Congratulations on taking over the Burn primer, Mr. elconquistador!
Some time ago I wrote a comprehensive sideboard guide, but I didn't turn on comments.
Now I updated the guide and have enable comments, because I think feedback on sideboard choices is a good thing. Also, I formatted the guide to be in a printer-friendly format.
All feedback is welcome! Feel free to add comments as you please.
Super useful info there. Definitely printing this for future uses.
Yep this is useful in the link. I like seeing how different people side vs decks which helps open up people to more options/ideas/strategies/techniques that may not have thought of. Thanks for posting this.
Ensnaring Bridge is another one of those cards that will pop in and out of sides for various decks depending on the whats dominating/influencing the meta. I have used it on and off in Modern and Legacy. Damn thing is handy to have. I would say Id rather not have to need it at 3 mana but it can be a necessary evil at times. Although, I havent seen it used as much as I would think in my metas during this GS Shadow and Tron run. Im seeing a good amount of decks run Blood Moon maybe cause it cant be hit by Kolaghan's Command and limits Tron's ability to pump out those high mana high impact (depending on the Tron variant) Planeswalkers.
On another note so far we havent received any help from Ixalan. Im not expecting a straight up Burn card thats playable in Modern but maybe we'd get another creature possibility with all the tribal stuff popping out.
I like having options so Collector or Freebooter is better then just having/being stuck/limited with one. Who knows how the meta will swing which may push both these cards to not being as useful. So far we've seen a good amount of Humans but nothing as potentially impactful/useful yet as the Unclaimed Territory.
Probably better than Sin Collector in Black / Rainbow builds? Has flying, and can come down on turn 2 (even without a dork) ahead of Anger of the Gods or Karn. Only temporary exiling, though. I might try running 3 in the SB.
Came here to post this.
Not sure whether it replaces Sin Collector or works in tandem with him (probably via a mix of main and sideboard slots), but either way this is looking like a pretty sweet addition!
Edit: After further thought, the choice between Freebooter and Collector isn't going to be an easy one. Freebooter is pretty bad against sweepers compared with Collector, for instance. Collector's CMC 3 isn't necessary slower with 6/8 mana dorks in most lists that run him, either--and his base power of 2 is relevant surprisingly often.
Its probably too early to tell but I think since Freebooter hits Planeswalkers, Artifacts and Enchantments also it can has a chance to be better then Sin Collector in some cases. And yeah Collector takes out the card more permanently.
Pretty new to Burn and going to my first big tournament in two weeks. Meta unknown. I would appreciate some advice regarding my sideboard (Mainboard is standard Boros list with 19 lands and 1 Lavamancer):
3 Destructive Revelry
2 Shattering Spree
3 Path to Exile
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Kor Firewalker
2 Deflecting Palm
1 Searing Blood
Not sure about the Firewalkers, and would appreciate Feedback in general.
Thats a solid side for a blind meta. Gives you some answers to a variety of decks. Blind metas can be very hit miss. I walked into a blind meta where I didnt use half my sides and one where every card in the side was used. When you run into those random rogue brews or decks that dont show up much remember you cant side for everything. Not a rule of thumb but I generally make sure I have help for Affinity, Shadow, Tron. Good luck let us know how you did in the event.
Do you guys think Deadeye Tracker is a good option here for graveyard hate? I can see it being good in a long game and possibly early game shutting out stuff like a Vengevine or 2 with a creature on the board that can get bigger and filter lands. The downside is the amount of mana it needs to work where as RIP, Cage and Relic dont require as much mana commitment.
Ive said a few times before, I enjoy the versatility of being able to switch back and forth from Naya to Boros and back. Atarka's is the main reason, that extra anti life gain can be very helpful for me in metas where thats a big problem. It wasnt long ago I was seeing people go 5 and as high as 8 (Skullcrack + Atarka's) in main and side. One great thing about Burn is that you have access to so many side board options. Running Mono Red does limit you a bit but there are still lots of options. Flames of the Blood Hand used to be in some in Mono Red sides before Skullcrack, can be another option if you wanna run Mardu/Rakdos/non Green you can use this as a Skullcrack 5-8 if you really needed it.
Each color you add has its pros and cons. Although if someone here has been killing it with Izzet/Grixis/adding to Burn please share.
Looking at the big wallpaper of Admiral Beckett Brass....is the Admiral female?? The art looks more like a really badass pirate granny than anything else. And the chest region has certain curvature, to say the least.
I've seen a few lists run a 1-of Smash to Smithereens with 3xDestructive Revelry.
At a PPTQ on Saturday against Affinity my opponent sideboarded Blood Moon in G2 and G3. At one point I had 3 Revelrys in hand and couldn't cast them. I feel having an answer to situations like that is important? (And 3 damage is always better than 2!) Or is 4x Revelry just better to answer the problematic Leyline of Sanctity?
Looking on MTG Top 8, the only decks that seem to be running Leyline at the moment is Lantern Control, Ad Nauseam and Bogles.
You got a bunch of options. I see Blood Moon some what often as in my play group I have a buddy who runs RW Prison; a Zoo deck and Mono Red Burn deck that has Blood Moon in the side. You can try and go RWg and switch out Revelry for Wear//Tear and add 1 Plains like I have. Or when I run full Naya I add 1 Forest and 1 Plain. If your meta isnt huge with Blood Moon you can choose to just deal with it as it comes and not side since it may not drop often enough. And Im sure someone else may also have another good idea. These are just a few options. We cant side for everything sometimes you run into a match or player and just gotta tip your cap. I hate being in that spot with no answers/locked out but it happens.
Leyline is also a hit and miss for me. There are weeks I see it often and weeks I never see it. Lately though I'm seeing more life gain to counter Burn then Leyline. Reverly or Wear//Tear works well hear depending if your going Naya or Boros. But yeah I see having Enchantment removal as being a must. When I face my buddy's RW Prison it sucks, Chalice, Blood Moon and Leyline add in Simian Spirit Guide to accelerate things in the main and just not enough answers.
3. When taking advice try to look at the benefits of what their saying and if their overly jaded one way or another. Finding someone who is too over the top and pushes their agenda/reasoning too much may (not always) signal being too/so bias towards one direction they are blind/ignorant/refuse to even consider the possibility there is a benefit to the other view and your not allowed to breathe air if you dont follow their advice.
It's pretty clear that this inflammatory statement is targeted solely at myself. Providing well-reasoned arguments for a position and standing by those arguments is not remotely "ignorant".
For what it's worth, for the past few days I've been PMing with elcon concerning strategy between the three versions of Burn I consider to be competitive (Boros, Naya, Mardu). At no point did he ever force his opinion down my throat, or tell me that I was wrong for considering all three of these versions of Burn. He performed some calculations for me out of the goodness of his heart, and let me make my own decisions based on the raw numbers he provided. I think if people were to read our conversations, it would be all but impossible to say he was pushing an agenda towards me.
I think people are reading a negative tone where there isn't one. It might be neutral or factual, but it's not disrespectful. Elcon provides statistical data to the burn forum and then offers his opinions based on his results. I don't really feel it's his responsibility to say "it's my opinion" before every post--that should be implicitly understood.
For the record, the numbers I saw are making me reconsider Boros as the version of Burn I want to be running--and at no point did he suggest that. It's all from me.
For the record I never called him out but now I have for him calling people out for reading too much or misinterpreting his words then doing that to others and claiming victim on both. I was not attacking him. Please reread my whole post. I agree people find negative where there is none. There are those who fit into this category and it does not have to be here on the forum it could be people at a store/event/even friends. My statement was more a generalization. And more about looking at the benefits of playing Boros and Naya.
I'm also not pushing an agenda when someone asks me why I still play Atarka's Command. If someone asks me why I still play Atarka's Command, I'm going to explain my reasoning for still playing Atarka's Command. That reasoning will not include statements in support of playing Skullcrack instead of Atarka's Command. If I bought into reasons to play Skullcrack over Atarka's Command, I wouldn't be playing Atarka's Command.
I never said you were!!!!!!! You cant call people out for reading too much or misinterpret your words then do that to yourself and claim victim on both.
3. When taking advice try to look at the benefits of what their saying and if their overly jaded one way or another. Finding someone who is too over the top and pushes their agenda/reasoning too much may (not always) signal being too/so bias towards one direction they are blind/ignorant/refuse to even consider the possibility there is a benefit to the other view and your not allowed to breathe air if you dont follow their advice.
It's pretty clear that this inflammatory statement is targeted solely at myself. Providing well-reasoned arguments for a position and standing by those arguments is not remotely "ignorant".
You have called out others myself included for misinterpreting your words. I am not calling you out, however I am calling you out on misinterpreting/reading into this too much into my words. Not once have I said you have forced your opinion although others may have. There are those who fit into this category and it does not have to be here on the forum it could be people at a store/event/even friends. My statement was more a generalization. I will not apologize for an overreaction or misinterpretation like you have not to myself and others who you have called out for the same.
There are pros and cons for both Naya and Boros, I am not gonna go into both. There has been much written already in favor of both. That said, I enjoy the versatility of being able to switch back and forth from Naya to Boros and back. This can be for a variety of reasons, 1 of which is to bring in Atarka's for extra anti life gain. I find that since I travel to 4 states often and play in different metas and play groups neither Boros or Naya is always the right answer. How does that help someone torn between the 2....here are a few tips.
1. If you are worried about losing life or getting your G mana blown up but you want to run Atarka's consider how your spending your mana and sideboardng. Wildly Fetch and shocking yourself for 9 damage is not always ideal. When I run Boros I have Inspiring Vantage and at least 1 Plains I can grab if needed like they drop Blood Moon and I Path my own creature to get the Plain to use Wear//Tear (just an example it doesnt happen every game). Im not saying you have to run a Forest but if your meta is full of Ghost Quarter and other things to hurt your land base it can be an option 1 Forest and 1 Plain isnt the most ideal (I know someone will curse me for even say run any basics) but it can and has come in handy for me. My meta has Blood Moon, Magus, GQ and Spreading Seas (yes it can hit basics but almost always they hit a dual land and dont expect me to run basics).
2. You dont have to have Revelry, you can go with some combination of Wear//Wear, Shattering Spree, Smash to Smithereens is just fine. So dont feel pressured to run Naya and Revelry but you can still go RWg with Atarka's.
3. When taking advice try to look at the benefits of what their saying and if their overly jaded one way or another. Finding someone who is too over the top and pushes their agenda/reasoning too much may (not always) signal being too/so bias towards one direction they are blind/ignorant/refuse to even consider the possibility there is a benefit to the other view and your not allowed to breathe air if you dont follow their advice. Also someone you get advice from on a forum may play in a different meta or never play in a blind meta or just throw out theories but never really play or we've been infiltrated by the anti Burn group that cant beat the deck so theyve been petitioning Wizards to ban it and giving bad advice here
4. Consider proxying up a deck say Grixis Shadow (heck I proxy multiple decks, lands, tokens and those ad cards are actually useful), play 10 games with each and find is Atarka's worth it for you in your testing.
The article below isnt a very in depth look and analysis on the deck. There is an interesting card in the side a 1 of Qasali Ambusher and 1 of Abzan Falconer which gives evasion but I wonder why its not a 2 of. I get that the 3 spot has so many options. Ive seen 1 guy rationalize a bunch of different 2 of's to keep the opponent off balance and have better versatility over full playsets in the 3 slots. He ran 12 3 drops Sin, Thalia, Reflector, Mirran, Anafenza and KotR ... I didnt get to see his whole list so I dont know how his other cards compliment his 3 drops.
Ambusher would seem really good against other fast Zoo decks possibly even Burn when they (I) drop Swiftspear/Guide. I may have to test that out in a Naya build.
"It's nice to see a Collected Company deck that isn't trying to assemble some sort of combo, and just aims to maximize its synergy through having creatures that are the same type."
Yep this is useful in the link. I like seeing how different people side vs decks which helps open up people to more options/ideas/strategies/techniques that may not have thought of. Thanks for posting this.
On another note so far we havent received any help from Ixalan. Im not expecting a straight up Burn card thats playable in Modern but maybe we'd get another creature possibility with all the tribal stuff popping out.
Its probably too early to tell but I think since Freebooter hits Planeswalkers, Artifacts and Enchantments also it can has a chance to be better then Sin Collector in some cases. And yeah Collector takes out the card more permanently.
I agree here. Id also say Mirran Crusader is a must somewhere in your 75, doesnt have to be main but this thing is really good when it lands/sticks.
Thats a solid side for a blind meta. Gives you some answers to a variety of decks. Blind metas can be very hit miss. I walked into a blind meta where I didnt use half my sides and one where every card in the side was used. When you run into those random rogue brews or decks that dont show up much remember you cant side for everything. Not a rule of thumb but I generally make sure I have help for Affinity, Shadow, Tron. Good luck let us know how you did in the event.
Each color you add has its pros and cons. Although if someone here has been killing it with Izzet/Grixis/adding
LMAO
You got a bunch of options. I see Blood Moon some what often as in my play group I have a buddy who runs RW Prison; a Zoo deck and Mono Red Burn deck that has Blood Moon in the side. You can try and go RWg and switch out Revelry for Wear//Tear and add 1 Plains like I have. Or when I run full Naya I add 1 Forest and 1 Plain. If your meta isnt huge with Blood Moon you can choose to just deal with it as it comes and not side since it may not drop often enough. And Im sure someone else may also have another good idea. These are just a few options. We cant side for everything sometimes you run into a match or player and just gotta tip your cap. I hate being in that spot with no answers/locked out but it happens.
Leyline is also a hit and miss for me. There are weeks I see it often and weeks I never see it. Lately though I'm seeing more life gain to counter Burn then Leyline. Reverly or Wear//Tear works well hear depending if your going Naya or Boros. But yeah I see having Enchantment removal as being a must. When I face my buddy's RW Prison it sucks, Chalice, Blood Moon and Leyline add in Simian Spirit Guide to accelerate things in the main and just not enough answers.
Hope this helps.
For the record I never called him out but now I have for him calling people out for reading too much or misinterpreting his words then doing that to others and claiming victim on both. I was not attacking him. Please reread my whole post. I agree people find negative where there is none. There are those who fit into this category and it does not have to be here on the forum it could be people at a store/event/even friends. My statement was more a generalization. And more about looking at the benefits of playing Boros and Naya.
I never said you were!!!!!!! You cant call people out for reading too much or misinterpret your words then do that to yourself and claim victim on both.
You have called out others myself included for misinterpreting your words. I am not calling you out, however I am calling you out on misinterpreting/reading into this too much into my words. Not once have I said you have forced your opinion although others may have. There are those who fit into this category and it does not have to be here on the forum it could be people at a store/event/even friends. My statement was more a generalization. I will not apologize for an overreaction or misinterpretation like you have not to myself and others who you have called out for the same.
1. If you are worried about losing life or getting your G mana blown up but you want to run Atarka's consider how your spending your mana and sideboardng. Wildly Fetch and shocking yourself for 9 damage is not always ideal. When I run Boros I have Inspiring Vantage and at least 1 Plains I can grab if needed like they drop Blood Moon and I Path my own creature to get the Plain to use Wear//Tear (just an example it doesnt happen every game). Im not saying you have to run a Forest but if your meta is full of Ghost Quarter and other things to hurt your land base it can be an option 1 Forest and 1 Plain isnt the most ideal (I know someone will curse me for even say run any basics) but it can and has come in handy for me. My meta has Blood Moon, Magus, GQ and Spreading Seas (yes it can hit basics but almost always they hit a dual land and dont expect me to run basics).
2. You dont have to have Revelry, you can go with some combination of Wear//Wear, Shattering Spree, Smash to Smithereens is just fine. So dont feel pressured to run Naya and Revelry but you can still go RWg with Atarka's.
3. When taking advice try to look at the benefits of what their saying and if their overly jaded one way or another. Finding someone who is too over the top and pushes their agenda/reasoning too much may (not always) signal being too/so bias towards one direction they are blind/ignorant/refuse to even consider the possibility there is a benefit to the other view and your not allowed to breathe air if you dont follow their advice. Also someone you get advice from on a forum may play in a different meta or never play in a blind meta or just throw out theories but never really play or we've been infiltrated by the anti Burn group that cant beat the deck so theyve been petitioning Wizards to ban it and giving bad advice here
4. Consider proxying up a deck say Grixis Shadow (heck I proxy multiple decks, lands, tokens and those ad cards are actually useful), play 10 games with each and find is Atarka's worth it for you in your testing.
Best of luck
Ambusher would seem really good against other fast Zoo decks possibly even Burn when they (I) drop Swiftspear/Guide. I may have to test that out in a Naya build.
http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=14126&writer=Seth Manfield&articledate=8-25-2017
"It's nice to see a Collected Company deck that isn't trying to assemble some sort of combo, and just aims to maximize its synergy through having creatures that are the same type."