• STORE
  • EVENTS
  • ARTICLES
  • DECKS
  • BUYLIST
  • HELP
  • GAME CENTER
  • NEWSLETTER
Advanced Search
Deck Builder
  • LOGIN /
     REGISTER
  • CART
    #
  • WISH
    LIST
  • Magic Singles
    • English
    • Foil English
    • Non-English
    • Foil Non-English
    • Scanned & Graded Cards
    • Misprints and Rarities
    • Wholesale Lots
  • Magic Sealed Product
    • Booster Boxes
    • Booster Packs
    • Box Sets
    • Bundles & Fat Packs
    • Duel Decks
    • Introductory Products
    • Multiplayer Products
    • Non-English Products
    • Tournament/Starter Packs
  • Gaming Supplies
    • Ultimate Guard®
    • Apparel
    • Binders
    • Books & Fat Pack Guides
    • Boxes & Bags
    • Clothing
    • Collectibles
    • Deck Boxes
    • Life Counters & Dice
    • Miscellaneous
    • Playmats
    • Sleeves
  • Specialty Items
    • Creature Collection
    • Gift Cards
    • Lithographs
    • Next Level Library
  • Digital Products
    • Complete Commander
    • Next Level Library
    • OMG: Official Miser's Guide
    • Tha Gatherin'
  • We Buy

How To Sideboard With Bant Heroic

Tom Ross
8/20/15
#Premium  #Standard 
  •  

Chris VanMeter, Todd Anderson, and I all played Bant Heroic at Grand Prix London this past weekend. I finished thirtieth place at 12-3 while Todd nabbed fifteenth with the same record. CVM had an unfortunately high mulligan rate and thus had a Sunday full of relaxing and drafting.

I was very close to playing Brian Braun-Duin's Abzan Hangarback deck for Grand Prix London, but I ended up sticking to my guns. While Bant Heroic and its cousins W/U Heroic and Jeskai Heroic are known quantities in the United States and specifically the Open Series, in Europe I expect Heroic decks to be less popular and thus for people to have less experience playing against it. Overall, I like my decision and don't believe that playing Abzan Hangarback would have netted me any more match wins than I got.

I do feel, though, that Abzan Hangarback is the clear-cut best deck in the format right now in terms of individual card power level, good synergies that you don't have to work hard for, and ease of play.

As for Bant Heroic, this is what I'd play moving forward, and possibly for the Season Three Invitational in New Jersey in a few weeks. It differs from the version I played in London by the following sideboard cards:

In:

Valorous+Stance Glare+of+Heresy Disdainful+Stroke

Out:

Encase+in+Ice Negate Erase
Bant Heroic
Tom Ross
0th Place at Test deck on 0/0/0000
Standard
 

Creatures (17)

  • 2 Hangarback Walker
  • 4 Favored Hoplite
  • 4 Hero of Iroas
  • 2 Lagonna-Band Trailblazer
  • 1 Monastery Mentor
  • 4 Seeker of the Way

Lands (22)

  • 1 Forest
  • 1 Island
  • 3 Plains
  • 4 Flooded Strand
  • 3 Mana Confluence
  • 3 Temple of Enlightenment
  • 2 Temple of Plenty
  • 4 Windswept Heath
  • 1 Yavimaya Coast

Spells (21)

  • 4 Ordeal of Thassa
  • 4 Defiant Strike
  • 4 Dromoka's Command
  • 4 Gods Willing
  • 1 Triton Tactics
  • 2 Valorous Stance
  • 2 Treasure Cruise

    Sideboard

  • 1 Hangarback Walker
  • 1 Lagonna-Band Trailblazer
  • 1 Stratus Dancer
  • 3 Aqueous Form
  • 2 Ordeal of Heliod
  • 2 Disdainful Stroke
  • 1 Valorous Stance
  • 1 Glare of Heresy
  • 1 Revoke Existence
  • 1 Treasure Cruise
  • 1 Island
 
 


General Sideboarding

Triton Tactics is a card that keeps people honest. Most of your tricks are white and usually your opponent has the green light to do whatever if you're tapped down to a single Island. Getting somebody with a Triton's Tactics sends a message that's hard to forget. With that said, consider sideboarding it out once you play it against somebody as it gets weaker once they get burned by it.

I tend to sideboard out lands now and then. This isn't a widespread practice in Constructed at all, but is something that I feel should become commonplace. Of course, sometimes you'll miss a critical land drop and can blame it on the land you sideboarded out, but in the grand scheme of things decks will match up better as both decks will have more interactive cards and games won't be runaways. When cards exchange one-for-one more, the risk of flooding out becomes higher.

When to sideboard out lands:

  • When you want to be spell dense. This happens against Thoughtseize and Duress.
  • When you're on the draw.
  • When your opponent can't win before like turn ten.

The Revoke Existence should come in when you have at least six targets for it. Just four opposing Hangarback Walkers won't cut it. It'll just be a dead card too often.

On to the matchups!

VS Mono-Red Aggro

Out:

Treasure+Cruise Treasure+Cruise Valorous+Stance Valorous+Stance Monastery+Mentor Mana+Confluence

In:

Lagonna-Band+Trailblazer Ordeal+of+Heliod Ordeal+of+Heliod Hangarback+Walker Stratus+Dancer Island

The number of Mono-Red Aggro players has been steadily dwindling since Pro Tour Magic Origins, but people will continue to play it regardless of whether or not it's well-positioned. Basically you sideboard out your slower cards for faster ones. Play defense until you turn the corner. This may mean not dealing four damage in order to save two damage or something similar that you'd usually do. When you win, you win by a landslide. Favored Hoplite is your MVP and its damage prevention clause comes up a ton while blocking and with Defiant Strike.

VS G/R Devotion

Out:

Hangarback+Walker Hangarback+Walker Treasure+Cruise Seeker+of+the+Way Seeker+of+the+Way Lagonna-Band+Trailblazer

In:

Aqueous+Form Aqueous+Form Aqueous+Form Disdainful+Stroke Disdainful+Stroke Valorous+Stance

Certainly on the decline but undoubtedly powerful, G/R Devotion and other Devotion strategies are exactly what Bant Heroic preys on. Their main line of defense is blocking and Aqueous Form makes sure that that doesn't happen. Whisperwood Elemental is their best card against you as you don't have many great ways to kill it and the colorless Manifests get in the way of Gods Willing sending a creature through unimpeded. Ugin, the Spirit Dragon is the number-one way you lose this matchup, so don't get too fancy trying to play around a bunch of stuff. Keep them off of eight mana if you can, especially when you don't have a Disdainful Stroke.

VS Esper Dragons

Out:

Seeker+of+the+Way Seeker+of+the+Way Seeker+of+the+Way Forest
Dromoka%27s+Command Dromoka%27s+Command Dromoka%27s+Command Dromoka%27s+Command

In:

Treasure+Cruise Disdainful+Stroke Disdainful+Stroke Island
Stratus+Dancer Valorous+Stance Hangarback+Walker Lagonna-Band+Trailblazer

Esper Dragons is another deck that has a tough time against Hangarback Walker, as it makes their removal spells look pretty foolish. One of the payoff cards for your Dragon dedication is Foul-Tongue Invocation, which matches up extremely poorly with Hangarback Walker. Foul-Tongue Invocation and similar sacrifice effects are weak in Standard right now, which is one reason why Bant Heroic is positioned fairly well right now. Again, watch out for Ugin, the Spirit Dragon and try to put enough pressure on them before they get to eight mana.

VS Abzan Hangarback

Out:

Hangarback+Walker Hangarback+Walker Dromoka%27s+Command Dromoka%27s+Command

In:

Glare+of+Heresy Aqueous+Form Aqueous+Form Aqueous+Form

There is no great way to fight this deck. Their creatures and spells are both strong and Hangarbacks can be a pain to punch through in game one. Anafenza, the Foremost makes your Hangarback Walkers weak, so they come out here. If they have any other enchantments or artifacts, like Courser of Kruphix or Herald of Torment, consider bringing in Revoke Existence as well.

VS G/W Megamorph

Out:

Treasure+Cruise Lagonna-Band+Trailblazer Valorous+Stance Valorous+Stance

In:

Glare+of+Heresy Aqueous+Form Aqueous+Form Aqueous+Form

A touch better of a matchup than Abzan Hangarback, this is the previous iteration of the Dromoka's Command + good creatures deck that Abzan Hangarback essentially became. The player base of the two decks is about the same, and I expect most players to move on to the Abzan version now. Be wary of Collected Company and a bestowed Boon Satyr when they pass with four or five mana up and adjust your attacks accordingly.

VS Abzan Control

Out:

Seeker+of+the+Way Seeker+of+the+Way Seeker+of+the+Way Seeker+of+the+Way
Gods+Willing Gods+Willing Dromoka%27s+Command

In:

Treasure+Cruise Disdainful+Stroke Disdainful+Stroke Stratus+Dancer
Valorous+Stance Hangarback+Walker Aqueous+Form

Heroic has traditionally been good against Abzan Control and it still is today. The movement from hard sweepers like End Hostilities and Crux of Fate to Languish has really helped Heroic, as we can often get a creature larger than four toughness. They have an Ugin or two after sideboard, so you really want to kill them before they hit eight mana even if that means overextending a tad.

VS Jeskai Midrange

Out:

Hangarback+Walker Ordeal+of+Thassa Valorous+Stance Valorous+Stance

In:

Aqueous+Form Ordeal+of+Heliod Ordeal+of+Heliod Glare+of+Heresy

Jeskai Midrange is the deck that knocked me out of Top Eight contention at Grand Prix London. Mantis Rider is extremely well-positioned right now in a field that heavily relies on blocking on the ground and Valorous Stance, Dromoka's Command, and Ultimate Price for removal. From the Heroic perspective, you need to somehow not walk into Anger of the Gods, Tragic Arrogance or Ojutai's Command, all while not letting them run away with Jace, Vyrn's Prodigy, Dig Through Time, or Soulfire Grand Master rebuying cards. Bounce spells sting a lot, and you have to hope they aren't packing many Jeskai Charms. Dromoka's Command sucks against them, but are a necessary card since Jace can outright beat you.

VS U/R Sphinx's Tutelage

Out:

Valorous+Stance Valorous+Stance

In:

Revoke+Existence Stratus+Dancer Disdainful+Stroke Disdainful+Stroke
Lagonna-Band+Trailblazer Treasure+Cruise Hangarback+Walker Island

Here we're sideboarding up to 66 cards, which is 2-3 Sphinx's Tutelage triggers. Hangarback Walker is weak against Anger of the Gods but strong against most other removal as a turn-two play. There is a slight risk of drawing less powerful cards or not enough lands, but I feel those concerns are low compared to possibly getting an entire extra turn by increasing your deck size.

VS U/R Thopters

Out:

Hangarback+Walker Hangarback+Walker Treasure+Cruise Treasure+Cruise
Gods+Willing Gods+Willing Gods+Willing Gods+Willing

In:

Revoke+Existence Ordeal+of+Heliod Ordeal+of+Heliod Valorous+Stance
Aqueous+Form Aqueous+Form Aqueous+Form Lagonna-Band+Trailblazer

I believe this matchup is unfavorable. I also think that U/R Thopter players aren't exactly excited to play against Bant Heroic either. They have a lot of fliers and evasion with Whirler Rogue making your Hangarback Walkers very poor at blocking. Treasure Cruise is too slow and they tend to go around your permanents, so stuff doesn't trade off very much. Gods Willing doesn't push through Thopters and they aren't targeting your creatures with much.

VS Abzan Constellation

Out:

Hangarback+Walker Hangarback+Walker Valorous+Stance

In:

Revoke+Existence Disdainful+Stroke Disdainful+Stroke

Abzan Constellation is a deck that really gets hurt by the uptick in Dromoka's Commands running around. Silkwrap and Banishing Light really do a number on your Hangarback Walkers, and even resetting your Heroic creature will set you miles back. Their spells are expensive and clunky and they don't actually have that many removal spells, making this a matchup you shouldn't be upset to be paired against.

VS Bant Heroic

Out:

Gods+Willing Gods+Willing Gods+Willing Gods+Willing
Lagonna-Band+Trailblazer Lagonna-Band+Trailblazer Treasure+Cruise Seeker+of+the+Way

In:

Hangarback+Walker Stratus+Dancer Valorous+Stance Glare+of+Heresy
Ordeal+of+Heliod Ordeal+of+Heliod Aqueous+Form Aqueous+Form

Both players have some low amount of removal and are very aware that Gods Willing exists. It's foolish to cast Glare of Heresy or Valorous Stance into open mana because you have to respect Gods Willing to the point that it's better to not even have it as it'll just be played around anyway. Hangarback Walker prevents Gods Willing from pushing an attacker through, and Aqueous Form is just better in the matchup anyway. We also load up on Ordeal of Heliod as the player with the biggest creature in play tends to win the game in the mirror.

Conclusion

For me, Bant Heroic is fun. It's a challenge to pilot and I often feel like I'm one misstep away from everything crumbling away and getting blown out. When it wins, it feels like a Legacy deck. When it loses, it's basically a limited deck full of Yoked Oxen and Glory Seekers.

Hopefully the insight into how I sideboard will help those who choose to jump on the rollercoaster ride that I've been on the last few months. Tickets expire next month, so hop on while there's still time!

Or don't worry about getting ahold of a mostly Theros Block deck just moments before it rotates, I won't blame you.

  •  
#Premium  #Standard 
« Previous Article
Daily Digest: The Legion Of Doom
Next Article »
An American Dragon-Lover In London

About Tom Ross

Tom Ross is best known for his expertise building aggressive decks. The Boss had three consecutive SCG Invitational Top 8s in 2014, including back-to-back wins in during Season Two in Columbus and Season Three in New Jersey, along with four Grand Prix Top 8s and a Sunday appearance at Pro Tour Honolulu.

@Boss_MTG Twitter
TomRossMTG Facebook
BossMTG Twitch
Read more by Tom Ross


ORGANIZED PLAY
  • THIS WEEK
  • NEXT WEEK
  • +
  • THIS Saturday, April 28
  • Atlanta OPEN
  • IQ Danbury, CT - Gamers Gambit
  • IQ Frederick, MD - Tournament City Games
  • THIS Sunday, April 29
  • Atlanta OPEN
  • Atlanta Modern CLASSIC
  • Atlanta Standard CLASSIC
  • Atlanta Legacy CLASSIC
  • IQ+ New Holland, PA - Six Feet Under Games
  • IQ Newington, CT - Tabletop Shop
  • Saturday, May 5
  • Baltimore OPEN
  • Sunday, May 6
  • Baltimore OPEN
  • Baltimore Modern CLASSIC
  • Baltimore Standard CLASSIC
  • Baltimore Legacy CLASSIC

SCG TOUR ® EVENTS

  • Apr 28 - 29: Atlanta OPEN
  • Apr 29 : Atlanta Modern CLASSIC
  • Apr 29 : Atlanta Standard CLASSIC
  • Apr 29 : Atlanta Legacy CLASSIC
  • May 5 - 6: Baltimore OPEN
  • May 6 : Baltimore Modern CLASSIC
  • May 6 : Baltimore Standard CLASSIC
  • May 6 : Baltimore Legacy CLASSIC
  • May 19 - 20: Louisville OPEN
  • May 20 : Louisville Modern CLASSIC

  • Complete SCG Tour® Schedule | Coverage Archive
1 CALEB W SCHERER 175
2 BENJAMIN NIKOLICH 169
3 JONATHAN ROSUM 167
4 JIM I DAVIS 156
5 TODD STEVENS 148
6 DANNY JESSUP 147
7 ZAN SYED 143
8 DYLAN DONEGAN 141
9 COLLINS MULLEN 130
10 PIETER TUBERGEN 125
11 BRENNAN M DECANDIO 118
12 ANDREW JESSUP 105
13 KEVIN JONES 102
14 JODY M KEITH 97
15 KAZU NEGRI 96
16 JULIAN JOHN 95
DECKLISTS
  • STANDARD
  • MODERN
  • LEGACY
  • 4/07 Invi Qualifier Durham, US
  • 4/07 Grand Prix Seattle, US
  • 3/25 SCG Classic Cincinnati, US
  • 3/24 Grand Prix Kyoto, JP
  • 3/24 SCG Team Open Cincinnati, US
  • 3/10 Grand Prix Madrid, ES
  • 3/10 SCG Classic Dallas, US
  • 2/24 Grand Prix Memphis, US
  • 2/18 Invi Qualifier Medford, US
  • 2/18 SCG Classic Indianapolis, US
  • 2/10 Invi Qualifier Glassboro, US
  • 2/03 Preliminary PTQ Roanoke, US
  • 1/28 SCG Classic Philadelphia, US
  • 1/27 SCG Team Open Philadelphia, US
  • 1/21 SCG Classic Dallas, US
  • 1/20 SCG Team Open Dallas, US
  • 1/06 Grand Prix Santa Clara, US
  • 12/17 Invi Qualifier Clarksville, US
  • 12/16 Invi Qualifier Port Charlotte, US
  • 12/03 SCG Classic Roanoke, US
View More Standard Decks - Search Decklists
  • 4/15 Invi Qualifier Cary, US
  • 4/15 Invi Qualifier Niles, US
  • 4/14 Invi Qualifier Moore, US
  • 4/14 Invi Qualifier Columbia, US
  • 4/14 Invi Qualifier Roanoke, US
  • 4/14 Grand Prix Hartford, US
  • 4/14 Invi Qualifier Columbia, US
  • 4/14 Grand Prix Sydney, AU
  • 4/08 Invi Qualifier Bernardsville, US
  • 4/08 Invi Qualifier Falls Church, US
  • 4/08 SCG Classic Milwaukee, US
  • 4/07 Invi Qualifier Denton, US
  • 4/07 Invi Qualifier Lexington, US
  • 4/07 Invi Qualifier Kingsport, US
  • 4/07 Invi Qualifier Toronto, US
  • 4/07 Invi Qualifier Glassboro, US
  • 4/07 SCG Modern Open Milwaukee, US
  • 3/31 Invi Qualifier Bernardsville, US
  • 3/25 Invi Qualifier Middletown, US
  • 3/25 Invi Qualifier Falls Church, US
View More Modern Decks - Search Decklists
  • 4/08 SCG Classic Milwaukee, US
  • 4/06 Grand Prix Seattle, US
  • 3/25 SCG Classic Cincinnati, US
  • 3/24 Grand Prix Kyoto, JP
  • 3/24 SCG Team Open Cincinnati, US
  • 3/10 Grand Prix Madrid, ES
  • 3/04 SCG Classic Worcester, US
  • 3/03 SCG Open Worcester, US
  • 1/28 SCG Classic Philadelphia, US
  • 1/27 Invi Qualifier Columbia, US
  • 1/27 SCG Team Open Philadelphia, US
  • 1/21 SCG Classic Dallas, US
  • 1/20 SCG Team Open Dallas, US
  • 1/07 SCG Classic Columbus, US
  • 1/06 Grand Prix Santa Clara, US
  • 11/19 SCG Classic Baltimore, US
  • 11/18 SCG Team Open Baltimore, US
  • 10/29 SCG Classic Washington, US
  • 10/28 SCG Open Washington, US
  • 10/22 Invi Qualifier Bristol, US
View More Legacy Decks - Search Decklists

 

Connect with us

Join our newsletter to receive exclusive content, sale notifications, and more!

Need help?
Contact Us
Help Center
Organized Play
SCG Tour
Schedule
Leaderboard
Coverage
Coverage Archives
In-Store Programs
Invitational Qualifiers
Game Night
Prerelease Playmats
Organizers
StarCityGames.com
About Us
Careers
Game Center
5728 Williamson Road NW

Roanoke, VA 24012


© 2018 StarCityGames.com®
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Statement | Refund & Return Policy