Storm Academy: Belcher 101

[Silent Requiem]

After far, far too long, here is my article on Belcher for new storm pilots.

Enjoy (http://www.manaleak.com/mtguk/2011/03/storm-academy-belcher-101-by-silent-requiem/).

-Silent Requiem

[Admiral_Arzar]

Excellent article, I don't think I've ever read one devoted to this deck. It's interesting to note that there are actually a lot of difficult decisions in playing this (primarily in mulligans) contrary to the stereotype that most players have of it (count to seven, win, lol).

[Solaran_X]

I was always under the impression that the "classic" build was R/G/B using two duals - Bayou and Taiga. Could've been wrong though.

[dyzzy]

Maybe I'm retarded, but what does "Null Draw" mean?

[Tammit67]

I fail to see the reason why you would want to crack LED in response to your Charbelcher coming into play. Why wouldn't you save your hand and wait until after it resolves?

[DireLemming]

I fail to see the reason why you would want to crack LED in response to your Charbelcher coming into play. Why wouldn't you save your hand and wait until after it resolves?

That way you can activate Belcher without passing priority and are therefore immune to all forms of artefact removal (including split-second).

[mchainmail]

That way you can activate Belcher without passing priority and are therefore immune to all forms of artefact removal (including split-second).

You... still are?

[Tammit67]

That way you can activate Belcher without passing priority and are therefore immune to all forms of artefact removal (including split-second).

You still are. Just this way you have a thumb up your ass if they counter it.

[jamis]

When you were discussing vulnerabilities of the deck, I think you underestimated black disruption. Unless you have the turn 1 combo on the play, discard can be very strong against the deck. Sure a single duress/thoughtseize won't be enough to stop you from comboing, but it should be able to slow you a turn or two, and if it's followed by a hymn to tourach/gerrard's verdict or if hypnotic specter starts swinging --or even more Duress effects -- it can be very bad for the belcher pilot.

[Dark Ritual]

The list without burning wish is even MORE susceptible to thoughtseize effects...8 win cons? Okay, duress you. Nab your win con if you have just one copy of it? Pass the turn? Yeah. Or if you have 2 win cons, say 2 charbelchers, strip your best ritual or IMS? If the person playing duress knows how to play against belcher you're in trouble if you aren't on the play.

I would always play burning wish in this deck no matter the variant. The card is too powerful in conjunction with LED and in finding a toolbox of answers and it doesn't dilute the board that much when it comes to wish targets.

[Silent Requiem]

Maybe I'm retarded, but what does "Null Draw" mean?

This article is one of a series, and Null Draw, defined in this (http://www.manaleak.com/mtguk/2010/12/storm-acamedy-anatomy-of-a-storm-by-silent-requiem/) article, means " decks [that] generate Storm purely from the cards they have in their hand and rely on having a (real or virtual) win condition in their opening hand".

Regarding discard, I don't know that this deck is particularly vulnerable. Losing cards always sucks (unless you play Dredge), but the redundancy in this deck is huge. Equally, a deck stripping away cards is not applying pressure during those turns, so the Belcher pilot will just replace the discarded card in his next draw step.

Certainly, it is not an issue that I have seen experienced Belcher pilots flag up, or devote any sideboard space to.

Regarding LED; good catch. I'll edit the article.

-Silent Requiem

[Final Fortune]

This article is one of a series, and Null Draw, defined in this (http://www.manaleak.com/mtguk/2010/12/storm-acamedy-anatomy-of-a-storm-by-silent-requiem/) article, means " decks [that] generate Storm purely from the cards they have in their hand and rely on having a (real or virtual) win condition in their opening hand".

Regarding discard, I don't know that this deck is particularly vulnerable. Losing cards always sucks (unless you play Dredge), but the redundancy in this deck is huge. Equally, a deck stripping away cards is not applying pressure during those turns, so the Belcher pilot will just replace the discarded card in his next draw step.

Certainly, it is not an issue that I have seen experienced Belcher pilots flag up, or devote any sideboard space to.

Regarding LED; good catch. I'll edit the article.

-Silent Requiem

Uh, getting your win condition Duressed on the draw is back breaking and I think every good Belcher player knows that, but in the case of Belcher there's pretty much nothing you can do about it other than top deck like a champ or win the coin flip.

Also, I think the Manamorphose/Streetwraith lists are kind of "sketchy" as base lists, about everybody I know ditched that crap for Pyretic Ritual and Grim Monolith.

[Tacosnape]

That way you can activate Belcher without passing priority and are therefore immune to all forms of artefact removal (including split-second).

You still are. Lion's Eye Diamond's ability is a mana ability, and therefore doesn't use the stack, despite the weird clause that says "Activate this ability only any time you could cast an instant," which as far as I'm aware is designed to prevent you from using the LED for mana to pay for a cost of a spell you just played from your hand after announcing it and locking in the costs.

[HdH_Cthulhu]

good read but.... why Price of Progres in the board? explanation demanded!