Goodbye [[Grief]]! Wizards of the Coast has finally taken action in Legacy (and several other formats) to return to a healthier metagame. [[Grief]], along with the most maligned portions of the Dimir Rescaminator deck, has been removed from Legacy. Don’t get it twisted, though—Dimir Tempo still exists as a powerful strategy, albeit usually without the reanimation package. This Tempo deck relies on the power of [[Psychic Frog]] and [[Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student]], resulting in a game that feels more fair. Some pilots are successfully keeping Dimir Reanimator on the map. Without [[Grief]], the ability to span the early turns relies on cards like [[Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student]] and [[Thoughtseize]]. The deck is still strong, but not as broken as before. This may be a light-handed ban, but leaving the strategy intact allows it to flourish.
Looking at the potential downstream effects of banning [[Grief]], a potential new metagame emerges. Five significant effects could have large impacts on the Legacy format:
- Decks that suffered from [[Reanimate]] on their creatures may return.
- Decks (primarily Combo decks) with key pieces can breathe a tentative sigh of relief.
- Strategies that sought to prey on Rescaminator may need to adjust to being targeted more.
- Fair Blue decks can come back with less fear of being out-valued by a hyper-efficient Tempo deck.
- Non-Blue creature decks needn’t fear being crushed by [[Archon of Cruelty]] and [[Orcish Bowmasters]].
Let’s take these points one by one. First, decks like Initiative Stompy and traditional Rakdos Reanimator may see a resurgence, primarily due to the absence of a brutal sequence: [[Grief]] the primary threat in their hand, then [[Reanimate]] it, leaving them with nothing on turn one. This exact line has hounded decks with “juicy” reanimation targets throughout the tenure of [[Grief]]. With this gone, there is more space for strategies to explore within that realm. If Dimir Reanimator continues in the absence of [[Grief]], there may not be enough room for these decks to exist—time will tell how this specific point lines up with reality.
Secondly, and somewhat relatedly, are Combo decks like [[Doomsday]] or Sneak & Show that seek to resolve one marquee spell to win the game. [[Doomsday]] in particular can struggle when their namesake card is stripped from their hand while presenting a moderately strong clock. Any of these non-engine Combo decks now have breathing room in the absence of [[Grief]].
Next is the existing untouched meta built to succeed in a world where Dimir Rescaminator was the “top dog”. Decks like Eldrazi Stompy and Nadu Breakfast have constructed game plans that were effective against [[Grief]]. Now that these tiered decks have room at the top, two things can happen: they either flounder without their preferred prey, as strategies shift to target them without Rescaminator present, or they flourish from under [[Grief]]’s shadow. Eldrazi Stompy may fail in the face of [[Consign to Memory]] while Nadu Breakfast (or variations thereof) could find more success.
The last two points share similar reasoning. Without the hyper-efficiency of Dimir Rescaminator dominating both the early turns of a game and the mid- to late-game, other decks can pick up the pieces and find success. The combination of [[Grief]] and [[Reanimate]] provided enough of a boost against Control decks that they struggled to recover from targeted discard while their opponent had both a clock and space to find their second wind. Creature decks were pushed away from having small, numerous creatures to lessen the impact of [[Orcish Bowmasters]], only to be punished for having larger, less numerous creatures due to [[Archon of Cruelty]]. With these pressures relieved somewhat ([[Orcish Bowmasters]] still being a power-level appropriate card for Legacy), creature decks can find their footing again.
As for The EPIC Storm, the removal of Dimir Rescaminator from the format is a net positive. Removing a deck that can efficiently disrupt our hand before [[Veil of Summer]] is online (or even afterward due to having [[Daze]] backup) is always a relief. The upcoming format, where Initiative Stompy and Eldrazi Stompy may be key players, is moderately concerning, but hopefully, the Control decks can appropriately counter them. [[Wrath of the Skies]] is a card that has potential against these Stompy decks—and The EPIC Storm—so we will have to see how things shake out.
Legacy is in a healthier place now, which is perfect timing. Eternal Weekends have been announced for 2024, and the preparations can begin immediately. Knowing the format is healthier and stable until after these events provides a certain ease for the time being. However, players will have to see where [[Psychic Frog]] ends up after the next B&R announcement. Now, let’s get to the situations!
Special Guest
Eric Ratkowski
(Instagram: tallereric | MTGO: artisan)
Eric is tall and from Detroit. He enjoys Magic as a break from total immersion in the climbing world as a guide and guidebook author. A reformed Lands player, he now jams [[Doomsday]] on MTGO with the great crew on 90s MTG or in the 0-4 bracket at Northeastern tournaments. Eric also runs a small Pauper league that has helped contribute to the strong community scene in the Hudson Valley of New York.
Deck List
SITUATION No. 1 — Eldrazi Stompy
With the onset of Modern Horizons 3, Legacy has again seen the rise of an Eldrazi Stompy deck. Instead of a hyper-aggressive deck with [[Reality Smasher]] and [[Eldrazi Mimic]], a new construction has been optimized. [[Eldrazi Linebreaker]], [[Glaring Fleshraker]], and [[It That Heralds the End]] round out a threat package powered by [[Sowing Mycospawn]] and [[Thought-Knot Seer]]. The deck has shifted from aggression to power over the past several weeks. With the metagame shifting post-banning, Eldrazi may experience the deckbuilding decisions of other key decks aimed at targeting their spaghetti monsters. Its time on the top is earned, but can it keep afloat? Likely, yes!
Regarding The EPIC Storm matchup, several cards need to be respected. The ubiquitous [[Chalice of the Void]] features in every build alongside a few copies of [[Vexing Bauble]]. From the sideboard, a veritable feast of anti-Combo cards awaits: [[Null Rod]], [[Mindbreak Trap]], [[Leyline of the Void]], and [[Thorn of Amethyst]] have all seen play. With a maindeck so well-suited to punishing medium to slow draws from Storm decks, it can be shocking how many cards pilots plan to bring in against The EPIC Storm. Be prepared and sideboard appropriately.
SIDEBOARDING:
-4 [[Veil of Summer]], -3 [[Galvanic Relay]]; +3 [[Thoughtseize]], +2 [[Chain of Vapor]], +2 [[Boseiju, Who Endures]]
We enter our first scenario while resolving a [[Brainstorm]] in a post-sideboard game. The cantrip was cast on our opponent’s end step after they resolved a [[Null Rod]]. We will soon be untapping into our second turn. We have an excellent answer to our problems in the form of [[Boseiju, Who Endures]] and a handful of artifacts this removal spell would unlock. Is this answer good enough? How can we sequence to maximize our chances of success?
Special Guest
Eric Ratkowski
Yes, I think on average the single [[Boseiju, Who Endures]] is good enough. Most Eldrazi Stompy decks (as far as I know) aren’t playing any anti-Combo cards in the maindeck (other than incidental cards like [[Kozilek’s Command]] in corner cases). We probably lose to a second hate piece anyway, or it makes the game go longer, and we’ll try to build more resources. I’m assuming that my opponent’s next play will be some sort of pressure.
My game plan is to destroy the [[Null Rod]] at the end of my opponent’s next turn—I don’t believe I have enough mana to win on my turn with the artifacts turned off. Since that is my plan, and I still need to put two cards back from this [[Brainstorm]], I can’t hide a [[Beseech the Mirror]] two cards down from a [[Thought-Knot Seer]]. So I’m putting back both fetches: [[Misty Rainforest]] with [[Bloodstained Mire]] on top of it. That way, if they [[Surgical Extraction]] on my draw step, I don’t lose the card. Then, on my turn, I draw [[Bloodstained Mire]] and play it, and then play [[Chrome Mox]], imprinting [[Beseech the Mirror]]. I don’t want to lose to [[Vexing Bauble]] by not being able to play out the [[Chrome Mox]] (notably, if this happens, they might not do anything else, and I can wait). Now I’m passing.
If the opponent does something I don’t care about, I’m fetching for [[Bayou]] at the end of their turn and using [[Boseiju, Who Endures]] on their [[Null Rod]]. On my turn, I get a random draw and have [[Beseech the Mirror]] in hand, with [[Brainstorm]], [[Misty Rainforest]], and [[Bloodstained Mire]] in the graveyard. I feel gated on mana, but drawing a zero-mana artifact, especially one that can make mana, turns on [[Beseech the Mirror]] for [[Gaea’s Will]] into [[Beseech the Mirror]] for [[Song of Creation]], then cast that zero-mana artifact or the [[Brainstorm]] for more action.
#TEAMTES
Jordan Karim
[[Boseiju, Who Endures]] is just the right kind of interaction, thankfully. But because it costs two mana, hiding a [[Beseech the Mirror]] from [[Thought-Knot Seer]] isn’t available to us—we need to fetch for the mana to Channel. Instead, I would put back both lands. The goal would be to draw one of them the following turn and use it to fetch a [[Bayou]] to Channel the [[Boseiju, Who Endures]], destroying the opponent’s [[Null Rod]]. We are drawing live on our third turn, but we already have a line to [[Gaea’s Will]]. Notably, the is being produced by [[Mox Opal]], [[Bayou]], and the [[Chrome Mox]] that can Imprint the additional [[Beseech the Mirror]]. The only thing to do is make sure the [[Chrome Mox]] is cast immediately after resolving [[Brainstorm]]; we don’t want to fall victim to an unfortunate [[Vexing Bauble]].
Bryant Cook
One of these cards can be shuffled away, and you’re guaranteed to redraw one of them. In an effort to play around [[Thought-Knot Seer]], you could attempt to hide one as the bottom card with [[Brainstorm]]. That said, keeping both in hand accomplishes a similar goal, while not limiting your ability to use a fetchland. I’d like to note here that searching for [[Volcanic Island]] seems bold when you knew that you have a [[Beseech the Mirror]] in hand—while the [[Brainstorm]] draws bailed you out, it was still fairly reckless.
On the next turn, we can search out [[Bayou]], then destroy the [[Null Rod]] with [[Boseiju, Who Endures]], and then try to win the game on the following turn.
Alex McKinley
I’d put back both fetchlands, then untap, draw one of the fetchlands, and pass the turn. If the opponent just plays a threat, there is a clean [[Beseech the Mirror]] loop. If they play further disruption, I would fetch a Surveil land to find more removal.
SITUATION No. 2 — Living Wish Lands
Now that [[Psychic Frog]] is the primary threat in Legacy, deck builders are making decisions that reflect this change. One big choice that can be made is to register [[Maze of Ith]] and [[The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale]]. Lands is a deck known to have positive “fair Blue” matchups; and now that the unfair portions of those decks have been removed, 39-land decks can make a comeback. Our opponent registered a list that contains [[Living Wish]] and [[Drop of Honey]] (another answer to [[Psychic Frog]]) while having a fully built-out “Wishboard” with cards like [[Sowing Mycospawn]], [[Collector Ouphe]], and others. With a playset of [[Vexing Bauble]] in the maindeck and access to an impressive mana denial plan ([[Wasteland]], [[Field of Ruin]], and [[Ghost Quarter]]), even a game one is not guaranteed to fall in The EPIC Storm’s favor.
Though Storm is typically favored in the Lands matchup, sideboard sets of [[Thorn of Amethyst]] and other key anti-Combo cards abound. [[Force of Vigor]], [[Mindbreak Trap]], and [[Surgical Extraction]]/[[Faerie Macabre]] are common occurrences. There is also a Bant Lands build that plays [[Consign to Memory]]—a card typically reserved for Eldrazi Stompy, but unfortunately, also hates on Storm efficiently.
SIDEBOARDING:
-4 [[Veil of Summer]], -3 [[Galvanic Relay]]; +3 [[Thoughtseize]], +2 [[Chain of Vapor]], +2 [[Boseiju, Who Endures]]
No lands in sight for our post-board game. Untapping into our second turn, we did not find ourselves drawing into a land either. Bummer. But we have so much to do! During our first turn, we wheeled with [[Echo of Eons]] into a hand with no action. Drawing the [[Burning Wish]] is exactly the fuel we need to brighten our day. With this being a post-board game, there are several things we should play around. What are the cards we care about playing around the most? How can we sequence the turn to do so?
Special Guest
Eric Ratkowski
I’ve played this matchup many times from the Lands side—not [[Living Wish]] Lands specifically, but more classic versions. This looks like bad news for the Lands player. First, they don’t have any permanent hate in play right now, and with the forced mulligan from [[Echo of Eons]], they may have nothing at all. Nonetheless, I’m prioritizing my plays as such:
- [[Force of Vigor]] is almost certainly present, is rather reasonable to play around, and is the most common sideboard non-permanent spell in all Lands lists.
- Graveyard hate of various flavors—[[Crop Rotation]] for [[Bojuka Bog]] is incidental, followed by [[Surgical Extraction]], and then [[Faerie Macabre]]… although post-[[Grief]] ban, I do not expect much [[Faerie Macabre]].
- [[Mindbreak Trap]]. It probably isn’t a four-of and may not even exist in many lists. Furthermore, it’s the hardest to play around with this action-light hand.
If I have already decided to start by playing around [[Force of Vigor]], I’ll need to play in a way that cannot do much about [[Mindbreak Trap]]. I also want to get this show on the road so they can’t get permanents into play.
The best target for a [[Force of Vigor]] is the [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. I’m going to protect that with my [[Chain of Vapor]]. I start by playing all copies of [[Mox Opal]], and if my opponent ever tries to destroy the [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], I can bounce it and simply replay it. I’m floating off the artifacts for the [[Burning Wish]] and [[Dark Ritual]]. Finally, I can [[Burning Wish]]. I think there are two options here: get a [[Beseech the Mirror]] for [[Gaea’s Will]], or an [[Echo of Eons]] and spin the wheel again. By the time this is happening, [[Force of Vigor]] is no longer relevant. For that reason, I think I should [[Echo of Eons]] again. The reasoning here is thus: [[Gaea’s Will]] turns on graveyard hate. [[Echo of Eons]] has a reasonable chance of going around the graveyard with the already-built Storm and bit of mana available. Wheeling again can still avoid [[Force of Vigor]] by leaving up [[Chain of Vapor]] until the [[Echo of Eons]] is in hand.
#TEAMTES
Jordan Karim
This scenario pulls us in a few different directions, all depending on what kind of hate we expect our opponent to have. [[Mindbreak Trap]], [[Force of Vigor]], and [[Crop Rotation]] for [[Bojuka Bog]] are of primary concern—each hitting a different zone of the game (Stack, Battlefield, Graveyard). The other direction we are being pulled is a raw [[Echo of Eons]] with several mana floating versus hardcasting the wheel. My preference is finding the deterministic line that dies to [[Force of Vigor]] but does not die to graveyard hate or a wheel that doesn’t produce a lethal seven cards. Our opponent had an opportunity to cast [[Force of Vigor]] with the [[Brainstorm]] on the stack but didn’t. I am going to take that as a good sign it isn’t in hand. [[Mindbreak Trap]] is less prevalent outside of Eldrazi Stompy, but graveyard hate is still a ubiquitous effect even if [[Crop Rotation]] isn’t in hand ([[Surgical Extraction]] and [[Faerie Macabre]] being chief among them).
To play this direct line, we need to first cast [[Dark Ritual]] using the in-play [[Mox Opal]]. We can use [[Chain of Vapor]] to increase Storm by bouncing a [[Mox Opal]] and recasting it—let’s do that (Storm 3). All three copies of [[Mox Opal]] can be tapped for mana before the next is cast, and we can cast [[Chrome Mox]] without an Imprint (Storm 6 | ). [[Burning Wish]] using the floating gets the sideboard copy of [[Beseech the Mirror]]. Using the [[Mox Opal]] in play and floating mana, we can cast it and Bargain the [[Chrome Mox]] (Storm 8). With [[Mox Opal]], [[Chrome Mox]] (with [[Ponder]] Imprinted), [[Lotus Petal]], and [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] as Bargain fodder, we can chain the three maindeck copies of [[Beseech the Mirror]] into [[Tendrils of Agony]] (Storm 12). Clean!
Bryant Cook
Looking at recent lists, [[Mindbreak Trap]] out of these decks is relatively uncommon. My mind initially went to [[Beseech the Mirror]] as our [[Burning Wish]] target, but [[Beseech the Mirror]] loses to both [[Endurance]]/[[Surgical Extraction]] as well as [[Force of Vigor]]. These are all common cards out of Lands. If only we still had room for [[Peer into the Abyss]]!
The path to success is likely another [[Echo of Eons]]; the question is if we should hardcast it or not. There’s eleven available mana, eight if it would go into [[Burning Wish]] into [[Echo of Eons]], leaving us with at least for the Flashback cost. The risk is if your new hand is low on mana, then you’ll feel foolish. The upside is that if your new hand doesn’t contain action again, you’ll be able to draw a new hand.
As we know, Lands is a deck with [[Endurance]], [[Surgical Extraction]], and [[Crop Rotation]] into [[Bojuka Bog]]. There is no guarantee that the [[Echo of Eons]] will remain in the graveyard once you start casting spells. What I would do is most likely just cast spells and then Flashback [[Echo of Eons]] with a bunch of mana floating.
Alex McKinley
The card I would most be concerned about at this stage of the game is [[Crop Rotation]] for [[Bojuka Bog]]. This turns off [[Gaea’s Will]], but a natural Storm line is available. I would cast the [[Chain of Vapor]] on one of the copies of [[Mox Opal]] to create Storm, then cast all of the other spells into the sideboard [[Beseech the Mirror]] and chain main deck copies of [[Beseech the Mirror]] to a lethal [[Tendrils of Agony]].
SITUATION No. 3 — Nadu Combo
With Dimir Rescaminator removed as the defacto best deck in Legacy, several decks are vying for a chance at the top spot. [[Nadu, Winged Wisdom]] is a card that has started a quiet but persistent revolution in Legacy deckbuilding and might have a chance to be seated on top. Starting originally in Cephalid Breakfast builds, [[Nadu, Winged Wisdom]] is now seen across two kinds of decks. One is the original [[Cephalid Illusionist]] build that seeks to combo with [[Nomads en-Kor]] to reanimate a [[Thassa’s Oracle]]. The second strategy involves [[Nomads en-Kor]], but not in a [[Thassa’s Oracle]] combo. Instead, it uses [[Green Sun’s Zenith]] (or [[Living Wish]]) to play a more fair deck. Some of these builds also have a combo involving [[Springheart Nantuko]] and others, but that is not always the case. These sturdy and reliable [[Green Sun’s Zenith]] decks can use the card to find any number of toolbox creatures.
SIDEBOARDING:
-3 [[Galvanic Relay]]; +3 [[Thoughtseize]]
[[Brainstorm]] again! This time on the draw for a post-sideboard game (turn one). Against the known [[Force of Will]] deck, this cantrip was looking for [[Veil of Summer]] or [[Thoughtseize]] for protection. These were not found. However, there may be additional play outside of merely jamming an unprotected [[Echo of Eons]]. What should our decisions be to make the most out of this [[Brainstorm]]?
Special Guest
Eric Ratkowski
Speaking from the perspective of someone who often plays Combo-Control, my instinct is not to [[Echo of Eons]] for them to draw any of their many [[Force of Will]] effects. I want protection or a Storm spell (I’m interested to hear the rationale behind siding out [[Galvanic Relay]] here). A [[Burning Wish]] represents both of these.
I also think there is an argument for patience. [[Nadu, Winged Wisdom]] is a powerful combo, but it can be slow. If they play a [[Nadu, Winged Wisdom]] next turn, they won’t have a combo piece to go with it. If they take a turn off and don’t spend all their mana, we can take advantage by sculpting more. I think I’d put back [[Echo of Eons]] and [[Ponder]] on top of it. Additionally, if things change and I want to wheel, I have two copies of [[Burning Wish]] and this one tucked away. The fetch will get a Surveil land unless I want [[Ponder]] or the [[Echo of Eons]], with a high priority set on finding protection.
There is little incentive to jam against this deck, since their own combo is a bit slow. There is also an information vacuum for this scenario, since we won game one, but I don’t know how much I saw of their deck. If it is a Breakfast variant, or anything trying to win same-turn with [[Thassa’s Oracle]], I have fewer turns overall.
#TEAMTES
Jordan Karim
The primary concern here is passing the turn to a [[Green Sun’s Zenith]] finding [[Collector Ouphe]]. With a hand full of artifacts, that would be particularly brutal. Our hand isn’t set up for that kind of game. Because of that, my option would be to put our [[Echo of Eons]] onto the stack.
Putting back both copies of [[Burning Wish]] will allow us to play [[Bloodstained Mire]] and cast [[Lotus Petal]], [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint [[Ponder]]), and [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. One bit of sequencing I think is important is cracking the [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] for . That way, we can use the [[Chrome Mox]] for . If our wheel doesn’t provide a lethal line, it still could give us a [[Thoughtseize]] we can use to strip [[Green Sun’s Zenith]] or [[Collector Ouphe]] from their hand without needing to fetch.
Bryant Cook
We’re in a post-board game, which means they have access to [[Green Sun’s Zenith]] into [[Collector Ouphe]]. This creates a lot of pressure. In theory, we could try to use the [[Bloodstained Mire]] to search out [[Underground Sea]] and then cast [[Ponder]], looking for [[Thoughtseize]] or [[Veil of Summer]]. The issue then is we have no mana floating post-[[Echo of Eons]]. How likely is that to win? My gut says not likely.
That means our options are either to wait and maybe we find a protection spell with the possibility of losing to [[Collector Ouphe]], or we jam. I would probably shove my chips in—if this is the play, we put back both copies of [[Burning Wish]] to avoid a possible [[Surgical Extraction]] and then play our spells (it’s worth noting that I would just Imprint the [[Ponder]]).
Alex McKinley
I would put back [[Chrome Mox]] and a copy of [[Burning Wish]]. I’d then fetch for [[Volcanic Island]] and cast [[Ponder]], looking for a [[Thoughtseize]] or a [[Veil of Summer]]. If the [[Ponder]] finds either of those cards, I would consider casting it off of [[Lotus Petal]] and seeing what happens. The scariest thing the opponent can do next turn is to cast [[Green Sun’s Zenith]] for [[Collector Ouphe]]. I think I disagree with the sideboarding in this matchup. If this is not true Cephalid Breakfast, they will not have [[Orim’s Chant]], which means that [[Galvanic Relay]] is much more effective in the matchup than [[Echo of Eons]].
Want to see your play?
We’re now allowing for fan-based submissions for “Infernal Tutoring!” In order to submit, please visit the Contact Us page. Attach your screenshot, describe the situation in detail, and press submit!
Disclaimer: Regarding the details of the scenarios, we do not want to know the outcome of the situation. For example, if the question is, “Do I go for it here?”, do not tell the team if your opponent had [[Force of Will]] or not. This information honestly doesn’t matter for our purposes, and it doesn’t change the answer if it’s correct or not to cast the business spell. Thank you for your understanding.
Instructions
- Use the subject line “Infernal Tutoring”
- Include the list you are playing and note if there’s anything special about it compared to the current stock version. Scenarios that contain the current list are more likely to be selected.
- If possible, please resize your images to be no larger than 1400px wide and preferably under 125kb. This will make our job easier; if you’re unfamiliar with how to do this, we’ll do it for you. Still, message us with your scenarios!
