TES Infernal Tutoring #68

[[Mind’s Desire]]. A tool that Storm fans have dreamt about for years. Not since 2015 has Legacy experienced an unbanning: back then the community got to play with [[Worldgorger Dragon]] and [[Black Vise]] again. Players have been swept by a wave of excitement! New and old Storm decks alike are getting to test with a card that has only been seen in Commander, Vintage, and Historic (Cube too). Fittingly, The EPIC Storm can play the ever-adaptable role it continues to excel in. [[Mind’s Desire]] just so happens to make the best Storm deck even better!

For the moment, Legacy seems to be in an exciting place. First and foremost, The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth has continued to impress. Certainly [[The One Ring]] and [[Orcish Bowmasters]] are good, but the land cyclers at Common have also been incredible. Dimir [[Death’s Shadow]] decks have taken on a “Scam” role with [[Grief]] + [[Reanimate]] that pairs well with [[Troll of Khazad-dûm]] to present heavy disruption alongside an unblockable threat. [[Lórien Revealed]] can serve as part of a mana base for control and combo decks alike while also allowing a rebuild in the later parts of a game. [[Ancestral Recall]] is good even when it costs five mana (or none when [[Omniscience]] is on the board). The real reason for the season is [[Mind’s Desire]]

Do you want to know a secret? The EPIC Storm’s super power is that it is not defined by specific cards. Certainly, the deck has featured many of the same cards throughout its lifetime. Almost all of the marque cards have been rotated or changed out at one point or another (with the exception of [[Burning Wish]]). That’s because the secret super power of The EPIC Storm is that the deck’s identity is ADAPTABILITY. In other words, the deck can take the best Storm cards and play them with a bit of tweaking. This is exactly what happened with [[Mind’s Desire]]. After pretty exhaustive testing on the part of the team, [[Ad Nauseam]] looked like it didn’t fit in the deck’s current construction if [[Mind’s Desire]] was to be incorporated into the list — something that was a goal for the team. The current list, The EPIC Storm v14.8 is still being worked on actively, so expect changes throughout this testing process, but being able to present the “Triple Threat” of three [[Galvanic Relay]], three [[Echo of Eons]], and three [[Mind’s Desire]] was a major turning point in deck design. The team is very excited about moving forward with this new tech and explore what it has to offer! Let’s start with three awesome new situations for this month.

Benedikt Krogoll

Special Guest

Benedikt Krogoll

(MTGO: Killabee | Twitter: @Stahlkarnickel1)

I’m a Sociologist/Data Analyst from Würzburg, Germany. Magic was a steady companion for me since early 2000s, but it took me until late in 2021 before I discovered eternal formats — especially Legacy — to be my sweet spot for brewing. I am known for designing and piloting “The Riddler” and various other Combo brews that I publish on Twitter and Discord. Other Storm is not my strong suit, but I like the challenge!

Deck List

the epic Storm

Main Deck

  • 4 [[Brainstorm]]
  • 4 [[Veil of Summer]]
  • 4 [[Wishclaw Talisman]]
  • 4 [[Burning Wish]]
  • 3 [[Galvanic Relay]]
  • 3 [[Mind’s Desire]]
  • 3 [[Echo of Eons]]
  • 4 [[Rite of Flame]]
  • 4 [[Dark Ritual]]
  • 4 [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]
  • 4 [[Lotus Petal]]
  • 4 [[Mox Opal]]
  • 4 [[Chrome Mox]]
  • 4 [[Bloodstained Mire]]
  • 1 [[Scalding Tarn]]
  • 1 [[Verdant Catacombs]]
  • 1 [[Underground Sea]]
  • 1 [[Volcanic Island]]
  • 1 [[Badlands]]
  • 1 [[Bayou]]
  • 1 [[Taiga]]

Sideboard

  • 3 [[Thoughtseize]]
  • 2 [[Abrupt Decay]]
  • 2 [[Chain of Vapor]]
  • 1 [[Grapeshot]]
  • 1 [[Galvanic Relay]]
  • 1 [[Empty the Warrens]]
  • 1 [[Tendrils of Agony]]
  • 1 [[Mind’s Desire]]
  • 1 [[Echo of Eons]]
  • 1 [[Pulverize]]
  • 1 [[Peer into the Abyss]]

SITUATION No. 1 — Cephalid Breakfast

While not down and out, Cephalid Breakfast has seen better days. A combo deck focused on resolving two one-toughness creatures in a format with [[Orcish Bowmasters]] is not quite the issue. Cephalid Breakfast can beat [[Lightning Bolt]], [[Swords to Plowshares]], and all kinds of cheaper or more efficient removal. The real struggle affecting the deck is the meta shifts that have come alongside [[Orcish Bowmasters]]. Black is no longer a fringe-playable color in Legacy, it’s just everywhere. One particular example is Dimir [[Death’s Shadow]] and the high numbers of [[Surgical Extraction]] they play. Cephalid Breakfast is good at playing around several points of interaction, but even they can be overwhelmed. Players have often relied on the backup plan of [[Urza’s Saga]] [[Construct Token]] beat-downs, but that is less effective these days. One nice thing is that the deck simply does not care about [[The One Ring]] at all. Protection from everything does not stop an opponent from winning the game, a point that Cephalid Breakfast capitalizes on. All told the deck is now just a solid choice to make, not the top-tier threat it was a few months ago.

The EPIC Storm and Cephalid Breakfast have a matchup that has not changed all that much with the recent meta shifts. Unsurprisingly, the deck with [[Force of Will]] and a quick combo win can be difficult for Storm decks to combat. The key to winning as The EPIC Storm has seemed to be altering how the game is played. Instead of planning for a turn-two win every single game, treating Cephalid Breakfast like a bad control deck with [[Orim’s Chant]] can go a long way to addressing weaknesses. The [[Force of Will]] deck typically slows down post-board, allowing breathing room to construct a protected combo turn. It is not a simple match by any stretch of the imagination, but properly preparing for it with boarding and mindset changes can prepare a pilot for success.

Our first situation begins on turn three of game one. A [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] was drawn for the turn. Our opponent spent their second turn casting [[Brainstorm]] and [[Shuko]], the threat being a turn three win attempt if they have [[Cephalid Illusionist]] in hand. They are currently tapped out, perhaps it is time to take advantage of that. Several possibilities are available for our turn, which one gives us the best route to victory?

Situation 1

Special Guest

Benedikt Krogoll

Benedikt Krogoll

This is a tricky one, several decisions have to be made. Do we plan to win this turn, and do we play around [[Force of Will]]?Our opponent has seen 14 cards (minus two fetches) so there is approximately a 60 percent chance that they have seen at least one [[Force of Will]]. The same goes for [[Cephalid Illusionist]]. If we let them untap, they might also cantrip into [[Orim’s Chant]]. So now is the time to strike, but we better be aware of [[Force of Will]].

I do not see a line that wins the game on the spot through [[Force of Will]], so now we decide whether to go for [[Echo of Eons]], [[Mind’s Desire]] or [[Peer into the Abyss]]. The latter would be our line if we were certain that [[Force of Will]] is not a threat. But tutoring the necessary seven mana would cut us off protecting our spell. [[Mind’s Desire]] might work with a Storm count of five (for six total copies) but can be stopped by [[Daze]] on [[Burning Wish]].

Instead I’d opt for the protected [[Echo of Eons]], we start by casting [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] to see whether they counter it (I do not expect them to, but if they do, we proceed without [[Veil of Summer]]). Once it resolves, cast [[Chrome Mox]] to Imprint [[Burning Wish]]. Now, we pay from our first [[Chrome Mox]] to activate the first [[Wishclaw Talisman]], search for a second [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and play it. Now, in response to a [[Force of Will]], we can sacrifice the first [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] for and search for [[Veil of Summer]] with the second [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. In any case, we sacrifice both copies of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] for to Flashback [[Echo of Eons]] from the graveyard for .

After resolving [[Echo of Eons]], we have seven new cards. If we did not use[[Veil of Summer]], we have an untapped [[Badlands]], available, and a [[Wishclaw Talisman]] (Storm 4). If we did have to protect with [[Veil of Summer]], we have available, an untapped [[Badlands]], and [[Veil of Summer]] protection (Storm 6). This line loses to: double [[Force of Will]] (under 20 percent chance) or a whiff/interaction post-wheel (I cannot calculate off the top of my head, as I am not too familiar with the list).

#TEAMTES

Jordan Karim

Jordan Karim

While the coast may look clear, Cephalid Breakfast is still a [[Force of Will]] deck that sometimes plays [[Daze]] (though [[Daze]] is not a very common card in the [[Urza’s Saga]] deck these days]]. I don’t think I’ll consider it a real concern in my solution). We are unable to protect the [[Echo of Eons]] in our hand with a [[Veil of Summer]] due to a lack of Green mana. There is a way to start a combo with protection, however, by filtering mana with our on-board tutors! It will only beat a single point of interaction, I feel the need to attempt a win here.

Start by activating a [[Wishclaw Talisman]] to find [[Mox Opal]] and play it immediately. [[Chrome Mox]] can Imprint the [[Burning Wish]] next. We can cast the [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] from our hand now that we have an Instant-speed way to protect it with the remaining [[Wishclaw Talisman]] and [[Veil of Summer]]. [[Echo of Eons]] can be cast with Flashback after sacrificing our [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], all with [[Veil of Summer]] protection. If our opponent does not have interaction, then we get a fresh seven card hand, an active [[Wishclaw Talisman]], and an available land drop. I like these chances!


Bryant Cook

Bryant Cook

I would cast [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint: [[Burning Wish]]), play [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], activate [[Wishclaw Talisman]] for [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], cast [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. Now, we can activate [[Wishclaw Talisman]] to cast [[Mind’s Desire]]. We have a back-up plan of [[Echo of Eons]] if the opponent counters a [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] or if [[Mind’s Desire]] fails.


Alex McKinley

Alex McKinley

The opponent has six cards in hand. Generally, I like to disrespect the Breakfast player’s ability to combo, but this is a good window for us to do something. I would start by tapping the [[Chrome Mox]] to activate a [[Wishclaw Talisman]] to find a [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. Then, I would cast both copies of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and hope they resolve. If the opponent counters the first one, that is great. It means they have fewer counterspells for the upcoming [[Echo of Eons]]. I would Imprint the [[Burning Wish]] under the [[Chrome Mox]] and then activate both copies of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], floating . I want the green mana to be able to activate the second [[Wishclaw Talisman]] to find a [[Veil of Summer]] to protect this [[Echo of Eons]]. The other option this turn is to find a [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], but then try to cast [[Mind’s Desire]] at Storm three. I think that seven new cards are better.


Alex Poling

Alex Poling

I would lead off with the [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. If they have a [[Force of Will]], it will probably be used here. If [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] gets countered, I would then use [[Wishclaw Talisman]] to tutor for another copy of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and play it along with the [[Chrome Mox]] and Imprint [[Burning Wish]]. I could then [[Echo of Eons]] with two mana available, a [[Wishclaw Talisman]] activation, and a land drop remaining. If the [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] in my hand doesn’t get countered, I would use a [[Wishclaw Talisman]] to get a second [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and cast it. If it also resolved, I would play out the [[Chrome Mox]] and Imprint [[Burning Wish]]. From here sacrifice both copies of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and use the second [[Wishclaw Talisman]] for [[Veil of Summer]] and cast it and then the [[Echo of Eons]] in the graveyard.


Oliver Everhard

Oliver Everhard

First and foremost, they’ve got six cards in hand and a live [[Shuko]], so I’m going to play this like I’m dead next turn no matter what.

Our opponnent is tapped out of [[Flusterstorm]], [[Stifle]], and [[Orim’s Chant]], so [[Mind’s Desire]] feels relatively safe. In any case, I’m a big fan of playing out the [[Chrome Mox]] from hand and imprinting the [[Burning Wish]], playing the first [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], cracking the first [[Wishclaw Talisman]] with one of the copies of [[Chrome Mox]], and getting/casting another [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. Doing this plays around and discourages double [[Daze]].

Assuming neither [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] eats hard permission, we have the choice of going for [[Mind’s Desire]] for four with a second [[Wishclaw Talisman]] available — with a mana open to pay for a single copy of [[Daze]]. Alternatively, we could go for the [[Echo of Eons]] with the second [[Wishclaw Talisman]] open to grab [[Veil of Summer]]. Double [[Daze]] or a [[Force of Will]] on the first [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] will force us to take an [[Echo of Eons]] line.

Either way, I actually prefer the [[Echo of Eons]] line here (cracking our copies of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] for and spending on the Flashback). By cracking the second [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] we can beat a single copy of [[Force of Will]] or pay for double [[Daze]] while still leaving up for a drawn copy of [[Mind’s Desire]]. Meanwhile, we won’t be able to [[Veil of Summer]] with the [[Mind’s Desire]] line above, leaving us very vulnerable to a [[Force of Will]] on one of the four copies or the relevant spell we end up getting. The [[Echo of Eons]] line doesn’t beat two copies of [[Force of Will]], but I think very few [[Mind’s Desire]] lines do either, unless they hit additional copies of itself. Give me the fresh seven and a chance to cast a better [[Mind’s Desire]] from hand.

SITUATION No. 2 — Grixis Delver

History tends to repeat itself, does it not? Such is the case here with the re-introduction of Grixis Delver as a major player in the Legacy metagame. Previous versions of the deck (circa 2018) were on top of the Legacy format with [[Deathrite Shaman]] and [[Gitaxian Probe]]. Those days are long over, but Grixis Delver now comes back with a fury, [[Orcish Bowmasters]] is single-handedly reviving the old classic. The addition of another color in the [[Delver of Secrets]] shell always needs to be made with caution. Particularly in [[Wasteland]] matchups, being cut from an entire secondary color can be devastating to a pilot’s game plan, so the addition needs to be particularly good. Short answer: it is. Outside of [[Orcish Bowmasters]], the splash includes cards like [[Sheoldred’s Edict]], [[Fatal Push]], and [[Plague Engineer]]. These are cards hardly worth the splash, but they are available to you if you are in the colors.

In the current metagame, [[Null Rod]] is seeing increased play across many sideboards. Sometimes even up to two copies or more! The EPIC Storm has always planned to board in some removal for fair Blue strategies, but now it’s more important than ever. The other concerning aspect of the deck is an increase in [[Surgical Extraction]] being played. With no main deck win conditions, [[Burning Wish]] can be a choke point if it ever hits the graveyard. Planning ahead and ensuring that it never happens is one way to approach it. Another is by boarding in the [[Tendrils of Agony]]. Both are fine, but in this surprisingly hostile meta, it has made sense to have a main deck route to victory. Just don’t forget about it when you are comboing off!

SIDEBOARDING:

-1 [[Chrome Mox]], -1 [[Mox Opal]], -1 [[Echo of Eons]]; +2 [[Abrupt Decay]], +1 [[Tendrils of Agony]]

Our [[Echo of Eons]] in the face of two copies of [[Orcish Bowmasters]] was very bold, but it resolved. It has paid off so far! We are facing down a lethal board-state in our fourth turn of the game — a 16-power [[Orc Army]] certainly counts as lethal against our six life. The two cards we have in Exile are [[Echo of Eons]] and [[Burning Wish]] that grabbed the aforementioned wheel. A win needs to occur this turn; what do we need to make this happen?

Situation 2

Special Guest

Benedikt Krogoll

Benedikt Krogoll

This one is straightforward: As all the Grixis Delver interaction (aside from [[Surgical Extraction]]) is shut down by [[Veil of Summer]], we cast both copies of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and the [[Lotus Petal]]. Then we cast the first [[Brainstorm]] with our [[Underground Sea]] to draw whatever cards and put [[Mind’s Desire]] on top of the deck. Should we find more spells to increase Storm count, we want to cast them. Then we cast the second [[Brainstorm]], hold priority and sacrifice both [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] for . [[Brainstorm]] resolves, we draw, keep and cast [[Mind’s Desire]] with Storm 11 or more. In case we draw [[Tendrils of Agony]] or [[Wishclaw Talisman]] from either [[Brainstorm]] we just win the game on the spot by either casting [[Tendrils of Agony]] or tutoring for it with [[Wishclaw Talisman]].

This line loses to: Abysmal whiff (about 100 percent likely obviously)

#TEAMTES

Jordan Karim

Jordan Karim

Lucky us we drew into the perfects, though it may not look like at first. [[Veil of Summer]] protection is excellent, because we are going to draw a lot of cards right now.

[[Brainstorm]] can be cast to put the [[Mind’s Desire]] on top of our library with the [[Veil of Summer]] underneath it. We can deploy all of our artifacts and then cast the remaining copy of [[Brainstorm]] while holding priority. Cracking both copies of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] for will allow us to draw into the protected [[Mind’s Desire]] and cast it with a Storm of a dozen! I think that should be lethal.


Bryant Cook

Bryant Cook

I love these lines! Cast [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], and then [[Brainstorm]] to put back [[Mind’s Desire]] back on top of the deck. From here, we cast [[Brainstorm]], holding priority we sacrifice the pair of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] for , and then cast [[Mind’s Desire]].


Alex McKinley

Alex McKinley

This is a [[Brainstorm]] trick with [[Mind’s Desire]]! This is pretty easy given that we are protected from counterspells and [[Orcish Bowmasters]] triggers. Cast our first [[Brainstorm]] and then put back the [[Mind’s Desire]] and the [[Veil of Summer]]. Then cast [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Brainstorm]], hold priority and crack for to cast a massive [[Mind’s Desire]]!


Alex Poling

Alex Poling

Our only line here is cast the [[Mind’s Desire]]. We can only do this with both copies of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. Which means we need to start off by casting a [[Brainstorm]]. Thankfully, we cast a [[Veil of Summer]] already so we have hexproof against the [[Orcish Bowmasters]]. We can put the [[Mind’s Desire]] as the top card of our library and then play out both copies of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and the [[Lotus Petal]]. I would then use the [[Lotus Petal]] for the [[Brainstorm]] and sacrifice both copies of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] in response. This will allow a [[Mind’s Desire]] for 12 Storm to try and win from there.


Oliver Everhard

Oliver Everhard

I won’t write War and Peace on this — tuck the [[Mind’s Desire]] with the first [[Brainstorm]], play out your artifacts, use the [[Lotus Petal]] to cast the second [[Brainstorm]], maintain priority and crack both copies of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and use the mana to cast the [[Mind’s Desire]] you draw. I think you’re fine to float either or but at a Storm count of 12, it’s probably not going to matter either way.

SITUATION No. 3 — Grixis Delver

Second verse, same as the first, but a whole lot louder and a whole lot worse. Grixis Delver rears its head again!

With the prevalence of [[Underground Sea]] decks in the format, non-counterspell disruption has also increased. [[Veil of Summer]] is good against [[Thoughtseize]], but it can only do so much. The true strength of The EPIC Storm’s newest iteration is the ability to secure an on-board [[Wishclaw Talisman]] and use it to put an “uncounterable” [[Mind’s Desire]] on the stack. Uncounterable in that the Storm trigger and original copy is put on the stack without going through a choke point of counterable tutors (i.e. [[Infernal Tutor]] and [[Burning Wish]]). In this way at least, our engine is very difficult to disrupt. Grixis Delver also packs several copies of [[Null Rod]] as discussed earlier, but these can be addressed with time if we are given it.

While not a lethal boardstate, the opposite battlefield is quickly becoming a problem. While our opponent is tapped low, it may be time to attempt a win. We just untapped into our fourth turn in game one after our opponent cast a [[Ponder]] that shuffled their library — no guaranteed flip for [[Delver of Secrets]] thankfully. Our draw was a copy of [[Echo of Eons]]. With two copies of [[Wishclaw Talisman]] at our disposal, what sequence of actions should we take to maximize success here?

Situation 3

Special Guest

Benedikt Krogoll

Benedikt Krogoll

Again, as in situation No. 1, we expect our opponent to have [[Force of Will]] in hand, with them having seen 14 cards already. Letting them untap, so they can loot through their deck with cantrips and [[Dragon’s Rage Channeler]] to potentially end our hopes and dreams with [[Meltdown]] seems too risky. One copy of [[Wishclaw Talisman]] will get us [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and the other will get [[Veil of Summer]]. The decision to make is when to [[Veil of Summer]]. Here is the way I am handling this:

We cast [[Dark Ritual]] with [[Underground Sea]]. Should the opponent [[Force of Will]] this, we are better off letting it resolve, as this bold counter likely indicates a second copy in hand. In every case, we now tutor the [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] with the first [[Wishclaw Talisman]] activation. We cast [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and sacrifice it for , then Flashback [[Echo of Eons]] for . Should the opponent try to counter now, we search for [[Veil of Summer]] with the second copy of [[Wishclaw Talisman]] for and cast it for from [[Mox Opal]]. [[Mox Opal]] is the preferable choice here, because you do not want to draw Lotus Petal after resolving [[Echo of Eons]] and you want to draw non-fetchlands, the one life point may matter. If no counter occurs, we let [[Echo of Eons]] resolve.

Now with seven [[Orcish Bowmasters]] triggers on the stack, we still can decide whether to cast [[Veil of Summer]] in response or rather take the seven damage, going down to nine life. It depends on the seven new cards dealt, but I’d prefer to keep the second [[Wishclaw Talisman]] activation pocketed as long as possible. With nine life, we can cast another [[Echo of Eons]] or two [[Brainstorm]] and still use [[Bloodstained Mire]]. Do not think of next turn, it is do or die.

After the wheel, we have [[Veil of Summer]] protection if they cast [[Force of Will]] and our protection resolved, floating, [[Lotus Petal]], [[Bloodstained Mire]], and [[Chrome Mox]]. If they did not cast a [[Force of Will]], we have even more: , [[Wishclaw Talisman]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Bloodstained Mire]], and [[Chrome Mox]]. This line loses to a pair of [[Force of Will]] with Blue pitch cards (unlikely, given the [[Ponder]] shuffle before) with ~20 percent chances and of course, a whiff from our [[Echo of Eons]].

#TEAMTES

Jordan Karim

Jordan Karim

The real decision point in this situation is where we should cast a [[Veil of Summer]]. We don’t actually die to [[Orcish Bowmasters]] triggers if we [[Echo of Eons]] right now, it would just be creating a lethal boardstate requiring us to win this turn. I’m okay with that, but we should consider what would work best for this situation.

Let’s start with [[Dark Ritual]] using the [[Underground Sea]] and then find a [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] with one copy of [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. Cast it and see what happens. If there is interaction from our opponent, we can go tutor a [[Veil of Summer]] to protect our wheel. We’re fairly insulated against [[Daze]], having six mana available if we don’t activate the second tutor. So the real tough spot would be if our opponent has two copies of [[Force of Will]]. We can’t do anything about that though, so our plans cannot factor that in.

Should we tutor a [[Veil of Summer]] prior to the wheel? Or should we wait and have a more optimal [[Echo of Eons]]? I tend to think that the latter will be more effective — especially with six available mana post-wheel. Drawing into a [[Mind’s Desire]] would be the most optimal, but with an on-board [[Wishclaw Talisman]] we’re only one mana away from tutoring on anyway. This sounds ideal to me.


Bryant Cook

Bryant Cook

We have plenty of life, I would choose to ignore the [[Orcish Bowmasters]]. Cast [[Dark Ritual]], activate [[Wishclaw Talisman]] for [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], cast it, and then Flashback [[Echo of Eons]]. If Grixis Delver responds, we have [[Wishclaw Talisman]] for [[Veil of Summer]], and if they don’t we’re really close to [[Mind’s Desire]] post-[[Echo of Eons]].


Alex McKinley

Alex McKinley

This is very similar to situation No. 1, except that the opponent controls an [[Orcish Bowmasters]]. Taking seven damage will not kill us, but it does put a lot of lethal damage into play. This asks the question about when or if we want to cast [[Veil of Summer]]. I think I would still choose to cast it in response to a counterspell on the [[Echo of Eons]] if they have it and otherwise would consider what my new hand looks like. The full line of cast [[Dark Ritual]], find [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] with [[Wishclaw Talisman]], and then crack for blue to cast [[Echo of Eons]] is pretty obvious and we have plenty of colors of mana to cast the [[Veil of Summer]].


Alex Poling

Alex Poling

I would begin by using a [[Wishclaw Talisman]] for [[Veil of Summer]] and casting it. This makes spells uncounterable and hexproof from the [[Orcish Bowmasters]]. I would then cast [[Dark Ritual]] and use the second [[Wishclaw Talisman]] for [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] to Flashback the [[Echo of Eons]] with plenty of mana remaining.


Oliver Everhard

Oliver Everhard

This actually presents a bit of an interesting question because of the wording on [[Orcish Bowmasters]]. Assuming we do not win this turn — even if we are able to prevent the ping triggers from hitting our face, we may very well be dead to combat damage plus tutored copies of [[Lightning Bolt]] if the triggers resolve on any target.

I think one of our copies of [[Wishclaw Talisman]] is always getting [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], we’re always casting the [[Dark Ritual]], then we’re always cracking the [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] to attempt the flashback of [[Echo of Eons]] (I think attempting it from hand first is cute but puts us in a significantly worse post-wheel mana position for a deck with three copies of [[Mind’s Desire]] it’s trying to cast). Assuming we eat a [[Force of Will]], float green with your [[Mox Opal]] (remember that you’re losing Metalcraft!), get [[Veil of Summer]] and fight — you’re paying for [[Daze]] and losing to a second piece of hard permission.

Assuming it resolves unopposed, however, let your opponent point all of their [[Orcish Bowmasters]] triggers at your face *before* you get the [[Veil of Summer]] with your [[Wishclaw Talisman]] (or cast it from hand, if you’ve wheeled into one — in this mana position you can actually cast two using your [[Bloodstained Mire]] and your [[Mox Opal]]). This will blank their [[Orc Army]] from growing as well, meaning that pre-board, you’re much more likely to survive another turn, even if they crack both copies of [[Wishclaw Talisman]] for [[Lightning Bolt]] on their turn.

Assuming you didn’t [[Veil of Summer]] pre-wheel, you’ll have six available mana, an uncracked [[Wishclaw Talisman]] and Storm three post-wheel — I’ve certainly fizzled in better board-states, but you could do worse.


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