Tiyo Paeng

Manila’s modern World Magic Cup Qualifiers (modern WMCQ) is set on 5 September 2015. Our beloved Neutral Grounds will host this event and will take place at Glorietta V’s ground level. Sweet news for every modern player. A chance to put his name and be part of the 2015 Team Philippines Worlds.

Philippine modern meta is full of combo decks. Ad Nauseam, Bloom Titan, Collected Company variants, Twin variants and Infect are the decks they say are the most rampant in the field right now. When asked for agro decks, they responded with: Red Deck Wins variants, Affinity, Delver Variants, Merfolk and Jund/Junk. And as for control decks, Tron variant, Grixis and UW were their answers.

“I never thought I’ll be facing <deck>.”

“I told you. <Name of the side board card> is a must in this kind of event.”

“Alas! I boarded the wrong card. I never thought he’d take those away for game three.”

“My side board card didn’t reach me in time, thus I lose.”

“I have dedicated <number of side board cards> for Boogles deck. I didn’t face one.”

“Most of my side boards are meant for combo decks, I faced none.”

These are just some of the reasoning you will hear from the players usually after a round.

Side board/ side boarding is a very important part/ aspect of our game. Let us talk about it.

In an article penned by Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa, he suggested that side board slot should be expanded from 15 to 20 cards.  Personally, I like this idea. Just imagine the possibilities of what we can do with it; playing in a Grand Prix Modern with 20 cards as your side board. Who wouldn’t like that? Unfortunately, as long as Wizard of the Coast (WOTC) does not change the number of our sideboard cards, we are left with no choice but to enlist 15 and maximize its usage to the fullest. And speaking of maximizing it to its fullest, Reid Duke confers it in his work. He said it in this wise, “Your card choices are made based on what you intend to do during side boarding, and what you do during side boarding fits with your card choices.”

In order to help us on how to improve our side boarding, I asked some players if they can share their secret/ tips on how they do it.

Juancho Fabregas: It is important to know your deck’s weaknesses. From there, commit some slots on the side board.

Arrian Ordoñez: I normally check first the archetypes that are my bad match up. Then play test those decks to help me understand more. And lastly after games of playing against them, decide how many side board cards I will allot to help me improve my winning percentage.

Jason Baes: I side board to negate their side boards.

Paul Licarte: I do not like my sixty to be diluted with the side boards. So most of my fifteen has one-off with Blood Moon and Stony Silence as exception.

Ricardo Nisperos Jr: It is important also to know what to remove from your sixty.

Rami Hourani: If I am on a tried and tested deck, and is on everyone’s radar, I’ll probably need more devastating cards to help me counter their preparedness.

Richmond Tan: I looked at the possible meta and adjust my side boards accordingly.

Lizzie Dee: Gauntlet play testing with possible side board cards in the deck is how we do things. In this way, we can fully assess if those cards are really needed especially against bad match ups. And I also read materials relevant to the format I intend to participate.

Allan Oca: I’ll check for any recent tournaments and check the content of their side boards. And will try to analyze why they have such. From there, I will try to improve my side board line up. Meta reading is also a must.

Jackson Azarcon: Most of my side boards are for my bad match ups, namely Tron and combo decks.

Carlos Callangan: In usually adopt the list of the recently most successful deck. Then adjust his side board list a little in order for it to perfectly suit in our meta.

Martin Marcelo: I want my side board option to be very good against something in the meta instead of being just decent against many deck. 

Hezekiah Dealca: I usually have the one-off card. Take my side board plan versus Twin for example. I use Choke as one of them.  Choke is very good versus blue decks. But playing with two Choke in a meta so diverse, I don’t think it is a good idea because chances of facing that many blue decks is slim. That’s why I prefer the one-offs for there are cards that are good against not just one but against another as well.

Philipp Schonegger: My fifteen complements my sixty.

Eugenio Araño: When side boarding, remember these questions: (i) How did I lose/win? (ii)Are there cards in my hand/ battlefield that did little or no impact?

There you have it guys. 

I hope you remember the tips they shared. 

Good luck in your preparation for modern WMCQ!

- Paeng