General Guidelines

Board In

Thoughtseize

    3 Thoughtseize – Against Combo decks and opponents with Rest in Peace. Don't just sideboard it in because they are bringing in some hate or have a few problematic cards - the cost of putting Thoughtseize into your deck is steep. Be very strict about bringing it in.



Collective Brutality

    3 Collective Brutality - Against Combo decks and/or decks where you can effectively use multiple modes. This means I bring it in against matchups such as Burn and Collected Company as well. Although it's more flexible than Thoughtseize as it interacts with your deck slightly, still be quite strict about bringing it in. For example, I wouldn't bring it in against a control deck just because they have counterspells.
   

Darkblast

    2 Darkblast - Mainly against Infect, Affinity and decks with mana creatures. I also don't mind bringing in one against Abzan if they have Noble Hierarch and Dark Confidant. Note, casting Darkblast on your own Bloodghast to return Prized Amalgams is a play that comes up often, so be aware of it.
   

Lightning Axe

    2 Lightning Axe - Against creature decks, such as Zoo and Eldrazi. I also bring it in against decks with problematic creatures such as Scavenging Ooze, Anafenza, the Foremost and Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet

Ancient Grudge

    2 Ancient Grudge - Mainly against Affinity, Lantern Control and Ad Nauseam. I also bring them in if they have multiple Grafdigger's Cage, especially if they have other targets such as Spellskite and Aether Vial.
   

Abrupt Decay

    2 Abrupt Decay - Similar to Thoughtseize, the cost of putting a card that doesn't interact with the rest of your deck is steep, so I only bring it in when it's necessary. It is mainly for matchups that have problematic permanents that can singlehandedly win the game, and you don't have enough ways to deal with it already. Examples include Scavenging Ooze, Anafenza, the Foremost and Ensnaring Bridge.

    I also bring them in against Suicide Zoo, as they rely heavily on their creatures to win, so you can often slow them down significantly if you can kill one of them. I don't bring it in against Infect as you already have enough removal in the form of Darkblast and Lightning Axe, whereas those cards are both bad against Suicide Zoo. People also often bring it in as an answer to Rest in Peace, which I think is a mistake as the initial trigger on the card is usually too hard to beat anyway. I much rather hope to get lucky and discard it from their hand with Thoughtseize.
   

Gnaw to the Bone

    1 Gnaw to the Bone-Against Burn and Naya Zoo. I like to bring it in on the draw against non-Primeval Titan Scapeshift decks, but on the play and/or against Primeval Titan, I think Conflagrate is better.





Board Out (In Order)



Conflagrate

    1 Conflagrate - Although Conflagrate is great, it is a payoff card, so you generally need to shave one to make space for the cards you're bringing in.
   

Dakmor Salvage Mountain

    1 Dakmor Salvage/Mountain - You can generally cut a land, as post board games tend to go longer and you often natural draw because of a graveyard hate they have in play. I sideboard out Mountain if they don't have Path to Exile and/or the matchup isn't a race, and Dakmor Salvage in every other situation.
   

Bloodghast Narcomoeba

    1 Bloodghast/Narcomoeba - I sideboard out Bloodghast against other aggressive creature decks such as Affinity, Zoo and Infect where you need a blocker, or against decks with big ground creatures that block well such as Tarmogoyf and Eldrazi.

    I sideboard out Narcomoeba against decks with Anger of the Gods or Ugin, the Spirit Dragon as you often don't want to trigger it, as well as control decks with a lot of removal as Bloodghast is better in those matchups. If you're unsure, Bloodghast is generally cut more often.
   

Life from the Loam

    1 Life from the Loam - If you still need space, then cut one. However, be wary that you may be bringing in too many cards.

Insolent Neonate

    2 Insolent Neonate (straight swap for Collective Brutality/Lightning Axe)
   
    1-2 Conflagrate (straight swap for Gnaw to the Bone/Ancient Grudge)
   

Golgari Thug

    1-2 Golgari Thug (straight swap for Darkblast)





Rules of Thumb

    Don't sideboard in Thoughtseize and Abrupt Decay in the same matchup. Your deck can't afford to run so many cards that don't interact with the rest of the deck.
   
    Generally, avoid bringing in Collective Brutality and Lightning Axe in the same matchup. You can't just swap them out for more Insolent Neonates, as you need draw effects to give you some power.

    If you think they're both good in a given matchup, figure out which one is better, for example against Abzan Company, Collective Brutality is better, and Lightning Axe is better against GBx Midrange decks. However, there are matchups such as Burn where you bring in both.
   
    Don't go below 12 discard outlets, not including Conflagrate and Haunted Dead. Also, don't go below 10 draw effects, which means you can never cut more than 2 Insolent Neonate. Against decks with discard or counterspells, I'd try to have 13 or 14 discard outlets.
   
    Don't go below 20 lands.
   
    Don't go below 12 "free" creatures, which includes Haunted Dead. Generally, I don't recommend cutting Haunted Dead, as while it's not technically free, it serves as a discard outlet later in the game.
   
    Don't go below 14 dredge effects, not including Dakmor Salvage. The fourth Life from the Loam is the first cut, but from then on you should be cutting Golgari Thugs before boarding out the third Life from the Loam. However, as you're only cutting Golgari Thug when you're bringing in Darkblast, the maximum number of Golgari Thugs you should ever need to board out is two.

These are general rules that should be followed, but there are corner situations where you don't follow it, such as against Lantern Control where you want both Thoughtseize and Abrupt Decay.







Sideboard Guide

Here are the matchups that I'm going to be covering below (in alphabetical order).

I have compiled a list of all the relevant cards you need to play around for each matchup, and have included a sideboard guide for the more popular matchups.

1) Abzan
2) Abzan Company
3) Ad Nauseam
4) Affinity
5) Amulet Titan
6) Bant Eldrazi
7) Bogles
8) BR Grishoalbrand
9) Bring to Light Scapeshift
10) Burn
11) BW Eldrazi and Taxes
12) Dredge
13) Eldrazi Tron
14) Elves
15) Grixis Control
16) Grixis Delver
17) GR Scapeshift
18) GR Through the Breach
19) Jeskai Saheeli
20) Jund
21) Knightfall
22) Lantern Control
23) Living End
24) Merfolk
25) Mono White Matyr Control
26) Naya oo
27) Puresteel Paladin Combo
28) RW Sun and Moon
29) Skred Red
30) Suicide Zoo
31) Tron
32) UB Faeries
33) UG Infect
34) UR Prowess
35) UR Storm
36) UWx (Esper and Jeskai) Control
37) 8 Rack



1) Abzan

+2 Lightning Axe
+2 Abrupt Decay
-1 Insolent Neonate
-1 Conflagrate
-1 Dakmor Salvage
-1 Bloodghast

Main: 1-3 Scavenging Ooze, 6 Discard, 1 Collective Brutality, 2-3 Path, 0-2 Nihil Spellbomb, 0-1 Liliana, the Last Hope
SB: 0-1 Path, 2 Collective Brutality, 1-2 Surgical Extraction, 0-1 Scavenging Ooze

Notes: 3 Path in 75, 2-3 Scavenging Ooze in 75, either 2 Bauble or Spellbomb main, 2 Surgical/Spellbomb in 75



2) Abzan Company

+3 Collective Brutality
+2 Darkblast
-2 Insolent Neonate
-1 Dakmor Salvage
-1 Bloodghast
-1 Golgari Thug

Main: 4 Kitchen Finks, 1 Orzhov Pontiff, 1 Spellskite, 1 Scavenging Ooze, 4 Chord of Calling, 4 Collected Company, 0-1 Fiend Hunter, 0-1 Anafenza, the Foremost

SB: 1 Burrenton Forge-Tender, 0-1 Scavenging Ooze



3) Ad Nauseam

+3 Thoughtseize
+3 Collective Brutality
+2 Ancient Grudge
-2 Insolent Neonate
-3 Conflagrate
-1 Dakmor Salvage
-1 Narcomoeba
-1 Life from the Loam

Main: 3 Pact of Negation, 3 Phyrexian Unlife, 4 Angel's Grace

SB: 2 Duress/Thoughtseize, 0-1 Phyrexian Unlife, 0-2 Spellskite



4) Affinity

+2 Darkblast
+2 Lightning Axe
+2 Ancient Grudge
-2 Insolent Neonate
-1 Dakmor Salvage
-1 Bloodghast
-1 Life from the Loam
-1 Golgari Thug

SB: 2 Thoughtseize, 0-2 Chalice of the Void, 0-1 Blood Moon, 0-2 Relic of Progenitus/Grafdigger's Cage/Rest in Peace, 0-2 Stubborn Denial/Spell Pierce

Notes: Usually 2-4 Thoughtseize/Counterspells, and 1-2 GY Hate in SB



5) Amulet Titan

Main: 1 Pact of Negation, 0-2 Batterskull, 0-1 Obstinate Baloth

SB: 1 Bojuka Bog, 2 Swan Song, 0-1 Ravenous Trap, 1-2 Obstinate Baloth



6) Bant Eldrazi

+3 Thoughtseize
+2 Lightning Axe
-2 Insolent Neonate
-1 Conflagrate
-1 Dakmor Salvage
-1 Bloodghast

Main: 4 Path to Exile, 3 Drowner of Hope, 1 Spellskite

SB: 0-1 Worship, 3 Grafdigger's Cage/Rest in Peace/Relic of Progenitus, 0-4 Chalice of the Void, 0-2 Stubborn Denial



7) Bogles

Main: 4 Path to Exile, 4 Daybreak Coronet, 1 Spirit Link, 2 Spirit Mantle, 0-1 Unflinching Courage

SB: 2-4 Rest in Peace/Grafdigger's Cage, 2 Spirit Link, 0-1 Unflinching Courage



8) BR Grishoalbrand

+3 Thoughtseize
+3 Collective Brutality
-2 Insolent Neonate
-1 Conflagrate
-1 Dakmor Salvage
-1 Narcomoeba
-1 Life from the Loam

SB: 2 Blood Moon, 2 Collective Brutality, 0-2 Anger of the Gods



9) Bring to Light Scapeshift

+3 Thoughtseize
+3 Collective Brutality
+1 Gnaw to the Bone (draw)
-2 Insolent Neonate
-1 Conflagrate (2 on the draw)
-1 Dakmor Salvage
-1 Narcomoeba
-1 Life from the Loam

Main: 4 Remand, 4 Cryptic Command, 1 Damnation, 0-1 Anger of the Gods, 0-2 Izzet Charm

SB: 1 Negate, 1 Anger of the Gods, 1 Izzet Staticaster, 3 Obstinate Baloth, 0-3 Chalice of the Void



10) Burn

+3 Collective Brutality
+2 Lightning Axe
+1 Gnaw to the Bone
-2 Insolent Neonate
-1 Conflagrate
-1 Dakmor Salvage
-1 Bloodghast
-1 Life from the Loam

Main: 4 Atarka's Command/Skullcrack
SB: 0-4 Relic of Progenitus

Notes: Most lists don't play any GY hate, but certain lists play up to 4. Boros has 4 Skullcrack, Naya has 4 Command/2 Skullcrack after SB.



11) BW Eldrazi and Taxes

Main: 4 Leonin Arbiter, 4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, 4 Tidehollow Sculler, 4 Thought-Knot Seer, 4 Path to Exile

SB: 3-4 Rest in Peace, 1-2 Zealous Persecution



12) Dredge

+1 Darkblast
+1 Gnaw to the Bone(draw)
-1 Life from the Loam
-1 Conflagrate (draw)

Main: 3 Conflagrate, 1 Scourge Devil/Rally the Peasants

SB: 0-4 Bojuka Bog/Ravenous Trap/Leyline of the Void



13) Eldrazi Tron

Main: 2 Spellskite, 3 Warping Wail, 3-4 Chalice of the Void

SB: 1 Wapring Wail, 3 Relic of Progenitus, 2 Pithing Needle
Notes: 2 Spellskite, 4 Warping Wail, 4 Chalice and 3 Relic in 75



14) Elves

Main: 4 Chord of Calling, 4 Collected Company, 1 Scavenging Ooze, 0-1 Spellskite
SB: 1 Burrenton Forge-Tender, 1 Selfless Spirit

15) Grixis Control
+1 Collective Brutality
-1 Conflagrate

Main: 4 Cryptic Command, 2-3 Spell Snare, 4 Snapcaster Mage, 1-2 Countersquall
SB: 2-3 Collective Brutality, 0-1 Negate, 1-2 Izzet Staticaster/Anger of the Gods, 2-3 Surgical Extraction
Notes: 4-5 Counterspells main, at least 2 Surgical Extraction in SB, 2-3 Staticaster/Anger



16) Grixis Delver

Main: 4 Snapcaster Mage, 3 Mana Leak, 2 Collective Brutality, 2-3 Spell Snare, 0-2 Remand

SB: 2 Countersquall, 1 Izzet Staticaster, 1-2 Magma Spray, 0-2 Surgical Extraction
Notes: 6-7 Counterspells main



17) GR Scapeshift

+3 Thoughtseize
+3 Collective Brutality
-2 Insolent Neonate
-1 Conflagrate
-1 Dakmor Salvage
-1 Narcomoeba
-1 Life from the Loam

Main: 2 Anger of the Gods/Courser of Kruphix

SB: 2-3 Obstinate Baloth, 2-3 Chalice of the Void, 0-3 Anger of the Gods
Notes: 2-3 Anger of the Gods in 75



18) GR Through the Breach

+3 Thoughtseize
+3 Collective Brutality
-2 Insolent Neonate
-1 Conflagrate
-1 Dakmor Salvage
-1 Narcomoeba
-1 Life from the Loam

Main: 3 Anger of the Gods, 1 Obstinate Baloth

SB: 2-3 Relic of Progenitus/Grafdigger's Cage, 0-4 Chalice of the Void, 0-1 Thragtusk, 0-2 Obstinate Baloth
Notes: 2-3 Obstinate Baloth in 75



19) Jeskai Saheeli
+3 Thoughtseize
-2 Conflagrate
-1 Dakmor Salvage

Main: 4 Snapcaster Mage, 4 Remand/Mana Leak, 4 Path to Exile, 2 Cryptic Command, 0-1 Logic Knot, 0-2 Spell Snare

SB: 1 Izzet Staticaster, 2 Anger of the Gods, 0-2 Rest in Peace, 1 Negate
Notes: 5-6 Counterspells main



20) Jund

+2 Lightning Axe
+2 Abrupt Decay
-1 Insolent Neonate
-1 Conflagrate
-1 Mountain
-1 Bloodghast

Main: 2 Scavenging Ooze, 6-7 Discard, 0-1 Collective Brutality

SB: 2-3 Surgical Extraction/Nihil Spellbomb, 0-2 Collective Brutality, 0-1 Liliana, the Last Hope



21) Knightfall

Main: 2-4 Scavenging Ooze, 2 Selfless Spirit, 4 Spell Queller, 1-2 Spellskite, 4 Collected Company, 4 Path to Exile

SB: 1 Bojuka Bog, 2 Negate, 2 Unified Will, 2 Izzet Staticaster, 0-2 Worship



22) Lantern Control

+3 Thoughtseize
+2 Abrupt Decay
+2 Ancient Grudge
-2 Prized Amalgam
-1 Bloodghast
-1 Narcomoeba
-1 Golgari Thug
-1 Stinkweed Imp
-1 Life from the Loam

Main: 2 Spellskite, 4 Inquisition, 2-4 Thoughtseize/Collective Brutality, 2-3 Pithing Needle, 4 Ensnaring Bridge, 2 Surgical Extraction

SB: 2 Surgical Extraction



23) Living End

Main: 4 Fulminator Mage, 0-3 Faerie Macabre

SB: 3-4 Faerie Macabre/Leyline of the Void, 0-3 Anger of the Gods



24) Merfolk

Main: 4 Spreading Seas, 4 Cursecatcher, 0-3 Spell Pierce, 2-3 Harbinger of the Tides, 0-2 Kira, Great Glass-Spinner

SB: 0-4 Unified Will, 2-4 Relic of Progenitus
Notes: 5-7 Counterspells in 75, GY hate is always Relic



25) Mono White Matyr Control

Main: 4 Wrath of God, 4 Path to Exile, 2 Oblivion Ring/Banishing Light,

SB: 3 Surgical Extraction/Rest in Peace/Relic, 3-4 Ghostly Prison



26) Naya Zoo

+2 Lightning Axe
+1 Gnaw to the Bone
-1 Dakmor Salvage
-1 Bloodghast
-1 Insolent Neonate

Main: 4 Atarka's Command

SB: 0-3 Relic of Progenitus/Rest in Peace, 1-2 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben



27) Puresteel Paladin Combo

+3 Thoughtseize
+2 Lightning Axe
+2 Abrupt Decay
-3 Conflagrate
-1 Dakmor Salvage
-1 Narcomoeba
-1 Life from the Loam
-1 Golgari Thug

Main: 0-2 Swan Song, 1-2 Noxious Revival

SB: 4 Silence, 0-2 Burrenton Forge-Tender



28) RW Sun and Moon

+3 Thoughtseize
-2 Conflagrate
-1 Dakmor Salvage

Main: 2-3 Anger of the Gods, 2-3 Wrath of God, 4 Blood Moon, 4 Chalice of the Void, 4 Nahiri, the Harbinger, 2-3 Banishing Light, 2 Gideon Jura

SB: 3-4 Rest in Peace, 1 Anger of the Gods



29) Skred Red

Main: 4 Relic of Progenitus, 3 Blood Moon, 3 Anger of the Gods, 1 Batterskull

SB: 0-1 Grafdigger's Cage, 0-1 Anger of the Gods



30) Suicide Zoo

+2 Abrupt Decay
-1 Dakmor Salvage
-1 Bloodghast

Main: 1 Ghor-Clan Rampager, 8 Discard, 2 Temur Battle Rage

SB: 2 Surgical Extraction, 1 Liliana, the Last Hope, 1 Scavenging Ooze, 0-2 Anger of the Gods



31) Tron

+3 Thoughtseize
+2 Ancient Grudge
-2 Conflagrate
-1 Dakmor Salvage
-1 Narcomoeba
-1 Life from the Loam

Main: 2 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon, 3-4 Oblivion Stone, 2 Wurmcoil Engine, 0-2 Relic of Progenitus, 4 Collective Brutality (GB), 3 Path to Exile (GW)

SB: 2-3 Warping Wail, 2 Thragtusk, 0-4 Ravenous Trap (GB), 2 Rest in Peace (GW)
Notes: 3-5 GY hate between Relic/Trap/Surgical/RIP, 2-3 Warping Wail



32) UB Faeries

Main: 3 Snapcaster Mage, 1-2 Countersquall, 2 Collective Brutality, 3-4 Cryptic Command, 4-6 Discard, 0-2 Mana Leak, 0-3 Spellstutter Sprite

SB: 2-4 Surgical Extraction/Ravenous Trap, 1 Negate/Countersquall



33) UG Infect

+3 Collective Brutality
+2 Lightning Axe
+2 Darkblast
-2 Insolent Neonate
-1 Dakmor Salvage
-1 Bloodghast
-1 Life from the Loam
-2 Golgari Thug

Main: 0-2 Spell Pierce, 3-4 Blossoming Defense, 4 Vines of Vastwood

SB: 0-2 Spell Pierce, 1-2 Grafdigger's Cage
Notes: 3-4 Spell Pierce in 75



34) UR Prowess

+3 Collective Brutality
+2 Lightning Axe
+2 Abrupt Decay
-2 Insolent Neonate
-2 Conflagrate
-1 Dakmor Salvage
-1 Bloodghast
-1 Life from the Loam

Main: 4 Thing in the Ice, 0-1 Stubborn Denial, 4 Mutagenic Growth, 2 Apostle's Blessing, 4 Temur Battle Rage, 0-3 Noxious Revival

SB: 2 Stubborn Denial/Spell Pierce, 2 Grafdigger's Cage/Surgical Extraction
Notes: 2-3 Counterspells and 2 GY Hate after SB



35) UR Storm

+3 Thoughtseize
+3 Collective Brutality
-2 Insolent Neonate
-1 Conflagrate
-1 Dakmor Salvage
-1 Narcomoeba
-1 Life from the Loam

Main: 2-3 Remand

SB: Possible 4 Madcap Experiment/2 Platinum Emperion, or Unburial Rites/Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite



36) UWx (Esper and Jeskai) Control

+3 Thoughtseize
-2 Conflagrate
-1 Dakmor Salvage

Main: 3-4 Cryptic Command, 3-4 Mana Leak, 2 Remand, 2 Path to Exile, 2-3 Spell Snare, 4 Snapcaster Mage, 0-2 Logic Knot

SB: 2-3 Surgical Extraction/Rest in Peace, 2 Negate



37) 8 Rack

Main: 4 Inquisition of Kozilek, 2-3 Thoughtseize, 4 Smallpox, 4 The Rack, 4 Shrieking Affliction

SB: 4-6 Leyline of the Void / Surgical Extraction / Relic of Progenitus, 0-2 Flaying Tendrils, 1 Night of Souls' Betrayal