Pauper: Mono Blue Faeries - Deck Tech and Sideboard Guide

In my first article published by Cards Realm, I talked about Mono Blue Tempo and mentioned a version that still used Delver of Secrets. Since then, this archetype changed significantly, and ended up splitting into two versions: Mono Blue Faeries and Mono Blue Delver.

While the Delver version wants to play Tolarian Terror and Cryptic Serpent as fast as possible and has a strategy that focuses more on your graveyard, Mono Blue Faeries abandoned Delver and embraced Faeries and Ninjas completely.

There are still two other Faeries versions in Pauper: {B}} UB Faeries and UR Faeries. Both have a plan that is geared more towards midrange, and use the Monarch and efficient removals.

The most significant difference in Mono Blue when we compare it to the other two decks above is the speed factor. Mono Blue can play units on curve much faster, considering it doesn't depend on other colors, but it doesn't have as many efficient removals as the other lists.

Snap is a fascinating card, one which can even allow us to play more creatively, but a bounce isn't always enough. So, this deck has more creatures and a total of eight Ninjas - to create as much card advantage as we can.

Ninjas are this deck's main engine - without them, you'll lose a lot of value. For this reason, you must protect them at any cost and use Ninjutsu at the right time.

A Ninja on turn two can be incredibly powerful, but in a format with so many powerful removals, a Ninja on turn two with a backup plan is a lot better. This is where our counters, one of the best features in Faeries decks (particularly in Mono Blue), will come in.

Spell Pierce and Dispel are excellent to protect your first Ninja. Counterspell is the best counter in this format, and can answer practically everything - but the best control tool this deck has is Spellstutter Sprite.

This deck is called Faeries precisely because of this card. With Faerie Seer, which will filter your topdeck, Faerie Miscreant, which will give you card advantage, and the recent Snaremaster Sprite, Stutter will counter spells that cost the same amount of mana as the number of Faeries you control, besides being the best Ninjutsu target in this deck. This will allow you to reuse it in any way you think is best. Snap is another card that interacts really well with Spellstutter, considering it allows you to reuse it through its bounce.

Brinebarrow Intruder is one of the new cards in this deck, and wasn't in the list when I wrote my last article. It is a crucial addition that allows us to change the course of our games or guarantee a Ninja on the next turn, if you cast Brinebarrow on your opponent's end step.

Snaremaster Sprite is also new, but it is a lot more recent. It will allow you to disable an enemy blocker, which will open up the way for a Ninja. Furthermore, it is also a Faerie, which means it will be useful as a Ninjutsu target because of its evasion, and will interact with Spellstutter.

As this is a Tempo deck, you will be able to play with just a few lands, but be careful with hands that only have one land and try to guarantee the land drops you need to play your spells. Faerie Seer or Faerie Miscreant on turn 1 preparing a Ninja on turn 2 is a good opener, but always keep in mind that protecting your creatures is important too.

Avoid hands with too many Ninjas and not enough ways to put them on the board with Ninjutsu, or hands with no card advantage. Your creatures are fragile, and you'll hardly be the beatdown. Always play around your opponent's answers, punishing their mistakes and saving up on value.

I prepared a sideboard that focuses on the current metagame, based on the results from the most recent tournaments on Magic Online and on my own experience piloting this deck on tabletop.

As Faeries are, again, more and more popular, and considering Dimir Faeries is the main version of this archetype, I decided to add one copy of Stormbound Geist to my sideboard. This card has seen a lot of play in the past and was incredibly important in Faeries mirrors, besides the fact it is another Flying creature that demands two removals to be removed from the board and can steal the Monarch.

Nullify was in a few lists that 5-0'd Magic Online's Pauper League; I decided to test it because of its versatility. It can answer from an All that Glitters to a Murmuring Mystic well, and, to be honest, it ended up earning a spot in my list. The results have been quite fun.

Vs. Azorius Affinity

This is the most popular deck right now. Novice Inspector spiked Affinity's popularity again, but I believe this matchup is quite favorable to our Faeries. Make sure to always be one step ahead of your opponent, and play around their biggest threats: Myr Enforcer and All That Glitters.

Your opponent will not be able to deal with your creatures, particularly the Flying ones. So, follow your game plan and guarantee your Ninjutsus. Snap and Spellstutter Sprite are this matchup's main stars.

In

Out

Vs. Mono-Red Kuldotha

I consider this matchup to be a bit unfavorable. Even after Monastery Swiftspear was banned, Mono-Red is still an undeniable force in Pauper, and it is one of the best aggro decks in the metagame. This deck's explosive turns are devastating and can finish games quite quickly.

Having many creatures that can't block all that well is an issue, but this is where Brinebarrow Intruder will come in. It will give you space to work during your opponent's attacks, and maybe it can even give you another shot at winning the game.

Be careful with their burns: always have an answer and use your Spellstutters well.

Post-side, you'll be able to prepare properly, but be careful: some Red lists have been using Makeshift Munitions, which is a simply absurd card against Faeries.

In

Out

Vs. Dimir Faeries

This matchup is quite challenging because of two reasons: Snuff Out and board wipes. Dimir Faeries is Mono Blue's "upgraded" version. Both are different, of course, and each has their weak and strong spots, but, when matched against each other, I confess my bets are on UB.

Snuff Out is the best removal in Pauper, and it can deal with almost any threat simply for free. The Monarch game plan is another problematic factor in this matchup, considering it allows your opponent to mow you down completely for as long as they are the Monarch.

Your strategy will be to focus on speed and efficiency: run over your opponent with your creatures, focus on your Faeries, and play around global removals and the Monarch. UB is a bit slower than Mono Blue, and this is an advantage.

Dispel and Spellstutter Sprite are essential in this matchup.

In

Out

Vs. Golgari Initiative

Golgari is basically a removal tribal that plays around the value of the Initiative and the Monarch. I consider this matchup quite balanced, and slightly favorable to Faeries because of the speed factor. Golgari is slower, with a lot of tapped lands, and taps out quite frequently on early turns.

Snuff Out once again is a powerful card in this matchup and will almost always be accompanied by Spinning Darkness, its weaker little sister who is incredibly efficient against Faeries. Focus on the Ninja game plan, and always have a backup plan.

Be careful with Crypt Rats and other board wipes. Stealing the Monarch or the Initiative is much more effective against them, considering they'll struggle a lot more to steal back either of them because they have less creatures.

In

Out

Vs. Boros Synthesizer

This is one of this deck's worst matchups. Boros has too many Flying creatures, and all of them have bigger bodies than your Faeries - they can even block your Ninjas easily. This deck has all of this, plus a lot of burn, and, once again, Makeshift Munitions.

There are also some versions that use All that Glitters and even the Goblin Bushwhacker + Kuldotha Rebirth package, which makes this deck a true threat. Focus on a more control game plan, take as much advantage of your Spellstutters as you can, and force your opponent to spend their resources to retake control of the match.

Be careful with their board wipes and Pyroblast, which will be added post-side.

In

Out

Mono Blue Faeries is one of my favorite decks because it has several things I love about Magic: The Gathering. I believe it is a viable option in Pauper if you want to play a different deck that is still competitive and is prepared for the metagame.

Leave your questions, suggestions, or feedback in our comment section.

See you next time!