Welcome to the world of Pauper, where common cards take center stage in a format that celebrates the accessibility and depth of Magic: The Gathering. Among the diverse archetypes that thrive in Pauper, Affinity stands out as a relentless and explosive strategy.

This guide is your gateway into mastering the sideboard plan of the Affinity deck in Pauper, a fusion of artifact synergies and aggressive threats that can overwhelm opponents in the blink of an eye. Whether you’re a seasoned Pauper player or new to the format, this guide will provide insights into the deck’s composition, strategic considerations, and a sideboard guide to help you navigate the ever-shifting metagame.

First of, all is a sample Affinity decklist:

Affinity – Simone Gonnelli @ mtgtop8.com

Planning well-built sideboard games is crucial for adapting to different matchups. Here’s a short sideboard guide for the Affinity deck in Pauper:

Versus Aggro Decks

Aggro decks can be challenging, and having access to cheap removal and sweepers is essential. Consider adjusting your curve to be more aggressive. More so, Mono Red would be your hardest matchup as they are also fast in swarming the board with cheap creatures backed up by burn spells. The recommended card is the Crimson Acolyte which it has protection from Red and can also protect your other relevant creatures. Cheap removals such as Electrickery can also work against token swarm strategies, while for the mirror, Disenchant effects let destroy a creature threat at instant speed.

Versus Control Decks

Control decks often run counterspells and removal. Bring in counterspells of your own or spells to protect your key threats and disrupt their game plan. Creatures like Standard Bearer also act as removal fodder for your opponent to deal with first.

Versus Midrange Decks

Handling a midrange deck matchup depends on the strategy of the opposing deck. Matchups can be grindy as they have a mix of creature threats and removals to deal with your board. Make sure to board in solid spot removals and even counterspells to make sure they would not be able to get ahead. Also, make sure of consistent and optimized plays as they can be relevant in the mid to late game.

Remember that sideboarding is not always straightforward, and it depends on the specific metagame you are facing. Adjustments may be necessary based on the prevalence of certain decks in your local or online environment. Regularly reassess and fine-tune your sideboard to stay competitive in the evolving Pauper metagame.