TES Infernal Tutoring #62

Rebell

We currently have seven mana available. My plan pre-[[Brainstorm]] is to set up a big [[Galvanic Relay]] to win the game next turn. The thing I’m thinking most about is the [[Silence]], because it could potentially save us life by denying a creature from them. With just [[Mountain]] and pass, however, I’m accounting for 10 damage at worst from them with double [[Lightning Bolt]] and a [[Fireblast]] at instant speed. Which makes the [[Silence]] kind of useless.

Regardless what’s happening I’m cracking the [[Marsh Flats]] for an [[Underground Sea]], and [[Brainstorm]] first to see if we could get a [[Dark Ritual]]. If we can, then we can use our [[Wishclaw Talisman]] for [[Ad Nauseam]]. If not, then I put the [[Silence]] away and then play all my artifacts and [[Bloodstained Mire]]. Then tap [[Mox Opal]] for [[Rite of Flame]], crack our fetch for a [[Badlands]], tap it for black and cast [[Wishclaw Talisman]] leaving one mana open to activate [[Wishclaw Talisman]], hold priority and crack [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] for . Find [[Galvanic Relay]] and cast it with Storm five, and see what happens.

Jordan Karim

We love a good [[Time Walk]] in Legacy, don’t we? [[Silence]] here is going to allow us an opportunity to cast our version of the Power Nine spell. Against Burn, we have several concerns when they get to two mana — [[Eidolon of the Great Revel]] has already been mentioned as one of Burn’s best cards against us. Deploying our hand before that hits the battlefield is something I am interested in. Because of the texture of our hand, we can do so while also casting [[Silence]].

Playing the [[Bloodstained Mire]], we can use both fetchlands to find our favorite pair of dual lands: [[Underground Sea]] and [[Plateau]] ([[Taiga]]? Never heard of them]]. A [[Wishclaw Talisman]] can then be cast, followed swiftly by [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and [[Mox Opal]]. With Metalcraft achieved, we can pass into our opponent’s Upkeep and cast [[Silence]]. They will be forced to interact here if they want to cast spells. On our following turn we can [[Brainstorm]] for additional protection or mana while still having [[Ad Nauseam]] available. Our life is a resource in short supply (especially with [[Fireblast]] hanging around if our opponent made their second land drop). It may be good enough to attempt if our [[Brainstorm]] was not successful enough.

Bryant Cook

I would just pass the turn and then cast [[Silence]] in their upkeep to buy a draw step as well as an extra look on the [[Brainstorm]].

Alex McKinley

Given that this hand only has seven mana, I would cast the [[Brainstorm]]. If that [[Brainstorm]] turns up enough mana to win the game cleanly this turn, I would do that. Otherwise, [[Silence]]-walking the opponent seems fine here. The only concern at that point is the incredible amount of burn spells that they can use to kill us at instant speed becomes a concern. That possibly turns off [[Ad Nauseam]], but there should be enough resources to win the game next turn regardless.

Alex Poling

My goal would be to win on my following turn. There’s no real pressure to do this turn. I would play out my second land, [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Mox Opal]], and then using the two lands to play [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. I would then pass the turn from here and use the [[Mox Opal]] to cast [[Silence]] on their upkeep. This prevents them from casting [[Eidolon of the Great Revel]] or [[Roiling Vortex]]. On my next turn, I would lead with a [[Brainstorm]] and try and combo from that point with as much mana as possible, probably through [[Echo of Eons]].

Caleb Scherer

With the opponent on a mulligan to six and us being on our second turn, I would choose to take a more conservative line for setting up here. I would first play out the [[Bloodstained Mire]] then activate both it and [[Marsh Flats]] to grab [[Underground Sea]] and [[Badlands]]. I would then cast the [[Wishclaw Talisman]] followed by the [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] then lastly the [[Mox Opal]]. The main plan is to then set up to be able to cast [[Silence]] on our opponent’s turn to stop any possible issues our opponent may cast in the form of [[Eidolon of the Great Revel]] or [[Roiling Vortex]]. On our next turn, we will be able to cast [[Rite of Flame]] and [[Brainstorm]] while also still having the ability to [[Wishclaw Talisman]] for an [[Echo of Eons]] if we do not find anything more. This does not play around [[Mindbreak Trap]] though, and the call I am making on what to choose to play around since they have more copies of [[Eidolon of the Great Revel]] and [[Roiling Vortex]] on average.

Oliver Everhard

By itself, this hand is a mana short of casting [[Ad Nauseam]], something I’m typically hesitant to try to do after my burn opponent has hit their second turn. The cards that I’m most worried about out of burn are their two-mana tax pieces – [[Eidolon of the Great Revel]], [[Roiling Vortex]], and [[Pyrostatic Pillar]].

Thankfully, these are all sorcery speed spells. An upkeep [[Silence]] is thus a very powerful tool to keep my opponent from locking me out.

Game one, I’m inclined to crack both fetches to play out the [[Wishclaw Talisman]], drop the [[Mox Opal]] and [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] to give myself Metalcraft, then cast [[Silence]] on my opponent’s turn-two upkeep. Barring anything particularly spicy from our opponent, this will make it impossible for them to kill us (One [[Lightning Bolt]] effect on our turn two end step plus two [[Lightning Bolt]] effects and a [[Fireblast]] in response to our [[Silence]] + two fetches should leave us at five life). This will leave us with a [[Wishclaw Talisman]], a cantrip, a ritual, and a fresh draw. From there, I’d probably cantrip to fish for additional mana / payoffs, then go for an [[Echo of Eons]] off the [[Wishclaw Talisman]].

Post-board, the only additional card I’d be thinking about is [[Smash to Smithereens]] on our turn-three upkeep. If they target the [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] on our upkeep (in my opinion the correct target and timing if they have it) this means we’ve got at least 11 life to play with (if we were bolted at the end of our turn two and our opponent has [[Fireblast]] up), perhaps as high as 14 if we didn’t get hit with [[Lightning Bolt]] on that end step. In this position, particularly if I’m a game up at 14, I may just tap the [[Mox Opal]] and activate the [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] in response to get and cast [[Ad Nauseam]] with the [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. As an alternate post-board plan to protect our [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] for the wheel, I might just fetch and [[Brainstorm]] to sculpt, fetch again to clear unwanted cards, then [[Silence]] on opponent’s upkeep – this should still allow me to wheel on turn three no matter what.

Rebell

Our hand has seven mana and frustratingly can’t cast a fast [[Ad Nauseam]]. They do have seven cards in hand, so I’m banking on them at least having a [[Force of Will]] or something anyways.

I actually don’t know what the play is here! We could [[Galvanic Relay]] here again playing casting our rocks and rituals and cracking [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] for it. It might be good because it plays around countermagic well, but I don’t know if giving Reanimator a [[Wishclaw Talisman]] is a good idea.

I’m looking at the sideboard and thinking I want to reduce their life total with [[Tendrils of Agony]] so they can’t activate [[Griselbrand]], but I currently don’t have the mana to do [[Wishclaw Talisman]] plus [[Burning Wish]] plus [[Tendrils of Agony]].

Jordan Karim

Against an opponent with such an interactive deck, I am somewhat surprised to not have been discarded on their turn one. This indicates a couple things to me. They either have a very quick combo lined up ([[Entomb]] plus [[Reanimate]]) and I am likely not coming back from a resolved [[Griselbrand]] that draws into multiple points of interaction or they have interaction in hand for me already. Either way, my goal is to find protection and an efficient combo. [[Brainstorm]] is exactly the card we need right now. Before putting it on the stack, I want to play around [[Daze]] as much as possible, so casting this [[Lotus Petal]] can insulate against that particular interaction.

With this [[Brainstorm]], I am looking to put back [[Ad Nauseam]], find protection in [[Orim’s Chant]]/[[Silence]], and find more mana if I can. If our plans haven’t changed too much, I like the idea of casting [[Wishclaw Talisman]] and passing the turn. Constant reevaluation is needed when new information is taken in. This [[Brainstorm]] can change our plans drastically. But for now, I am not seeing lines to a protected victory. Once we find one, we can lean into it and crush!

Bryant Cook

Play [[Lotus Petal]], cast [[Brainstorm]], and reevaluate.

Alex McKinley

I would start with the [[Brainstorm]], looking to try to win this turn. One of the cards I am likely to put back is the [[Ad Nauseam]] to be able to tutor for it and then use the [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] to help cast it. Another card I am looking for is [[Silence]]. Regardless, I would try to get the [[Wishclaw Talisman]] into play to guarantee the [[Ad Nauseam]] on the next turn.

Alex Poling

I would play out the [[Lotus Petal]] and the [[Chrome Mox]], imprinting [[Rite of Flame]], and then play the [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. This allows me to avoid any discard and still be in an alright position if they have any counterspells. My plan would then be to start my next turn with the [[Brainstorm]] and try to look for a [[Silence]] or have multiple ways to combo in order to beat a counterspell.

Caleb Scherer

I am more scared of the opponent having countermagic or also a quick [[Entomb]] plus [[Reanimate]] next turn. My reason is they did not cast a discard effect on turn one and they are also on the draw this game. I do not think we have the ability to really deal with a quick combo from the opponent, so I will try to play around discard spells on later turns and [[Daze]] if possible. We also only have the ability to make four mana here without [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] via our [[Chrome Mox]] and [[Rite of Flame]], so just jamming our [[Ad Nauseam]] here is not an option. My play then would be to first cast [[Brainstorm]] where my goal is to find another land and be able to put back the [[Ad Nauseam]] into our deck. Additionally, this lets up the ability to play out our [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and also [[Chrome Mox]] potentially to then cast our [[Wishclaw Talisman]] to set up a potential win on our next turn .

Oliver Everhard

Current builds of UB Reanimator run as many as four [[Daze]] at the cost of velocity ([[Dark Ritual]] often doesn’t make the cut). So it’s not a card I’m desperate enough to play into without a payoff already in their yard.

I’d play out the [[Chrome Mox]] and imprint [[Rite of Flame]], play the [[Lotus Petal]], then play the [[Wishclaw Talisman]] with the [[Lotus Petal]] still up to pay for a [[Daze]] if we have to. Assuming everything resolves, this gives us plenty of optionality for next turn — we can tuck the [[Ad Nauseam]] with [[Brainstorm]] to let us get it with the [[Wishclaw Talisman]] (and pay with mana from the [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]). If we hit something like, say, an [[Echo of Eons]], we can use the [[Wishclaw Talisman]] to grab [[Silence]] to check if the coast is clear before we go off.

Even if we get hit with a [[Thoughtseize]] or [[Grief]] next turn, we’ll still have plenty of options (and if that’s what’s happening. It’s almost certain our opponent won’t also have enough mana to bin and reanimate a [[Griselbrand]] that turn cycle too).

If we do end up eating a [[Force of Will]] on the Talisman, we’re far from dead with our [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] sitting on the table — [[Brainstorm]] can dig us into additional payoffs, mana, or protection.

Rebell

I don’t see the trick here! There’s one copy of [[Tendrils of Agony]] on the stack and we have a land and [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] with no cards in hand. I don’t see why we wouldn’t pay for this [[Daze]].

Jordan Karim

This looks pretty simple on the surface. Tap the [[Badlands]] and pay for [[Daze]] right? It might be just that simple and we don’t have to worry about a thing! If we assume our opponent isn’t just showing us interaction they could have used, they might be trying to snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat. Paying for one copy of [[Daze]] is trivial like we just discussed. The tricky part comes as a logical conclusion of our opponent being a reasonable person that plays to their outs. If they have a second [[Daze]] in their hand, we now need to talk about the timing restrictions and mana abilities on [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] has some interesting properties as a card. The card’s official rules text says:

Gatherer Note: The ability is a mana ability, so it is activated and resolves as a mana ability, but it can only be activated at times when you can cast an instant. Yes, this is a bit weird.

The official rules are telling us this is a bit weird? I think we should pay attention to them and dig into why. Because I can only activate the ability as an instant, I cannot use it to pay for cards in my hand — this makes sense, they don’t want us to have a [[Black Lotus]] now do they? It also means that if a spell or ability requires us to pay mana. I cannot use [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] as that payment once the spell is resolving. Instead, what I have to do is crack the [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] once priority is passed to me. Then the spell can resolve and I can use the mana to pay for whatever is required of me.

Typically, this would never come up in paper play. Verbally acknowledging the use of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] is enough to satisfy most players and judges. On the MTGO client, no such courtesy is extended. If another [[Daze]] is in our opponent’s hand and they cast it targeting the final [[Tendrils of Agony]], we need to remember exactly when to crack [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] so that we don’t lose out on the opportunity of victory.

Bryant Cook

I may just be missing something here, but I’m not sure what exactly the point of this is. You can sacrifice [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] to pay for [[Daze]]? Or just tap your open land?

Alex McKinley

Let everything resolve and then tap my [[Badlands]] to pay for [[Daze]]. If they have a second one, I would let the [[Dragon’s Rage Channeler]] trigger resolve, then crack [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and pay for the second [[Daze]].

Alex Poling

In response to the [[Dragon’s Rage Channeler]], I would sacrifice the [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] for three mana, in case they have a second [[Daze]] and then float the mana from the land. Once the trigger resolves, I can then pay for [[Daze]] with the mana floating.

Caleb Scherer

This is a very sweet interaction and something to definitely be careful about the timing restrictions on some of our mana sources. The important thing to remember is that unlike all other mana abilities in our deck, [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] can only be activated when you can cast an instant and not able to be used to pay for spells or effects during their resolution. Thus, the best way to play this is to respond to our opponent’s [[Dragon’s Rage Channeler]] trigger by sacrificing our [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] to have all the mana we need to pay for [[Daze]].