Pioneer: Azorius Flash Spirits - Deck Tech and Sideboard Guide

Spirits has been a part of Pioneer for a long time, both as a Mono Blue list and as an Azorius list. However, since Duskmourn came along, this format has access to the Enduring Cycle, a cycle of enchantment creatures that turn into enchantments when they die.

Enduring Curiosity is the blue enchantment creature in this cycle, but it has another ability: it draws you a card whenever a creature you control deals damage to an opponent.

We can say Azorius Flash is a variation of Azorius Spirit - it uses Enduring Curiosity as its main card draw engine, but its foundation is card by card the Spirits foundation. Mausoleum Wanderer is the main beater in this deck, as it is a 1-drop with evasion that gets bigger temporarily when you put more Spirits in play. It also has a sacrifice ability that can be considered a counter because it forces your opponent to pay an extra value equal to how Wanderer costs at that moment, or it will counter their spell. This is very useful on the first few turns when your opponent often needs to use all their mana.

Rattlechains also can "counter" a removal or another spell/ability that targets one of your Spirits. As for Supreme Phantom, it is your lord - it buffs your creatures' toughness and power and puts a lot of pressure on your opponent. Skyclave Apparition can remove several threats in this format, and Spell Queller is an incredibly powerful way to deal with many problematic cards. It can also deal a considerable amount of damage.

Brazen Borrower has an interesting ability, too. At first, you can use it as a bounce with its Adventure, but then you can use it as a 3/1 with flying and put even more pressure on your opponent. The Wandering Emperor is probably the best planeswalker available in these colors: it can buff your creatures, put more of them on the board, and even remove enemy threats. Sheltered by Ghosts is also from Duskmourn and can remove an enemy permanent while enchanting one of your creatures. This way, you'll have more firepower and life points.

The rest of the deck includes cards that will interact with your opponent and their plays to protect your game plan and disrupt theirs.

Mulligan and Game Style

This deck is very similar to Spirits. You'll put your creatures in play, attack from above, and protect your strategies with counters and Spell Queller. This card is actually incredibly efficient when you need to answer the many cards that can disrupt Spirits.

Prioritize hands that let you be aggressive early on, like the example above, and hands that have answers to enemy removals and interactions.

The hand above is quite reactive and only has one turn-3 creature. It also can't easily deal with early game threats, and you'll have to rely on card draw to start progressing any sort of game plan. This will give your opponent time to get their own resources and develop their game plan without worrying about the board.

This hand would only be interesting if it had one extra land. You can risk keeping it and try to draw something better, but you'll most likely just get stuck.

Vs. Rakdos Aggro

Rakdos Aggro is one of the best decks in the format nowadays. It plays low-cost creatures that put pressure on the board quite fast, and spells that create double the value with Prowess and change the outcome of a combat phase like it is nothing.

In this matchup, you need to build your board fast. One idea is fitting in some Spirits with Supreme Phantom. Sheltered by Ghosts is excellent against them.

Be careful with your life, as this Rakdos can destroy it quite easily.

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Vs. Niv to Light

Niv to Light is basically a control deck with many interactions that can play all five colors. However, they need more time to actually play, so, at first, they'll try to stabilize the board so they can play their heavier spells later on.

All you need to do is put pressure on them consistently and be careful with their removals, particularly their global removals.

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Vs. Nykthos Ramp

Nykthos was once one of the strongest decks in the format, but it has struggled after the latest bans, particularly after it lost Karn, the Great Creator. This deck now focuses on playing ramp so it can create a giant board and win that way, but, to start doing that, they need a few turns.

You can attack from above and put pressure on them before they can start playing the game. Be careful with Cavalier of Thorns, their main flying blocker, and don't leave yourself open to anything, particularly if they start snow-balling.

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Vs. Rakdos Midrange

Unlike Rakdos Aggro, Rakdos Midrange is more traditional. It leans on an efficient removal kit and a powerful card draw engine, as well as creatures that impact the game fast, or immediately. The disruptive Thoughtseize + Duress kit can be quite destructive to any strategy, but, with a good start and the right sequence, you can win this bad matchup.

Your opponent doesn't have flying blockers and will have to rely on their removals and disruptions to win the game. Play it safe, use your creatures well, and be careful with problematic creatures like Sheoldred, the Apocalypse. Keep in mind that Mausoleum Wanderer is a counter spell, and that you can activate it whenever you want, as long as it is on the board.

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Vs. Selesnya Company

This matchup is a bit more complicated. Your opponent puts many creatures in play and can quickly put more pressure on you than you can handle. Aven Interrupter and Brutal Cathar are very problematic, and, post-side, your opponent will have more ways to disrupt your game plan. Be fast, attack them from above, and stop them from resolving a Collected Company at all costs.

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Azorius Flash is efficient, cheap, and easily buildable if you recycle its Mono-Blue base. It can perform really well against most meta decks, and is quite simple, thought several of its interactions are quite complex. If you enjoy being efficient and dominant, as well as controlling the game and denying your opponents' any space, this deck is perfect for you.

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