If you’ve been living under a rock or just aren’t keeping up-to-date, The EPIC Storm v12.5 has once again become a five-color deck. It features a white card from Modern Horizons 2 (MH2) that we didn’t plan on — [[Prismatic Ending]]! [[Prismatic Ending]] answers most hate-permanents on curve from [[Deafening Silence]] and [[Thalia, Guardian of Thraben]] to [[Chalice of the Void]]. It’s extremely versatile and disrupts the “snowball effect” that these decks aim to create.

If we’re already playing white for one of the best removal spells ever printed, we might as well run the best protection spell in that color! [[Orim’s Chant]] stops two crucial cards that The EPIC Storm was struggling with — [[Mindbreak Trap]] and [[Stifle]] dead in their tracks. Against aggressive decks, you can even use it to essentially [[Time Walk]] the opponent as well.

[[Defense Grid]] was in a metagame that became hostile towards the card. Opposing copies of [[Prismatic Ending]] and [[Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer]] left the artifact in an awkward spot where it was becoming less and less effective.

Game One:

Phil is on the play, but we both exchange first turn copies of [[Ponder]]. Phil doesn’t do anything on the second turn, but I cast a [[Burning Wish]] for [[Galvanic Relay]]. On my next turn, after Phil’s land drop turn, I begin with [[Tundra]] into [[Orim’s Chant]] which just resolves. I was sort of shocked by this, but it makes sense if Phil only had a single piece of interaction. I use this as an opportunity to cast [[Echo of Eons]] from my sideboard. It comes up just a single mana short of being able to cast [[Ad Nauseam]], that said, I would be able to cast it on the following turn backed by both [[Orim’s Chant]] and [[Veil of Summer]].

Sideboarding: -4 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Echo of Eons]], +3 [[Galvanic Relay]], +2 [[Abrupt Decay]]

Game Two:

My opening hand is interesting: [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Chrome Mox]], [[Chrome Mox]], [[Orim’s Chant]], [[Wishclaw Talisman]], and [[Galvanic Relay]]. I figured that with a land drop or a card to imprint, this hand could have real potential. Well, after Phil’s turn of [[Flooded Strand]] I drew [[Ad Nauseam]] which ended up being very relevant later. I play my spells into a [[Galvanic Relay]] for five with two [[Chrome Mox]] and a [[Lotus Petal]] left in play. Unfortunately, my five cards were [[Tundra]], [[Wishclaw Talisman]], [[Tropical Island]], [[Orim’s Chant]], and [[Burning Wish]] which doesn’t do anything too meaningful.

Phil counters the [[Burning Wish]] with a [[Hydroblast]] and answers the [[Wishclaw Talisman]] with [[Prismatic Ending]]. I then cast the [[Wishclaw Talisman]] from my hand the turn after, but it later is removed by [[Snapcaster Mage]] into [[Prismatic Ending]]. I spend most of the rest of this game admiring the card advantage system in Phil’s deck with [[Expressive Iteration]], [[Snapcaster Mage]], and [[Mystic Sanctuary]] just really allowing Phil to bury any chance I had left.

Game Three:

The first few turns of this game are mostly just, “land, go” from both sides. I was sort of shocked that the [[Veil of Summer]] that I began the third turn with just resolved. Once again, I resolve an [[Echo of Eons]] behind it (just like in game one), and then those cards into a [[Galvanic Relay]] for eight cards. On my next turn, I brute force an [[Ad Nauseam]] backed by powerful green and white cards.

Game One:

Charles wins the die roll and leads on [[Grief]] discarding my [[Veil of Summer]] before playing a basic [[Swamp]]. My hand is very slow, but it does contain a [[Brainstorm]] and a [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. I draw and it’s another land. I cast a main phase [[Brainstorm]] in an effort to maybe find some artifact mana while hiding the [[Wishclaw Talisman]] from a reanimated [[Grief]]. I do find a [[Dark Ritual]], but no other acceleration. I put [[Dark Ritual]] and [[Wishclaw Talisman]] on top of the deck. I play the [[Lotus Petal]] from my initial seven cards to maybe bluff that I found another [[Veil of Summer]].

Charles plays a [[Swamp]] and passes. I play [[Scrubland]] into [[Wishclaw Talisman]], on my end step Charles casts [[Unmarked Grave]] for [[Archon of Cruelty]]. On the next main phase, [[Archon of Cruelty]] enters the battlefield (I discard a [[Brainstorm]] thinking I had exactly enough mana to cast [[Ad Nauseam]] on my turn) followed by another [[Grief]] which discards my [[Rite of Flame]] and not my other [[Brainstorm]], which was a good read from the opponent.

On my turn, I cast [[Brainstorm]], but once again there’s no mana in it even after I drew the known [[Dark Ritual]] for turn. On Charles’s turn, I am attacked by [[Archon of Cruelty]] and forget that it triggers on each attack step which catches me off-guard. Then there’s an [[Exhume]] on [[Grief]].

My only chance to win is to use [[Wishclaw Talisman]] in my upkeep for [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and then hope for [[Burning Wish]] or even better, the single [[Echo of Eons]]. It’s just a lousy [[Chrome Mox]].

Sideboarding: None

Game Two:

I have a hand that can accelerate into a first-turn [[Echo of Eons]] off of [[Burning Wish]] while floating . Unfortunately, all I can do after that is cast [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. Charles has [[Swamp]], pass for their turn. I draw and it’s another land, which isn’t good enough. [[Entomb]] for [[Archon of Cruelty]] happens and I’m just thankful that it’s not [[Griselbrand]]. Before I know it, it’s in play and I’m forced to discard a [[Rite of Flame]] while I’m begging to draw mana. I’m in a spot where [[Rite of Flame]], [[Dark Ritual]], or [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] wins the game. Instead, I draw [[Brainstorm]]. I don’t remember the exact cards, but it was enough for a third turn win with the [[Dark Ritual]] being hidden on top of my deck from discard.

Enter [[Ashiok, Dream Render]] as well as my concession.

Game One:

Jared begins the match with a [[Mox Diamond]] into [[Savannah]], and I internally let out a sigh of relief after [[Sylvan Library]] is cast. I have a [[Burning Wish]] and a bunch of atifact mana in hand. I am hoping that Jared pays eight life to the [[Sylvan Library]] for an easy win (this doesn’t happen). I draw [[Wishclaw Talisman]] for turn. From there I play [[Badlands]], [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint: [[Veil of Summer]]), and then the [[Wishclaw Talisman]].

Jared pays four life to the [[Sylvan Library]] for an extra card, plays a [[Thespian’s Stage]], and an [[Elvish Reclaimer]]. I draw, play a [[Scalding Tarn]], and pass.

My opponent plays a [[Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth]] and passes. This means I am dead to [[Crop Rotation]] if I pass back. On my turn, if I draw a cantrip I can create lethal Storm (assuming that it finds a spell that I can cast) or if I draw [[Rite of Flame]], [[Dark Ritual]], or [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] I can resolve [[Peer into the Abyss]]. I draw [[Veil of Summer]].

I am now forced to activate [[Wishclaw Talisman]] to find [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] to Flashback the [[Echo of Eons]] that should be in my sideboard. Here’s a hint, it’s not. When I go to cast [[Burning Wish]] for it, I’m a little lost. I check my deckbox three times and it’s not in there.

I call a judge on myself. At this point, I am expecting a game loss for presenting an illegal deck. The judge asks me a few questions away from the table, such as, “what card is missing?” and “where do you believe it is?” After talking to the judge, I come back to the table and the judge tells both me and my opponent that we’re going to fix the issue. Putting the [[Echo of Eons]] back in my sideboard. Honestly, the last time this happened to me was 2014 or 2015 — it’s been so long. That said, it wouldn’t be the last time that day…

Eventually, [[Echo of Eons]] is put on the stack and my new seven cards are: [[Dark Ritual]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Burning Wish]], [[Wishclaw Talisman]], [[Verdant Catacombs]], and [[Lotus Petal]]. Shockingly, a [[Tendrils of Agony]] finds its way to the stack after casting a few spells.

Sideboarding: -4 [[Veil of Summer]], -1 [[Ponder]], +3 [[Prismatic Ending]], +2 [[Abrupt Decay]]

Game Two:

I mulligan and keep: [[Underground Sea]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Mox Opal]], [[Wishclaw Talisman]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], and a [[Lotus Petal]] which allows me to power out a first turn [[Ad Nauseam]] against the lone [[Savannah]] in play. After the game, Jared shows a [[Collector Ouphe]] in hand.

Game One:

I mulligan while Dave keeps seven cards, making me even less confident in pulling off the TES defeating Doomsday miracle. Dave wins the die roll and starts on [[Bloodstained Mire]], [[Underground Sea]], and [[Ponder]]. I draw a second copy of [[Lotus Petal]] for the turn and then start off with [[Taiga]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], into a [[Ponder]] while holding [[Veil of Summer]] as my last card. I shuffle off of the [[Ponder]] and draw [[Dark Ritual]].

David’s turn is a [[Brainstorm]] followed by another fetchland. I draw and internally I am screaming, “C’mon deck!” and it delivered. My top card was [[Wishclaw Talisman]]! [[Dark Ritual]]? “Resolves” which removes my fear of [[Daze]], [[Wishclaw Talisman]]? Dave thinks for a while on this, but lets it resolve. My [[Veil of Summer]] stays on the stack for a decent amount of time, mostly because David is shuffling away the [[Brainstorm]] cards before Cycling three copies of [[Street Wraith]] into another [[Brainstorm]], and then [[Force of Will]]. The life-loss that David creates allows for a very easy selection of [[Tendrils of Agony]] with the [[Wishclaw Talisman]].

Sideboarding: -2 [[Ponder]], +2 [[Galvanic Relay]]

Game Two:

We both mulligan to start the second game, but almost instantly after seeing the second hand, David sends it back into the deck. Cycling [[Street Wraith]] into [[Underground Sea]] is how the game starts. I just play a [[Verdant Catacombs]], David does something similar for the second turn. On the end step, I cast a [[Brainstorm]] off of [[Tropical Island]]. On my turn, I play the [[Taiga]] that [[Brainstorm]] found into [[Lotus Petal]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Mox Opal]], and [[Wishclaw Talisman]] while holding up [[Veil of Summer]]. I think for what feels like a very long time and decide that I’m going to cast the [[Veil of Summer]] in my hand and try to leverage the [[Echo of Eons]] in my hand. The [[Veil of Summer]] was very quickly met by [[Flusterstorm]].

David draws for turn, but the card never even reaches the rest of the hand. It’s the third land to cast [[Doomsday]]. While it’s resolving, I’m thinking in my head about Doomsday piles with no mana floating and only two cards in hand. I feel a sigh of relief when Dave eventually passes back to me. I look at the exile pile and notice there’s only three copies of [[Force of Will]] but also a [[Stifle]]. In our small talk before the game, David mentioned working with Max Carini (Wonderpreaux) on the decklist. Because of this, I have a strong hunch that there’s a second [[Stifle]] somewhere.

I draw for turn and it’s [[Brainstorm]], which finds a second copy of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]]. I sacrifice a single copy of [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] and put [[Echo of Eons]] on the stack knowing it would leave only a single card left in the Doomsday deck which would mean being dead to [[Thassa’s Oracle]] on the next turn. After some consideration (see what I did there) from David, [[Force of Will]] exiling [[Stifle]] on [[Echo of Eons]] is cast. This not only gave me lethal Storm, but it also brought David’s life to eight for [[Tendrils of Agony]]. I believe the correct decision there is to let the [[Echo of Eons]] resolve and hope that I draw the [[Tendrils of Agony]] in my seven cards without the ability to cast it.

Game One:

Peter begins the match with a [[Mox Diamond]] discarding [[Bojuka Bog]] into [[Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth]]. I search up [[Scrubland]] with [[Polluted Delta]] because I half-expect to be hit by a [[Wasteland]] on Peter’s turn, cast [[Chrome Mox]] (Imprint: [[Burning Wish]]) into [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. On my end step, a [[Crop Rotation]] is cast. While my opponent is searching I try to convince them to not [[Wasteland]] me by saying, “What degenerate thing has [[Scrubland]] ever done?” Peter laughs and gets [[Rishadan Port]] so it must have worked!

On Peter’s turn, it’s just a [[Thespian’s Stage]] and pass. If I draw anything that makes plus-one mana on my turn, I have a win even through the [[Rishadan Port]]. I just draw a land, which will be good enough for my next turn. Peter doesn’t do anything on their next turn. I untap and draw [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], at first my initial impression was to just slam [[Ad Nauseam]] on the table. I took an extra second and realized that if I use [[Wishclaw Talisman]] to search up [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] that I can use the other [[Burning Wish]] that I had in my opening hand this game to get [[Peer into the Abyss]].

For those of you that are unaware, [[Peer into the Abyss]] is as deterministic as it gets for The EPIC Storm.

Sideboarding: -4 [[Veil of Summer]], -1 [[Orim’s Chant]], +3 [[Prismatic Ending]], +2 [[Abrupt Decay]]

Game Two:

Well… this was awkward. I’m drawing my opening hand for game two and it’s: [[Lotus Petal]], [[Taiga]], [[Rite of Flame]]. [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Brainstorm]], and the actual seventh card that I see is… [[Peer into the Abyss]]! I forgot to put it back in my sideboard after game one. Which means, I sideboarded it in (this is not against the rules). Peter begins the second game with [[Mox Diamond]] discarding [[Urza’s Saga]] and then plays an [[Urza’s Saga]] for turn.

I draw another copy of [[Brainstorm]] for the turn. I’m thinking to myself, “Maybe I can [[Brainstorm]] the [[Peer into the Abyss]] to the top of the deck and then use [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] mana to help cast it.” Instead my [[Brainstorm]] is the actual best — [[Dark Ritual]], [[Rite of Flame]], and [[Lotus Petal]]. Which allows me to cast [[Peer into the Abyss]] from my hand through a [[Crop Rotation]] for [[Bojuka Bog]]. After I’ve drawn half of my deck and cast an [[Orim’s Chant]], Peter reveals a [[Force of Vigor]] from hand that wasn’t relevant.

Game One:

Dan wins the die roll, uses [[Marsh Flats]] to search up [[Scrubland]] and plays [[AEther Vial]]. My mind goes to the stock builds of Esper Vial, which isn’t bad for the hand that I have — a protected turn three [[Ad Nauseam]]. On my turn, I cast [[Ponder]] off of [[Underground Sea]], shuffle, and pass. Dan then plays [[Tundra]] and [[Dark Confidant]]? This is strange for Esper Vial, but possible.

I cast [[Wishclaw Talisman]], which resolves. Daniel then proceeds to reveal [[Thalia, Guardian of Thraben]] to [[Dark Confidant]] and then puts her into play using [[AEther Vial]], but that’s not the worst of it. My jaw nearly hits the floor when [[Archon of Emeria]] is also cast on the same turn. In shock, I concede but I should’ve kept playing to get some more information. Does this opponent actually have counterspells?

Sideboarding: -4 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Orim’s Chant]], +3 [[Prismatic Ending]], +2 [[Abrupt Decay]]

Game Two:

The only way to describe this game is a bloodbath. I end up with all six lands that tap for mana in play after I’ve cast the same [[Massacre]] twice due to [[Echo of Eons]]. I had also played three total copies of [[Prismatic Ending]] and both copies of [[Abrupt Decay]] with the last one being on [[Pithing Needle]] naming [[Wishclaw Talisman]]. This allowed me to search up [[Ad Nauseam]] and cast it from 15 life to win the game. What I learned this game was that the opponent likely wasn’t actually playing blue, just a splash color for [[Prismatic Ending]].

Sideboarding: -3 [[Veil of Summer]], -1 [[Orim’s Chant]], +4 [[Ponder]]

Game Three:

I mulligan to five before Dan can cast [[AEther Vial]] off of [[Scrubland]]. After my draw step my hand is: [[Abrupt Decay]], [[Mox Opal]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Verdant Catacombs]], and [[Taiga]]. I was begging for an action spell but drew a second land, which does make the [[Abrupt Decay]] better. After seeing [[Thoughtseize]] in the second game and the ability to cast [[Abrupt Decay]], I play out all of my artifacts which later bites me in the butt. I do get to destroy an [[Ethersworn Canonist]] on the end step, but draw [[Tundra]] for turn. Daniel’s following turn is double [[Prismatic Ending]] on [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]] into a [[Thalia, Guardian of Thraben]] off of [[AEther Vial]] and then an [[Archon of Emeria]] on the following turn. I slowly lose the game.

Game One:

Sean is on the play and uses a [[Misty Rainforest]] before casting a [[Ponder]]. It didn’t take long for a shuffle to happen. On my turn, I also search up a land cast [[Ponder]], but I keep mine as I have a double [[Veil of Summer]] protected [[Echo of Eons]] on the following turn. Sean plays a [[Forest]] from hand and passes back. I use [[Polluted Delta]] to find [[Tropical Island]] and then cast [[Veil of Summer]], in response, Sean plays [[Ice-Fang Coatl]] and then it resolves. I then play [[Dark Ritual]], [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], and then Flashback the [[Echo of Eons]] that’s in my hand.

My new hand is all mana and then both [[Veil of Summer]] and [[Orim’s Chant]]. This is awkward. Sean plays a land, casts a [[Prismatic Ending]] on a [[Mox Opal]] that was played before [[Echo of Eons]], and then attacks. I draw for turn, play a land, and pass. Sean plays a land and attacks.

I draw [[Ad Nauseam]] for turn! [[Orim’s Chant]] is met by [[Force of Will]], but my [[Veil of Summer]] pushes it through and shortly after the game is over.

Sideboarding: -4 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Echo of Eons]], +3 [[Galvanic Relay]], +2 [[Abrupt Decay]]

Game Two:

I keep a sort of slow hand with a pair of [[Abrupt Decay]] and a [[Galvanic Relay]], the copies of [[Abrupt Decay]] both kill copies of [[Ethersworn Canonist]]. Eventually, I set up a [[Galvanic Relay]] for six cards, but it’s just not very good. I decide with Sean now low on cards after a [[Force of Negation]] that I could probably get my sideboard [[Peer into the Abyss]] to resolve on the next turn. Sean’s end-step [[Hullbreacher]] ruins that idea. After the [[Hullbreacher]] resolves, my next draw step was [[Brainstorm]]. An [[Endurance]] comes down on the same turn. I take a hit for six down to 10 life. I draw [[Wishclaw Talisman]] which allows me to put [[Ad Nauseam]] on the stack and it resolves! That said, it flipped both [[Tendrils of Agony]] and a [[Galvanic Relay]] to end the game.

Game Three:

This was a longer game where Sean clearly opened a stacked hand of “Force effects” because they didn’t do much of anything most of the game, it was just a lot of posturing. I spend a lot of time setting up cantrips into [[Galvanic Relay]]. I end up playing my fifth land which is my second green source and just decide that I’m going to go for it. I play some accelerants into a [[Veil of Summer]] which is countered by [[Force of Will]], I think for a little bit about whether or not I should fight over it with another [[Veil of Summer]], but decline. I settle for a [[Galvanic Relay]] for six AND then another [[Galvanic Relay]] for seven cards. This time my 13 cards were incredibly powerful, and there just wasn’t much that Sean’s remaining interaction could do to fight back.

Before we begin, I do my typical, “would you like odd or even?” and Kevin is adamant on doing high roll. Instead of arguing it, I tell myself, “it doesn’t matter, you’re not going to win it anyway” and then BOOOOOM! My 10 beats a below-average four and I have my first die roll victory on the day.

Game One:

Michael begins the match with “[[Scalding Tarn]], go”, which was very good for my admittedly slow hand. I knew Michael was on a [[Delver of Secrets]] strategy when I sat down, which made the three-land hand I kept much better. Neither of us do anything for the first three turns of the game until I cast a [[Wishclaw Talisman]] on the third turn with a [[Lotus Petal]] in play to pay for a theoretical pair of [[Daze]]. On the following turn, I play a fourth land and another [[Wishclaw Talisman]] which draws out a [[Force of Will]]. Michael still hasn’t done anything other than play non-[[Wasteland]] lands until the fifth turn, when [[Expressive Iteration]] finds [[Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer]].

It’s go time. I start off on [[Dark Ritual]] and then [[Veil of Summer]] which is met by a pair of [[Daze]]. I pay for both and it resolves. I then cast two more copies of [[Lotus Petal]] from my hand, play a third copy of [[Wishclaw Talisman]], use it to find [[Lion’s Eye Diamond]], [[Burning Wish]], and [[Tendrils of Agony]].

Sideboarding: -4 [[Ponder]], -1 [[Ad Nauseam]], +3 [[Galvanic Relay]], +2 [[Abrupt Decay]]

Game Two:

The early game is players just exchanging land drops. On the third turn, Michael casts [[Expressive Iteration]] which creates a window for me to resolve the [[Brainstorm]] in my hand around [[Pyroblast]]. But it also opened me up to the [[Wasteland]] that Michael found off of the [[Expressive Iteration]]. On my turn, I play land and pass while praying there isn’t another [[Wasteland]]. My goal at this point is to set up a [[Burning Wish]] that gets countered into [[Galvanic Relay]], my concern is that the Storm count isn’t high enough to get the job done.

Michael’s turn is a [[Volcanic Island]] and a [[Delver of Secrets]]. I draw a [[Brainstorm]] and cast it, thinking, “it getting countered by [[Pyroblast]] is beneficial at this point.” Well, I was wrong because it found a second copies of both [[Galvanic Relay]] and [[Rite of Flame]]. I then cast [[Rite of Flame]], [[Rite of Flame]], [[Dark Ritual]], [[Burning Wish]], which is countered by [[Force of Negation]], and then [[Galvanic Relay]] for seven AND [[Galvanic Relay]] for eight cards.

Michael carefully looks over the fifteen cards but realizes there just isn’t much to do against them.