…and then my singleton [[Ad Nauseam]] is discarded. I search up the basic [[Island]] and cast [[Ponder]] into a two lands and a the main deck copy of [[Echo of Eons]]. Noah thinks for a moment and casts [[Dreadhorde Arcanist]]. I play a land and pass back. Noah decides to make me burn the copy of [[Veil of Summer]] in my hand to protect myself from [[Thoughtseize]]. I draw the [[Echo of Eons]], play the third land, and cast [[Defense Grid]]. To my surprise it resolves.

On Noah’s next turn, he plays a pair of [[Brainstorm]] (using [[Dreadhorde Arcanist]]), uses a [[Wasteland]], and casts a [[Delver of Secrets]].

I draw [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] for turn, cast [[Dark Ritual]], play [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], discard my hand, and then Flashback [[Echo of Eons]] all while Noah only has two lands untapped. Noah attempts to [[Daze]], I tell him that he can’t. He says he’ll pay the for [[Defense Grid]], I inform him that it’s . He muffles something about my cards being in Japanese and we call for a judge. For what it’s worth, the on the card is still in English.

After the [[Echo of Eons]] resolves, my hand is nuts. I have enough resources to cast [[Veil of Summer]] into a lethal [[Tendrils of Agony]].

Sideboarding: -4 [[Wishclaw Talisman]], -1 [[Ad Nauseam]], +3 [[Empty the Warrens]], +2 [[Abrupt Decay]]

Game Two:

One again, Noah leads off on a patented [[Thoughtseize]], discarding my [[Burning Wish]]. This leaves me with [[Defense Grid]] and a whole lot of mana in my hand. Fortunately for me, I immediately draw [[Empty the Warrens]] for my turn. I play a [[Polluted Delta]] and pass. Noah follows up with a second land and a [[Delver of Secrets]].

I draw a [[Rite of Flame]] for turn and decide that the [[Defense Grid]] in my hand doesn’t really matter in this game and decide to jam it into a likely [[Daze]]. I’m a little shocked when it resolves. [[Delver of Secrets]] doesn’t flip on Noah’s upkeep, he misses a land drop, attacks me with the [[Delver of Secrets]], and then uses the [[Petty Theft]] half of [[Brazen Borrower]] on my [[Defense Grid]].

I draw for turn and it is [[Brainstorm]]! Good draw. I cast it and it’s more mana, which isn’t awful, but I don’t have enough mana to cast [[Defense Grid]] and then [[Empty the Warrens]].

I end up casting a few [[Rite of Flame]]s, [[Mox Opal]], [[Chrome Mox]], and a [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] before I play the [[Empty the Warrens]]. Noah allows them all to resolve and I end up with 12 [[Goblin Token]]s in play.

[[Delver of Secrets]] doesn’t flip again, and Noah now makes his third land drop. I’m nervous, but Noah passes the turn back to me and I cast [[Defense Grid]]. He responds by casting [[Brazen Borrower]]. I attack and am left with 10 [[Goblin Token]]s. Noah draws his card for turn and concedes.

Round Four — Freya Sanford with Lands

Game One:

As we sit down, I’m actually pretty happy about the matchup. I know what they’re on and we’re favored. Freya wins the die roll and starts off on [[Exploration]] into a fetchland. Fairly innocent.

My hand after my draw step is…

I play [[Scalding Tarn]] and pass. Meanwhile, Freya cannot wait to put [[Dark Depths]] and [[Thespian’s Stage]] into play. We’re on a clock!

I draw and it’s [[Brainstorm]].

This isn’t good enough. I figure I’ll play it strong and maybe Freya will respect the main deck copy of [[Chain of Vapor]]. They do not and our hero dies.

Sideboarding: -4 [[Veil of Summer]], +2 [[Abrupt Decay]], +1 [[Chain of Vapor]], +1 [[Infernal Tutor]]

Game Two:

I keep a six card hand that is lands, mana acceleration, and [[Brainstorm]] plus [[Ponder]]. On the first turn I play [[Lotus Petal]], [[Brainstorm]], and use a [[Polluted Delta]] before I cast [[Ponder]]. This is all I do before I die on turn four to a [[Marit Lage Token]].

I never drew anything, Freya doesn’t even have hate pieces in their deck, we just drew dead. Wump.

Round Five — Tom Smiley with Death & Taxes

Game One:

I finally win a die roll on the day! It’s also in a matchup where I know that I need it. This hand is painted in my brain as went back and forth on if I should keep it:

This hand is really punished by the [[Island]] manabase over the [[Swamp]]. I ultimately decide to keep the hand against better judgment, cast [[Ponder]] off of the [[Volcanic Island]]. I look at:

This doesn’t quite do it. We have no way of generating black mana. That said, we do have a guaranteed [[Echo of Eons]] with a [[Mox Opal]] in play as long as we aren’t hit by [[Wasteland]]. I decide this is probably better than shuffling praying to hit something miraculous.

Tom casts [[Mother of Runes]] before shipping it back to me. I take the line as described above. My seven cards are:

I’m forced to pass the turn back as Tom is very eager to slam Thalia, Guardian of Thraben on the table. I try to battle back using [[Burning Wish]] to grab [[Grapeshot]]. I cast about four cantrips over the next few turns looking for [[Chain of Vapor]], but never find it.

Sideboarding: -4 [[Veil of Summer]], -2 [[Defense Grid]], +2 [[Empty the Warrens]], +2 [[Abrupt Decay]], +1 [[Chain of Vapor]], +1 [[Infernal Tutor]]

Game Two:

I mulligan and my six cards are:

I’m thinking to myself, “Dammit, first you fail me against Lands and now this?!” I play my [[Island]] and pass. Tom plays a [[Plains]] and I draw a [[Rite of Flame]] for turn and pass. On Tom’s second turn, he casts [[Phyrexian Revoker]] naming [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. I knock on my deck… [[Infernal Tutor]]!!!

I cast [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], and then [[Chain of Vapor]] targeting my own [[Lotus Petal]]. Sacrifice [[Island]], copy it, and return [[Phyrexian Revoker]] to Tom’s hand. Play [[Lotus Petal]], cast [[Infernal Tutor]], retrieve [[Burning Wish]], and cast [[Empty the Warrens]] for 18 [[Goblin Token]]s.

Game Three:

I mulligan, Tom plays a [[Plains]] before passing the turn. After my draw-step, my hand consists of:

I cast the pair of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and then [[Mox Opal]]. At this point, I think to myself on if I want to risk losing the mana source of any color to cast [[Brainstorm]] or cast it off of the basic [[Island]]. I decide on tapping [[Mox Opal]].

These are pretty good cards to draw off of [[Brainstorm]]. I put back the [[Island]] and [[Abrupt Decay]] and use [[Scalding Tarn]] to grab the [[Island]] again. At this point, I cast [[Ponder]] looking at three cards I don’t want. Shuffle. Unfortunately, I drew [[Ad Nauseam]]. Knowing what’s about to happen, I’m wishing this card was on top of my library.

I’m going to pull a “Sworts.”

For those of you unfamiliar, there’s little in this world that makes Landon Sworts as happy as going all in on a cantrip.

I sacrifice the [[Lotus Petal]] and cast [[Brainstorm]], in response, sacrifice both [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] for . As I do this, I say to Tom, “Landon would be so proud right now.”

Cast [[Burning Wish]] for [[Empty the Warrens]], creating 18 [[Goblin Token]]s.

I had some people much better at math than I am take the liberty of figuring out the probability that I hit. With 51 cards in the deck and seven outs (4 [[Burning Wish]], 2 [[Empty the Warrens]], and 1 [[Infernal Tutor]]) the odds are roughly 36.4 percent or #neverdidnthaveit at 100 percent.

Round Six — Brett Spinelli with Golgari Depths

Game One:

Brett kicks off round six with a [[Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth]] and passes. Unfortunately for him, my hand is bonkers.

I play the cards as listed, use [[Wishclaw Talisman]] to find [[Ad Nauseam]] and cast it. For safe measures, I decide to storm up to 20 for [[Grapeshot]] to play around [[Elvish Spirit Guide]] onto an opposing [[Veil of Summer]].

Sideboarding: -2 [[Defense Grid]], +1 [[Abrupt Decay]], +1 [[Chain of Vapor]]

Game Two:

Brett shuffles down to four cards, I tell him, “I’ve lost to a number of mulligans to four online recently”. I should really learn how to shut my mouth and stop jinxing myself. Brett plays a first turn [[Thoughtseize]] discarding my [[Chain of Vapor]]. I play my hand onto the table that can possibly be a second turn [[Ad Nauseam]] if I draw anything, including a land, that makes mana. Brett quickly puts [[Collector Ouphe]] into play. I die from a whole lot of attack steps.

Sideboarding: -2 [[Veil of Summer]], +1 [[Abrupt Decay]], +1 [[Infernal Tutor]]

Game Three:

One mana off of [[Ad Nauseam]]! In theory, we can [[Echo of Eons]] but I don’t want to risk it. I decide that I want to empty my hand onto the battlefield and then [[Ad Nauseam]] on the next turn. Accepting losing to [[Force of Vigor]] or [[Pithing Needle]]. Brett searches up a [[Bayou]] and casts [[Thoughtseize]]. I’m feeling pretty good about this…

Brett stops me on my upkeep and casts [[Force of Vigor]] on a copy of [[Wishclaw Talisman]] and [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. I sacrifice the [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and activate the [[Wishclaw Talisman]] that Brett is targeting. I get another copy of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. If I draw [[Dark Ritual]] here we win… It’s [[Mox Opal]] which isn’t bad. I play the artifacts into a Flashback [[Echo of Eons]].

My seven cards isn’t good enough to win, I cast [[Brainstorm]].

Finding both [[Lotus Petal]] and [[Burning Wish]] allow me to sequence into a [[Tendrils of Agony]] out of the sideboard.

Round Seven — Evan Flynn with UR Delver

Game One:

It’s a long game where I allow myself to take some hits from Evan’s [[Delver of Secrets]] as I develop lands, protection, and getting [[Wishclaw Talisman]] onto the battlefield. We get to a crucial turn where I have all five of my searchable lands in play, and I decide I may be dead on the next turn, I make my move.

The turn before I want to go off, I cast a [[Defense Grid]] which is met by Evan’s [[Force of Negation]]. On the next turn, I cast another copy of [[Wishclaw Talisman]] and then a [[Burning Wish]] for [[Echo of Eons]]. I take a hit from Evan’s creatures on his turn. At this point, I decide I need to go for it — my life total is getting low and Evan has already used two “Force” effects. I cast [[Echo of Eons]] the hard way which is the target of [[Force of Will]]. But not before Evan casts a [[Brainstorm]] in an attempt to find his third [[Force of Will]].

I’m reading Evan’s body language, and I think he’s trying to bait me into using [[Wishclaw Talisman]] for [[Veil of Summer]]. This way, [[Daze]] would effectively counter both of my spells. Instead, I allow [[Echo of Eons]] to be countered, use [[Wishclaw Talisman]] to get [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and Flashback [[Echo of Eons]]. In response to this, Evan casts a [[Daze]].

[[Echo of Eons]] resolves and my hand is awful, I die.

Sideboarding: -4 [[Wishclaw Talisman]], -1 [[Ad Nauseam]], +3 [[Empty the Warrens]], +2 [[Abrupt Decay]]

Game Two:

I’m never really in this game. I had a window on the second turn but I stacked my [[Ponder]] poorly so that I didn’t have double [[Burning Wish]] in hand, but instead three copies of [[Rite of Flame]]. This makes the [[Surgical Extraction]] Evan casts very embarrassing on my [[Ponder]]. I sit there for a few turns while [[Dreadhorde Arcanist]] is sealing the game up for Evan. As I’m about to lose, a judge runs up to the table and pauses us.

They ask me to step away from the table, I assume it’s because I forgot to exile my [[Defense Grid]] in game one and then got [[Echo of Eons]] which wasn’t intentional (it was corrected before it mattered). They begin to ask me questions about Evan’s sequencing and announcing of cards cast/cards drawn. I answer the questions honestly, he was very clear and deliberate.

They talk to Evan for about 10 minutes and come back. Evan has been disqualified from the event and the judge leaves the choice to Evan if he wants to tell me why. Evan tells me he didn’t realize he drew four off of the [[Brainstorm]] in the first game. I tell him that I had no chance of winning the second game and I’m sorry this has happened. Evan reveals his hand of all counterspells and a [[Blazing Volley]] for any possible [[Goblin Token]]s. He apologizes and then has to fill out the disqualification paperwork. I honestly don’t believe it was malicious, accidents happen. I’ve faced Evan a number of times and he’s always been very clear, honest, and up-standing.

10-5 | 6-1

Round Eight — Louis Gentile with UG Omnitell

I sat next to Louis throughout the day, he had quite a number of spectacular draws. I didn’t want to force a playoff against him knowing that he’s been drawing hot all day. I also knew that Freya was going to be playing out the last round. I did not know that Matthew Orfanellow would be doing the same. I accepted the draw offer from Louis knowing that I could possibly be drawing myself into ninth place if everything went the wrong way.

Fortunately for me, both Freya Sanford and Matthew Orfanellow won as did a few of my other opponents. This solidified me in fifth place. With Louis in fourth, it meant we would face each other to start off the top eight…

10-5 | 6-1-1

Top Eight — Louis Gentile with UG Omnitell

[[Force of Will|]]

[[Veil of Summer|]]

[[Grapeshot|]]

---

Game One:

Louis mulligans to five and is on the play. Louis plays a [[Misty Rainforest]] and passes. I play an [[Underground Sea]] and cast [[Ponder]]. On Louis’s turn, he plays a second land and passes. I decide I’m going to move in.

[[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. At this point, Louis stops me to cast [[Force of Will]], but I’m sitting on [[Veil of Summer]]. Louis casts [[Impulse]] in response to my green instant. All I have to do from here is cast [[Burning Wish]] into [[Tendrils of Agony]].

Sideboarding: -1 [[Chain of Vapor]], +1 [[Grapeshot]]

Game Two:

Once again, Louis mulligans very low and I begin to wonder if he’s just digging for a [[Force of Will]] or not. I cast a bait [[Wishclaw Talisman]] on the second turn, which is countered by [[Force of Will]]. Louis then promptly casts [[Surgical Extraction]] on the [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. He’s a bit shocked that I sideboarded in [[Grapeshot]], but I had a gut feeling that Louis would bring in his singleton [[Surgical Extraction]]. On my next turn, I [[Burning Wish]] for [[Infernal Tutor]]. Louis isn’t really doing anything which signals to me that his hand is clunky or full of [[Veil of Summer]]. I cast [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Veil of Summer]], [[Infernal Tutor]], [[Ad Nauseam]], and a lot of spells into [[Grapeshot]]. On to top four!

12-5 | 7-1-1

Top Four — Matthew Orfanello with UG Omnitell

---

These games aren’t super interesting, there was a brief moment where I thought I had a chance of stealing game one. I mostly just get crushed in an embarrassing fashion. Congratulations to both Matthew Orfanello and Freya Sanford for making the finals!

Sideboarding: -1 [[Chain of Vapor]], +1 [[Grapeshot]]

12-7 | 7-2-1

Totals & Stats

• Games & Record: 12-7 | 7-2-1
• The Die Roll: 2-5
• Mulligans: 6
• Turn One Combos: 3

• Ad Nauseam Wins: 6
• Echo of Eons Wins: 2
• Empty the Warrens Wins: 3
• Natural Grapeshot Wins: 1

Closing & General Thoughts

This puts me at 4-of-6 Leaving A Legacy Open Top 8’s (I’ve played in five, I didn’t attend the one that Gerald James Mee III decided to schedule on the same day as a Star City Games open in the northeast…)! I’ll admit, this one feels less earned than the others due to the disqualification. That said, it’s something I can’t control. The turnout for the event was terrific at 145 players and the GamingEtc is a fantastic location despite someone propping open the door every other round in the dead of winter in Boston.

All of that paranoid over Jeskai Breach and I didn’t face any of the five pilots in the room. I actually never used [[Tormod’s Crypt]] a single time either. That said, I’d probably register the same list all over again if I had to play the event again tomorrow.

The trip back to Syracuse, N.Y. was pretty easy on me, but I imagine much tough on everyone else. I filled up on ribs and fell asleep five minutes after we left the barbecue place and woke up as we were arriving in Syracuse at 3 a.m.. Almost a full 24-hour trip!

Until next time, keep storming!