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Sideboard Solutions for Proud Wildbonder

In Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, Proud Wildbonder stands as a punchy, hybrid-red-green threat. A 4/3 with trample for four mana, it wears its aggression on its sleeve, and its most intriguing wrinkle is the shared buff it gives to your own tramplers: “Creatures you control with trample have, You may have this creature assign its combat damage as though it weren’t blocked.” That means, in a field of stomping dinos and beasts, Proud Wildbonder can suddenly loosen the reins on your battlefield plans. If you’re playing a deck that leans into big, aggressive creatures, you’ll want a robust plan to either neutralize it or blunt its impact with the right sideboard tech. 🧙‍♂️🔥💎

“You're little now, yes, but one day your footsteps will make mountains tremble.” — Gustin, wildbonder

Smart sideboarding hinges on recognizing when Proud Wildbonder is the common thread tying your opponent’s list together. If your plan revolves around heavy trample packages, the Wildbonder can turn a single loss into a cascade of follow-up threats. The goodness of sideboard tech here is not just removing the problem creature, but understanding how to preserve your own game plan while denying your opponent momentum. Let’s explore five solid directions you can lean on in the post-board game. 🧭⚔️

1) Targeted removal that exiles or destroys

The most straightforward answer is to bring in reliable removal that can take Proud Wildbonder off the stage before it stumbles into a crowd of attackers. In practical terms, you want removal that can destroy or exile a 4/3 with trample on sight, without overpaying into the curve. Cards that destroy or exile permanents—preferably with low cost and minimal setup—are ideal. If your sideboard already includes flexible removal options, prioritize ones that can hit the Wildbonder reliably while leaving your other threats intact. This approach preserves your tempo and buys you a clean line to your own bigger threats in the following turns. 🧙‍♂️💥

2) Bounce and re-setup strategies

Temporary displacement can be a powerful hedge. A bounce spell that returns Proud Wildbonder to its owner’s hand gives you a clean tempo swing—your opponent loses a critical attacker for a turn while you reset the battlefield on your terms. If you’re facing a deck that relies on 2-for-1s with their trampler, a well-timed bounce can swing the momentum back in your favor and force your opponent to recast the threat into a less favorable board position. Bonus points if you can bounce it alongside other disruptive spells to drown their combat step in uncertainty. 🌀🎯

3) Countermagic for a clean resolve

When you know Proud Wildbonder is about to drop, a lean suite of countermagic in the sideboard can stop it in its tracks. The beauty here is that you’re not simply dealing with a single threat—you’re denying your opponent the chance to leverage Wildbonder’s trample buff for your own creatures. In a world where you’ve prepared to disrupt their draw, counterspells in the sideboard give you the safety net to keep their board from stabilizing. It’s not just about protecting your life total; it’s about keeping their tempo in check and forcing them to answer your blockers instead of pushing through massive damage. 🧙‍♂️⚔️

4) Board wipes and premium resets

If you’re adopting a broader disruption plan, a well-timed board wipe can be a powerful equalizer. The idea here isn’t to wipe the entire board every game, but to ensure Proud Wildbonder’s presence doesn’t snowball into a lethal advantage while you still have consequences on the field. A clean reset can leave you with a stable board state and a clear path to your bigger threats, all while not overcommitting to a single solution. The flavor here is classic MTG: sometimes the best defense is a well-timed exhale, followed by a strong, calculated strike. 🔥💎

5) Non-trample and low-curve disruption to steer the matchup

Finally, consider pivoting away from trample-centric play in the matchups where Proud Wildbonder is likely to shine. Sideboard tech that emphasizes non-trample pathing—such as removal, bounce, or blockers with high value against midrange boards—helps you avoid creating a battlefield where its buff becomes a live, dangerous feature for your side. Think in terms of removing the need to stack tramplers in the first place, and instead rely on disciplined, efficient answers that reduce the adhesive between your opponent’s threats and their plan. This approach is all about playing smarter, not larger. 🎲🎨

One of the coolest lessons Proud Wildbonder teaches is that MTG isn’t only about raw power; it’s about tempo, timing, and how a single card can steer a game. The Ikoria era thrived on big bodies and the thrill of mutate-driven combat, but disciplined sideboarding can tilt the odds back toward a more precise, controlled game. If you’re facing a field full of hybrid-RG pressure, remember that you don’t have to race every time—sometimes you win by trimming the edges of an otherwise sharp plan. 🧙‍♂️🔥

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