Why would you ever play less than 4 Leyline of Sanctity in your sideboard?
Modern forum
Posted on June 23, 2015, 10:36 p.m. by KillDatBUG
Random question, I know, but I just don't understand why you'd do it. Doesn't playing less than four defeat the purpose of having the potential upside of it being in your opening hand?
I run 3 in the side boards. 3 is good enough for 28 or 30% odds in your opening hand. Also, leaves a slot open for some other stuff like Grafdigger's Cage.
June 23, 2015 10:43 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #4
If you can't cast your Leyline (Sanctity, Void, Singularity, whatever) reliably, then you need to play 3-4. Otherwise, it's just a normal sideboard card that tries to hose a matchup when you draw it.
June 23, 2015 10:44 p.m.
NoPantsParade says... #5
I've seen a lot people at my store play two, but burn and discard shenanigans aren't heavily played here. Now, you can get lucky and have two in your opening hand with only two in the deck two games in a row and hose burn. It's not like this happened to me in the first round at the GP.
June 23, 2015 10:49 p.m. Edited.
If your meta is filled with discard and burn and those are problematic for you... I would play 3 or 4 for sure
June 23, 2015 11:11 p.m.
I play only 3 in the SB of my Azorious deck, but that is because I am able to cast it. And since I am playing it to mainly counteract targeted discard, I do not want to see it late game.
June 24, 2015 2:25 a.m. Edited.
Tl;Dr You run four if you can't cast them or your deck NEEDS them to beat a certain matchup. You run less if they can show up whenever, or you can survive to turn 4 and still recover from a hard cast.
June 24, 2015 3:07 a.m.
You don't want four because multiples are dead cards and there are many alternatives that aid you not only against burn but against other match ups too.
Diversifying a sideboard is super important because you'll frequently encounter decks that can deal with enchantments (Destructive Revelry) but may not be able to deal with instants/sorceries or creatures to the same extent. Therefore running 4 of one type of answer card is putting all your eggs in one very risky basket.
Timely Reinforcements is an option. Kitchen Finks is also an option. Both of those cards are also useful against other types of decks besides burn.
The other problem with leyline is that even with 4 there's only a 40% chance one will pop up in your opening hand. You're still more than likely to not see it and that's a HUGE problem for an all-or-nothing type card. By running other options that might cost 2 or 3 mana you can ensure that even if the leyline isn't in your hand something else is and it will be castable.
So leyline is plenty good enough to run a few. But not good enough to run 4.
julianjmoss says... #2
Yeah but you don't want to see it after playing one so 4 is excessive. Not to mention you will have other sideboard cards you want to bring in
June 23, 2015 10:42 p.m.