Best sideboard card against control in a G/W Rampish deck
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Posted on Aug. 23, 2013, 12:30 p.m. by GreAsyG
I am currently running a GW ramp deck that uses Garruk, Caller of Beasts and ramp to get out biggies. Love the deck except when I go up against control. Unless I can get a turn 3 Garruk out, I seem to be dead no matter what I draw. So, I really need to add some cards in my sideboard for control matches. So far, I have come down to two cards that would help me greatly... Silence or Savage Summoning. I don't really have room to add both in my sideboard, but I definitely need one of them. So far I seem to be leaning more towards Silence than Savage. Savage is great and all, but with Render Silent, it can become pretty dead. Silence on the other hand can be played on the opponents upkeep forcing them to waste mana on a counter or not playing a turn other than land. It can also help great on my turn to make the opponent use up one of his counter spells, and if they don't counter, it allows me to cast and attack without worry of counters or my attackers getting azorius charmed.
What are your thoughts?
pumpkinsword says... #3
Silence is pretty bad against control in the long run. They could always counter it, and they are perfectly happy to play a land and pass. I'd recommend Voice of Resurgence and Thalia, Guardian of Thraben out early to put pressure on them.
August 23, 2013 2:17 p.m.
Garruk Relentless Flip works well for me. control decks have issues with planeswalkers, unless they can counter them, as they give you consistent card advantage that can't be countered. also if you're ramping quickly, Acidic Slime on t3-4 is pretty annoying for control, and can take out wincons like Nephalia Drownyard or any enchant based removal/control pieces.
August 23, 2013 2:46 p.m.
harrydemon117 says... #5
Loxodon Smiter for sure. Maybe even a couple of Savage Summoning or Yeva, Nature's Herald to give your green creatures flash.
Also, Strangleroot Geist is great vs control seeing as how they will have to kill it twice AND it has haste
August 23, 2013 4:13 p.m.
The above recommendations are good and I would be willing to guess that Snapcaster Mage is only making things worse when you're playing against control--that's usually the problem I have against them. For that reason, I usually SB 3x Tormod's Crypt . Colorless, free graveyard flush. Playing one on turn one or two when they can't counter and letting it sit there is great. Imposing Sovereign works too if you can get it to resolve and keep it on the board.
August 24, 2013 11:48 a.m.
I just looked at your list and maybe you consider sideboarding some token gen so you can use Trostani to get bodies out for you. That can't be countered.
August 24, 2013 11:51 a.m.
Voice of Resurgence is a biggie v control, also a though would be Trostani's Summoner its kind of a ridiculous card, but you can drop fatties in your deck style and its overwhelming for control unless they have a board wipe available.
August 25, 2013 10:46 p.m.
Control players always give dirty looks when I play these: Voice of Resurgence , Dryad Militant , and Sigarda, Host of Herons . Scavenging Ooze also helps get crap out of their graveyard so that they can't Snapcaster Mage it back.
I haven't tried it yet, but I'd imagine having Witchstalker alongside Voice of Resurgence on the board could be kind of annoying for them. Also, if you're splashing white, Ajani, Caller of the Pride is good for tossing big dumb dudes up into the air with double strike.
Definitely pack some Naturalize in your sideboard to use against Oblivion Ring and Detention Sphere .
SharuumNyan says... #2
Silence - for all the reasons you just said.
Also, are you already running Thalia, Guardian of Thraben ? That can put the heat on a control deck if they can't counter it right away.
August 23, 2013 12:51 p.m.