VS Burn: +4 Leyline, +2 Nature Claim, -4 Kor, -1 Path, -1 Spider Umbra.
VS Jund/Junk/BUG/BGx: +4 Leyline, +1 Dryad Arbor, -2 Kor, -1 Path, -1 Spirit Link, -1 Spider Umbra.
VS Abzan Company: +2 Grafdigger's Cage, +1 Rest in Peace, +1 Dryad Arbor, -1 Kor, -1 Spirit Link, -1 Spider Umbra, -1 Bogle.
VS Affinity: +3 Nature's Claim, +2 Stony Silence, -2 Path, -2 Kor, -1 Hyena Umbra.
VS Zoo and Merfolk: Zero unless they have spellskite
VS Scapeshift: +4 Leyline, +2 Gaddock Teeg, -3 Path, -1 Spider Umbra, -1 Hyena Umbra, -1 Kor.
VS Tron: +2 Stony Silence, +2 Gaddock Teeg, -2 Kor, -1 Path, -1 Spirit Link.
VS Jeskai/Grixis/UW Control: +1 Rest in Peace, -1 Path.


Here is my loose guide, sometimes things change on the fly, for whatever reason. In general, i dont like to side out too many Auras, and almost always side out some number of Kors and Paths. My main deck has 25 Auras (if you count Open the Armory, which lets just say we count it), which means that by turn 5 we should have seen about 4-5 Auras. I dont like to make that % too much lower, but you obviously need to side out some Auras sometimes. In regards to Paths (creature removal), i think 3 is a good number. Our creatures should be bigger, and hopefully with lifelink, which beats any race. One Path a game is usually enough to keep other creature decks in check.

VS Burn: +4 Leyline, +2 Nature Claim, -4 Kor, -1 Path, -1 Spider Umbra. They have way too much direct damage to even try to get there with Kor, dont do it. I side in a few Claims to either hit my own Rancor or kill their Eidolon of the Great Revel, which is the only threat I am worried about. The goal here is to get a Coronet orSpirit Link ASAP, then you auto win.

VS Jund/Junk/BUG/BGx: +4 Leyline, +1 Dryad Arbor, -2 Kor, -1 Path, -1 Spirit Link, -1 Spider Umbra. Kor with an Umbra is really good in the Jund matchup, but i still side out a few. However, i'm more than happy to keep a hand with a Fetchland, a Kor, and an Umbra, unless youre against Junk who play Paths. Leyline is pretty clutch here to stop discard effects, Liliana's sac effect, and Lili's ultimate. Almost any deck can potentially run Spellskite, so if you see one, add in Paths or Claims for game 3. They will keep in some number of Bolts, so if you go in on an Arbor, try and get an umbra on it right away while they are tapped out. These decks are the hardest for us to beat, but i did get lucky and beat 3 BGx decks on my way to winning Colorado States.

VS Abzan Company: +2 Grafdigger's Cage, +1 Rest in Peace, +1 Dryad Arbor, -1 Kor, -1 Spirit Link, -1 Spider Umbra, -1 Bogle. This plays no main deck kill spells, but will side in Abrupt Decay. They dont bring in Path, which means Arbor is basically hexproof and you can afford to shave a Bogle. They will try to combo, so either kill them fast or hope to hit one of your sideboard cards. Cage is great, so they cant Chord for Pridemage.

VS Affinity: +3 Nature's Claim, +2 Stony Silence, -2 Path, -2 Kor, -1 Hyena Umbra. Claim is just better than Path here, but i still dont want too many kill spells because the goal is to get a bigger creature than they have. An opening hand of 3 kill spells isnt really that great. Like any aggro match, you are looking for a Coronet and some evasion.

VS Zoo and Merfolk: I dont do sh|t unless they have Spellskites or something weird. I could see bringing in a few Claims against fish since it hits Spreading Seas and Vial, but really both of these decks cant beat a Coronet. Mono blue fish cant handle a huge Kor, feel free to go all in on her. EDIT: i see mono-U fish are playing some Vapor Snags now, so maybe be cautious on the Kor plan. I dont think i've seen Snags in my local meta, though.

VS Scapeshift: +4 Leyline, +2 Gaddock Teeg, -3 Path, -1 Spider Umbra, -1 Hyena Umbra, -1 Kor. This is another matchup where you can usually rely on Kor if you need to, but i still shave 1 because its better to have a good density of Auras. Teeg stops Scape, Bring to Light, and Crpytics, which is a big deal. They simply cant kill you if you have Leyline out, which buys you a turn since they have to Cryptic bounce it before they can combo. Still, bringing in Leyline's is dubious here, i'm not sure if it is right. You dont need Path at all, even if they use their 'creature package' out of the board, i'm not afraid of Obstinate Baloths. This deck is the most likely to have a Spellskite in the board, but usually only 1, and they have to hit it.

VS Tron: +2 Stony Silence, +2 Gaddock Teeg, -2 Kor, -1 Path, -1 Spirit Link. This matchup can be kind of tough, but Teeg stops Karn and Ugin. Stony is really annoying for them to not be able to crack maps, spheres, and stars. You need to keep a few Paths for Wurmcoil. Stony stops Spellskites, too.

VS Jeskai/Grixis/UW Control: +1 Rest in Peace, -1 Path. It depends on what kind of deck we are facing, but usually we are faster than they can handle. Teeg might be a consideration here as it stop sweepers and Planeswalkers, but he doesnt stop Kiki/Angel combo. I think you just want to stay dense in Auras and present a fast clock. Dont attack into Snapcaster mana if your creature cant handle it. I see a lot of people attack with a Bogle with only a Rancor on it, only to have it get ambush viper'd.

I guess thats all i can think about for now. Like i've said before, we just lose to decks like Infect and Living End and i'm not going to waste a slot in the board for a one-of Melira that is very unlikely for me to draw. Even if you get a Rest in Peace out against Living End, they can still cascade into sweepers until they can hard cast their dudes, its rough.