The Art of Abusing Your Sideboard
Whether its Yugioh or Magic, in a match a proper sideboard is the difference between a win and a loss. A sideboard supports your decks faults and exploits your opponents decks weaknesses. It allows you to completely destroy your opponents deck. But to do this, you need to have built a correct sideboard. There are four important steps in building a sideboard.
No deck, no matter how good can overcome every deck that is out there. That is why your sideboard has to pick up the slack. Some duelists decks have nothing to counter Exodia or burn decks. Sure they have a heavy storm and maybe a dust tornado but thats a two out of forty card chance. I will list cards to use for certain decks at the end of the article. Now its important not to spread your sideboard to thin. This is why you should pick two or three deck types that give you the most trouble and sideboard for them. For me its, burn, Exodia and warriors. Others will have different problem decks but most will sideboards will share a few common cards.
Now certain cards in your sideboard are used for when you won your first game and your opponent will most likely play game two first. When your not going first most duelist will sideboard out there Confiscation, Forceful sentry and Trap Dustshoot (if you play that). The reason they side them out is that there are other cards you would rather play if your opponent goes first. Now unless your playing control, you would most likely want to sideboard these cards out. If you choose to side them out, replace them with a Nobleman of Crossout. This is because your opponent is most likely going to set a facedown monster first. Or your cold take those cards out for other cards to help deal with your opponents deck.
Picture this; your opponent is playing a good burn deck. He easily wins game one. But you dont mind since you have at least ten cards in your sideboard that could easily destroy his deck. Both you and your opponent sideboard for game two. Game two; you go first and set your anti-burn cards down. Three turns later, your opponent has beaten you down with what seems to be a beast deck. This is an example of a good abuse of a sideboard. If your playing a deck that your know most people have a sideboard for. Then you should have the anti-sideboard prepared for them. If your playing burn, Exodia and even theme decks like fiends and warriors, you might want to consider a sideboard that changes your deck type for game two. Why do this? Well for one, the look on your opponents face is priceless. And two, your opponent just put a bunch of useless cards in his deck. This is a huge advantage to you.
Ok, lets list some of the cards that can be used in a proper sideboard.
-Kinetic Soldier Anti Warrior.
-King Tiger Wanghu For decks that play a lot of monsters under 1400 atk and anti FTK decks.
-Royal Decree self-explanatory.
-Light of Intervention Combos with King Tiger for stall/weenie rush decks.
-Mobius The Frost Monarch Good for trap/spell heavy decks.
-Mataza the Zapper goes under gravity bind and other stall cards.
-D.D. Designator For Exodia.
-Jinzo If its not in your deck, it should be in your sideboard.
-Mystic Swordsman LV2 for stall decks.
-Getsu Fuhma If your playing warriors, good for anti fiend/zombie decks.
-Card Destruction For Exodia and decks that abuse restricted cards.
-Nobleman of Crossout - If its not in your deck, it should be in your sideboard.
-Soul Release If you cant afford D.D designators.
-Curse of Anubis Helps counter beast decks.
There are many more cards that could be used for you sideboard. Remember if you find a card that works better than one of these, put it in. And when playing friendly games, practice with your sideboarding skills.
Thanks for reading and happy dueling.
Peace, Dr.JuBi
Send Comments to: DrJuBi@hotmail.com