Card Choices

《Yorion, Sky Nomad》

If Yorion were a normal card it would be fine. But as an extra card it’s pretty great. This deck doesn’t exactly maximize the potential of Yorion’s flicker ability, but that’s alright. Yorion just hangs out as a way to get extra value and turn the corner.

《Shark Typhoon》

The card is quite flexible in the way that cards with cycling tend to be. Since even cycling for no shark or a very small shark is pretty nice. The shark is also good at attacking Planeswalkers. You can even make a shark on your opponent’s turn when they have 《Teferi, Time Raveler》 in play. It also does a pretty good 《Hydroid Krasis》 impression. Which is to say it’s big.

《Raugrin Triome》

I think having land types to make your Castles come into play untapped is pretty important. It seems to be the consensus that 《Irrigated Farmland》 is better than 《Temple of Enlightenment》 in Pioneer. Although the Triome costs one more to cycle and in Pioneer you have 《Glacial Fortress》 in your deck as well. So I decided to play a mix of both.

《Neutralize》

I’m going to be honest. I forgot this card existed. It seems pretty good. I still like 《Absorb》 but it’s probably right to at least play a mix of each. I suppose it probably depends on how valuable the 3 life tends to be in the format.

《Grafdigger’s Cage》

I’m told this card is the bee’s knees against 《Witch’s Oven》 decks. You have to keep the 《cats》 at bay somehow.

《Essence Scatter》

It counters Companions and is generally a pretty good card.

Jeskai Fires

The Basic strategy in this matchup is to counter the 《Fires of Invention》 and most of the other stuff. Try not to tap out if you don’t have to. In postboard games watch out for 《Legion Warboss》 and 《Mystical Dispute》. I think the Fires deck is a reasonable match up. Your answers do line up pretty well but if you don’t draw them things will go sideways fast.

Against Jeskai Fires

Out

In

《Dream Trawler》

It is not the worst but tapping out is often pretty bad and it doesn’t block most of their stuff very well. But if you do get to untap with it, it is pretty nice. So I could see leaving them in the deck depending on how your main deck and sideboard is configured.

《Shatter the Sky》

I don’t think this card is that good in the matchup but it can be really good situationally. And is sometimes the only card that can get you out of a tough spot. If you like to live dangerously then feel free to board it out I suppose.

Termur Reclamation

I think this matchup is pretty reasonable. Teferi prevents most of the 《Wilderness Reclamation》 shenanigans as long as it’s in play, but you probably want to counter it if you can.

Against Termur Reclamation

Out

In

Jeskai Cycling

If you manage to answer the early game threats usually you can just counter the 《Zenith Flare》s. Also 《Narset, Parter of Veils》 has a nice passive ability for this matchup. I’m not sure exactly how good or bad the Cycling deck is for Big UW because usually the games are not super close either way. Since this deck is catching on a bit I’d probably throw another 《Glass Casket》 in the board instead of 《Devout Decree》.

Against Jeskai Cycling

Out

In

《Elspeth Conquers Death》

It only exiles 《Lurrus of the Dream Den》. Although Lurrus is a nice one to exile I suppose.

Obosh Sacrifice

This matchup feels pretty good. I think the answers line up reasonably well.

Against Obosh Sacrifice

Out

In

《Aether Gust》

Usually these decks play mostly black cards although it does hit the Companion and a few other key spells.

Lurrus Sacrifice

Similar to Obosh but 《Elspeth Conquers Death》 gets a lot worse. Also this deck is a bit lower to the ground so there is presumably a higher chance of getting completely run over.

Against Lurrus Sacrifice

Out

In

Big Bant

I think this matchup is pretty close. These decks play most of the same cards. I cannot say with confidence that Big UW is the superior of the big decks. Although, I do think playing green is a pretty significant cost to the mana base. Of the green cards 《Growth Spiral》 is probably the most dangerous in the pseudo mirror match since being up mana is pretty valuable. 《Uro, Titan of Nature’s Wrath》 is a powerful card, but at least it is not super great against Narset. So it’s not unbeatable. If Big Bant is the superior big deck it is probably due to Uro giving you an edge in other matchups. I imagine the repeating source of lifegain is pretty valuable against 《Witch’s Oven》 decks for example. I think this matchup comes down to the Planeswalkers. Countering them, exiling them with 《Elspeth Conquers Death》, and attacking them with sharks.

Against Big Bant

Out

In

Lukka Fires

This deck wasn’t really around last week. It is pretty similar to regular Jeskai in a lot of ways, but it seems to be better. At the very least better against a durdly UW deck. The other Fires deck plays things like 《Bonecrusher Giant》 and 《Sphinx of Foresight》 that aren’t super threatening and can be ignored for a few turns. The Lukka deck plays things like 《Narset, Parter of Veils》, and 《Agent of Treachery》 that generally demand a counterspell.

Against Lukka Fires

Out

In

《Grafdigger’s Cage》

I’m hesitant to bring any Cages in at all but they at least prevent 《Agent of Treachery》 from entering from the library. The problem is that it is very narrow and you might need to end up dealing with the 《Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast》 somehow anyway.

《Essence Scatter》 / 《Aether Gust》

They just don’t seem to have all that many targets in this matchup. I was happy to draw plenty of these against regular Fires but neither of them does anything against Narset. What I would really want in this matchup would be more 《Negate》s and possibly 《Disdainful Stroke》.