After a hot 3-0 start in Star City Games: Baltimore last month, I crashed and burned – losing twice to Shardless BUG and once to a Stoneblade variant. Slightly frustrated, I went back to the drawing board.Something I've been working on for awhile is finding the right amount of consistency while maintaining explosiveness. It's a delicate balance that is often tough to find because there aren't really too many flexible slots in storm variants. Peter Raab and I talked years ago about the storm decks merging, they've done so gradually since that time. With The EPIC Storm (TES) adopting a manabase more similar to [[Ad Nauseam]] Tendrils (ANT) and now with some ANT pilots picking up [[Chrome Mox]] for additional speed against Death & Taxes as well as Eldrazi. We're seeing a shift in these storm variants as the metagame is forcing these decks to evolve.Since the event in Baltimore I've had roughly thirty decklists that I've been testing online with some ideas that are out there and some ideas that were a little more conservative, here's a few of them:

• 4 [[Chrome Mox]]
• [[Diminishing Returns]] / [[Reforge the Soul]]
• 3 [[Cabal Ritual]] (with no [[Rite of Flame]])
• [[Past in Flames]] (main deck)
• 2 [[Volcanic Island]], 2 [[Badlands]] (to support [[Pulverize]])
• 4 [[Cabal Therapy]] as the entire discard package (with heavier threats instead of [[Duress]])
• 3 [[Thoughtseize]] (main deck)
• No [[Ad Nauseam]]
• No win condition (main deck)
• Cut blue (Keeping [[Gitaxian Probe]]) and just being three-colors

I am always trying to innovate the Storm archetype as a whole, I've been working with a number of other combo pilots to bounce ideas off (and to keep me grounded). After some positive testing online Thursday and Friday, I decided I would take the decklist below for a spin on Saturday.

What changed?

From my standard list, you'll see that there's one less [[Chrome Mox]] and only three [[Burning Wish]]. I've always played four copies of [[Burning Wish]], but there's only so many slots in the deck and you need a certain percentage of mana and business spells (part of the reason I tried a list with a higher threat density with less discard). I wanted to move a [[Past in Flames]] main deck and considering it was one of the highest targets for [[Burning Wish]], it made sense. The one downside is that it's one less [[Burning Wish]] to find [[Massacre]] against Death & Taxes.As for the [[Cabal Ritual]], as a singleton it was great. I didn't notice a loss of speed and it compliments [[Past in Flames]] very nicely with [[Infernal Tutor]] to search for it (I've had this come up a few times).The combination of these two cards really gave me the slight edge I needed to win against all of the fair decks I saw on Saturday.In the sideboard, you'll notice that [[Xantid Swarm]] is back as a measure to fight against [[Sensei's Divining Top]]. I considered making one of them a sideboard discard spell, but never pulled the trigger - I'm not positive of where I stand on the matter.The last addition in the sideboard was [[Reverent Silence]]. A card I've had in my, "Maybe, someday..." binder for some time. Someone mentioned it on Reddit and I decided to give it a fair shot again, I've had some reasonable success with it. An easy way to remove [[Counterbalance]] in game one or a [[Leyline of Sanctity]] post-board. The real downside to this is that it requires the [[Bayou]] to be in the main deck, which is awkward on the manabase at times. You need two red sources, two copies of [[Underground Sea]] and then everything else is up for debate. I prefer eight fetchlands for color consistency, but you can get by with seven. The basic [[Swamp]] is really valuable in a lot of match-ups, especially Death & Taxes since there's multiple [[Massacre]]. But even more important, the rise of [[Ghost Quarter]] everywhere has been alarming, I've seen it in Lands, D&T, and Eldrazi.At this point we have 2 [[Underground Sea]], 1 [[Volcanic Island]], 1 [[Bayou]], 1 [[Swamp]] and some fetchlands with the second red source up for debate. I used to run a pair of [[Volcanic Island]] and no [[Badlands]], but I've fallen in love with the ability to [[Brainstorm]] (off of [[Underground Sea]]), fetch, [[Duress]] and then have a red source on my next turn. In an ideal world, I would like four blue sources and a few black mana sources ([[Bayou]], [[Badlands]], and [[Swamp]]) but I couldn't get the mana to work right that way.If I was to play a fourteenth land, I would run another [[Bloodstained Mire]] which would make me feel better about the current selection of dual lands. You could do this by cutting the [[Cabal Ritual]] or the second [[Chrome Mox]], but you lose percentages elsewhere.

Mythic Games 2K

Round One - Paolo Cesari with Grixis Delver

Paolo wasn't originally my first round opponent, but after a quick repair, I found myself facing some tough competition from the get-go.

Game One:

I win the die roll and start by searching up the basic [[Swamp]] and casting [[Duress]]: [[Stifle]], [[Deathrite Shaman]], [[Ponder]], [[Daze]], [[Abrupt Decay]], [[Tropical Island]], and [[Polluted Delta]]. I discarded the [[Ponder]]. Paolo draws, lays a [[Tropical Island]] and then a [[Deathrite Shaman]]. In order to play around [[Daze]], I play my pair of [[Lion's Eye Diamond]] after I put my [[Volcanic Island]] on the table (this way, a [[Daze]] on either of the [[Lion's Eye Diamond]] doesn't stop me). I then follow up these plays with an [[Infernal Tutor]] for [[Ad Nauseam]], at this point [[Daze]] hits the table and I have no mana floating.My [[Ad Nauseam]] is fairly lack-luster, but I will be able to win on the following turn. I purposely lay a [[Lion's Eye Diamond]] on the table for Paolo to spend their turn on [[Abrupt Decay]]. I get to untap and then recast my graveyard with [[Past in Flames]].

Sideboarding: -1 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Chrome Mox]], +2 [[Xantid Swarm]]

Game Two:

We both play, "Land, go" until turn three when Paolo breaks the silence with a [[Ponder]] and a [[Deathrite Shaman]]. I search twice on the end step for [[Bayou]] and [[Volcanic Island]], expecting a [[Stifle]] that didn't appear. I play a [[Xantid Swarm]] which was met by a pair of [[Daze]]. The following two turns I'm either a mana short or a card in graveyard for [[Cabal Ritual]] while being hit by back-to-back [[Wasteland]] from Paolo. Before I know it, I can only [[Ad Nauseam]] but my life total is too low. I pick up my cards for a third game.I tried to hedge against [[Stifle]], [[Flusterstorm]], and the expected [[Pyroblast]] with [[Xantid Swarm]] but immediately regretted it with the strain on my manabase.

Sideboarding: -2 [[Xantid Swarm]], +1 [[Ponder]], +1 [[Chrome Mox]]

Game Three:

I start with a [[Polluted Delta]] into [[Underground Sea]] and cast [[Ponder]]. Paolo taps out for a [[Deathrite Shaman]]. I play a second land and cast [[Cabal Therapy]] naming [[Force of Will]]. Paolo puts one to the graveyard and reveals: [[Surgical Extraction]], [[Deathrite Shaman]], [[Gurmag Angler]], [[Brainstorm]], and [[Polluted Delta]]. [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Burning Wish]], [[Empty the Warrens]], and then force Paolo to discard the [[Brainstorm]] using [[Cabal Therapy]].

Round Two - Hank Mead with Esper Deathblade

Hank is a friend, who primarily plays Elves, but I couldn't remember what Hank switched to recently. Hank didn't strike me as a blue player, meaning I put them on a [[Thalia, Guardian of Thraben]] deck.

Game One:

Hank mulligans. Hank starts off with a [[Marsh Flats]] and passes. I use my [[Bloodstained Mire]] to find [[Swamp]] and then play [[Cabal Therapy]] naming [[Thalia, Guardian of Thraben]]. Hank revealed: [[Force of Will]], [[Brainstorm]], [[True-Name Nemesis]], [[Swords to Plowshares]], and [[Tropical Island]]. I'm stuck at an awkward position where I burned a discard spell and can't fight through [[Force of Will]]. Which allows a few turns to pass while I dig, in the meantime, Hank has played [[Stoneforge Mystic]], put [[Batterskull]] into play and resolved a [[Painful Truths]]. I finally dig deep enough to find another [[Cabal Therapy]], it turns out that Hank had been drawing pretty poorly. I resolve [[Past in Flames]], but at the end of all of my mana and cantripping, I am a mana short of [[Burning Wish]] for [[Tendrils of Agony]]. I end up playing both [[Cabal Therapy]] again and finishing with 32 [[Goblin Token]]s. There's some back and forth between the two sides attacking, but I end up getting the game.

Sideboarding: -2 [[Chrome Mox]], -1 [[Empty the Warrens]], +2 [[Abrupt Decay]], +1 [[Tendrils of Agony]]

Game Two:

Hank plays a [[Ponder]] before passing. I start off with a [[Gitaxian Probe]], Hanks hand is: [[Inquisition of Kozilek]], [[Brainstorm]], [[Zealous Persecution]], [[Painful Truths]], [[Flooded Strand]], and [[Underground Sea]]. I follow up with [[Lotus Petal]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Cabal Ritual]], [[Infernal Tutor]] ( floating - reveal [[Lion's Eye Diamond]]), cast the pair of [[Lion's Eye Diamond]] and then another! [[Burning Wish]], [[Dark Petition]], [[Burning Wish]], and [[Tendrils of Agony]].

Round Three - Kevin Hamel with BUG Landstill

Game One:

Kevin mulligans. I won the die roll and start with [[Gitaxian Probe]] into [[Cabal Therapy]] (off of a [[Swamp]]) hitting Kevin's [[Force of Will]], leaving them with: [[Pernicious Deed]], [[Deathrite Shaman]], [[Polluted Delta]], and a pair of [[Wasteland]]. Kevin plays a [[Deathrite Shaman]]. I generate fourteen [[Goblin Token]]s and discard [[Pernicious Deed]]. Kevin draws blanks the rest of the game.

Sideboarding: 1 [[Chrome Mox]], -1 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Empty the Warrens]], +3 [[Xantid Swarm]]

Game Two:

Kevin has a pretty solid start with [[Thoughtseize]] backed by a pair of [[Wasteland]]. I find myself struggling to catch up, I'm almost ready to combo but the pair of [[Deathrite Shaman]] have cut me off [[Past in Flames]] and [[Ad Nauseam]]. I cast [[Gitaxian Probe]] and look at two ways of stopping [[Empty the Warrens]]. Kevin had my number.

Game Three:

My opening hand consists of: [[Xantid Swarm]], [[Xantid Swarm]], [[Bloodstained Mire]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Ad Nauseam]], and [[Infernal Tutor]]. I cast a [[Xantid Swarm]] off of the [[Bayou]], it resolves. Kevin has a [[Deathrite Shaman]], I draw another [[Infernal Tutor]]. At this point, I think about breaking the [[Lotus Petal]] to search up a second copy of [[Dark Ritual]], but decide against it. I wanted to keep my color options for red or blue open just incase I'm hit by [[Thoughtseize]]. Kevin plays a [[Liliana of the Veil]] and forces me to discard, which I'm fine with, but I just need to draw a live-mana. I draw [[Brainstorm]], I cast it off the [[Lotus Petal]] and draw [[Infernal Tutor]], [[Infernal Tutor]], and [[Ponder]]. I know that I have immediately lost.

Round Four - Jeremy Denmon with Grixis Delver

Game One:

I have a hand where if [[Bayou]] was a fetchland or blue source I could keep but I am forced to mulligan. My six was a [[Bayou]] hand too, but with a [[Gitaxian Probe]] I felt like I could keep. My scry is a fetchland, we're in business! It's a back and forth game with a lot of discard on each side. I manage to make twelve [[Goblin Token]]s against a [[Deathrite Shaman]] and a [[Delver of Secrets]], but Jeremy has a [[Young Pyromancer]]. I attack leaving two [[Goblin Token]]s back, but I end up being three life short in the end. A very close game.

Sideboarding: None

Game Two:

Jeremy mulligans. I play [[Underground Sea]] into [[Ponder]]. I am met with a [[Wasteland]]. On my turn, I am ready to go off but if I wait a turn I can go off with a discard spell. I think about not playing my land, because if I'm hit by a second [[Wasteland]], I can't use the discard spell. But if I do play the land, I get a land drop on the following turn post-[[Ad Nauseam]]. Even though the probability is low, I feel like I'm punished by making the right play when I see a second [[Wasteland]]. I decide to go all in, [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint: [[Burning Wish]]), [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Infernal Tutor]], and [[Ad Nauseam]]. I feel very fortunate that Jeremy doesn't have [[Force of Will]].

Game Three:

Jeremy starts the game off with a [[Gitaxian Probe]] and scoffs at my keep, while it wasn't great it had three lands, [[Gitaxian Probe]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Dark Ritual]], and [[Lion's Eye Diamond]]. Jeremy follows it up with a [[Ponder]]. I draw [[Brainstorm]] for the turn, I play my own [[Gitaxian Probe]] and look at a pair of: [[Daze]], [[Force of Will]], [[Vendilion Clique]], [[Deathrite Shaman]] and [[Ponder]]. I draw a second copy of [[Brainstorm]]. The next few turns for the both of us are mainly land drops and cantrips with Jeremy playing a [[Deathrite Shaman]]. At the end of my draw step, on turn four, Jeremy plays [[Vendilion Clique]] and I cast [[Brainstorm]] in response. I hide [[Infernal Tutor]] and [[Brainstorm]]. Jeremy puts my [[Infernal Tutor]] on the bottom. Jeremy sees that I have a pair of [[Rite of Flame]], among other things.I take a few turns of getting hit by [[Vendilion Clique]] and [[Deathrite Shaman]] while trying to fight through the countermagic. Then I am hit by a [[Cabal Therapy]] on [[Rite of Flame]], except I have three in my hand at this point. I am left with [[Infernal Tutor]], [[Brainstorm]], [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], and [[Dark Ritual]]. On my main phase, I play the [[Ponder]] I just drew. Jeremy is quick to snap off a [[Pyroblast]]. I follow up with [[Brainstorm]]. I draw a [[Duress]], [[Cabal Therapy]], and a land. I put the land back with [[Infernal Tutor]] on top. I play [[Duress]], which is met with two copies of [[Daze]]. I end my turn by playing [[Lion's Eye Diamond]].Jeremy sacrifices the [[Deathrite Shaman]] to [[Cabal Therapy]] naming [[Infernal Tutor]] to see my [[Cabal Therapy]]. I draw [[Infernal Tutor]], then discard the [[Force of Will]]. I [[Infernal Tutor]] for [[Past in Flames]] and pass. Jeremy's [[Vendilion Clique]] knocks me down to a single life.I draw a second [[Infernal Tutor]], which immediately makes me think I've lost the game. I think for a second, with four lands in play and a [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], what can I do? Then I've got it.Sacrifice [[Lion's Eye Diamond]] and then flash back [[Past in Flames]]. This gives me both red and black mana. [[Rite of Flame]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Infernal Tutor]] for [[Lion's Eye Diamond]] (), [[Infernal Tutor]], [[Burning Wish]], and finally [[Tendrils of Agony]].This was an insane match. One of the better ones I've played in recent memories.

Round Five - Nick Cummings with Food Chain

I played against Nick at the Star City Games: Syracuse event. Nick was running [[Flusterstorm]] along side [[Shardless Agent]] which didn't bode well for Nick.

Game One:

Nick mulligans and wins the die roll. Nick plays [[Underground Sea]] and passes. I play an [[Underground Sea]] and a [[Duress]], I discard [[Force of Will]] leaving Nick with: [[Shardless Agent]], [[Baleful Strix]], [[Misty Rainforest]], and [[Fierce Empath]]. Over the next few turns, I realize that I'm going to win with [[Past in Flames]] (it's in my hand), I [[Infernal Tutor]] for a second [[Rite of Flame]]. I then play my [[Rite of Flame]]s, [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Infernal Tutor]] for [[Cabal Ritual]] and flashback [[Past in Flames]]. Replay all three Rituals, [[Infernal Tutor]], [[Burning Wish]], and [[Tendrils of Agony]].

Sideboarding: -3 [[Xantid Swarm]], +1 [[Chrome Mox]], +1 [[Ponder]], +1 [[Tendrils of Agony]]

Game Two:

Game two is very similar to game one, but I miscount my mana, and I'm a mana short. I have to cast [[Infernal Tutor]] and hope that Nick scoops up their cards, however, Nick is a seasoned Legacy veteran. Nick didn't fall for my trick, we're on to game three.

Sideboarding: -1 [[Chrome Mox]], -1 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Empty the Warrens]], +3 [[Xantid Swarm]]

Game Three:

Nick mulligans. I start with a [[Gitaxian Probe]] and a [[Cabal Therapy]]. Nick plays [[Force of Will]] (removing [[Manipulate Fate]]). I leave Nick with [[Mindbreak Trap]], [[Manipulate Fate]], [[Tropical Island]], and [[Island]]. I play [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint: [[Dark Ritual]]) and pass. Nick plays a [[Tropical Island]], I draw [[Brainstorm]] and cast it looking for a discard spell. I hide the [[Infernal Tutor]] on top of my deck, which I am rewarded for. Nick draws and plays [[Duress]], only to see a [[Rite of Flame]] in my hand. I draw [[Infernal Tutor]] and [[Ad Nauseam]], the rest is easy.

Round Six - Kevin Brenneman with NicFit

Top Eight - Eric English with Grixis Control

Eric and I go way back to the early days of Jupiter Games, the last time we played we were both 6-0 at a Grand Prix. Eric got me then, now it was my turn.

Game One:

I'm on the play and start with a fetchland before passing. Eric plays a blind [[Cabal Therapy]] naming [[Lion's Eye Diamond]]. I reveal a bunch of mana and a [[Gitaxian Probe]]. My draw for turn is [[Past in Flames]], I play [[Gitaxian Probe]] revealing: [[Ponder]], [[Young Pyromancer]], [[Lightning Bolt]], [[Polluted Delta]], and [[Jace, the Mind Sculptor]]. I draw [[Burning Wish]]! I play my rituals, [[Past in Flames]], flash them all back, [[Gitaxian Probe]] again, and [[Burning Wish]]. I'm a storm short, so I settle for [[Empty the Warrens]].

Sideboarding: None

Game Two:

Eric starts with a [[Gitaxian Probe]] and a [[Ponder]]. I draw and play [[Gitaxian Probe]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Brainstorm]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Underground Sea]], [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Infernal Tutor]], [[Burning Wish]], and [[Tendrils of Agony]].

Top Four - Doug Wilson with Shardless BUG

Game One:

I play a blind [[Cabal Therapy]] on [[Force of Will]] and hit, leaving Doug with: [[Baleful Strix]], [[Shardless Agent]], [[Creeping Tar Pit]], [[Polluted Delta]] and a pair of Verdant Catacombs. Doug lays the [[Creeping Tar Pit]] and passes. I play another land, [[Dark Ritual]], [[Infernal Tutor]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Burning Wish]], [[Past in Flames]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Infernal Tutor]] and Doug picks them up.

Sideboarding: -1 Empty the Warrrens, +1 [[Tendrils of Agony]]

Game Two:

Doug plays a land and passes. I search up the basic [[Swamp]] and cast [[Duress]]: [[Surgical Extraction]], [[Tarmogoyf]], [[Swamp]], [[Misty Rainforest]], [[Toxic Deluge]], and [[Jace, the Mind Sculptor]]. I decided to take [[Surgical Extraction]], but there's certainly the argument for taking the blue card for a theoretical [[Force of Will]]. Doug plays [[Tarmogoyf]]. I play [[Dark Ritual]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], [[Infernal Tutor]], and [[Ad Nauseam]]. Awkwardly, I can't get hellbent, even after a number of cantrips. I find [[Burning Wish]], but the [[Tendrils of Agony]] is in my deck. For some reason, it then dawned on me! [[Dark Petition]]. I use it to find the [[Tendrils of Agony]].

Finals - Eli Kassis with Miracles

I wish this was a better match, but Eli was over prepared for me.

Game One:

Eli has a turn one [[Sensei's Divining Top]] into a second turn [[Counterbalance]]. I play [[Burning Wish]], it resolves, I get [[Reverent Silence]]. Eli then plays another [[Counterbalance]]. I'm locked out at this point.

Sideboarding: -4 [[Ponder]], -2 [[Chrome Mox]], -1 [[Empty the Warrens]], +4 [[Abrupt Decay]], +3 [[Xantid Swarm]]

Game Two:

I have a turn one [[Xantid Swarm]], on the second turn I have an opportunity to kill them if I can find a "Tutor effect" off of my [[Brainstorm]]. Instead, I draw a second [[Abrupt Decay]], a second [[Lion's Eye Diamond]], and a [[Badlands]]. Even more awkwardly, no fetchland. Eli plays a [[Counterbalance]] and now has both pieces of the combo. I draw and pass. Eli then plays [[Sanctum Prelate]], I [[Abrupt Decay]] the [[Counterbalance]] in response. Eli responds to their own [[Sanctum Prelate]] with a [[Surgical Extraction]] on my [[Abrupt Decay]]. I spend the rest of the game not doing much.

Totals & Stats

Closing & General Thoughts

While the event only had 43 players, I had some steep competition against some very strong Legacy stalwarts and even some Pro-Tour competitors. The decklist felt great, I don't see any changes at the moment but that doesn't mean much - I bounce back and forth on card slots so frequently. I've been preparing a lot for GP: Louisville in January, I'm really looking forward to it!Thanks for reading, feel free to drop me a message or ask a question using the contact form below. Any questions will likely be featured in an upcoming TES Mailbox article.Until next time, keep storming!