Comments on: Standard Esper… Without the Black

By: The_Great_Dustini

The_Great_Dustini — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 14:48:19 +0000

I’m not sure there is a correct sideboard strategy for each archetype because lists differ. Your thoughts seem reasonable. The only things I would change are 1) against a lot of aggro I remove Think Twice and leave in Syncopate. It catches Hellrider and late Burn spells if your life total is low. 2) You probably want to bring in more counterspells against UW Flash. 3) You want to leave in all Terminus against Junk Rites. Hope that helps!

By: Venkat

Venkat — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 23:56:41 +0000

@Draque

We can ascertain whether your current manabase is adequate or not only by providing the complete list.
The standard decks for Esper AFAIK use minimum 26 lands including 3 Nephalia drownyard.

@Dustini

Though i am sure of the sideboard cards to be brought in certain matchups, I am not sure of the cards to be taken out.Below are my approximate sideboarding that i do in matchups. Could you please let me know what i am doing wrong? I am using 2 Dissipates and 2 Renounce the Guilds main.

Control (Versions without Multi colored permanents)
+2 Dissipate +3 Negate -4 Terminus -1 Renounce the Guilds

Jund,Control (Versions with some Multi colored permanents)
+2 Dissipate +3 Negate +1 Renounce the Guilds -4 Terminus -2 Azorius Charm

Aggro (R/G Aggro) [On the draw]
+2 Renounce the Guilds +4 Kraken Hatchling -4 Syncopate -2 Dissipate

Aggro (R/G Aggro) [On the play]
+2 Renounce the Guilds +4 Kraken Hatchling -2 Think Twice -2 Syncopate -2 Dissipate

Junk Rites
+2 Dissipate +4 Rest in Peace -4 Azorius Charm -2 Terminus

Naya
+2 Renounce the Guilds -2 Dissipate

Aristocrats
+2 Rest in Peace +2 Renounce the Guilds -2 Dissipate -1 Think Twice -1 Syncopate

UW Flash
+2 Rest in Peace -2 Renounce the Guilds

By: Draque

Draque — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 15:59:04 +0000

I am playing the standard Esper, with 12 Shocks (Watery, Hallowed and Godless). I didn’t find many problems with losing 2 when I really need a land up. I also play with 24 lands, wich the configuration I list bellow:

4x Watery Grave
4x Hallowed Fountain
4x Godless Shrine
4x Drowned Catacomb
4x Glacial Fortress
2x Isolated Chapel
1x Plains
1x Island

I really liked using the Nephalia Drownyard as win condition (if my creatures can’t do this). Want to replace my 1x Plains and 1x Island for 2x Nephalia, but I am afraid, cause I play with 24 lands (and also 2x Chromatic Lantern) and I guess this change could damage my mana base. Can you give me a help to solve this problem?

By: Venkat

Venkat — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 00:05:52 +0000

Thanks for the side boarding tips. The only change i did was
+1 Snapcaster Mage
-1 Renounce the Guilds
Sideboard:
+1 Renounce the Guilds
-1 Dissipate

I loved having 1 Snapcaster for the variety of roles it performs. I didn’t want more than one.

The deck performance is very optimal. Only thing i want in the deck is a ‘Pillar of flame’ or ‘Consume the Meek’ effect. Not sure what card can substitute that.

Hopefully M14 brings in new toys for control to play with.

By: ___

___ — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 15:19:03 +0000

Trying this deck, maybe I’m wrong but I really think it needs the fourth revelation.
For recovering card advantage, and also not dying to burn against RG decks.

By: The_Great_Dustini

The_Great_Dustini — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 18:07:55 +0000

Rest in Peace comes in against Rites and Junk Tokens. Some number of RIP also come in against Aristocrats, Zombies, and UW with Moorland Haunt, Runechanter’s Pike, and Snapcaster. I think it is 2-3 in those matchups because once it sticks they can’t kill it with Acidic Slime or Ray of Revelation.

Kraken Hatchling comes in against fast aggro such as Mono-Red, Red/Green, and Zombies. It does not come in against Naya because Naya’s creatures are too big (Smiter) or fly over (Hellkite), and because Domri is too good at killing Hatchlings.

Renounce the Guilds comes in against aggro and if they have a lot of multicolored cards: Naya, Junk Tokens, Red-based aggro, and Zombies (GB play Lotleth Troll and RB play Falkenrath Aristocrat). More renounces also sometimes come in against RUW control, depending on how many multicolored spells they play (e.g. Detention Sphere, Assemble the Legions, Aurelia).

Dissipates come in against Rites, and the full counter suite comes in against control decks, including GB control and Jund.

Oh, and I now think the deck should have 5 Island 5 plains.

GLHF!

By: Venkat

Venkat — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:05:59 +0000

I am trying out this deck and so far i like it. I am having troubles with sideoboarding. Could you please give suggestions on sideboarding plans against popular decks?