Premodern: Simic Madness - Deck Tech & Sideboard Guide

Simic Madness is another classic archetype from the past that is prominent today in the Premodern format.

The deck consists of using cheap discard effects to leverage the Madness mechanic with Basking Rootwalla and Circular Logic while generating value with Flashback spells like Roar of the Wurm and Deep Analysis, placing it in a privileged position as an aggressive and synergistic archetype with powerful answers to deal with the Metagame.

This list follows the archetype's traditional core, combining creatures with activated discard abilities, efficient card draw effects, and cheap answers.

Our plan is focused on establishing early board pressure and leveraging the Madness mechanic to circumvent mana costs and generate positive Tempo, opening windows with Daze and Circular Logic while exerting pressure with our creatures.

Maindeck

The discard outlet.

Wild Mongrel grows whenever we discard a card and exerts explosive early pressure when combined with Arrogant Wurm and Basking Rootwalla, while Aquamoeba effectively blocks the early beatdown of decks like Goblins and Sligh and becomes a cheap threat against Control.

The payoffs.

Basking Rootwalla can be played for free as early as turn one with Careful Study, and with luck, we'll have two of them on the board. They also have a mana sink ability that ensures usability even in longer games.

Arrogant Wurm is our main threat. In Premodern, a 4/4 with Trample for still has competitive relevance and considerably pressures the clock, especially if well protected.

Wonder was designed to be discarded, and once in the graveyard, it grants Flying to all your creatures, removing most blockers in the format from your path.

Roar of the Wurm functions almost as a "plan B," but often becomes our passport to a quick victory when sequenced with Wonder, Wild Mongrel, and protection.

The card advantage package.

Careful Study and Frantic Search have the function of filtering cards in the hand while also enabling several Madness effects that we have in the list. We can generate card advantage with them when we discard Deep Analysis, whose Flashback ability guarantees two draws for cheap.

Complementing the package, we have copies of Gush as a free draw that gives up to four cards to its owner's hand — alongside Wild Mongrel and Wonder, there are potential explosive turns that we can enable with it.

Circular Logic is the main interaction of the list. We can easily trigger its alternative cost and put enough cards in the graveyard to make it a reliable choice to protect our threats.

Daze is our Tempo counterspell, allowing for aggressive plays without sacrificing protection, especially early in the game. Additionally, returning an Island to hand can be used to our advantage with Wild Mongrel or Foil.

Foil only has one copy since we aren't reactive enough to demand such a costly counterspell, even for a Madness deck, but it offers protection against key opponent spells or for turns where we intend to win the game.

Sideboard

Naturalize is the format's standard answer against various artifacts and enchantments, and with Replenish decks growing in popularity on Magic Online, we need to complement it with Tranquil Domain. Reverent Silence is an option in this slot, but we don't have enough consistency to play it for free without reducing the number of Islands.

Hydroblast addresses most red archetypes in the format, especially Red Aggro decks like Sligh and Goblins, while Compost offers more resources against black archetypes like The Rock, BW Control, or Mono Black Midrange.

Waterfront Bouncer works favorably with our strategy while dealing with strategies that try to circumvent mana costs, bouncing cards like Phyrexian Dreadnought and Phantom Nishoba.

Tormod's Crypt complements the interaction against Reanimator and can also work against Psychatog.

Goblins

IN

OUT

Having the biggest impact on the board in the early turns is the key difference in this match, especially on the draw. Use Hydroblast and Daze to delay your opponent's turns while expanding your board position, and don't try to extend unnecessarily: Arrogant Wurm is often a better blocker than an attacker in this matchup, at least until you find a Wonder in the graveyard.

Sligh

IN

OUT

Your priority is to preserve your total life while pressuring the board. Unlike Goblins, you need to push the Tempo and use cards like Arrogant Wurm aggressively. Naturalize is necessary to deal with the opponent's reach between Sulfuric Vortex and Cursed Scroll.

Psychatog

IN

OUT

Compost punishes their main removal spells, and Waterfront Bouncer is a removal magnet since if it remains in play, we lock in the opponent's chances of finishing the game. Wonder tends to be redundant because the opponent has few creatures, and Daze loses utility against an archetype so focused on the late-game and with so many cheap interactions.

Mono Black Midrange

IN

OUT

Compost is the best card in the match, and if we can resolve it and keep Phyrexian Arena off the board, we have a major advantage. This is a game where it's worth considering wisely which threats to use in sequence, since most of them will be removed on the next turn.

Enchantress

IN

OUT

There are different ways to play this match, including one where Daze on the play is our key move and we trade it for higher-cost cards like Roar of the Wurm and Deep Analysis. However, its usefulness tends to be lost when the opponent resolves a Wild Growth, and we need slots to include Naturalize and Tranquil Domain.

Replenish

IN

OUT

Preventing the opponent's advance is our priority, and Aquamoeba ends up being the least efficient two-drop in the list to add our answers. Remember that it's common for our opponent to include Exalted Angel in these matches, so have a Circular Logic ready in case they try to cast it for .

Mono Blue Stiflenought

IN

OUT

Stack and board interaction are almost mandatory to avoid either of the two lines Stiflenought can use, so we need to sacrifice speed and synergy in order not to lose the game early. Waterfront Bouncer is an excellent lock against Phyrexian Dreadnought.

That's all for today!

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

Thank you for reading!