expensive.
Good luck!
August 7, 2015 8:10 p.m.
Femme_Fatale says... #10
List of Modern Sideboard Staples Playtest
Modern*
SCORE: 41 | 63 COMMENTS | 15839 VIEWS
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Did you know that you can shut down burn with Chalice of the Void? Depending on which version you are choosing, a chalice for 1 or for 2 is best. Regular RDW builds, a Chalice for 1 is best. Naya builds, chalice for 2 is best.
Making sure to remove their creatures when they hit their field, and using discards that don't make you lose life are both important to withstand against burn. You can also shut down Naya burn on the occasion with land destruction, since they run so many nonbasics and rely on very specific coloured mana. Fulminator Mage/Shadow of Doubt can help in this regard, though I wouldn't like ... rely on them or anything.
I don't like Spellskite. Naya burn is the more powerful version, and it gets around Spellskite very easily since most of its spells don't target.
Beyond all that, there are lifegain granting cards in black/colourless. Vampiric Link and Basilisk Collar are just too suggestions. Basilisk Collar takes more time to set up, but doesn't become a waste if they bolt your creature like Vampiric Link.
Other cards that might be of use:
August 8, 2015 4:14 a.m.
Femme_Fatale says... #11
I'd like to edit that but I can't ... Essence Harvest, in retrospect, is a bad idea.
August 8, 2015 4:21 a.m.
TheLivingCME says... #12
@Figag: Glad you like the deck!
Spellskite actually does little in my deck against burn, since I'm forced to lose life to block their spells, which isn't good. :P And besides, it dies if it blocks after eating a bolt.
Nighthawk is a nice card, yeah, but Burn has such an easy time removing it ...
Pharika's is an idea, since I would take off Dismember and put them! Gonna test it.
@Femme_Fatale: Chalice does something, true, and it's useful even against Affinity, for example. Worth a try, thanks! I only have a doubt: how easy is for burn to get over it? If I set it at 1, it can be susceptible to artifact hate, while if I set it to 2, it comes in play quite late ... Your thoughts?
For the Mage/Shadow thing, if I need land hate, I have Rain of Tears (because budget for the win!).
Of the other cards, the Collar could be a thing ... Just I don't like that I need a creature for it to work. But worth a try nonetheless!
August 8, 2015 4:53 a.m.
TheLivingCME says... #13
P.S.: I now noticed that list you linked it's the one I always use to build a sideboard. So, thanks you a lot! :P
On second thought, Elixir of Immortality could be the card I need!
August 8, 2015 5:02 a.m.
Femme_Fatale says... #14
Play lots of chalices, like 3. When I was running it, I was able to stall the burn player to Chalice at 2. Remember that Naya burn's spells are mainly 2 drops, especially when they sideboard too. However RDW's burn spells are mainly 1 drops. You then have to consider both deck's artifact removals spell's cmc. Destructive Revelry is a 2 drop, so you can be certain of that in Naya burn. However, RDW you aren't sure of, so you'll want to go for the 1 drops first, and then focus on the 2 drops. Naya is the other way around, while you play your lifegain spells first.
Boza says... #2
Well, first off - you cannot beat them all. You will have problems against Burn as mono black has horibble sideboarding options. Pharika's Cure/Vicious Hunger is awesome vs burn. Resolving and keeping Vampire Nighthawk is awesome.
Furthermore, 19 lands is insanely low in your deck, I would go for 23-24.
August 7, 2015 6:19 a.m.