I recently competed in the World Championships and Grand Prix Milan—with Birthing Pod in both events. During these two events I learned a lot about the position of Birthing Pod in a new metagame. Here is the deck list I can now recommend for upcoming PTQs and GP Omaha:

A significant recent evolution of the Birthing Pod archetype is the removal of the Melira, Sylvok Outcast package (Viscera Seer, 1 Kitchen Finks/Murderous Redcap, Ranger of Eos, Phyrexian Metamorph, Reveillark). This combo package has been replaced by more consistent, independently powerful cards in addition to the Archangel of Thune and Spike Feeder combo. I will concede that Spike Feeder and Archangel are clunky—nonetheless these changes have streamlined Birthing Pod to have fewer high variance cards and more consistency. We lost the advantage of a quick combo kill on turns three and four with this change. I prefer to pilot Birthing Pod as an interactive deck that disrupts the opponent, eventually winning with an assortment of creatures rather than a rapid combo deck.

Matchups

UR Delver

Prior to the addition of Khans of Tarkir cards this matchup was like a walk in the park on a summer day. Monastery Swiftspear and Treasure Cruise have made Delver the deck to beat. The key to winning this matchup is to survive the initial onslaught using removal spells or creatures. There are a few cards that are obviously strong in this matchup—Voice of Resurgence, Orzhov Pontiff, and Siege Rhino—but the card that has impressed me most is Eidolon of Rhetoric. Eidolon is not vulnerable to Forked Bolt and Lightning Bolt, making it virtually invincible.

The advantage that Delver has over Pod is its ability to cast multiple cheap spells each turn compared to Birthing Pod’s relatively more powerful, expensive spells. If Eidolon is in play in a typical game you will win. I will caution that if your Delver opponent is splashing white, it is likely that he or she will be bringing in Wear // Tear as an incidental answer.

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This sideboard plan relies on assumptions. I assume that the majority of Delver opponents will sideboard in artifact destruction and keep in counterspells. If your specific opponent does not have artifact removal, Spellskite remains great against burn spells. If your opponent is sideboarding out counterspells, I would advise having the maximum number of Siege Rhino.

Ascendancy

I assume that the version of Ascendancy that Wrapter has popularized will become the norm over traditional green versions. This archetype typically sideboards an alternate win condition: Gifts Ungiven for Elesh Norn. The existence of Gifts Ungiven makes sideboarding for this matchup quite tricky. I will present what I would sideboard against Josh Utter-Leyton’s version exactly, so be prepared to make adjustments. Because I am planning on reducing the number of creatures in my deck and the opponent will be adding creature and artifact removal, Birthing Pod loses effectiveness.

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Abzan

The Jund/Rock archetype has evolved to be based around large creatures rather than card advantage and Dark Confidant. This matchup is straightforward game one if you can resolve a Birthing Pod. In sideboarded games, you will have to maneuver around Grafdigger’s Cage, Stony Silence, and an abundance of removal. Because Abzan plays four Abrupt Decay and only a few Path to Exile or Dismember, Siege Rhino has the potential to win a game singlehandedly. Whether or not your opponent plays Lingering Souls will decide if you want Orzhov Pontiff or not.

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Scapeshift

Scapeshift is one of the most difficult matchups—its prevalence has caused several changes in my configuration of Birthing Pod. Scapeshift regularly includes maindeck sweepers and a kill condition that cannot be disrupted by our creatures. The sideboard Slaughter Games have been effective in my experience. Keep in mind that most Scapeshift decks sideboard Inferno Titan which you will occasionally name with Slaughter Games. Inferno Titan is frightening enough to warrant keeping Shriekmaw in your deck during sideboarding even without confirmation that Inferno Titan is incoming. When you have Scavenging Ooze on the battlefield be sure to use it early and often to hamstring Dig Through Time.

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Affinity

This is one of the rare matchups wherein assembling a combo is the main path to victory. In the interim, Orzhov Pontiff is fantastic against the majority of Affinity creatures, especially at instant speed to kill Nexuses (Inkmoth and Blinkmoth). Remember that Spellskite can redirect Arcbound Ravager‘s trigger and block Etched Champion. Linvala, Keeper of Silence renders the impressive Arcbound Ravager and Steel Overseer inert.

It is difficult to predict what Affinity will sideboard—Etched Champion and Whipflare are the most frightening cards. If Affinity regains popularity consider adding Kataki, War’s Wage to the sideboard.

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Bogles

This is a dream matchup and one that you should not lose. Nearly every card in Birthing Pod is well suited at disrupting Bogle’s plan of attack. Spellskite is nigh unbeatable and you should be able to buy enough time with chump blocker extraordinaire, Kitchen Finks. Bogles often sideboard in Stony Silence and or Grafdigger’s Cage, therefore I like to rely less on Birthing Pod than I do in game one.

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Mirror

Assembling a combo and keeping your opponent from assembling theirs should be your top priority in game one. The most common error that I see people commit in the mirror is leaving Abrupt Decay in their decks after sideboard. In post-board games each player is equipped with substantially more interaction than in game one. Therefore the games have the potential to be attrition-based and regularly revolve around Gavony Township wars. Cards such as Kitchen Finks have more value in the mirror than you might think at first glance.

In this matchup I waver back and forth on the value of Thoughtseize. Thoughtseize has slightly more value on the draw in preventing Birthing Pod. Whenever you are unsure about the last card to sideboard in, Thoughtseize is a safe bet.

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If you have any specific, brief questions feel free to ask in the comments. If you disagree with any of my suggestions I definitely encourage skepticism and perhaps I could learn a thing or two from you!

Thanks for reading
-Jacob Wilson