Mainboard (60)
Creatures (15)
Instants (20)
Planeswalkers (1)
Boros Energy floods the board with efficient creatures like Ocelot Pride and Guide of Souls, then leverages Goblin Bombardment and Phlage for reach. Post-board you lean into sweepers with Engineered Explosives and Toxic Deluge to punish their wide boards, while the second Kaito provides a must-answer threat that generates card advantage. Force of Negation is weak here since their threats are mostly creatures rather than noncreature spells, and Strategic Betrayal is too slow against their aggressive curve. Prioritize Fatal Push and Orcish Bowmasters early to contain Ragavan and Ocelot Pride, and save Counterspell for Seasoned Pyromancer or Phlage.
Jeskai Blink grinds through Ephemerate loops with Solitude and Phelia, generating massive card advantage while removing your threats. Mystical Dispute is excellent here, countering their key blue spells like Quantum Riddler and Ephemerate at a discount, while the second Kaito gives you a resilient threat that dodges Solitude. Toxic Deluge answers boards that have spiraled out of control from repeated blink triggers. Spell Snare is underwhelming since their most impactful cards cost three or more mana, and Cling to Dust does too little in a grindy matchup. Focus on resolving Psychic Frog early and protecting it with countermagic, as it can outpace their value engine if left unchecked.
Affinity leverages Mox Opal and cheap artifacts alongside Urza's Saga to create a powerful board, with Kappa Cannoneer and Pinnacle Emissary as resilient finishers. Engineered Explosives is your best card here, able to sweep tokens from Urza's Saga on zero or clean up their cheap artifacts on one. Toxic Deluge handles Kappa Cannoneer through its ward ability, and the second Kaito pressures them while providing card selection. Spell Snare misses most of their impactful cards since Mox Opal, Urza's Saga, and their payoffs don't line up well at two mana. Use Fatal Push and Orcish Bowmasters to contain their early development, and save countermagic for Kappa Cannoneer and Weapons Manufacturing.