Streets of New Capenna, the latest Standard set, introduced a surprising number of cards for constructed formats. As it pertains to Legacy, there’s a new Blue threat on the block! [[Ledger Shredder]] has taken players by storm as a bridge between [[Dragon’s Rage Channeler]] and [[Murktide Regent]]. In fact, a phenomenon we have all seen before is happening again. Spurred on this time in an article written by MTGO user Bullwinkkle6705 on the juxtaposition of two contradictory gameplans, UR Delver is cutting the marquee card [[Delver of Secrets]] in favor of more controlling cards like [[Predict]]. With the printing of [[Ledger Shredder]], the adoption of this playstyle has increased. The EPIC Storm players should be on the lookout for these decks. While our playstyle normally does not include sideboarding in our copies of [[Abrupt Decay]], some Delver-less Delver decks have played copies of [[Counterbalance]] in their sideboards. Consider bringing in the two removal spells once you see which version your opponent is on.
Another change to the Legacy metagame has been an uptick in Storm strategies. With continued performance in weekly Challenges, the percentage of players casting [[Tendrils of Agony]] has increased. In response to these numbers, players have been preparing for us in their sideboard. Whether through the inclusion of hate bears or copies of [[Veil of Summer]], being a Storm player has gotten slightly harder in recent weeks. To that end, The EPIC Storm v12.9 has been rolled out. This version is doing things slightly differently! The card in our sideboard that has been the most awkward is [[Carpet of Flowers]] number four. Sideboard mapping against UR Delver and UWx Control had an awkward card that had to come out of the mainboard to make room for the fourth [[Carpet of Flowers]]. The EPIC Storm v12.9 removes it, but replacing the slot is a little different than previous versions. The 15th sideboard slot is acting as an official “Flex Slot”. Instead of having a decklist version for every card that would fit in the slot, v12.9 is all of them. [[Grapeshot]], [[Pulverize]], and [[Massacre]] are the top three options for any particular week. Looking into top-performing decks and trying to predict meta shifts will allow one card to fill the slot over another. On the whole, having this added functionality helps to answer problems that v12.8 was designed to ignore. Check out our deck tech and MTGO league playthrough on YouTube for more details!
Special Guest
SAM DAMS
(Twitter: @Fenruscloud | Patreon: Fenruscloud)
Sam Dams aka Fenruscloud is known for always playing his pet deck in Legacy: Infect. He started playing the deck in 2016, and hasn’t stopped brewing and innovating since. He can be found streaming once a week and writes dedicated Infect content on his Patreon for both Modern and legacy.
Deck List
the epic Storm
Main Deck
- 4 [[Burning Wish]]
- 4 [[Wishclaw Talisman]]
- 4 [[Brainstorm]]
- 4 [[Ponder]]
- 1 [[Galvanic Relay]]
- 1 [[Tendrils of Agony]]
- 1 [[Ad Nauseam]]
- 1 [[Echo of Eons]]
- 4 [[Veil of Summer]]
- 1 [[Defense Grid]]
- 4 [[Rite of Flame]]
- 4 [[Dark Ritual]]
- 4 [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]
- 4 [[Lotus Petal]]
- 3 [[Chrome Mox]]
- 3 [[Mox Opal]]
- 3 [[Verdant Catacombs]]
- 2 [[Bloodstained Mire]]
- 2 [[Polluted Delta]]
- 1 [[Tropical Island]]
- 1 [[Badlands]]
- 1 [[Underground Sea]]
- 1 [[Volcanic Island]]
- 1 [[Taiga]]
- 1 [[Swamp]]
Sideboard
- 4 [[Carpet of Flowers]]
- 3 [[Galvanic Relay]]
- 2 [[Abrupt Decay]]
- 2 [[Chain of Vapor]]
- 1 [[Empty the Warrens]]
- 1 [[Tendrils of Agony]]
- 1 [[Echo of Eons]]
- 1 [[Peer into the Abyss]]
SITUATION No. 1 — Peer into the Abyss Storm
Ever since [[Peer into the Abyss]] was printed, Storm players have been salivating over the most effective way to utilize one of the most powerful draw spells printed. Getting to the seven mana required can be tough, but the reward for doing so is often just winning the game. The most well-known adopter of [[Peer into the Abyss]] is The EPIC Storm itself, functioning as a perfect [[Burning Wish]] target that replaced the [[Dark Petition]] + [[Ad Nauseam]] slot for the same mana requirements. Ad Nauseam Tendrils has also played [[Peer into the Abyss]] in the sideboard as a juke when [[Ad Nauseam]] is too intensive on their life total. The dedicated [[Peer into the Abyss]] deck is quite different from these two more well-known Storm strategies.
Because PITA Storm seeks to just cast a single high mana value spell, they can function similarly to Doomsday by running [[Force of Will]] and [[Daze]] protection for their combo. Cards like [[Thoughtseize]] and [[Duress]] naturally slot into this base UB deck. The fairly linear plan has a fair amount of disruption and never wins a game in half measures. If PITA Storm is winning, everyone knows.
Playing The EPIC Storm, [[Veil of Summer]] is a fantastic card to have in your hand. Attempting to combo off with a protection spell is a good idea as [[Force of Will]] plays double duty as interaction against our combo as well as protection for theirs. Plans that take more than one turn (like [[Echo of Eons]] and pass, or a large [[Galvanic Relay]]) are less likely to succeed in the midgame where PITA Storm can quickly pivot from control to the beatdown. [[Ad Nauseam]] and our own [[Peer into the Abyss]] are key avenues to victory. Hopefully, we can land a protected [[Defense Grid]] and not worry about sideboard copies of [[Flusterstorm]].
SIDEBOARDING:
-1 [[Galvanic Relay]]; +1 [[Chain of Vapor]]
Our situation starts on our turn two after a [[Veil of Summer]] was cast on a [[Force of Negation]] attempting to stop an [[Echo of Eons]]. We have just drawn our seven fresh cards and still have floating. The world is our oyster. Can we set up for a lethal turn three? What is our best plan of attack if we want to continue this turn?
Special Guest
SAM DAMS
Let me start by saying that even though I’m used to counting to 10, I’ve never actually played Storm in my entire life. Hopefully I don’t mess this up all too bad!
Author’s Note: I started watching Legacy content thanks to a friend of mine that played Infect. I am familiar with some of the more classic Infect players out there. Sam is one of the most patient and thorough Legacy players I have ever seen! Counting to 10 is definitely a skill that transcends deck choices.
Anyway, my guess would be to try and set up for next turn. I’m afraid of them being able to find a card with [[Wishclaw Talisman]], so I think I’d use [[Chain of Vapor]] to bounce the [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. I highly doubt they would sacrifice their only land to copy it and bounce one of our artifacts. I would probably play a land first though and [[Ponder]] to see what is coming, digging for a [[Dark Ritual]] and/or [[Veil of Summer]].
In our third turn, I think we go for it with [[Ad Nauseam]] and the copies of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] in play if we found mana acceleration.
#TEAMTES
Jordan Karim
I love a good “exactsies” play! First, let’s start by playing a fetchland and finding a land (it doesn’t matter which fetch we use or which land we get). Tap the land for mana, we’ll say , and cast [[Chain of Vapor]] targeting our own [[Mox Opal]]. As it resolves, take the opportunity to copy the spell by sacrificing the land we fetched. Bounce the [[Wishclaw Talisman]] sitting on the other side of the battlefield, it’s time to bring it home. From there, we can deploy the [[Mox Opal]] and both copies of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] (Storm 8 with floating). Cast the [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. Sacrifice both copies of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and use the mana to tutor, then cast, an exactly lethal [[Tendrils of Agony]]. Nice and clean!
Bryant Cook
This is a good one! First we play [[Bloodstained Mire]], activate it for pretty much any land, but for the sake of the scenario lets just say [[Underground Sea]]. Tap [[Underground Sea]] for and now cast [[Chain of Vapor]] targeting [[Mox Opal]]. We’ll sacrifice the [[Underground Sea]] to then copy the [[Chain of Vapor]] to then bounce [[Wishclaw Talisman]].
Cast [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Mox Opal]], and [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. All that’s left to do is to sacrifice the pair of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and activate [[Wishclaw Talisman]] for [[Tendrils of Agony]].
Alex Poling
I would try to setup for a turn-three combo here. I would cast the [[Chain of Vapor]] on the [[Wishclaw Talisman]] to return it to our hand, and then play a land and cast [[Ponder]]. There’s a high likelihood the opponent has a [[Force of Will]] or [[Force of Negation]], so I see no need for trying to go all in this turn and would look for some protection or way to win through a counterspell.
Alex McKinley
Play [[Polluted Delta]], fetch [[Underground Sea]], then float a black mana. Use [[Chain of Vapor]] to bounce the [[Mox Opal]], and then chain by sacrificing [[Underground Sea]] to bounce the [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. Play the copies of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and replay the [[Mox Opal]] and [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. Sacrifice the copies of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] for black and cast [[Tendrils of Agony]] at exactly Storm 10!
Greg Sor
We can win this turn, so why wait? We currently have Storm four with in pool. Play [[Polluted Delta]] for [[Underground Sea]] (technically any land), and add mana with it. Play out the two copies of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] (Storm six with in pool). Cast [[Chain of Vapor]] targeting our [[Mox Opal]] maintaining priority. Crack both copies of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] for mana (Storm seven with floating). Resolve [[Chain of Vapor]] and sacrifice [[Underground Sea]] to copy it, choosing [[Wishclaw Talisman]] as the new target. Our opponent can now choose to sacrifice their land to bounce our [[Chrome Mox]] as well, but it’s not relevant. Last, play [[Mox Opal]] (Storm eight ), play [[Wishclaw Talisman]] and tutor for a lethal [[Tendrils of Agony]].
SITUATION No. 2 — ELVES
Who says combo decks have to play blue or black? Seemingly appearing in stark contrast to our first scenario’s [[Dark Ritual]] plan, Elves eschews traditional combo looks for one of Legacy’s classic archetypes: Green Creatures Go Brrr. With the goal of casting elves into an active [[Glimpse of Nature]], playing tricks with [[Wirewood Symbiote]] and [[Heritage Druid]], and finishing out with a massive [[Craterhoof Behemoth]], it is often said that Legacy Elves is the most consistent turn-three combo deck in the format.
With printings of [[Allosaurus Shepherd]] and [[Endurance]], Elves can combat some of its more difficult matches with ease. Storm strategies are still a struggle for the deck, however. Very little stack interaction is played by Elves, choosing instead to focus on matchups where their sideboard slots better attack the opponent. Because of this, The EPIC Storm can be seen as a heavy favorite. That doesn’t mean Elves will lose without a fight. [[Collector Ouphe]] and [[Thoughtseize]] are the two biggest ways points of interaction to be aware of. Especially against The EPIC Storm, a tutor-able [[Null Rod]]-effect can be devastating to play against! This is certainly the card we need to be most aware of in our gameplay as well as our sideboarding.
SIDEBOARDING:
-2 [[Veil of Summer]], -1 [[Defense Grid]], -1 [[Galvanic Relay]]; +2 [[Chain of Vapor]], +2 [[Abrupt Decay]]
In our situation, we are attempting to resolve a [[Brainstorm]] on our turn two. We are post-[[Echo of Eons]] with floating and enough Storm to kill anything that moves (Storm is 10). Some of the concerns that might be considered are [[Force of Vigor]] or [[Surgical Extraction]]. How best can we use this enticing [[Chain of Vapor]] in our hand this turn?
Special Guest
SAM DAMS
I would put [[Swamp]] and [[Verdant Catacombs]] back, and I like the idea of bouncing the [[Wishclaw Talisman]] to recast it immediately and set up for next turn. If they sacrifice a land to bounce our artifact, that would be excellent as we can then recast it with the remaining [[Tropical Island]] in hand. If not, that’s fine too. We could also use the [[Lotus Petal]] to cast [[Ponder]] instead, but then we probably lose the floating mana unless we find another [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. The upside, of course, being that we can shuffle away two lands that we don’t really need.
I’m not sure, but I think I’d go for the line to bounce [[Wishclaw Talisman]] and replay it, setting up for next turn. In our turn-three, we can cast [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], and get [[Ad Nauseam]] to hopefully kill them from there after casting the latter.
#TEAMTES
Jordan Karim
The [[Brainstorm]] is fairly easy, let’s just try to kill our opponent this turn. Because of that, we’ll put back the two actual lands [[Tropical Island]] and [[Swamp]]. Going for the win here is favored over drawing out the game because [[Collector Ouphe]] can come down next turn off [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. Once [[Brainstorm]] has resolved, we can test the waters for a [[Force of Vigor]] by casting a [[Chain of Vapor]] on our [[Chrome Mox]]. If our opponent elects to respond at that point, we can [[Ponder]] into more action. If it resolves, we have the win! Sacrificing a land, we can copy the [[Chain of Vapor]] to bounce the [[Wishclaw Talisman]] to our hand. Deploying the [[Chrome Mox]] ([[Ponder]] being the imprint), casting the [[Rite of Flame]], and finishing with the [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and [[Wishclaw Talisman]], we have a simple line of tutoring [[Tendrils of Agony]] for lethal without being disrupted by [[Force of Vigor]].
Bryant Cook
It’s less cool when it’s the same scenario back-to-back! Put back two lands with the [[Brainstorm]] and then cast [[Chain of Vapor]] bouncing our [[Chrome Mox]], copy it sacrificing [[Underground Sea]] to then bounce [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. Play [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint: [[Ponder]]), [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Wishclaw Talisman]], and then [[Tendrils of Agony]].
Alex Poling
I would put back the [[Swamp]] and the [[Tropical Island]]. I would then cast the [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and then the [[Rite of Flame]]. With the [[Rite of Flame]] on the stack, this would be the point the opponent would [[Force of Vigor]] on the [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. It would be before I could put a tutor on the stack and just sacrifice the [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] in response. If they did cast a [[Force of Vigor]], then I could use the [[Chain of Vapor]] on the [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. If they didn’t, then I would do the same thing to get the [[Wishclaw Talisman]] back and be able to combo on my following turn.
Alex McKinley
Given how the hand is set up, it is very easy to put back two lands because they do not matter on this turn. If we choose to play around [[Force of Vigor]] and pass, the opponent can use the [[Wishclaw Talisman]] to search up [[Collector Ouphe]]. Technically, the [[Chain of Vapor]] could target the [[Collector Ouphue]] and in response to that, a [[Force of Vigor]] would be game ending. Because both passing and attempting to win this turn end in losing to [[Force of Vigor]], going off this turn makes sense as it limits the time the opponent has to draw a [[Force of Vigor]] or leave mana up for a [[Boseiju, Who Endures]]. This results in a line of [[Rite of Flame]], [[Chain of Vapor]] (targeting [[Chrome Mox]]), chain to target [[Wishclaw Talisman]], cast [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], cast [[Wishclaw Talisman]], and find a lethal [[Tendrils of Agony]].
Greg Sor
I don’t think Surgican Extraction is ever a problem in this situation. Start by putting back two lands as land number two has been already played. I would then sacrifice [[Lotus Petal]] and play [[Chain of Vapor]] targeting my [[Chrome Mox]]. If it resolves, there is not a moment for the opponent to cast a [[Force of Vigor]]. I can now sacrifice a land to copy [[Chain of Vapor]] targeting [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. Play out [[Chrome Mox]] (inprinting Ponder), cast [[Rite of Flame]] ( floating), [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], and [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. In this moment, the opponent may respond by targeting [[Mox Opal]] and [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] with their [[Force of Vigor]]. If they do, we now add mana up to , enough to tutor a lethal [[Tendrils of Agony]]. Of course, if our opponent is casting their [[Force of Vigor]] in response to the first target of [[Chain of Vapor]], we simply need to pass the turn and pray to get a very good [[Ponder]].
SITUATION No. 3 — 4C YORION CONTROL
As with any midrange arms race in Magic, there is always a faction that wants to go bigger and bolder. [[Yorion, Sky Nomad]] allows these styles of decks to thrive where they may otherwise falter. Typically, these decks are four colors with a base of Blue and Green for [[Uro, Titan of Nature’s Wrath]]. Splash colors are very customizable and offer personality to a given 80-card deck. Pilots can tweak card choices for weeks, calmly honing in on a “perfect” 95. Some big weaknesses of these decks are greedy manabases and being filled with more than a normal amount of air. Cantripping through one’s deck is a powerful tool to find specific answers to specific situations. However, too much of a good thing can lead to halting attempts to find the cards necessary to stabilize a board state. These control decks have powerful mid-to-late game plans, provided they get their feet underneath them.
As it pertains to The EPIC Storm, 80-card [[Yorion, Sky Nomad]] decks often play a mix of permanent-based hate and stack interaction. [[Galvanic Relay]] is a key engine to lean on. We can grind just as well, if not better, than many fair Blue decks in the format currently. By focusing on these strengths and not making attempts to win without the proper protection, we can do our best to ensure a swift victory for The EPIC Storm.
SIDEBOARDING:
-4 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Chrome Mox]], -1 [[Mox Opal]], -1 [[Echo of Eons]]; +3 [[Carpet of Flowers]], +2 [[Galvanic Relay]], +2 [[Abrupt Decay]]
Our last scenario begins in the middle of a crucial turn. Once again, [[Brainstorm]] is on the stack and we must decide what to put back and how to continue through the turn and remainder of the game. The beginning of the turn was spent casting a duplicate [[Carpet of Flowers]] and a [[Veil of Summer]] (which resolved). Our opponent knows about the [[Echo of Eons]] in our hand, it was previously tutored from the sideboard with a [[Burning Wish]]. The primary concern here is a Flash [[Hullbreacher]] if we attempt to simply wheel using [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] to Flashback the [[Echo of Eons]]. The goal here is to optimize how we proceed and ensure victory through potential cards like [[Veil of Summer]] and [[Hullbreacher]]. How are you going to finish this turn and this game?
Special Guest
SAM DAMS
I’ve been staring at this picture for a while now and this is probably my inexperience but I can’t seem to find a line that protects our combo from both [[Veil of Summer]] and [[Hullbreacher]]. Especially with [[Veil of Summer]] resolving, I’d just try and go for the [[Echo of Eons]] wheel to win from there. Make ‘em have it I say!
#TEAMTES
Jordan Karim
There are many ways to skin a cat, but at least one of them ends up with a lethal line against our opponent here. Because [[Brainstorm]] resolved, we are not likely facing down a [[Hullbreacher]]. Even if our opponent was very greedy and hoping we would play the [[Echo of Eons]], we don’t actually need it to win! Let’s put back [[Abrupt Decay]] and [[Echo of Eons]]. Using the floating , [[Veil of Summer]] can be used to bait a counter spell. Whether it resolved or not, we can pass through into our second main phase to trigger the newly controlled [[Carpet of Flowers]] (Storm 4 with ).
From here, we should cast both copies of [[Rite of Flame]] making sure to count the one already in our graveyard and play [[Underground Sea]] for our land this turn (Storm 6 with ). Tapping this [[Underground Sea]], we can deploy [[Wishclaw Talisman]] and the [[Mox Opal]]. [[Galvanic Relay]] for nine is our insulation against another counter spell or [[Flusterstorm]] at this point (Storm 9 with ). Our [[Wishclaw Talisman]] can find another copy of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] – and actually it should probably do so before we accidentally exile them all with [[Galvanic Relay]]! Once we cast it, Storm is ten and we have in our mana pool. [[Burning Wish]] into [[Tendrils of Agony]] is lethal! If we somehow don’t get there, a [[Veil of Summer]] would put a damper on our spirits, we still have a large [[Galvanic Relay]] that will likely set us up nicely for the future.
Bryant Cook
What kind of monster covers the Storm count?
Let’s start by putting back [[Abrupt Decay]] and [[Echo of Eons]]. We already have a [[Rite of Flame]] in the graveyard, which makes the next one add an additional mana.
Tap [[Badlands]] and play [[Wishclaw Talisman]] (Storm 4). [[Mox Opal]] (Storm 5), tap [[Mox Opal]] for to cast [[Rite of Flame]] (Storm 6 | ), [[Rite of Flame]] (Storm 7 | ), and then activate [[Wishclaw Talisman]] using a to search for the last copy of [[Rite of Flame]].
Cast [[Rite of Flame]] (Storm 8 | ) into [[Galvanic Relay]] (Storm 9 | ). After the copies have resolved, [[Burning Wish]] (Storm 10 | ), hold priority sacrificing [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] for (), retrieve [[Tendrils of Agony]] and then cast it (Storm 11 | ).
Alex Poling
I would put back the [[Burning Wish]] and [[Abrupt Decay]]. I would then cast [[Rite of Flame]], [[Mox Opal]], and [[Galvanic Relay]] for five Storm. Depending on what was exiled from [[Galvanic Relay]] I would either save the [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] for the following turn or still go for sacrificing [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] to Flashback the [[Echo of Eons]] to setup an even better next turn. If they have the [[Hullbreacher]], then at least I would have the five cards exiled off [[Galvanic Relay]] to try and win.
Alex McKinley
There are lots of moving parts here! If the opponent had a [[Hullbreacher]] and chose not to cast it in response to [[Brainstorm]], that would be rather odd. Though, the opponent does know about the [[Echo of Eons]], which may cause them to be extra greedy with that card. Fortunately, we can go off straight through it! I would put back [[Abrupt Decay]] and [[Galvanic Relay]]. Before switching phases, I would cast the [[Veil of Summer]] to get to storm 4. In the second main phase, I would add black mana with the [[Carpet of Flowers]]. Then I would cast both copies of [[Rite of Flame]] and the [[Mox Opal]](storm 7). After that I would play the [[Wishclaw Talisman]] and use it to find another copy of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] (Storm 9). [[Burning Wish]] for a lethal [[Tendrils of Agony]] at Storm 11, given that the opponent is at 21.
Greg Sor
I don’t think they have a [[Hullbreacher]] because I am currently resolving a Brainstorm. If they had, it would have been ideal to cast in response and leave me with just one card in hand. Storm is three. Put back [[Abrupt Decay]] and [[Echo of Eons]] for the [[Brainstorm]], cast [[Veil of Summer]] and move into the second main phase. Add with [[Carpet of Flowers]], then cast both [[Rite of Flame]], [[Mox Opal]], [[Wishclaw Talisman]] (Storm 8 in pool). Cast [[Galvanic Relay]] for nine and follow up with [[Burning Wish]] (keeping priority and cracking [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]) for an [[Empty the Warrens]] for 22 [[Goblin Token]]s.
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