Pauper: Boros Mascot - Deck Tech & Sideboard Guide

00Comment iconComment iconComment iconComment icon

A new Boros deck running Spirit Mascot might be worth checking out after a Challenge Top 8!

Writer image

Translated byRomeu

Writer image

Revised byTabata Marques

Edit Article

Boros Mascot leans on the synergy between Spirit Mascot, one of the highlights from Secrets of Strixhaven, and the Dissension Eidolon cycle to grow the creature's power while reusing multicolored looting effects, turning them into card advantage sources.

The deck is a variant of Boros Inside Out, but it dropped the combo in favor of a strategy more focused on Mascot and Sneaky Snacker as win conditions, reaching second place in the Pauper Challenge on June 19 with player Adreen.

The Decklist

Loading icon

Maindeck

Loading icon

The win condition revolves around the "go big" line with Spirit Mascot and effects that remove cards from the graveyard, especially with Aurora Eidolon and Sandstorm Eidolon through multicolored looting effects. Each time the Eidolons trigger and return to hand, they individually increase Mascot's power, easily pushing it out of range of damage‑based removal.

Sneaky Snacker provides the go‑wide plan. In most matches, they become our main threat, and like the Eidolons, they also trigger Spirit Mascot individually.

Loading icon

Rounding out the creatures, Scrapwork Mutt and Voldaren Epicure provide early board presence and cheap looting effects. Scrapwork also synergizes with Spirit Mascot.

Loading icon

The looting effects. To trigger the Eidolons consistently, we have eight copies of multicolored discard spells with Pursue the Past, Thrilling Discovery, and Abandon Attachments, plus two copies of Faithless Looting for the early and mid‑game.

Loading icon

We also need tools to turn the looting effects into card advantage. Fiery Temper becomes a Lightning Bolt when cast for its Madness cost. Prismatic Strands can protect us or our creatures against damage from a single color, and Sentinel's Eyes triggers Spirit Mascot with its Escape cost.

Loading icon

Our worst enemy is the opponent's Sneaky Snacker, and Torch the Tower is the best option to deal with it when we can sacrifice Scrapwork Mutt or Voldaren Epicure's token to scale up against threats with three toughness.

Thraben Charm adds to the removal suite while also answering Sneaky Snacker or other issues in the opponent's graveyard.

Sideboard

Loading icon

I'm not sure if we still need a full set of Dust to Dust in the new Metagame, but Affinity is a problem for this deck without it and remains very popular.

Likewise, blue decks are very popular, and Bounce effects can be a headache with Spirit Mascot. A full set of Pyroblast is also our best way to handle Tolarian Terror.

Loading icon

End the Festivities handles the opponent's X/1 creatures in matches against Elves, Red Rally, White Weenie, and Faeries.

Campfire comes in against Burn and is occasionally a late‑game answer to decks that try to attack our graveyard, and Thraben Charm adds to the hate against Spy Combo, Terror, and others.

Loading icon

Flaring Pain comes in against Prismatic Strands or in response to Turbo Fog's recent popularity. Prismatic Strands holds off the clock from Red Aggro, White Weenie, Elves, and also protects us against Lotleth Giant until the opponent finds an answer.

Sideboard Guide

Loading icon

You will notice that the side‑out in many matches involves some of these cards. They are the ones that synergize the least with the deck in Games 2 and 3, or the redundant slots when we need to bring in better cards. Boros Mascot is a consistent deck, but it requires a specific number of categories to work, and these are the least synergistic pieces for what we are trying to do.

Mono Blue Terror

IN

Loading icon

OUT

Loading icon

Madness Burn

IN

Loading icon

OUT

Loading icon

Red Rally

IN

Loading icon

OUT

Loading icon

Grixis Affinity

IN

Loading icon

OUT

Loading icon

Elves

IN

Loading icon

OUT

Loading icon

Mono White Aggro

IN

Loading icon

OUT

Loading icon

Spy Walls

IN

Loading icon

OUT

Loading icon

Wrapping Up

That's all for today!

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

Thanks for reading!