If you’re a fan of Magic: The Gathering, you’ve probably heard of Brawl. It’s a relatively new format, tailor-made for those who enjoy the thrill of Commander but with a limited cardpool. Brawl is a cool format to play, but there’s one thing that players are unsure about – can you have a sideboard in Brawl?
As you may know, a sideboard is a set of cards that players can bring in and out of their deck between games. It’s a useful tool for players to adjust their decks based on the matchup. It’s a common feature in most formats, including Standard, Modern, and Legacy, but in Brawl, it’s somewhat unclear.
The confusion comes from the fact that Brawl is a singleton format, meaning that players can only have one copy of each card in their deck (excluding basic lands). This limitation makes it challenging to build a sideboard, but not impossible. In this article, we’ll explore the question of whether or not you can have a sideboard in Brawl, and what that would look like.
Sideboard rules in Brawl
Brawl is a format in Magic: The Gathering that allows players to build a 60-card deck using Standard-legal cards. However, unlike other formats such as Standard and Modern, Brawl has a unique feature that significantly impacts deck building strategies: the sideboard.
In Brawl, players are allowed to have a sideboard consisting of up to 15 cards. The sideboard is a set of extra cards a player may use to modify his or her deck between games in a match. The sideboard is meant to be used as a tool to adjust the deck’s game plan against specific opponents or in specific matchups.
Here are the rules governing the use of the sideboard in Brawl:
- A sideboard must contain exactly 15 cards. A player may not have a sideboard with fewer or more than 15 cards.
- A player may only use his or her sideboard between games in a match, not during games.
- Players may only use cards from their sideboard to replace cards in their main deck. They cannot add cards to their main deck from the sideboard.
- A player must have the same number of cards in his or her main deck at the end of the sideboarding process as before it began.
- Players may change the order of their library, as long as they do not add or remove cards from their deck.
Overall, the sideboard in Brawl provides players with a valuable tool to adjust their deck to counter a specific strategy or match up. It also adds an additional layer of strategy to the format, as players must carefully consider which 15 cards to include in their sideboard and how to use them effectively.
Reasons to have a sideboard in Brawl
As any seasoned Magic: The Gathering player knows, a sideboard is a player’s secret weapon against unexpected matchups. In Brawl, a sideboard is just as important as it is in other formats. Players can use it to tailor their deck to surprising situations and increase their chances of winning. Let’s delve into some of the reasons why having a sideboard in Brawl is crucial.
Benefits of having a sideboard in Brawl
- Flexibility: Brawl is a singleton format, meaning there can only be one copy of each card (except basic lands) in your deck. With this in mind, your deck may not always be equipped to handle every possible situation. A sideboard allows you to change up your deck between games so you can adjust to any matchup.
- Countering the Meta: As with any format, certain decks will become more popular than others. A sideboard gives you the ability to tweak your deck to counter popular strategies in the meta and gain an edge over your opponents.
- Surprise Factor: Opponents may be prepared for your deck after game one, but by using cards from your sideboard, you can switch up your approach and catch them off guard in subsequent games.
Optimizing your sideboard
While having a sideboard is important, it’s equally important to ensure you’re using it to its fullest potential. To do this, it’s crucial to analyze your deck’s weaknesses and develop a sideboard plan that counters those weaknesses. Pay attention to the decks you commonly encounter and choose cards that work well against them. You’ll want to have a mix of versatile cards that can be useful in many matchups, as well as specific cards tailored to certain matchups.
Final Thoughts
A sideboard is an essential tool in Brawl, allowing you to adjust your deck between games to counter your opponent’s strategy and gain the upper hand. With the right approach, you can use your sideboard to make a significant impact on your matches and come out on top.
| Card | Effect | Best Used Against |
|---|---|---|
| Damping Sphere | Nonbasic lands produce colorless mana, spells cast for one less if an opponent has cast a spell this turn | Decks that rely heavily on nonbasic lands or spells that cost one mana |
| Disdainful Stroke | Counter target spell with a converted mana cost of four or greater | Decks using large, high mana cost spells |
| Deafening Silence | Each player can only cast one spell per turn | Decks that rely on casting multiple spells per turn |
Examples of commonly used cards in Brawl sideboards include Damping Sphere, which can hinder nonbasic land heavy decks, Disdainful Stroke, which can counter high mana cost spells, and Deafening Silence, which can slow down opponents who rely on casting multiple spells per turn. By using these cards effectively, players can gain an edge in their matches and come out on top.
Comparing Sideboards in Different Formats
Sideboards play an essential role in Magic: The Gathering, allowing players to adjust their decks between games in a match. Brawl format, a variant of Commander, allows players to have 1 commander card and 59 other cards in their deck, and there is a question of whether or not a sideboard is allowed in Brawl.
The answer is no, Brawl does not allow a sideboard. However, it’s interesting to compare sideboards in different formats and how they affect the overall gameplay.
Differences in Sideboards Across Formats
- Standard: In Standard, a sideboard can have up to 15 cards and is used to adjust the deck against specific matchups. Players can swap out cards between games, giving them the advantage against certain opponents.
- Modern: Modern allows for a 15-card sideboard as well, but the cards in the sideboard can be any cards from outside the deck’s main format legality. The sideboard can be used to address any potential weaknesses or matchups.
- Legacy: Legacy players have a 15-card sideboard to adjust their decks for specific matchups. However, since Legacy is known for its powerful and diverse card pool, players’ sideboards are often more tailored for their own specific deck than for specific matchups.
Pros and Cons of Sideboards
While sideboards can be an effective tool to adjust your deck’s strategy in certain formats, they do come with some drawbacks and limitations.
One downside of using a sideboard is the limit to the number of cards that can be swapped out. Even with a 15-card sideboard, there are some matchups that can’t be made favorable because of the deck’s inherent weaknesses.
Another limitation of sideboards is that they take up sideboard space in a deck, which could potentially hurt your deck’s overall consistency. For decks that rely on specific combos, too many sideboard cards may break the flow of the deck.
Finally, sideboards also require players to have a deep understanding of the format and metagame. Understanding how to adjust your deck for specific matchups is critical to using a sideboard effectively. Without this knowledge, sideboarding can hurt your deck more than help it.
Conclusion
| Format | Number of Cards in Sideboard | Limits and Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 15 | Adjusts against specific matchups |
| Modern | 15 | Can use any card from outside the main format |
| Legacy | 15 | Tailored for a specific deck over specific matchups |
While sideboards can be a powerful tool in Magic: The Gathering, they do have their limitations and drawbacks. Brawl format’s lack of a sideboard adds a unique challenge to the gameplay, as players must rely solely on their deck’s main 59 cards.
Constructing a sideboard for Brawl
Brawl is a fascinating format in Magic: The Gathering that prides itself on playing up to the strengths of each card. The competitive nature of the format has led players to use sideboards to their advantage. With a sideboard, you can swap out cards from your deck to deal with specific strategies.
If you’re interested in constructing a sideboard for Brawl, there are a few things to consider. Below, we’ll discuss four key points that will help you build a strong Brawl sideboard.
1. Know your opponent’s deck
Your understanding of your opponents’ decks is crucial when constructing a sideboard for Brawl. You must know what your opponent’s strategy is and what cards they will likely play to combat your plan. Keeping that in mind, you should choose your sideboard cards that help you beat their strategy. For example, if your opponent has a lot of flying creatures, consider including cards that can deal with flying creatures.
2. Choose versatile cards
Versatility is key when selecting cards for your sideboard. As a result, choose cards that can be useful in a variety of situations. Cards that have flexibility and can be used in multiple circumstances are often the best options. Consider sideboard cards like [[Return to Nature]], [[Disenchant]], or [[Assassin’s Trophy]]. They can be used to deal with a range of different threats, and you’ll get more mileage out of them.
3. Balance your sideboard
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Don’t overload on sideboard cards that are too restrictive: It’s important to have enough sideboard cards to deal with your opponent’s strategy. Still, too many copies of a particular sideboard card can clog up your hand and disrupt the flow of your game. For instance, including six copies of [[Duress]] to deal with control decks may seem tempting, but that could leave you with a handful of dead cards when you’re playing against aggressive decks.
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Keep your mana curve in mind: When constructing a sideboard, you want to make sure you have enough mana curve options that you can deploy them when needed. Avoid choosing too many high-cost cards, as they may not be practical to cast when you need them in Brawl matches.
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Consider your primary decklist when constructing a sideboard: Your sideboard should complement your main decklist. Try to pick cards that have synergy with your primary deck instead of removing cards that don’t fit the gameplay. That way, you can swap out cards that are weak in specific matchups rather than core cards of your deck.
4. Test your sideboard
The last step before you jump into the game with your Brawl sideboard is to test it to make sure it’s balanced, versatile, and helps you counter your opponent’s strategy. Playtesting is essential as it allows you to fix any oversights. You want your sideboard to be reliable, so playing a few games with your sideboard against various decks can help you tweak and improve it until you get the desired outcome.
| Card Name | Reason For Inclusion |
|---|---|
| [[Lava Coil]] | Deals with small creatures, especially those with recursion like [[Dreadhorde Butcher]] |
| [[Sorcerous Spyglass]] | Can shut down powerful cards such as [[Teferi, Time Raveler]] or [[Ugin, the Spirit Dragon]] |
| [[Negate]] | Counters spells from control decks or instant spell effects, powerful against planeswalkers with non-loyalty abilities |
| [[Soul-Guide Lantern]] | Disrupts graveyard synergies, especially in graveyard-based decks like [[Meren of Clan Nel Toth]] |
By following these steps, you should be well on your way to constructing a successful Brawl sideboard. Remember, the key to success in Magic: The Gathering is often about finding the right balance between flexibility and strength, so with this philosophy in mind, your sideboard will help you overcome difficult matchups and increase your overall win rate.
Using a Sideboard to Improve Gameplay
Sideboards are a crucial component of any competitive Magic: The Gathering deck, including those used in Brawl. A sideboard allows players to switch out cards from their main deck between games in a match. Here are five ways in which using a sideboard can improve your gameplay:
- Adjusting to Your Opponent – A skilled player will use their sideboard to add or remove cards that are particularly effective or ineffective against their opponent’s deck. For example, if your opponent is playing a heavy creature deck, it may be wise to sideboard in cards like board wipes, removal spells, or counterspells that can deal with those creatures.
- Maximizing Consistency – A sideboard can be used to fine-tune your deck’s strategy by adding cards that help it operate more smoothly. This could include cards that provide card draw, fill gaps in your curve, or remove cards that are underperforming.
- Reacting to the Meta – As the metagame shifts, so should your sideboard. If a particular deck becomes extremely popular, you may want to add cards that specifically target that archetype. Additionally, if certain cards or strategies become prevalent in the meta, it may be wise to sideboard in cards that can deal with those threats.
- Bettering Your Odds in Game 2 and 3 – Since Brawl consists of a best-of-three match, having a sideboard allows you to better prepare for games 2 and 3. By swapping out cards that may be less effective in certain situations, you can improve your odds of winning the match as a whole.
- Providing Answers to Problematic Cards – Some cards in Brawl can be incredibly difficult to deal with. A sideboard can be used to add specific answers to those cards, such as counter spells, artifact or enchantment removal, or even graveyard hate.
Examples of Effective Sideboarding in Brawl
Here are a few examples of how a sideboard might be used in Brawl:
| Deck Archetype | Game 1 | Sideboard |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Win through card advantage and removal spells. | Add creature removal, counterspells, or board wipes to deal with opponent’s creature-heavy sideboard. |
| Combo | Win through assembling a powerful combo of cards. | Add more tutors or protection spells to help you find and protect the combo pieces. |
| Aggro | Win through fast, aggressive creatures and damage. | Add more cheap removal or board wipes to deal with opposing control or midrange strategies. |
By incorporating a sideboard into your Brawl deck, you can improve your chances of winning any match by adapting to your opponent, maximizing your deck’s consistency, reacting to the meta, and providing answers to difficult cards. Take the time to plan out your sideboard carefully and you’ll find your victories increasing in number in no time!
Sideboard strategies for Brawl tournaments
Sideboarding is an important aspect of competitive Brawl tournaments. In this format, players bring a 60-card deck with a designated commander and 59 other cards. However, players are also allowed to have a 15-card sideboard that they can swap with their main deck in between games of a match.
Sideboard strategies can vary greatly depending on the player’s deck and the meta of the tournament. Here are 6 important strategies that can help players make the most of their sideboard:
- Answer specific threats: Have a plan for dealing with specific cards or archetypes that you may encounter in the meta. This can include adding removal spells or cards that counter certain strategies.
- Transform your deck: Consider adding cards to your sideboard that can change the focus of your deck, especially if your opponent has a strong strategy that your deck may struggle with. For example, adding cards that focus more on control or aggro depending on the matchup.
- Improve your mana base: A better mana base can be crucial in Brawl, and having a sideboard that includes dual lands or other useful mana-fixing cards can greatly improve your chances of success.
- Adjust to the opponent’s strategy: If you know your opponent’s deck, you can tailor your sideboard to better counter their strategy. This can include adding cards that specifically target their creatures or specific spells.
- Prepare for specific matchups: Certain decks or archetypes may be more common in certain types of tournaments, and players should consider building sideboards that are prepared for those matchups. For example, if you know there will be a lot of aggro decks, adding more board wipes to your sideboard can be helpful.
- Don’t forget about artifact and enchantment removal: In Brawl, there are many powerful artifacts and enchantments that can swing games in the opponent’s favor. Having a few sideboard cards that can deal with these can be incredibly useful, especially if you are struggling to deal with certain cards in game one.
Sideboard example for a Teysa Karlov Brawl deck
As an example, let’s say that you are playing a Brawl deck with Teysa Karlov as your commander. Here’s one possible sideboard strategy:
| Card Name | Reason for inclusion |
|---|---|
| Cry of the Carnarium | A board wipe that also exiles creatures, which can be crucial against certain decks. |
| Mortify | A versatile removal spell that can also deal with troublesome enchantments. |
| Duress | A discard spell that can help disrupt your opponent’s plans. |
| Kaya’s Wrath | Another powerful board wipe that can deal with planeswalkers as well. |
| Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord | A planeswalker that can help you gain life and bring back creatures from your graveyard. |
In this example, we’re focused on improving the deck’s removal capabilities and board wipes, as well as adding some disruptive elements and lifegain. Depending on the tournament meta, this sideboard could be adjusted to better counter specific decks or strategies.
Sideboard options for specific Brawl decks
In Brawl, having a sideboard can be helpful to switch up your strategy or adapt to your opponent’s deck. Let’s take a look at some sideboard options to consider for specific Brawl decks.
- Teferi, Hero of Dominaria: Against aggressive decks, consider adding more board wipes like Cleansing Nova or Settle the Wreckage. In control mirror matches, add more counterspells like Negate.
- Kethis, the Hidden Hand: Against aggro decks, add removal spells like Maelstrom Pulse or Assassin’s Trophy. Against control decks, add more card draw spells like The Immortal Sun.
- Ajani, Strength of the Pride: Against control decks, add more threats like Tolsimir, Friend to Wolves or Biogenic Ooze. Against midrange decks, add more removal spells like Prison Realm or Conclave Tribunal.
Sideboard Options for Artifacts Matter Decks
Artifacts matter decks often rely on synergistic interactions, and a sideboard can help shore up their weaknesses and give them an edge in specific matchups.
Some sideboard options for artifact decks include:
- Nature’s Claim: A green instant that destroys an artifact or enchantment at instant speed.
- Stony Silence: A white enchantment that prevents activated abilities of artifacts. This can be powerful against decks that rely heavily on artifact synergy.
- Tormod’s Crypt: A colorless artifact that allows you to exile all cards from a target player’s graveyard, which can be effective against graveyard-based strategies.
Sideboard options for Red Aggro Decks
Red aggro decks rely on fast and efficient creatures to deal damage quickly, but they can struggle against decks with a lot of removal or life gain.
Some sideboard options for red aggro decks include:
- Lava Coil: A red instant that deals 4 damage to a creature and exiles it if it would die this turn. This can be effective against decks with creatures that have high toughness.
- Leyline of Punishment: A red enchantment that prevents players from gaining life. This can be a powerful sideboard option against control decks or decks with a lot of life gain.
- Sorcerous Spyglass: A colorless artifact that allows you to name a card and prevent its activated abilities from being activated. This can be effective against powerful planeswalkers or other problematic non-creature permanents.
Sideboard options for Blue Control Decks
Blue control decks rely on countermagic and removal spells to answer their opponent’s threats and protect their own win conditions. In certain matchups, they may need a few specific tools to survive and come out ahead.
| Card | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Negate | counters non-creature spells, specifically opponents’ planeswalkers which can disrupt the strategy and board. |
| Aetherspouts | punishes aggression by bouncing the entire board leaving the opponent defenseless. Best used when your opponent commits multiple creatures to the board. |
| Disdainful Stroke | counters creatures with a converted mana cost of 4 or greater. Quite useful board against any decks that runs fatties like Hydroid Krasis, God-Eternal Oketra or Carnage Tyrant. |
By keeping a sideboard handy and adjusting the cards within it, you can give yourself an advantage over your opponents and stay competitive in the ever-changing world of Brawl.
Can You Have a Sideboard in Brawl?
Q: What is Brawl?
A: Brawl is a Magic: The Gathering format that allows players to build decks with a minimum of 60 cards, including one legendary creature or planeswalker as a commander.
Q: What is a sideboard?
A: A sideboard is a separate set of up to 15 cards that a player can swap in and out of their main deck between games in a match.
Q: Can you have a sideboard in Brawl?
A: No, sideboards are not allowed in Brawl. This is because the format is designed to be more casual and accessible, and sideboards can make the game more complicated.
Q: Why would someone want to use a sideboard in Brawl?
A: Some players may want to use a sideboard in Brawl to help them adjust their deck to better counter specific strategies or cards that they might face.
Q: Is there any way to adjust your deck in Brawl?
A: Yes, players can adjust their deck between games by including different cards in their main deck or by changing their commander.
Q: Why are sideboards important in other Magic formats?
A: Sideboards are important in other Magic formats because they allow players to adapt to different matchups and strategies that they may face in a tournament setting.
Q: Where can I play Brawl?
A: Brawl can be played online on Magic: The Gathering Arena or in person at your local game store.
Thanks for Reading!
We hope this article helped answer your questions about whether or not you can have a sideboard in Brawl. Remember, Brawl is a unique and fun format that is designed to be more casual and accessible, so don’t worry too much about adjusting your deck – just have fun! Be sure to visit our site again later for more Magic: The Gathering content.