The first 2024 set release Murders at Karlov Manor. It was a fairly benign release with little initial fanfare in eternal formats aside from [[Pick Your Poison]]. But that all quickly changed!
There are eternal format playable cards like [[Leyline of the Guildpact]] in Temur Rhinos, [[Cryptic Coat]] in [[Stoneforge Mystic]] decks, and [[Doorkeeper Thrull]] as another mono-White hatebear with a fringe-playable textbox. Perhaps the biggest Legacy addition was the Surveil land cycle.
This cycle of tapped lands ([[Thundering Falls]] for example) did not look like Legacy all-stars at first. Tapped lands are a major liability in a format where games are often decided in the first few turns. However, the card selection on a fetchable dual land cannot be overstated.
Control decks often play utility lands that might enter tapped due to an alternative value — [[Mystic Sanctuary]] and Triomes like [[Zagoth Triome]] for example. The nerfed [[Ponder]]-esque selection of the Surveil land cycle is a tool Control decks can integrate. In fact, Blue [[Field of the Dead]] decks have returned thanks to these lands providing additional card names to the mana base without having to stretch into weaker options like [[Sheltered Thicket]].
The Surveil lands also pair with top-deck tutors like [[Worldly Tutor]]. The ability to hold priority and respond to a Surveil trigger with [[Worldly Tutor]] can put a big fatty like [[Griselbrand]] into the graveyard. A “Build Your Own [[Entomb]]” of a sort. This has seen growth in Reanimator strategies adopting a Golgari color identity and a sideboard [[Witherbloom Apprentice]] combo juke (of note, [[Worldly Tutor]] finds [[Witherbloom Apprentice]] for the combo).
The Surveil lands have found a surprising new home in addition to the aforementioned decks — none other than The EPIC Storm (TES)! Our v15.7 plays with two Surveil lands: [[Undercity Sewers]] and [[Thundering Falls]], replacing [[Underground Sea]] and [[Volcanic Island]] from v15.6, respectively. This cascade of changes make TES different than before (namely a switch to maindeck [[Echo of Eons]] due to the current speed and non-Blue focus of the format). There are several reasons for this change, specifically discussed in many of our YouTube videos on the topic — Bryant Cook published several on the expansion of this idea.
How do Surveil lands change cantrip sequencing? The two options for our [[Brainstorm]] and [[Ponder]] combo deck are to either cantrip on turn one or wait until later turns. A split of Surveil lands and OG dual lands offer the ability to choose which plan is best with our given hand and opponent.
One common sequence is playing a fetch land on turn one and tutor [[Undercity Sewers]] in our opponent’s end step, untap, and cast a cantrip with another land drop available. This can be more effective at finding land two or better card selection if we already have a second land. The selection provided by the Surveil lands is nearly free and smooths the game plan well. Of course, tracking fetchable lands is important, but always has been.
TES’s mana base can be seen two ways: a monstrous amalgamation of cards absent synergy that is difficult to manage, or a carefully crafted work of art based on practical application and scraps of code optimized for color availability. Play with the mana and you’ll quickly discover it’s the latter.
Let’s take a dive into the new list to learn how to navigate new puzzles! All three have something to offer new Storm pilots and seasoned veterans alike.
Special Guest
Mike Noble
(Discord: MikeNoble)
I am Eternal Magic commentator Mike Noble. I’m from the Philadelphia area; home to the first Legacy Grand Prix and Legacy event in my career, Grand Prix Philadelphia 2005. I’ve been a commentator since 2017, covering Legacy such tournament series as Eternal Extravaganza, Eternal Weekend, Dice City Games, and The Legacy Pit.
My first Legacy deck was [[Aluren]], but I quickly switched to [[Dark Ritual]] and [[Rite of Flame]] by way of Iggy Pop, [[Doomsday]], Charbelcher, and, of course, The EPIC Storm. While TES doesn’t play [[Gemstone Mine]] anymore, it is probably one of the most skill-testing decks I’ve had the pleasure of piloting.
Deck List
the epic Storm
Main Deck
- 4 [[Ponder]]
- 4 [[Brainstorm]]
- 4 [[Burning Wish]]
- 4 [[Beseech the Mirror]]
- 3 [[Echo of Eons]]
- 1 [[Tendrils of Agony]]
- 1 [[Song of Creation]]
- 1 [[Gaea’s Will]]
- 4 [[Veil of Summer]]
- 2 [[Thoughtseize]]
- 4 [[Dark Ritual]]
- 4 [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]
- 4 [[Lotus Petal]]
- 4 [[Chrome Mox]]
- 2 [[Mox Opal]]
- 2 [[Cabal Ritual]]
- 4 [[Misty Rainforest]]
- 3 [[Bloodstained Mire]]
- 1 [[Undercity Sewers]]
- 1 [[Thundering Falls]]
- 1 [[Underground Sea]]
- 1 [[Bayou]]
- 1 [[Taiga]]
Sideboard
- 2 [[Echoing Truth]]
- 2 [[Boseiju, Who Endures]]
- 1 [[Thoughtseize]]
- 1 [[Consign // Oblivion]]
- 1 [[Grapeshot]]
- 4 [[Galvanic Relay]]
- 1 [[Empty the Warrens]]
- 1 [[Tendrils of Agony]]
- 1 [[Echo of Eons]]
- 1 [[Peer into the Abyss]]
SITUATION No. 1 — Izzet Delver
[[Delver of Secrets]] has fallen! No longer is the lean, mean, Tempo strategy the defacto “best deck” in Legacy. Its decline is primarily due to the uptick of [[Up the Beanstalk]] Control decks, a card advantage engine that rolls the Tempo decks. Essentially, Sultai Beans decks play slightly bigger than Izzet and Temur Delver decks with more removal and better card advantage while maintaining access to [[Wasteland]] and other “small-ball” interaction like [[Daze]], [[Spell Pierce]], and [[Stifle]].
Despite that, [[Delver of Secrets]] has maintained a strong presence in the meta — even if it’s no longer the best deck in the format. [[Delver of Secrets]] can shred an opposing strategy to pieces if properly deployed; card selection with [[Dragon’s Rage Channeler]] remains unparalleled; and [[Murktide Regent]] reverses stalled and losing boards faster than any other two-mana threat.
TES has often had a favorable matchup against the various flavors of [[Delver of Secrets]]. While that has not changed, the matchup has shifted slightly with the inclusion of [[Stifle]] in many main deck configurations. Being more careful with when Storm triggers are put on the stack can go a long way addressing [[Stifle]] gamers. Let’s dive into a situation exactly like that!
SIDEBOARDING:
+3 [[Galvanic Relay]], +2 [[Boseiju, Who Endures]]; -3 [[Echo of Eons]], -2 [[Cabal Ritual]]
Our first scenario is deep into a post-board game. It is turn six (though you couldn’t tell by looking at the land drops) and we have recovered cards lost in a few mulligans. Our opponent has six cards in hand after deploying [[Wasteland]] to destroy our [[Undercity Sewers]]. We are left with only [[Bayou]] for mana. Of note, they countered a [[Dark Ritual]] with [[Minor Misstep]] in a previous turn and showed us [[Stifle]] in a previous game. How can we approach this turn with eight cards in hand?
Special Guest
Mike Noble
This hand offers two distinct engines to go for. If we [[Galvanic Relay]], we can lose nearly all of our cards to [[Stifle]] and be down three black mana from [[Dark Ritual]] for our follow up [[Beseech the Mirror]] next turn. I would cast [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Chrome Mox]] without imprint, and [[Mox Opal]] before [[Dark Ritual]] and [[Beseech the Mirror]], sacrificing [[Chrome Mox]]. Assuming it all resolves, tutor and cast [[Song of Creation]] with two [[Chrome Mox]] to dig for a protected win. This can also provide mana since the [[Song of Creation]] draw trigger resolves before the Imprint trigger. If not, we’re left with two [[Chrome Mox]] and a [[Galvanic Relay]] to try a smaller engine in future turns.
#TEAMTES
Jordan Karim
As a Storm player, I need to work on how to sell my opponent a story that does not line up with what I actually care about. Sometimes it’s easy (pretending to care about a [[Burning Wish]] resolving when you have a [[Galvanic Relay]] already in hand) but other times it’s difficult. Thankfully, I had time to study this scenario for longer than I would have in-game.
My main concern is [[Stifle]] on the [[Galvanic Relay]] Storm trigger — [[Galvanic Relay]] is my goal this turn. If I want my opponent to think about something else, I can potentially get them to commit to a [[Stifle]] on a [[Chrome Mox]] Imprint trigger instead. Leading on [[Chrome Mox]] without an Imprint, [[Mox Opal]], [[Chrome Mox]] is a sequence that hopefully tells our opponent we are desperate for [[Mox Opal]] mana and need the second [[Chrome Mox]] to activate Metalcraft. From there, we can hopefully continue casting our spells into a profitable [[Galvanic Relay]].
Bryant Cook
I think we likely have to trick our [[Stifle]] opponent to win. I would lead on [[Chrome Mox]] (no Imprint), play [[Mox Opal]], AND THEN cast another [[Chrome Mox]] to bait the opponent. It might draw out a [[Force of Will]] or the [[Stifle]]. If they have [[Daze]], allow for the [[Chrome Mox]] to be countered. Playing Storm Combo is often about selling a narrative to your opponent through sequencing actions. We’re trying to send the message that we need [[Mox Opal]] to be active.
Since we’re not under any pressure from the opponent, I would look to Imprint [[Dark Ritual]] under one of the two remaining [[Chrome Mox]] (either on the stack or in hand) and then [[Galvanic Relay]]. They’re more likely to have an answer for [[Beseech the Mirror]] than [[Galvanic Relay]]. The idea is that [[Galvanic Relay]] will provide enough advantage to plow through their remaining forces.
Alex McKinley
This is a situation where the opponent can have all the interaction in the world and it does not not get better for us. Without a Blue source, it is hard to [[Brainstorm]] away all of these extra copies of [[Chrome Mox]]. Even then, a fetchland could be countered by [[Stifle]]. This is a spot where “incorrect” sequencing to try to trick the opponent can give us the advantage.
Our most important cards are [[Galvanic Relay]], [[Mox Opal]], and maybe a [[Chrome Mox]]. The opponent has been on a mana denial plan so this increases their likelihood of interacting with one of the Moxen. Start by casting [[Mox Opal]], then [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], and then a [[Chrome Mox]], hoping they [[Stifle]] the [[Chrome Mox]] Imprint trigger. This leads to the [[Galvanic Relay]], helping beat most forms of counter magic. I do not want to give the opponent the opportunity to counter [[Dark Ritual]]. I’m more likely to imprint the [[Dark Ritual]] or the [[Beseech the Mirror]] to a [[Chrome Mox]]. Hopefully, this large [[Galvanic Relay]] baits some interaction and wins the game!
Oliver Everhard
We’re at 20 life against a fair deck presenting no threats — simply put, there’s no reason to go all in on our [[Beseech the Mirror]] right. [[Galvanic Relay]] has plenty of potential. Play out all the artifact mana, imprinting the [[Dark Ritual]] under one [[Chrome Mox]]. Cast [[Galvanic Relay]] for six. Having additional Black mana next turn (especially with an active [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and a [[Beseech the Mirror]] already in hand) beats the extra Storm and [[Daze]] protection that casting the [[Dark Ritual]] offers. This line is soft to [[Stifle]] followed by [[Meltdown]], but lessens [[Force of Will]] concerns, which a six-card Izzet Delver hand is likely to have on turn six.
SITUATION No. 2 — Turbo Goblins
[[_____ Goblin]] is behind the huge tonal shift seen by Goblin players. What used to be a flexible “Control-esque” deck with [[AEther Vial]], [[Rishadan Port]], and [[Wasteland]] is now a Stompy deck with [[Ancient Tomb]] and [[Chrome Mox]]. The goal is to utilize the highly explosive mana production of [[_____ Goblin]] to power out threats like [[Muxus, Goblin Grandee]], [[Goblin Ringleader]], and [[Battle Cry Goblin]] activations. [[Broadside Bombardiers]] is a key component, serving as removal and reach.
Regarding [[Chalice of the Void]] decks, Turbo Goblins is less a Prison deck and more an Aggro deck. Without [[Archon of Emeria]] like in Boros Initiative, the Goblins matchup does not feel as bad for TES. With fewer disruptive permanents, the name of the game is speed!
A playset of [[Echo of Eons]] across the 75 allows pilots to mulligan more aggressively to faster combo turns. Goblins has several concerning sideboard cards: [[Leyline of the Void]], [[Blood Moon]], [[Magus of the Moon]], and [[Null Rod]], all of which are common. Keep these in mind when planning opening hands. Let’s look at a situation with a less common sideboard card: [[Goblin Trashmaster]].
SIDEBOARDING:
+2 [[Boseiju, Who Endures]], +1 [[Echoing Truth]], +1 [[Consign // Oblivion]]; -4 [[Veil of Summer]]
[[Goblin Trashmaster]] looks like it has a chokehold on this game. We are post-board and the gamestate is fairly threatening! [[The One Ring]] was a surprise two turns ago, but now is our chance to make a push before they untap. We are looking at our hand post [[Echo of Eons]] and making our land drop (Storm 7). Our opponent is not protected from [[The One Ring]]. How can we fight the on-board disruption and force our advantage through?
Special Guest
Mike Noble
While [[Goblin Trashmaster]] isn’t our friend, priority is. Lead with [[Lotus Petal]] and immediately sacrifice it to cast [[Dark Ritual]]. Cast another [[Lotus Petal]]. If at any point [[Goblin Trashmaster]] destroys our [[Mox Opal]], bargain away the [[Lotus Petal]] for [[Gaea’s Will]]. Otherwise, sacrifice it for mana and bargain away [[Mox Opal]]. From there, cast and sacrifice the copies of [[Lotus Petal]] and cast [[Dark Ritual]] before casting [[Mox Opal]], once again using priority to have it around as Bargain fodder for [[Beseech the Mirror]] into [[Tendrils of Agony]].
#TEAMTES
Jordan Karim
[[Goblin Trashmaster]] who? The opposing artifact destruction is not as problematic as it initially seems. With appropriate sequencing, we can avoid caring about it at all! Cast one [[Lotus Petal]] and use it to cast [[Dark Ritual]]. At no point does priority pass to our opponent in such a way that they can destroy our [[Lotus Petal]].
If they don’t destroy the [[Mox Opal]], we can commit to a [[Song of Creation]] line that skirts around a potential [[Faerie Macabre]]. Typical graveyard hate is [[Leyline of the Void]], but there are enough pilots that deviate so playing around [[Faerie Macabre]] is ideal. Cast [[Beseech the Mirror]] (Bargaining the not-destroyed [[Mox Opal]]). [[Song of Creation]] will have at least two triggers (the second [[Lotus Petal]] and [[Brainstorm]]) which is seven additional cards likely leading to a graveyard-free victory!
If our opponent is savvy, they could destroy the [[Mox Opal]] before we have priority to put [[Beseech the Mirror]] on the stack. In that case, we have to commit to a [[Gaea’s Will]] line. Play out the second [[Lotus Petal]] and immediately cast [[Beseech the Mirror]] with Bargain. Yet again, there is no time for our opponent to destroy our card. From there, we can get a standard [[Gaea’s Will]] line that unfortunately would lose to a well-timed [[Faerie Macabre]]. Let’s hope our opponent isn’t savvy enough to destroy the [[Mox Opal]]!
Bryant Cook
Due to [[Goblin Trashmaster]] onboard, the dream of Metalcraft for [[Mox Opal]] is never happening. Instead, play [[Lotus Petal]] and use it to cast [[Dark Ritual]]. If they destroy [[Mox Opal]], we look to a [[Gaea’s Will]] line to win the game — which would expose us to graveyard hate. If they don’t [[Goblin Trashmaster]], we can put [[Song of Creation]] onto the battlefield and then play [[Lotus Petal]] (and potentially a [[Brainstorm]] afterwards depending on our draws).
We shouldn’t have to worry about [[The One Ring]] since the protection trigger was the previous turn, but if it wasn’t, I would storm out to [[Empty the Warrens]].
Alex McKinley
It is good that we do not need the mana from [[Mox Opal]] to win! Cast [[Lotus Petal]] (Storm 6), [[Dark Ritual]] (Storm 7), [[Lotus Petal]] (Storm 8), [[Beseech the Mirror]] (Bargained with [[Lotus Petal]], or [[Mox Opal]] if they let us have it, Storm 9) into a lethal [[Tendrils of Agony]]! Because Bargain is an additional cost, the opponent does not have a priority window to blow up the [[Lotus Petal]] after we cast the second one before it is sacrificed to [[Beseech the Mirror]].
Oliver Everhard
Deploy a [[Lotus Petal]] and crack it to cast [[Dark Ritual]]. What we do next depends on whether our opponent chooses to destroy [[Mox Opal]] with [[Goblin Trashmaster]]. If they choose to remove [[Mox Opal]] there, deploy the second [[Lotus Petal]] and immediately bargain it to [[Beseech the Mirror]] for [[Gaea’s Will]] (Storm 5) — they will not have a priority pass to take it out with [[Goblin Trashmaster]].
Redeploy the artifacts and [[Beseech the Mirror]] from the graveyard for a [[Tendrils of Agony]] kill. While this seems great, Turbo Goblins is a deck that often runs [[Faerie Macabre]], and we wheeled them into a new hand — an exile effect on our buried [[Beseech the Mirror]] in response to [[Gaea’s Will]] could be really difficult to deal with.
For this reason, if they choose not to destroy [[Mox Opal]], tutoring for [[Song of Creation]] is strong by bargaining [[Mox Opal]] is strong. With [[Brainstorm]] in hand, we’ll see a minimum of seven additional cards and an extra land drop. Turbo Goblins doesn’t typically run [[Mindbreak Trap]] or have any way to destroy an enchantment — if we can use the [[Lotus Petal]] as a first trigger of the [[Song of Creation]] rather than as bargain fodder, this is better than risking a [[Faerie Macabre]] blowout.
SITUATION No. 3 — Doomsday
There was a lot of talk about [[Doomsday]] strategies being significantly nerfed with the printing of [[Orcish Bowmasters]] and the re-incorporation of discard in Legacy (i.e. [[Grief]]). But the extreme compactness of the combo paired with excellent protection and disruption is difficult to displace. The latest innovation to “Turbo” lists has added [[The One Ring]] maindeck. Some lists play [[Undercity Sewers]] like TES. Otherwise (and “flavor of the month” sideboard plans), [[Doomsday]] deck-building has stayed consistent for months. Success with [[Doomsday]] takes higher skill than the average Legacy deck. So while it may not be as prevalent, pilots still putting [[Doomsday]] on the stack are is likely quite adept.
TES struggles against one-card combos that can assemble wins from extremely few resources backed by [[Force of Will]], [[Daze]], and [[Force of Negation]]. Multiple copies of [[Thoughtseize]] has certainly helped them as well.
Better access to [[Echo of Eons]] is a double-edged sword. Fighting to protect an [[Echo of Eons]] is great, but if that fight is lost and the wheel happens, nothing post-[[Echo of Eons]] is protected. This can be tough against a deck with two full playsets of pitch counters, [[Daze]], and [[Thoughtseize]], but is still likely better than [[Galvanic Relay]] due to the increased speed with which TES can combo.
SIDEBOARDING:
NONE
We are well into a complicated [[Echo of Eons]] turn, having fought over the resolution of the first wheel resulting in our current situation. It is turn six in a post-board game. We do not have [[Veil of Summer]] protection, but have one in hand. Our opponent showed us copies of [[Veil of Summer]] in their post-board configuration, courtesy of [[Doomsday]] resolving and forcing a third game. How can we sequence our hand to win the game?
Special Guest
Mike Noble
It’s going to take a lot of Storm to kill with [[Grapeshot]]. Cast [[Lotus Petal]] and [[Mox Opal]], tapping the [[Mox Opal]] for , and bargaining [[Mox Opal]] to [[Beseech the Mirror]], floating to cast [[Veil of Summer]]. Whatever the outcome, cast [[Song of Creation]] with the floating , [[Thundering Falls]], and [[Mox Opal]] available. If our first [[Veil of Summer]] was successful, the second can draw multiple cards. If our first [[Veil of Summer]] was unsuccessful and the opponent tries to counter [[Song of Creation]], cast the [[Veil of Summer]] from hand via the [[Lotus Petal]]. Hopefully, whatever we drew plus the [[Dark Ritual]] is enough for a large Storm kill. If not, [[Song of Creation]] will discard our [[Echo of Eons]] at end of turn to try again later.
#TEAMTES
Jordan Karim
Thankfully, we have plenty of mana to work with! Because of the threat of an opposing [[Veil of Summer]], commit to a [[Grapeshot]] line. [[Song of Creation]] is the best card for that. To that end, cast both artifacts floating from the [[Mox Opal]] and Bargain it to [[Beseech the Mirror]] with [[Veil of Summer]] for protection (Storm 11 | floating).
[[Beseech the Mirror]] for another [[Veil of Summer]] so we have double protection for [[Song of Creation]]. If we cast [[Veil of Summer]] from hand to protect the one we tutored for, we will have one less spell to cast into [[Song of Creation]], but I feel good about this line. After [[Song of Creation]] resolves (using the floating, [[Lotus Petal]] for and [[Thundering Falls]] for ), cast [[Dark Ritual]] using [[Undercity Sewers]] for our first trigger and potentially the [[Grapeshot]] win. If not, we’re discarding [[Echo of Eons]] and can try again the following turn.
Bryant Cook
[[Lotus Petal]], [[Mox Opal]], float mana with [[Mox Opal]]. Cast [[Beseech the Mirror]] Bargaining [[Mox Opal]] (future Metalcraft reasons). Tutor [[Veil of Summer]] if it resolves. Cast [[Veil of Summer]] from hand if they try to fight over the one on the stack. I want to cast this [[Song of Creation]] to win the game with a lethal Storm count for [[Grapeshot]]. You’re not far off from hard-casting [[Echo of Eons]] with a leftover [[Dark Ritual]] to start the [[Song of Creation]] chain.
Alex McKinley
Given that the opponent is Sultai [[Doomsday]], the best they could have is counter magic and a [[Veil of Summer]]. [[Song of Creation]] is the best way to beat a [[Veil of Summer]] and graveyard hate. Fortunately, we already have access to it. With this much mana floating, holding zero mana artifacts for [[Song of Creation]] is not that much of a priority. Cast both artifacts and [[Song of Creation]] with [[Veil of Summer]] back up. If they answer both, attempt to win with [[Gaea’s Will]] into [[Song of Creation]] for a lethal [[Grapeshot]].]
Oliver Everhard
Deploy the artifact mana for online with the [[Mox Opal]]. In this scenario, lead with [[Song of Creation]] — use floating, off the [[Thundering Falls]] and off the [[Mox Opal]], leaving the [[Undercity Sewers]] and the [[Lotus Petal]] live, and floating (Storm 3). Back this up with [[Veil of Summer]], pay for any number of [[Daze]] effects, and get the party started with [[Dark Ritual]] after it resolves. I highly doubt our opponent will have enchantment interaction.
If it does not resolve, cast [[Dark Ritual]] for [[Beseech the Mirror]] into [[Gaea’s Will]], bargaining [[Mox Opal]] with mana to pay for [[Daze]] (we lose to a third Force effect). With the [[Lotus Petal]], [[Mox Opal]] and [[Dark Ritual]] in the graveyard, this should be enough mana to [[Burning Wish]] via [[Beseech the Mirror]] for [[Grapeshot]] in the sideboard unless we’ve been hit by [[Daze]] multiple times — if we have and this line isn’t feasible, I’m prepared to lose to our opponent’s seven card hand being two [[Force of Will]], two [[Daze]], two Blue cards to pitch, and a [[Veil of Summer]] if we just go for maindeck [[Tendrils of Agony]] instead.
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