TES Infernal Tutoring #56

Drake Sasser

I haven’t done all the math (and never would), but given we are dead on board and our hand does virtually nothing with this many cards, I’m not optimistic about it doing more post-[[Echo of Eons]], so I am taking another one flip of [[Ad Nauseam]]. With both the [[Echo of Eons]] itself, [[Ad Nauseam]], and two copies of [[Burning Wish]] out of the deck, there are only nine or so hits that kill us, and I like those odds on 37 cards. Going to one life is fine as we can always do the [[Echo of Eons]] thing if we brick and live. The upside is so high on hitting a [[Chrome Mox]], [[Lotus Petal]], or another [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] of which there are ten so the back of the napkin favors flipping again to win on the spot.

Jordan Karim

We are so close to having an easy win! We just need any of the remaining zero-mana artifacts in the deck so that [[Mox Opal]] can turn on and we have an easy line to lethal. There are nine remaining hits in our deck (copies of [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], and [[Chrome Mox]]), and nine cards that kill us outright (copies of [[Tendrils of Agony]], [[Wishclaw Talisman]], [[Burning Wish]], and [[Abrupt Decay]]). We can also flip any of our remaining one-drops once, but that shuts off the [[Bloodstained Mire]] as a land for the turn. While there is a formula that can determine this answer mathematically, I think there is a simpler answer here. If we play [[Bloodstained Mire]] and cast [[Ponder]], we can see four cards deeper into the deck. [[Ad Nauseam]] is likely going to show us fewer cards than that before killing us.

The plan is set. We can finish resolving [[Ad Nauseam]] and play the [[Bloodstained Mire]] as our land for turn. Cracking it to find the [[Volcanic Island]] allows us to cast the [[Ponder]] from hand. Four looks at a win. If we don’t find it, we are forced to Flashback [[Echo of Eons]] using the [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. If we do find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, we can deploy our zero-mana artifacts with the copies of [[Mox Opal]] being tapped to cast [[Rite of Flame]] and [[Dark Ritual]]. [[Burning Wish]] can then go get our sideboard [[Tendrils of Agony]] for the win!

Bryant Cook

The real question here is is the top of your deck more likely to win the game than a fresh seven cards? We have three [[Chrome Mox]], three [[Lotus Petal]], and three copies of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] left in our deck as successful hits. This means we have a 24 percent chance of flipping something we want to see. We have nine hits that end the game on the spot, which means the odds are even. The biggest issue here is that revealing a spell with a mana value of one shuts off our land drop and we have lots of those. You get to look at up to four cards with [[Ponder]] for our nine game winning artifacts, let’s just do that.

Alex Poling

If we choose to keep revealing cards here, the only thing we would be hoping for is zero-mana artifacts. Anything one mana is no good and anything more than that and we lose the game. This comes down to what is more likely, revealing exactly a zero mana artifact or winning off of seven new cards with [[Echo of Eons]] with a [[Mox Opal]] in play. My thought would be the [[Echo of Eons]] line, so I would play the [[Mox Opal]] and use [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] for [[Echo of Eons]].

Alex McKinley

With [[Ad Nauseam]] still on the stack, there are three options: flip and try to hit another artifact, stop here, fetch cast [[Dark Ritual]] and then [[Echo of Eons]], or cast [[Ponder]] and look for that artifact to try to win on the spot. There are nine zero-mana artifacts left in the deck. Flipping here does not make sense because if a one is flipped, it turns off the only initial source of mana that this hand has. The odds of [[Ponder]] finding an artifact are 69 percent, and it even has the back up plan of casting [[Echo of Eons]] with no mana floating. The math for [[Echo of Eons]] with three mana floating is a bit harder, but a rough estimate of finding a tutor or the [[Tendrils of Agony]] itself gives also 69 percent. While these two lines are crazy close, taking the [[Ponder]] line is likely better. There are some cases in the [[Echo of Eons]] math where a tutor does not win the game and the [[Ponder]] line also has the back up of casting [[Echo of Eons]] with no mana floating, besides an untapped [[Mox Opal]]. I am stopping the [[Ad Nauseam]] here and casting [[Ponder]] to find an artifact.

Drake Sasser

What an unfortunate life total. We don’t get two turns by an exact kill, we only get one, so that turns off most “safe” [[Empty the Warrens]] lines here. If you lead on [[Veil of Summer]] and there is a one-mana spell on top, you are just as hosed as if you got any other spell countered. The most appealing thing to me is to fire off [[Abrupt Decay]] at the [[Counterbalance]], cast our [[Rite of Flame]] for , [[Rite of Flame]] for , then [[Mox Opal]] and [[Burning Wish]] for [[Galvanic Relay]] number two. That exiles six cards that our opponent gets a single draw step to try and beat, plus a [[Mox Opal]] already in play to pair with any other artifacts hit off the [[Galvanic Relay]]. This is not a guarantee, but it’s safe. If I was less confident in [[Galvanic Relay]] number two, I would get risky by trying to beat every other mana value on top BUT one by leading on [[Veil of Summer]] but I think the higher percentage play is casting the [[Abrupt Decay]] on [[Counterbalance]]. There is a host of things you can assemble off [[Galvanic Relay]] on the following turn.

Jordan Karim

The one question you need to ask yourself is: do you feel lucky?

We could do nothing and hope to have [[Counterbalance]] reveal inconsequential cards during our combo turn, but this would be at the risk of losing the entire game. There isn’t enough mana to [[Abrupt Decay]] the enchantment in addition to assembling a win this turn as we are slightly choked on colors due an inability to use our large amounts of red mana with the [[Abrupt Decay]]. [[Veil of Summer]] could protect us during this turn, but one is the most common mana value of UR Delver so the gamble is risky too. As the game stands, we could [[Empty the Warrens]] for 12 [[Goblin Token]]s but that doesn’t beat the opponent’s clock – two copies of [[Dragon’s Rage Channeler]]. I see two options available and I like the one with higher payout

1. [[Galvanic Relay]]: We can start this turn by casting our [[Abrupt Decay]] on the [[Counterbalance]]. Fetch a [[Badlands]] with the [[Polluted Delta]]. From there, both copies of [[Rite of Flame]] can be cast (Storm 3 | ). [[Mox Opal]] can be cast to increase Storm count, and hopefully we can turn Metalcraft on next turn. [[Burning Wish]] into our sideboard [[Galvanic Relay]] will get us six new cards to use next turn. It would have to be enough.

2. [[Peer into the Abyss]]: A slightly riskier line gives us significantly better options to win the game right now. We can cast [[Veil of Summer]] to protect us from the [[Counterbalance]] through our combo turn. The risk is our opponent flipping one of their many one-mana cards. This is the risk we need to be willing to make to reach a winning line. If [[Veil of Summer]] resolves, we can deploy the copies of [[Rite of Flame]] just like before. Instead of only having red mana, we also have our [[Underground Sea]]. Use it and some of the floading mana to cast [[Wishclaw Talisman]] (Storm 4 | ). Tutor up a [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and cast it. It now functions as a [[Black Lotus]] with [[Galvanic Relay]]. We can sacrifice the artifact for and cast [[Burning Wish]] (Storm 6 | ). Conveniently, the remaining mana is enough to cast [[Peer into the Abyss]] with floating. From there, we have a near-guaranteed win.

Sometimes we need to take calculated risk in order to set us up for the highest likelihood of success. Would a [[Galvanic Relay]] for six get us the win? Perhaps. But trying to get [[Veil of Summer]] to resolve has a significantly better chance of winning if it happens.

Bryant Cook

At first, I thought that it would be a no-brainer to begin by starting off by casting [[Abrupt Decay]], [[Rite of Flame]] for into [[Rite of Flame]] for , [[Mox Opal]], and then cast [[Burning Wish]] into [[Empty the Warrens]] for 12 [[Goblin Token]]s. The real issue here is that this line doesn’t race the two on-board copies of [[Dragon’s Rage Channeler]].

This means that we have three options, that said, I think they should all start on the same path: cast [[Mox Opal]] and seeing if our opponent is foolish enough to reveal their top card.

1. A similar line described as the one above, but instead of casting [[Empty the Warrens]] we play a [[Galvanic Relay]] for six fresh cards. The downside here is that we have no copies of [[Rite of Flame]] left in our deck and only 2 copies of [[Dark Ritual]]. It would be the top of their deck against our six fresh cards.

2. Play [[Veil of Summer]], assuming that it resolves you play the pair of [[Rite of Flame]] (), [[Wishclaw Talisman]], activate the [[Wishclaw Talisman]] for [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Burning Wish]] into [[Peer into the Abyss]].

3. Play [[Veil of Summer]], assuming that it resolves, cast [[Brainstorm]], and hope for the goods.

It’s tough to say which line is better, but I’d probably take the [[Galvanic Relay]] line and not bank on the [[Veil of Summer]] to resolve.

Alex Poling

I want the opponent to reveal off of [[Counterbalance]] on a card that I don’t care much about to then see how to play the rest of the turn. I would start off by playing the [[Mox Opal]]. If they chose to reveal a card I would then be able to navigate the rest of the turn around what they revealed. If they just revealed a zero and [[Mox Opal]] was countered I would then play [[Brainstorm]] to draw three cards and put back the two lands]]. That would probably give me enough resources to win the game with either [[Burning Wish]] or [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. If a one or two mana card was revealed, then I would [[Abrupt Decay]] the [[Counterbalance]] and go for a [[Burning Wish]] for [[Galvanic Relay]] to setup a win on the following turn.

Alex McKinley

Given that the opponent has no cards in hand, the [[Counterbalance]] is the only thing that matters. I would start by casting [[Mox Opal]] to see if the opponent will reveal to it. If they do not, I would cast [[Brainstorm]]. If there is a one on top, I want to be able to cast [[Burning Wish]] and hope to draw a [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] next turn. The [[Brainstorm]] is also a card that they might flip on and gives more options. Starting on [[Veil of Summer]] gives similar results, but without the upside of casting the [[Brainstorm]]. [[Abrupt Decay]]ing the [[Counterbalance]] does not lead to more actions, as it leaves us with just four mana. [[Brainstorm]] into [[Burning Wish]] for another [[Galvanic Relay]] seems like the best option here.

Drake Sasser

We aren’t dead next turn for sure, so we are in good shape on the following turn. Therefore, the scariest thing our opponent can have is a follow-up discard spell. This draws me towards [[Galvanic Relay]], but given that our opponent only has two cards and the [[Galvanic Relay]] would be for a very low number, I don’t think we need to get desperate. The way this game will play out is either they don’t have the discard spell, and a [[Peer into the Abyss]] should be an easy win on the next turn, or they DO have the discard spell and we have to either [[Echo of Eons]] or [[Galvanic Relay]] on the following turns with our opponent unable to actually set up a turn four kill. Because of this, I would rather overload on payoff and setup any land or other useable mana for [[Peer into the Abyss]] with the downside of using our other payoffs. If we draw a [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], I would be hard pressed to use it on the [[Echo of Eons]], but I would cast it either way.

Jordan Karim

Since we know our opponent has led with discard, there is less of a chance there is another in hand. Because of this, getting [[Peer into the Abyss]] is significantly more appealing here. With the inability to reveal more than three cards with [[Galvanic Relay]], the option here is pretty clear. We just need one extra mana to cast [[Peer into the Abyss]]. With a large amount of good draws, playing into their potential discard is the line.

Bryant Cook

I would just search up [[Peer into the Abyss]]. Casting [[Galvanic Relay]] here feels like a waste of resources.

Alex Poling

I really don’t think there is any rush here. The opponent can’t win on their next turn and our hand is pretty good against discard spells as we have redundant pieces. I don’t think trading these copies of [[Dark Ritual]] for random cards off [[Galvanic Relay]] is that good here. I would just pass the turn and take another draw step. We get closer to [[Peer into the Abyss]] with more mana we draw. If the opponent discard the [[Burning Wish]], then we still have [[Galvanic Relay]] or drawing a [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] to [[Echo of Eons]] with a lot of mana floating.

Alex McKinley

Casting [[Galvanic Relay]] is probably the worst option this turn. It only draws three cards and burns two copies of [[Dark Ritual]]. This is especially bad given that the choke point of this game seems to be mana. That leaves two options: cast [[Burning Wish]] for [[Peer into the Abyss]] or just play the land and pass. In order to cast [[Echo of Eons]], we need to draw a [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] or another blue source or black source. To cast [[Peer into the Abyss]], we can draw any mana. Getting [[Peer into the Abyss]] does incentivize the opponent to take a [[Dark Ritual]] with a discard spell, but I would just get [[Peer into the Abyss]] and pass here, making sure to fetch a [[Badlands]] so any blue source allows [[Echo of Eons]] to be cast.