Catalogue
Control
The Control matchup is generally favored for Kirin because of how effective Armageddon is against them; against Counterspell decks, Ranger-Captain of Eos is your best friend. Vial is also good, but it’s a priority target for their Prismatic Endings and is often stolen with Archmage’s Charm, so it isn’t that reliable. In these matchups, you should play out lands instead of holding them to ensure you can cast multiple spells in the same turn; this is a common tactic to overload counterspells.
Veil of Summer in the sideboard swings these matchups further in our favor. It isn’t absolutely necessary to win, but it is certainly your best sideboard card against control decks.
UWx
| 55-45
I think the UW Control matchup is only slightly favored because they play a full playset of Solitude, which gives them a way to stabilize when they’re on limited mana. Bant Control plays Ice-Fang Coatl and On Thin Ice, which are less good against us, but still has the Solitudes. Against these control decks, I try to prioritize getting a Giver of Runes to stick whenever possible to fight against the free removal.
Some UWx decks play Dress Down in their sideboard, which is something to keep in mind. I recommend playing Gaddock Teeg in your own sideboard for these matchups as he prevents Prismatic Ending, Supreme Verdict, and Teferi, Hero of Dominaria from being cast.
In: 3 Lavinia, Azorius Renegade, 2 Phyrexian Revoker, 1 Sanctum Prelate
Out: 1 Oust, 1 Prismatic Ending, 2 Solitude, 2 Skyclave Apparition
Recs: Veil of Summer, Gaddock Teeg, Deputy of Detention
UBx
| 60-40
More graveyard-reliant control decks like Esper are better matchups than UW because we have Rest in Peace to stop Drown in the Loch and Snapcaster Mage. Depending on the build, they may have higher numbers of Dress Down and/or Thoughtseize in the sideboard, but to my knowledge they don’t usually play Solitude.
In: 3 Rest in Peace, 2 Phyrexian Revoker, 1 Sanctum Prelate
Out: 1 Oust, 1 Prismatic Ending, 2 Solitude, 2 Skyclave Apparition
Recs: Veil of Summer, Gaddock Teeg
Blue Moon
| 55-45
Against Blue Moon, you should be very wary of Murktide Regent and Blood Moon. Bring in Rest in Peace for Murktide, Snapcaster, Memory Deluge and one or two Cathars for additional answers to Murktide.
Normally you’d cut Solitude to make room for these sideboard cards, but since this deck plays Murktide as its main finisher, it’s better to keep it in the deck. I choose to trim an Ugin’s Conjurant in its place because the game is likely to go longer and multiples of Conjurant aren’t as useful against Archmage’s Charm decks.
In: 2 Rest in Peace, 2 Burrenton Forge-Tender, 1 Sanctum Prelate, 1-2 Brutal Cathar
Out: 1 Oust, 1 Prismatic Ending, 1 Ugin’s Conjurant, 4 Skyclave Apparition
Recs: Veil of Summer
Jeskai Lotus Field
| 60-40
I’m not sure how popular this deck actually is, but I’ve played against it before and I think it’s an interesting matchup so I’ll go over it anyway. This control deck abuses the interaction between Blood Sun and Lotus Field (which comes in untapped without the sac trigger if a Blood Sun is in play) to go way over the top of its opponents with mana and card advantage. It plays a set of both Fury and Solitude to supplement its plan with efficient early-game interaction and late-game value.
I think that despite its high elemental count, this deck’s reliance on its lands and general susceptibility to Lavinia makes it a good matchup. However, its raw power is nothing to be scoffed at, and if a Blood Sun sticks around post-Armageddon they are able to claw their way back using Lotus Field.
In: 2 Burrenton Forge-Tender, 3 Lavinia, Azorius Renegade, 2 Phyrexian Revoker, 1 Sanctum Prelate
Out: 1 Oust, 1 Prismatic Ending, 2 Solitude, 4 Skyclave Apparition
Recs: Veil of Summer, Gaddock Teeg
Lantern Control
| 60-40
This matchup is favored because we have a lot of noncreature permanent answers and the Kirin combo for Urza’s Saga. Gameplay can get pretty tricky in the mid-game, and it would take me a while to write down every little detail, but the biggest two are these:
- If you’re under Lantern of Insight surveillance, leave your fetches uncracked if you can. This gives you more opportunities to manipulate your own draw step and possibly force them to crack the Lantern.
- This is very situational, but it’s occasionally good to aggressively sac Ranger-Captains to prevent them from casting Ensnaring Bridge, mill rocks, or discard for a turn. Keep that line in mind when you have one on board.
In: 2 Phyrexian Revoker, 1 Prismatic Ending, 1 Sanctum Prelate, 1 Knight of Autumn, 2 Brutal Cathar
Out: 4 Aether Vial, 1 Oust, 2 Solitude
Recs: Veil of Summer, Prismatic Ending, Gaddock Teeg (if playing Whir of Invention)
Next: Ramp
