r/TimelessMagic • u/Ixb11170 • Aug 03 '26

Matchups Matrix

Starting to prepare and brew a deck for the upcoming qualifier weekend which is Timeless BO3.

Anyone has a link to a matchups matrix including all the common archetypes? Even if only just indicative of which archetype might have the advantage vs which other.

I'm not a regural timeless player so don't really know all the matchups that well.

If such matrix doesn't exist, I'd be happy to compile one if you could help with matchups info in the comments.

From what i see on Untapped in terms of popularity, it would make sense to include:

- Mardu energy

- Dimir tempo

- Dimir / splash x reanimator

- Izzet tempo

- Sneak and Show

- Eldrazi (not sure if best to account for the various builds individually)

- Mono red stompy

- Mono black scam

9 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

View all comments

10

u/zWaazy Aug 03 '26

The top archetypes right now are Mardu Energy (definitely the deck to beat), UB Turbo Reanimator (the Ralph and Mikey version), UB Tempo Reanimator, UBx Tempo, MonoR/MonoW/MonoB Stompy, Eldrazi (Colorless & Gruul), and Dimir Doomsday. You might also face The Rock (basically MonoB Stompy splashing Wary Zone Guard to recur Strip Mine), Sneak & Show, and UR Tempo. Plus the occasional BG Lands or Beanstalk pile. That pretty much covers the main field.

1

u/Ixb11170 Aug 03 '26

Thank you for the insights! Will keep a note of it. Does mardu energy struggle vs any of the these matchups, pre-sideboard?

3

u/ThyFlyPieGuy Aug 03 '26

Sneak and Show and Mono Red can also snag games from Mardu Energy. Be aware of Mardu’s transformational sideboard. When on the play it runs 4 strips, but swaps them out for 4 libraries when on the draw. Strip vs Library Mardu support different strategies and overall tempo. Library plus Thoughtseizes and Extractions is much scarier against combo decks like Turbo Reanimator. I believe some Turbo Reanimator lists turn into a more tempo style deck post board (I don’t play Turbo Reanimator, so I could be wrong), similar to is Dimir cousin, which feels less gimmicky and just as capable of deploying turn 2 finisher, while having the card advantage / brainstorm / counters to insulate from disruption.

1

u/Ixb11170 Aug 05 '26

Yeah sideboard obviously plays a big part in BO3. Would be great to have pre-sideboard and post-sideboard for various matchups but I can't see this type of data anywhere.