Sideboard strategies for Oath

[dad]

I just did a search for 'Oath Sideboard' and found the subject to be a bit lacking.  I found lots of lists, but little discussion.  My question is given u/g Oath what is the best sideboard configuration.  I chose u/g because that is the version I prefer, so please keep in mind that this is not for Chalice Oath, or DOA Oath.

I am curious about what to use and why.  If you play the following decks:

Gifts Belcher
Stax
FCG
UW Fish
WTF
Dragon
Workshop Aggro
Oath
Control Slaver

What cards do you least want to see played?

Cards I am experimenting with include:

Crater Hellion for aggro, FCG
Morphling for fish, monoblue, mirror
Duplicant
Damping Matrix for Slaver, Stax, workshop aggro, Belcher (Does this bother fish?)
Energy Flux for Slaver, Stax, workshop aggro, Belcher
Back to Basics for Fish
Arcane Lab for TPS
Tormods Crypt for Dragon

also, please consider that it would be unusual for me to have more than three slots available to side in against any particular matchup.

 

[Ifflejink]

I'd think that either Iridescent Angel or Pristine Angel would work much better than Morphling, as neither of the angels require mana to activate their abilites.

[Machinus]

Pristine and Duplicant can both be good options depending on what kind of creatures you see. Against colossus.dec you want dupes, but against juggernauts or control you want pristine.

Energy flux and Arcane Lab can be good if you cast them early enough. Chalice is a great way to keep your opponent slowed down for the 1-2 turns you need to kill them.

[vartemis]

Most common sideboard is basically a rip from meandeck.

Ground Seal:  This is sided in vs dragon or anything with a welder. it also replaces itself in your hand.
Pristine and Iridescent Angel:  Good Against Control, as cant be targeted by anything.  I like Pristine better as it can be a blocker too.
Platinum Angel:  Cuz sometimes its just saves yer butt.
Arcane Lab:  Seals shuts down combo
Energy Flux:  limits workshop decks.

They also use control magic, but I find that those 2 slots are good for metagame decisions.
Back to Basics Is rather Dependant on your metagame.  More and more people are getting back to basic lands, so this card has often become useless to me.

I run 3 each of Ground seal, Arcane Lab and Energy flux to allow for inuitioning.

best of luck

j

[dad]

Actually, I tried both Pristine and Iridescent, which are good.  In testing, I found Morphling strong because I have tried siding out the Oaths in the mirror.  Also, they have been better for me against Fish, which can't deal with them.

Fish is so strong right now.  Definitely the flavor of the month.  I'm not sure what plays against them best, because their Damping Matrix shuts down both the Pris. Angel and Morphling (as well as Hydra).  Of all the decks, this is the toughest to side for.

[vartemis]

Hmm, must be a janky fish list if it is using damping matrix.  Usually they are using null rod or chalices.  Hydra is your best bet against them.  You could also try spike feeder.  With 2 oaths out you have an eternal fogger.  Ideally you should just ignore them.  Fish uses fetches, so they easily put themselves down to 18.  2 turns later they should be dead.  Save your counters for their creature removal, or an incoming Sword of Fire and Ice or Jitte, as those will hose you big time.  You should never side out all your oaths in the mirror.  Your mirror match winner is wastelands.  Whoever wins the wasteland war will likely win.  You can also side out 1 oath and an AK for the 2 control magics (if you have them in the sideboard).

j

[Lajiskin]

Good cards for the oath mirror, except the ones that are stated above, are claws of gix and the most annoying one: summoning station. IMO they are much better than trying to win the wasteland/orchard war.
Pristine Angel is a lot better than morphling, having your mana open to counter and play spells and not using it on morphling's abilities.