Pauper: Caw Gates - Deck Tech and Sideboard Guide

Caw Gates became a thing quite recently in Pauper. In fact, it started to turn into something when the gates from Battle for Baldur's Gate came along, particularly Basilisk Gate, which is one of the most important cards in this list.

The initial spark came from a classic MTG list, Caw Blade. Caw Gates, just like its long-lost cousin, leans on creatures like Squadron Hawk and its powerful interaction with Brainstorm. It is a Control deck full of resources.

Squadron Hawk and Sacred Cat are this deck's main attackers, and, with Basilisk Gate, can easily deal lethal damage. However, this deck doesn't do this straight away: instead, it sets up this strategy bit by bit while it gathers resources and controls the opponent.

The Modern Age is one of the main ways to get resources in this list. It creates card advantage for two turns and then puts a 2/3 flying creature on the board. Furthermore, this card is an important engine, as it gets cards like Prismatic Strands and Deep Analysis ready to come into play at the right time.

This deck also plays a nice removal kit to deal with many threats in the format and uses the best blue can offer us: counters!

Guardian of the Guildpact is its final weapon. In most situations, it can attack freely, and nearly always deals lethal damage.

Why Play Caw Gates?

Caw Gates appears to be, straight away, a great control list. This deck will spend multiple turns not doing much, just interacting with enemy spells and shaping the match bit by bit. Until, at one point, it will finally put its pieces in play and start winning.

It is extremely difficult to pilot and not that popular in Pauper nowadays, but that doesn't mean it's a bad choice.

As the Mono-Red Aggro we knew is dead and Glee Combo fell from grace, Pauper now has space for many different decks and strategies. With this in mind, this might be the perfect time for Gates to return!

Mulligan

Like any blue deck, Caw Gates can recover well from bad mulligans, but you must consider your opening hands thoroughly because each play affects the following turns. Plan your strategies wisely.

You'll only keep this hand in certain situations, namely when you need to be aggressive really early on. If you don't know what you're facing, it might not be the best choice.

This hand is interesting, as it has, straight away, a few of the main resources in this deck. You can throw Sacred Cat in the graveyard as well as Prismatic Strands, and the Modern Age card draws will do their job well.

This hand is a classic - it has Hawk and Brainstorm straight away. The great thing about starting the game with this hand is that you can play Hawk and then look for its friends bit by bit as you filter the top of your deck. Brainstorm is great in this situation because you can use it with Hawk to reset the top of your deck while you draw cards.

The Gates mana base lets you play more than two colors in this list, so you can splash whatever colors you need most in your sideboard. For instance, you can use red to deal with blue decks a bit better, and black to play removals like Arms of Hadar.

The blue part of this list includes efficient counters, and the white part is artifact hates. Flaring Pain is incredibly strong, particularly considering Tron is back in Pauper.

Vs. Mono Blue Faeries

This matchup is 50/50. Faeries can set up pretty devastating openers, and, if you can't find removals straight away, the game is practically over. On the other side, Gates can block flying creatures really well. It can also prevent damage really well, so you'll have enough time to start creating value with Sacred Cat and finding space to finish the game with Guardian.

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Vs. Grixis Affinity

This matchup is tough because Affinity can block Guardian and create a lot of value. Refurbished Familiar is also problematic, as it forces you to discard resources and prevents you from attacking freely through the air.

Post-side, put Dust to Dust to work and arm yourself with your removals. Don't give your opponent even an inch of space.

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Vs. Elves

This matchup can be quite complex, depending on how your opponent starts and how you play around it. In game 1, controlling your life points and getting your board ready for your creatures will make a huge difference. Remove their most important creatures, like Priest of Titania and Timberwatch Elf. Be careful with Nyxborn Hydra.

In game 2, you must get boardwipes to deal with the enemy board.

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Vs. Walls Combo

This matchup, on the other hand, is very complicated. Walls can be very explosive, so you'll need to stop them early on. Remove their main barriers, like Overgrown Battlement and Axebane Guardian, and try to put your opponent between a rock and a hard place so you can find some space to finish the game. You might not be able to prevent all the damage they deal to you, considering Walls can use lifedrain creatures as their win condition.

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Vs. High Tide

This matchup is also quite complex. In game 1, you'll have to wait for the combo while you try to deal as much damage as possible. As for game 2, you'll be a bit safer then, as you'll have red counters to play.

Save your counterspells for the right time and keep attacking your opponent whenever you can. Try to stop their High Tides and prevent them from starting their combo.

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Caw Gates is very elegant, but also very complex. It might be the best example of what a Control list is in Pauper right now, particularly as it is very passive. I believe this is the right time for its return, so, if you enjoy this game style, then this is the deck for you!

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Thank you for reading, and see you next time!