I think there is room for some discussion around the Jeskai sideboard strategy. It seems to be a deck on the rise, and there are a few variants of it (straight control, Nahiri, Saheeli). I'm very interested in hearing people's opinions on this matchup and board strategy.
Looking at magicmurph's document as an example:
OUT IN
Karn Grafdiggers Cage
Karn Grafdiggers Cage
All is Dust Warping Wail
All is Dust Warping Wail
Dismember Pithing Needle
Dismember Relic
So I think I would do things differently. I don't see a lot of need for Grafdigger's Cage or Warping Wail. Also, I like Dismember in this matchup to take out Celestial Colonnade, Restoration Angel, Geist of Saint Traft, etc.
Also, I would not take out Karn, especially if it's one of the Nahiri/Saheeli versions. These games go long, and you are likely to get to 7+ mana and see a lot of cards. I'd want All is Dust in those matchups as well. Pithing Needle I'd want against the Nahiri/Saheeli lists, but not otherwise.
Given the list in the spreadsheet vs a "Control" list, I'd maybe take out 2 Endbringers for 2 Relic of Progenitus or Surgical Extraction, but otherwise I'd stick with the plan. Vs a Planeswalker list, I'd also find room for the Pithing Needle, maybe at the expense of a single Chalice.
All IMHO of course, please correct me if I'm off base.
Dismember doesn't kill Geist.
I would also leave in Karn. If it resolves, it's just amazing against them as planeswalkers often are. I also like Dust against Detention Sphere and planeswalkers. It can also be uncounterable if you have Cavern (which should be your first map target most of the time unless you have turn 3 tron and a play).
IN
I sometimes bring in Crucible, since UWx decks often run 3-4 Ghost Quarter or Tectonic Edge. If I see one, I bring it in. I'm almost wondering if we should just always bring in Needle. Most UWx variants run 1-3 different planeswalkers. And if nothing else it can shut off Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker or Celestial Colonnade. I bring in Wail against Saheeli decks as it hits every possible Saheeli and Kiki target as well as counters spells like Ancestral Vision. Also be wary of By Force.
OUT
I like to take out either Relic or Mind Stone vs them because of Stony Silence. I prefer to keep Mind Stone though as the ramp I find to be useful more often. And Chalice on 1 stops a lot their primary Snapcaster targets (Serum Visions, Condemn, Path, Bolt, Ceremonious Rejection). So I wouldn't sideboard that out as hitting it in the opener is important here. A second Chalice on 2 stops Snapcaster, Wear // Tear, Mana Leak, Remand, and Spreading Seas.
I take out Dismember against Nahiri and UW control decks, but leave them in against Saheeli and Jeskai Control decks.
Aside from that if I still needed another card to remove, it would be Endbringer.
Graveyard hate is going to be even more important against BRx decks now that Claim // Fame is a thing. Claim target Snapcaster target Claim target Death's Shadow... wtf. I'm going to a 4th Relic.
yeah i completely agree this is a rough matchup. i knew i got lucky last night,
current Sideboard plan for humans
- 2 Relic
-4 Chalice
+2 Hangerback
+2 Ratchet Bomb
+1 Wurmcoil
+1 Basilisk Collar
its in my playgroup in the hands of an experienced humans/white weenie pilot.
my advice is use ballista carefully, deny there mana producers. with ballista and dismember be careful of the multiple pumps they get from other humans.
new thalia is the real deal
This is my SB plan as well. Do we want a 3rd All is Dist in the board?
It's 2cc, doesn't cantrip, and requires mana investment with each use. I don't think you'd want maybe more than a 3/1 or 2/1 split for when you need to remove specific targets in the graveyard.
Luckily this isn't more than 1-2 of in sideboards only. And Karn and All is Dust can still deal with it. I don't know how effective it would be against us.
My favorite card has got to be Norin the Wary. He's just so much fun to watch my opponents not realize the implications in a Purphoros EDH deck until he's doing 2 damage per person to EACH person every turn. That and combine with Pandemonium is just sweet.
The tier list (for this forum at least) generally comes from here: http://modernnexus.com/
Dismember doesn't kill Geist.
I would also leave in Karn. If it resolves, it's just amazing against them as planeswalkers often are. I also like Dust against Detention Sphere and planeswalkers. It can also be uncounterable if you have Cavern (which should be your first map target most of the time unless you have turn 3 tron and a play).
IN
I sometimes bring in Crucible, since UWx decks often run 3-4 Ghost Quarter or Tectonic Edge. If I see one, I bring it in. I'm almost wondering if we should just always bring in Needle. Most UWx variants run 1-3 different planeswalkers. And if nothing else it can shut off Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker or Celestial Colonnade. I bring in Wail against Saheeli decks as it hits every possible Saheeli and Kiki target as well as counters spells like Ancestral Vision. Also be wary of By Force.
OUT
I like to take out either Relic or Mind Stone vs them because of Stony Silence. I prefer to keep Mind Stone though as the ramp I find to be useful more often. And Chalice on 1 stops a lot their primary Snapcaster targets (Serum Visions, Condemn, Path, Bolt, Ceremonious Rejection). So I wouldn't sideboard that out as hitting it in the opener is important here. A second Chalice on 2 stops Snapcaster, Wear // Tear, Mana Leak, Remand, and Spreading Seas.
I take out Dismember against Nahiri and UW control decks, but leave them in against Saheeli and Jeskai Control decks.
Aside from that if I still needed another card to remove, it would be Endbringer.
These are my thoughts on that matchup.
This is my SB plan as well. Do we want a 3rd All is Dist in the board?