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Boros Energy Play Notes

This is the first article in a series on Boros Energy.

Last updated: 2026-02-01

My current list.

Relatively normal list. Notes on some choices:

The maybeboard contains:

Daniel Toledo has posted a sideboard cheat sheet which mostly applies here with a few substitutions:

Lines to Win

Energy is an aggro deck and plan A is to win fast.

Typical aggro lines:

Goblin Bombardment is both one half of the combo with Ajani and a potential finisher. (It's also a great sac outlet.)

Plan B against multi-colored, non-red decks is Ragavan + Blood Moon. Treasure tokens provide mana and if Ragavan connects, he can ramp into a turn 2 Blood Moon.

Plan C in grindy matchups is the Seasoned Pyromancer. Don't forget to use its ability from the graveyard.

I have a section on the combat math in my modern meta notes.

General Strategy

Against combo decks, use interaction only to hit combo pieces. This means mainly Static Prison and/or Mana Tithe and maybe Thraben Charm or Galvanic Discharge if applicable.

Against midrange and control, try to go fast with Ragavan or Ajani + Bombardment. But do not play too many threats. Instead, bait interaction leading with weaker threats and offering bad trades. If they let a weaker threat stick, then save the stronger threat to potentially rebuild. Use interaction to hit lock-up pieces (e.g. Narset, Parter of Veils or Teferi, Time Raveler).

For other aggro, lean into lifegain with Phlage and Guide of Souls. Use interaction to clear the way for Ragavan.

Against big mana decks, lean into land hate and try to win quickly. Cut slow cards post-board for more land hate.

Misc Play Tips

Matchups

Notes specific to Energy. Probably not as complete or up-to-date as the notes on modern meta.

Mirror

Last updated: 2025-12-01

Wait, was the point of the Fable to be the Mirror-Breaker? And where the hell is Bouba's reflection?

Our main problems are Arena+Phlage, a Ragavan on the play and board wipes like Wrath of the Skies. Our main strengths are Arena+Phlage, a Ragavan on the play and board wipes like Wrath of the Skies.

The swaps:

Additionally, on the draw:

Other matchup notes:

Red Burn

Last updated: 2025-12-01

Example list

Matchup favors Boros, I think.

This match looks to be a race. Life gain is as good as damage, because it increases the distance between us and the opponent. Creature removal is not dead, but I've played matches where the opponent only played 1-2 creatures and won.

Biggest problems:

Best cards in the matchup:

Swaps:

There's a right way to play Orim's Chant, which is to play it early and buy a turn. It's not easy to do it right.

UR Murktide

Last updated: 2025-12-01

Example list

UR Murktide's plan is to remove the biggest threats early game and then play the Murktide to end the game. They have ~16 answers to the Boros's 25 threats, and they can draw into them reliably with 12 card draw. The key is to force them into situations where they either accept a bad trade or end up not spending their mana and falling behind.

UR Murktide is not a control deck and wants to play early threats. You can slow that down by forcing them to keep mana up for a counterspell or removal. Play threats in twos: first the one you want to trade for their answer, forcing them to accept a bad trade or keep the mana open. If they don't counter, you've slowed them down. If they do answer, they've made a poor trade.

Strongest maindeck cards:

The biggest problems:

Swaps:

Neoform

Last updated: 2025-12-03

Example list

Nothing can stop this deck on the play if they have the turn two combo and Pact of Negation. In game 1, instant speed removal of the Allosaurus Rider stops the combo, because both Neoform and Eldritch Evolution are sorcery speed. Other than that, the best play is to attack quickly before they get more shots at it.

Biggest problems:

Best cards in our maindeck:

Swaps:

Amulet Titan

Last updated: 2025-12-03

Example list

Not the worst matchup. Finding Blood Moon in game 1 tends to win. Post-board, they have answers against it: Force of Vigor and Boseiju. Some lists also sideboard Firespout against Energy matchups, so it's important to play around board wipes.

Biggest problems:

Best maindeck cards against them:

Swaps:

Consider:

Prowess

Last updated: 2025-12-02

Example recent list.

Lately, the decks have started running a (usually 1) maindeck Unholy Heat.

Their game plan is to get delirium to turn on the Channeler and Violent Urge and then combo with Mutagenic Growth. This attack alone is worth:

That plus a flashed back Lava Dart climbs up to:

A good turn 2 play is Mishra's Bauble into Cori-Steel Cutter. Another way to trigger is to plot the Slickshot and then cast it into Cori-Steel Cutter.

These are the biggest threats they have maindeck. A Slickshot Show-Off must be answered. Cori-Steel Cutter goes very wide and give trample - also a must.

Watch out for:

Our best cards are:

Swaps:

Also consider:

Goryo's

Last updated: 2025-12-03

Example list.

Their goal is to cheat into play Atraxa or Griselbrand through the graveyard. The steps are:

With a good opening hand, they can do this on turn 3, but not before. ETB trigger on Atraxa or the draw effect on Griselbrand can be used to find the Ephemerate. With Ephemerate's rebound and Atraxa, this combo lets them dig 30 deep into their deck and usually draw about 10 cards.

If the main plan fails, they have some tricks:

About half of the lists also run Consign to Memory as both a worse Ephemerate and a counter. Against Boros, the Consign can shut down Ajani, Phlage, Ocelot Pride, etc.

Strong cards maindeck:

Other notes:

Swaps:

Dimir Tempo / Frogtide / Kaito / Similar

Last updated: 2025-12-27

There seem to be many different versions of this deck. Mostly they have 2-3 of the following wincons:

Other things they often play:

The matchup seems to favor Boros. Mainboard cards are already really strong:

Watch out for a lot of instant speed answers and threats.

Swaps:

Izzet Storm Variants

Last updated: 2025-12-03

Example list

Deck seems to operate like an instant-speed version of Ruby Storm with prowess creatures and played more reactively. Not enough matches to know what their plan A and plan B are, but some observations:

Swaps:

Affinity

Last updated: 2025-12-10

Typical List.

Affinity has three lines to win:

These three lines also support each other, e.g. the Pinnacle Emissary and Weapons Manufacturing have the same triggers, and a Kappa is both an artifact and has improvise.

They have good interaction against Phlage:

They can hit Ajani + Bombardment:

And they also have some general-purpose countermagic and removal:

Big Problems:

Observations:

Swaps:

Comment: Mengu sides out 2 Mana Tithe and Fable. (Which I don't play.) Keeps the Ragavan. Toledo sides out 2 Ragavan and 1 Voice.

Last updated: 2025-12-02

Swaps:

Tron

Last updated: 2026-01-04

Typical list

Built around Urza's Mine, Urza's Power Plant and Urza's Tower. If they get all three, they can make 7 colorless on turn 3. They then cast either Ugin, Eye of the Storms, Sire of Seven Deaths or Devourer of Destiny. They also have bigger threats, e.g. Ulamog.

The goal is to kill them before they get there, so the fastest gameplan available is typically best.

Key piece they use to get tron faster: Expedition Map. Destroying it when they're tapped out can buy an extra turn.

They also have other lands that tap for multiple mana and some other ramp, like Glaring Fleshraker and talismans.

Problems:

Observations:

Swaps:

Possibly, it might even make sense to cut another Phlage for a Wear/Tear.

Game 2 notes:

They typically have some of the following sideboard tech:

Game Replays

Continue to Boros Energy vs Song of Creation 1-2, the next article in the series Boros Energy.