The trip down was a little rough, having to leave Syracuse the night after my job’s holiday party by 7AM wasn’t ideal. Brian Finlayson-Schueler, Nick Patnode, and myself made decent time on the way down — Brian was nice enough to offer to drive. Honestly, if he didn’t I may not have gone to this event. Brian opted to play Elves for the event as it was what he was most comfortable with and Nick decided to play my RUG Delver deck. As for me, I decided to play old faithful.

We arrived with just about half an hour before the event was about to start. The store had plenty of room for large events; it seated all 186 players nicely and even had room for the side events. The main event started not too much after the time it was supposed to begin considering there was almost double the expected number of players.

What changed?

The last few week’s before Michael Caffrey’s first large event at Tales of Adventure, I have been [[Ponder]]ing over my deck list. It just felt like my list was slowly becoming less and less viable in the metagame — there were some changes that had to be made. The first being that the main deck [[Thoughtseize]]/[[Duress]] slot wasn’t working out, I was previously running two [[Cabal Therapy]]. Currently blue decks are attacking storm with two axes: The first being with the traditional countermagic route, the second is with creatures such as [[Meddling Mage]] and [[Ethersworn Canonist]]. Discard spells that hit both are incredibly valuable, meaning that [[Thoughtseize]] and [[Cabal Therapy]] are much more important than spells like [[Duress]]. [[Thoughtseize]]’s life loss wasn’t a huge issue but it was certainly noticeable in match-ups where it counted such was RUG Delver. I increased the count of [[Cabal Therapy]] to three, which quickly became four after initial testing. Sadly, I had to shave off a [[Silence]] to make room for the fourth [[Cabal Therapy]], the issue is it doesn’t protect on both angles. There’s also the huge benefit that [[Cabal Therapy]] has incredible synergy with [[Empty the Warrens]], being able to name [[Flusterstorm]] or [[Stifle]] and then taking away their possible sweeper effect.

The other changes were in the sideboard. With the rise of UWr Delver and RUG Delver’s continued popularity, I’ve wanted to include a pair of [[Carpet of Flowers]]. The difficult part of it all is finding out where to find room in a deck with a [[Burning Wish]] target sideboard. I ended up removing the second discard spell as it became apart of the main deck and then trimmed [[Chain of Vapor]] down to a single copy. This kind of bothers me because of [[Leyline of Sanctity]] as well as Death & Taxes everywhere, but it was a change that needed to be made.

Tales of Adventure

Round One – Justin with Deathblade

Game One:

I win the die roll, Justin mulligans. I start the day off with a [[Gitaxian Probe]] which reveals: [[Wasteland]], [[Tropical Island]], [[Scrubland]], [[Stoneforge Mystic]], [[True-Name Nemesis]], and [[Jace, the Mind Sculptor]]. Not a very strong hand, but neither is mine. I end up casting cantrips for three or four turns while sculpting my hand and disrupting his. The issue is Justin has attacked me down to five before I’m capable of attempting to win. The turn before I discarded the last card in my opponent’s hand and now they have one unknown card in hand. [[Rite of Flame]], [[Rite of Flame]], and [[Ad Nauseam]]? Resolves. floating, I’ve made my land drop and I have two cards in hand, [[Burning Wish]] and [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. Normally, I would’ve jammed out that [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and then broke it in response to the [[Ad Nauseam]]. The issue is I needed the [[Burning Wish]] in my hand. The first reveal is [[Lotus Petal]], and then… [[Burning Wish]], [[Chrome Mox]], and [[Rite of Flame]]! Resolve [[Ad Nauseam]] at two life. [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint: [[Burning Wish]]), [[Lotus Petal]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Burning Wish]] and cast [[Tendrils of Agony]] for 18 life.

Sideboarding: -1 [[Chrome Mox]], +1 [[Tropical Island]].

Game Two:

[[Deathrite Shaman]], go. I cast [[Ponder]] off of [[Gemstone Mine]]. [[Wasteland]]. [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Ponder]]. Justin plays [[Tropical Island]] and passes. I draw and before I can do anything, [[Vendilion Clique]] comes down. I [[Brainstorm]] in response to hide my [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and [[Infernal Tutor]]. Justin puts my [[Burning Wish]] to the bottom. I play a [[City of Brass]] and pass. Justin attacks, lays down [[Karakas]] and passes. During my draw step, [[Karakas]] returns [[Vendilion Clique]] and once again looks at my hand. But not before I can cast another [[Brainstorm]], to hide the same two cards. I play [[Gitaxian Probe]] that looks at [[Flooded Strand]], [[Brainstorm]], [[Brainstorm]], and [[Force of Will]]. [[Cabal Therapy]] naming [[Force of Will]]. [[Rite of Flame]], [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint: [[Silence]]), [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Infernal Tutor]], and [[Empty the Warrens]] for twenty [[Goblin Token]]s. This is the first time that not having a main deck [[Tendrils of Agony]] has mattered in a very long time. I flashback [[Cabal Therapy]] to discard [[Brainstorm]]. Justin untaps, draws, and attacks with [[Vendilion Clique]]. I swing back for nineteen, Justin blocks one, and then goes to one. [[Deathrite Shaman]] to make me lose life, I’m now at eleven. Justin draws for turn and concedes.

Round Two – Will with Miracles

Game One:

Will shuffles their library pretty quickly after looking at the initial seven cards and keeps the six. “[[Island]], [[Sensei’s Divining Top]], and pass.” I play a [[Gitaxian Probe]] and look at: [[Vendilion Clique]], [[Brainstorm]], [[Misdirection]], and [[Karakas]]. Will’s hand is going to take some time to fix, it’s really all in on [[Brainstorm]]. Luckily for Will, my hand is a little slower. Over the next few turns I attack Will with a few copies of [[Cabal Therapy]] while casting cantrips. Will draws the third land ([[Arid Mesa]]) for [[Vendilion Clique]]. I’m looking at my hand of: [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Infernal Tutor]] and [[Silence]] with three lands in play. Earlier in the turn, I had played a [[Gitaxian Probe]] which revealed two new cards: [[Terminus]] and [[Swords to Plowshares]]. The only option from Will’s hand is [[Vendilion Clique]] or [[Misdirection]]. A [[Force of Will]] could be on top, but I don’t think it was likely. I decided it was time to start the show &mdahs; [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Dark Ritual]]? In response, Will activates [[Arid Mesa]]. This lets me know there isn’t a [[Force of Will]] on top, [[Silence]] in response. Will stares at the [[Misdirection]] in hand asks me if I’m sure that it’s not [[Orim’s Chant]]. [[Infernal Tutor]], [[Infernal Tutor]], [[Burning Wish]] and [[Tendrils of Agony]].

Sideboarding: -1 [[Chrome Mox]], -1 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Infernal Tutor]], +1 [[Tropical Island]], +2 [[Abrupt Decay]].

Game Two:

I mulligan and keep a hand of [[Tropical Island]], [[Gemstone Mine]], [[City of Brass]], [[Cabal Therapy]] and a pair of [[Ponder]]. It’s a decent hand for a mulligan. Will plays “[[Island]], go.” I draw [[Dark Ritual]], play [[Tropical Island]], and [[Ponder]] — [[Spell Pierce]] goes on the stack. [[Misty Rainforest]] for [[Tundra]] and [[Counterbalance]] was Will’s turn. “Just [[Abrupt Decay]] it already” and my draw step agreed. Will misses a land drop and passes. I draw [[Gitaxian Probe]] and very quickly cast it: [[Vendilion Clique]], [[Vendilion Clique]], [[Terminus]] and [[Pyroblast]]. [[Cabal Therapy]] couldn’t get out of my hand fast enough. I [[Ponder]], shuffle, and draw a [[Rite of Flame]]. Neither one of us could really do anything and we end up playing “draw, go.” — which traditionally doesn’t favor me. Will flashed in a [[Venser, Shaper Savant]] on my end step and then played a [[Meddling Mage]] naming [[Burning Wish]] to create a clock. I draw my second [[Abrupt Decay]] the attack step before Will can deal me lethal. I kill the [[Meddling Mage]] and go to one. I untap and draw [[Brainstorm]], my hand was already pretty stacked at that point, but it allowed me to naturally storm out rather than use [[Past in Flames]]. I play a few various cantrips before casting my mana, [[Silence]], and [[Burning Wish]] for [[Tendrils of Agony]].

Round Three – Erik with Burn

Game One:

While we’re shuffling Erik drops cards on the table revealing exactly what they’re piloting. That was about the worst thing Erik could’ve done, Burn’s only hope of winning game one is if I keep a slow hand — Now that is not going to happen. I keep my seven cards: [[Ponder]], [[Underground Sea]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Infernal Tutor]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Gemstone Mine]] and [[Cabal Therapy]]. I win the die roll and start with [[Underground Sea]] into [[Ponder]], which looks at: [[City of Brass]], [[Lotus Petal]] and [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] (I stack them in inverse order). Erik plays [[Mountain]] and [[Vexing Devil]], “Keep it.” “Oh, geez.” [[Lotus Petal]], [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], and [[Infernal Tutor]] for [[Ad Nauseam]].

Sideboarding: -2 [[Silence]], -1 [[Empty the Warrens]], +1 [[Tropical Island]], +1 [[Chain of Vapor]], +1 [[Past in Flames]].

Game Two:

Erik has a turn one [[Goblin Guide]] off a basic [[Mountain]]. I kept a hand full of mana and a [[Ponder]]. [[Ponder]] fails to find anything, shufle, and draw a [[Gitaxian Probe]]. I get hit again from [[Goblin Guide]] (reveals a land) and take a [[Lava Spike]] to the face. Erik doesn’t have a second land. I draw [[Past in Flames]] — we’re in business, but I pass the turn. I take another hit from [[Goblin Guide]] and another three points of damage. I draw [[Infernal Tutor]]! I then cast [[Dark Ritual]], [[Infernal Tutor]] (Reveal: [[Rite of Flame]]), [[Rite of Flame]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], and [[Past in Flames]]. Then with Flashback cast [[Dark Ritual]] and [[Infernal Tutor]] for [[Burning Wish]]. Now that I don’t need to worry about Hellbent cast [[Gitaxian Probe]] and [[Ponder]]. [[Rite of Flame]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Chrome Mox]], [[Burning Wish]], and [[Tendrils of Agony]].

Round Four – Jaime with Death & Taxes

Game One:

Jaime won the die roll and has a turn one [[AEther Vial]] off of a basic [[Plains]]. My turn is a little more fun. [[Gitaxian Probe]] revealing: [[Phyrexian Revoker]], [[Serra Avenger]], [[Serra Avenger]] and two more [[Plains]]. [[Gitaxian Probe]] (again), [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Gemstone Mine]], [[Silence]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Burning Wish]] for [[Empty the Warrens]], and cast it for eighteen [[Goblin Token]]s. Jaime just picks them up.

Sideboarding: -3 [[Silence]], -1 [[Chrome Mox]], -1 [[Ponder]], +1 [[Tropical Island]], +2 [[Abrupt Decay]], +1 [[Chain of Vapor]], +1 [[Thoughtseize]].

Game Two:

Jaime starts the game with a [[Rishadan Port]]. I draw and cast [[Thoughtseize]] off of a [[Gemstone Mine]], looking at: [[Stoneforge Mystic]], [[Aven Mindcensor]], [[Thalia, Guardian of Thraben]], [[Plains]] and a pair of [[Wasteland]]. This is not ideal for the home team — [[Thalia, Guardian of Thraben]] down. [[Wasteland]] my [[Gemstone Mine]]. [[City of Brass]] into [[Cabal Therapy]] naming [[Aven Mindcensor]]. [[Wasteland]]. I play [[Underground Sea]] and [[Ponder]]. I sit on that land for some time under a [[Rishadan Port]] until Jaime starts beating me down, I was actually never completely locked out of the game. If I had drawn a [[Lotus Petal]] or [[Chrome Mox]] for a short time period (about three turns or so), I might’ve been able to win. One mistake Jaime made was showing me [[Ratchet Bomb]] to blow up my [[Chrome Mox]] when it was my only mana source during one point. I now know to play around it in game three.

Game Three:

[[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Empty the Warrens]], [[Infernal Tutor]], [[Misty Rainforest]], [[Brainstorm]] and [[Burning Wish]]. This hand is very close to very good against Death & Taxes. However, I’m pretty much all in on [[Brainstorm]]. [[Misty Rainforest]], pass. [[Plains]], go. Search for [[Underground Sea]] and cast [[Brainstorm]] into [[Chain of Vapor]], [[Chrome Mox]], and [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. GOT THERE! Put [[Burning Wish]] second from the bottom with [[Empty the Warrens]] on top. Draw the [[Empty the Warrens]], cast [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint: [[Empty the Warrens]]), play the pair of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Infernal Tutor]], and [[Ad Nauseam]].

Round Five – Jack with RW Painter | On Camera Feature Match

I’d like to note that I’m a little ashamed of the two people doing coverage for no “Cook’s Kitchen” reference to my former article series.

Game One:

I win the die roll and start off the match on camera with my traditional turn one play. [[Gitaxian Probe]] reveals: [[Ancient Tomb]], [[Imperial Recuiter]], [[Blood Moon]], [[Red Elemental Blast]], [[Grindstone]], [[Simian Spirit Guide]], and [[Mountain]]. My hand isn’t exactly stellar against a [[Blood Moon]]. Cast [[Ponder]]? Resolves which looks at: [[Burning Wish]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], and [[Gemstone Mine]]. Keep it. Jack plays [[Ancient Tomb]], removes [[Simian Spirit Guide]], and casts [[Blood Moon]]. I play the [[Gemstone Mine]]. Over the next few turns Jack develops a board state by presenting the win with [[Grindstone]] and [[Painter’s Servant]]. I finally draw a black source in [[Chrome Mox]]! I think it over for a second when I realize — I’ve got this. There are two possible lines here: I play [[Burning Wish]], it resolves, and I kill the [[Painter’s Servant]] with [[Grapeshot]] or it doesn’t resolve and I kill Jack. My luck continues, Jack chose the latter. [[Red Elemental Blast]] on my [[Burning Wish]], I play [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint: [[Cabal Therapy]]), [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], tap my lands and [[Ad Nauseam]].

Sideboarding: -2 [[Silence]], -1 [[Empty the Warrens]], +1 [[Tropical Island]], +1 [[Chain of Vapor]], +1 [[Thoughtseize]].

Game Two:

[[Mountain]] into [[Lotus Petal]] is Jack’s first turn. I have a [[Gemstone Mine]] and a [[Thoughtseize]] for my initial turn. Jack sacrifices [[Lotus Petal]] and casts [[Enlightened Tutor]] for [[Trinisphere]]. I’m forced to take the [[Simian Spirit Guide]] so that Jack wouldn’t be able to cast the [[Trinisphere]]. This leaves two [[Pyroblast]] effects in Jack’s hand. [[Mountain]] and pass. I draw [[Scalding Tarn]], play [[Underground Sea]] and [[Cabal Therapy]] discarding the [[Trinisphere]]. Jack does nothing and I play [[Burning Wish]] on my turn for [[Empty the Warrens]]. Jack plays a [[Sensei’s Divining Top]] and passes. I lay [[Tropical Island]] (land number four) and [[Brainstorm]], just hoping that Jack will [[Pyroblast]] it to increase storm. it doesn’t happen and I [[Brainstorm]] into [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Infernal Tutor]] and [[Rite of Flame]]. I then cast [[Rite of Flame]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Infernal Tutor]] and [[Ad Nauseam]].

Round Six – Ryan with Shardless BUG

Game One:

Ryan mulligans to five and starts out with a [[Tropical Island]]. I play an [[Underground Sea]] and [[Ponder]]. Ryan draws and passes. [[City of Brass]], [[Silence]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Infernal Tutor]] and [[Ad Nauseam]].

Sideboarding: -1 [[Chrome Mox]], -1 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Infernal Tutor]], +1 [[Tropical Island]], +2 [[Carpet of Flowers]].

Game Two:

I don’t really remember the beginning of this game. My notes say that I cast all four [[Gitaxian Probe]] and take some damage from [[Deathrite Shaman]] and [[Creeping Tar Pit]]. I cast [[Diminishing Returns]] with a land drop and floating. I have the land to play from my hand, but I’m still a mana short. I’m at two life and can’t play [[Gitaxian Probe]], I use the to cast it and draw into [[Dark Ritual]]! [[Dark Ritual]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Burning Wish]], and [[Tendrils of Agony]].

Round Seven – Brian Finlayson-Schueler with Elves

Round Eight – Kevin with NicFit

Game One:

Kevin and I have a [[Cabal Therapy]] fight and I end up casting [[Diminishing Returns]] with floating. I remove my last searchable land from the game with [[Diminishing Returns]] then proceed to draw two fetchlands. Awkward. On top of that, the other five cards were rather weak. Kevin shows me what [[Burning Wish]] for [[Scapeshift]] can do.

Sideboarding: -2 [[Silence]], +1 [[Tropical Island]], +1 [[Thoughtseize]]

Game Two:

My notes say, “[[Dark Ritual]], [[Infernal Tutor]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Burning Wish]], [[Past in Flames]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Infernal Tutor]], [[Burning Wish]], and [[Tendrils of Agony]].”

Game Three:

Kevin, turn one [[Veteran Explorer]]. Me, turn one [[Ad Nauseam]].

Top Eight – Myles with UWr Delver

Game One:

Myles mulligans. I win the die roll and begin the top 8 with a [[Scalding Tarn]] into [[Underground Sea]] and a [[Ponder]] (shuffle). Myles lays a [[Flooded Strand]] and passes. I play a [[Gemstone Mine]] and [[Gitaxian Probe]]: [[Stoneforge Mystic]], [[Lightning Bolt]], [[Batterskull]], [[Arid Mesa]] and [[Scalding Tarn]]. The jig was up! [[Dark Ritual]], [[Rite of Flame]], and [[Ad Nauseam]]. I wanted to be cautious because of the [[Lightning Bolt]], I revealed only [[Infernal Tutor]] as a business spell with a pair of [[Chrome Mox]]. Because of this I decided to stop at 11 life. This allowed me to become Hellbent using [[Chrome Mox]] due to not having access to [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. I then went through the motions and cast [[Tendrils of Agony]].

Sideboarding: -1 [[Chrome Mox]], -1 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Infernal Tutor]], +1 [[Tropical Island]], +2 [[Carpet of Flowers]]

Game Two:

Myles has a turn one [[Delver of Secrets]] backed by this hand that my [[Gitaxian Probe]] revealed: [[Force of Will]], [[Spell Pierce]], [[Spell Pierce]], [[Flusterstorm]] and [[Grim Lavamancer]].

Game Three:

I mulligan and have my first land becomes the target of [[Wasteland]]. I’m barely making it by off of a [[Mox Sapphire]] (blue [[Chrome Mox]]) and a few turns later an [[Underground Sea]]. I cast [[Brainstorm]] and Myles quickly uses [[Force of Will]] — Myles thought I was mana light. At that point, I had recovered and was looking for a way around the [[Force of Will]] that I knew was in my opponent’s hand due to [[Gitaxian Probe]]. I end up not needing a Storm engine for my [[Tendrils of Agony]].

Top Four – Mike with Deathblade

Game One:

We both keep our seven and I’m on the play. I start off with a [[Gitaxian Probe]] and stare into: [[Thoughtseize]], [[Thoughtseize]], [[Misty Rainforest]], [[Wasteland]], [[Stoneforge Mystic]], [[Jace, the Mind Sculptor]] and a [[Ponder]]. I [[Ponder]] and see two lands and [[Ad Nauseam]]. I bury [[Ad Nauseam]] third on the bottom so that I can play around Mike’s pair of [[Thoughtseize]]. Mike uses [[Misty Rainforest]] to find an [[Underground Sea]] to cast the first [[Thoughtseize]], discarding an [[Infernal Tutor]] leaving with me with: [[Lotus Petal]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lotus Petal]], and a [[Misty Rainforest]]. I draw the land on top, play [[Scalding Tarn]], [[Lotus Petal]], and pass. Mike plays a [[Ponder]], uses a [[Polluted Delta]] to find a second [[Underground Sea]] and plays the other [[Thoughtseize]] which discards a [[Rite of Flame]]. I draw [[Ad Nauseam]] and cast it.

Sideboarding: -1 [[Chrome Mox]], -1 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Infernal Tutor]], +1 [[Tropical Island]], +2 [[Carpet of Flowers]]

Game Two:

I get absolutely destroyed by [[Meddling Mage]] on [[Burning Wish]], [[Surgical Extraction]] on [[Dark Ritual]] and Mike’s three hard counters in hand by turn three.

Game Three:

I have a turn one [[Carpet of Flowers]]. Mike plays [[Underground Sea]] and [[Thoughtseize]] — discarding [[Infernal Tutor]]. I draw another [[Infernal Tutor]] and use [[Carpet of Flowers]] to cast [[Brainstorm]]. I draw into more “tutor effects” but no protection. Mike then plays [[Meddling Mage]] naming [[Burning Wish]]. I decide to go for it and run into [[Force of Will]].

Totals & Stats

Closing & General Thoughts

I was incredibly happy with my list. If the disruptive creature bears continue with their popularity, it may be worthwhile to play [[Massacre]] — I wouldn’t change anything quite yet. I didn’t really have too many opportunities for [[Carpet of Flowers]] which makes it seem worse than it actually is. I had a lot of fun on the day, I felt like I played well, and I took home a great prize of four [[Tropical Island]] as well as two [[Flooded Strand]]! Brian took home four [[Bayou]] and four [[Wooded Foothills]], while sadly Nick playing my RUG deck fell to seventeenth on tiebreakers. Nick still managed to get some prizes as Tales of Adventure had them running all the way down to 32^nd.

The ride back was miserable considering we left the event at 11:30PM and didn’t get back in until 3:30AM. I hope to see a great turnout again at Tales of Adventures for their next event.

Until next time, keep storming!