Premodern: Boros Sligh - Deck Tech and Sideboard Guide

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Boros Sligh uses Earthquake and creatures with protection from red to keep other aggro boards clear and put pressure on the opponent at the same time.

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Translated byEditorial

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Revised byJoey | Let

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Introduction

A few weeks ago, Boros Sligh showed up in Magic Online Leagues and at a few smaller events. This deck is built around a mix of aggressive creatures, a staple in White Weenie lists, combined with traditional Sligh and Burn spells such as Lightning Bolt and Incinerate. The goal is to be able to survive in the midgame a bit more easily and have a favorable matchup against other Aggro decks without giving up its reach and ability to deal damage.

The Decklist

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This is the list I've been testing. It relies on far more two-for-ones than traditional Sligh lists. Goblin Legionnaire applies pressure early on and turns into a Shock when it can no longer attack. The interaction between Earthquake and Silver Knight / Soltari Priest lets us keep putting pressure even on other Aggro decks, and Cursed Scroll, Grim Lavamancer, and Sulfuric Vortex keep applying pressure even after we run out of resources.

Maindeck

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Our plan against other Aggro or creature-based decks is to keep creatures with Protection from Red on the battlefield and use Earthquake to clear the opponent's board without wiping out our own. The fact that Soltari Priest and Silver Knight are effective attackers by Premodern standards is a major advantage, and Earthquake can still act as a finisher.

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Since our strategy involves playing sweepers in an Aggro deck, our creatures need to do more than attack. They need to create value if we have to destroy them. We can sacrifice Mogg Fanatic and Goblin Legionnaire to deal damage to the opponent, which extends our reach and leans into the "Aggro-Burn" game plan.

Grim Lavamancer is an exception among our creatures, but it is the most effective 1-drop we can play. Unlike Savannah Lions, it does not become less valuable in the midgame if it stays on the battlefield because it turns our dead creatures and spells into a Shock every turn.

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The best thing about Burn spells is that they can control the battlefield in some matchups but remain useful against Combo and Control decks. Together, Lightning Bolt and Incinerate handle most threats in the format, while Seal of Fire answers a turn-1 Goblin Lackey or can remain on the battlefield until the best moment to use it.

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To end games, we rely on the inevitability of Cursed Scroll and Sulfuric Vortex as repeatable Shocks that will likely end the game within 3 turns if we execute our strategy properly. Both are indispensable in Control matchups.

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Magic Symbol RMagic Symbol W can't really build a consistent mana base, so we have to improvise with Gemstone Mine and Reflecting Pool to complement Battlefield Forge, considering this deck often wants Magic Symbol R on turn 1 and Magic Symbol WMagic Symbol W on turn 2.

Sideboard

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The best thing about this color combination is that it gives us access to essential spot answers in the current meta, such as Pyroblast against Stiflenought, Azorius Control, and Psychatog, as well as Warmth against Burn, Sligh, and Goblins, considering they can put more pressure than we can.

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Answering artifacts and enchantments is one of the things white does best, and it greatly improves our matchup against combos such as Replenish and Enchantress if we are not fast enough. It also answers Phyrexian Dreadnought and other problematic permanents in certain matchups, such as Pyrostatic Pillar in Burn.

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Reprisal answers Terravore and other large creatures without the life gain Swords to Plowshares offers, which would be nonsensical for this strategy. Tormod's Crypt is also effective against Terravore decks and is a great answer to Replenish, Psychatog, and Reanimator.

Sideboard Guide

Red Sligh / Burn

IN

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OUT

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Stiflenought

IN

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OUT

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Mono Black Midrange

IN

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OUT

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Azorius Control

IN

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OUT

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Goblins

IN

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OUT

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Elves

IN

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OUT

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Enchantress

IN

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OUT

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GWx Terravore

IN

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OUT

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Psychatog

IN

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OUT

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Wrapping Up

That's all for today!

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment!

Thank you for reading!

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