Re: [Deck] T.E.S. - The EPIC Storm
Something I'm going to re-test is Reforge the Soul over Diminishing Returns.
With the addition of Gitaxian Probe the deck strengthened it's ability to use the Graveyard as a tool for Past in Flames.
I'm looking at Reforge the Soul in a similar way, it really strengthens the deck's ability to use Past in Flames in the new seven, it also has the benefit of not shuffling in Rite of Flames that may be in the Graveyard.
It's red mana which is easier to generate thanks to Rite of Flame.
It's not blue (Red Elemental Blast/Pyroblast <- I've had this happen).
Doesn't exile the top 10. (I've only had this be relevant a handful of times in my six years of playing the deck)
The downside is that it's five mana instead of four.
Thoughts?
Re: [Deck] T.E.S. - The EPIC Storm
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bryant Cook
Something I'm going to re-test is Reforge the Soul over Diminishing Returns.
With the addition of Gitaxian Probe the deck strengthened it's ability to use the Graveyard as a tool for Past in Flames.
I'm looking at Reforge the Soul in a similar way, it really strengthens the deck's ability to use Past in Flames in the new seven, it also has the benefit of not shuffling in Rite of Flames that may be in the Graveyard.
It's red mana which is easier to generate thanks to Rite of Flame.
It's not blue (Red Elemental Blast/Pyroblast <- I've had this happen).
Doesn't exile the top 10. (I've only had this be relevant a handful of times in my six years of playing the deck)
The downside is that it's five mana instead of four.
Thoughts?
Seems good. You can also Burning Wish + Brainstorm to set the Miracle up for a new fresh 7. That would be totally a corner case, but seems relevant if you keep a hand without artifact mana.
The main problem with Reforge the Soul is CMC 5. Sometimes if you had UB/UR/BR floating from Diminishing Returns, you could win the same turn. With Reforge, it might be a little harder to cast with mana floating.
Re: [Deck] T.E.S. - The EPIC Storm
Another (small) downside is that you are not able to reshuffle the yard against dredge....but if you are at this point of the game, you should have lost anyways. What about your statistics of Floating Mana? I found this to be relevant sometimes and this 1 mana more compared to DR seems very backbreaking, especially if you cast BW into DR/RtS the same turn.
EDIT: Should have read Vandalize's post before.
Re: [Deck] T.E.S. - The EPIC Storm
The one extra mana is what is backbreaking with Reforge.
Look at this way, would you rather BW Reforge and perhaps do something cute with Past in Flames or would you rather BW Diminishing Returns with one mana floating? That one mana can be clutch.
Also if you are getting Past in Flames after your new seven via Burning Wish then more often than not you could have just Burning Wished into a lethal Tendrils.
The double blue has never been a problem for me. Lots of times when I want to Wish for Diminishing Returns is when my hand has been stripped and all I have in play is LED or two while I wait to topdeck a Wish. Also, most our lands do make blue mana :wink:
I am of course against Reforge the Soul, but don't personally have time to test it. Let me know if it works better than I suspect it would.
Re: [Deck] T.E.S. - The EPIC Storm
I understand that Reforge costs one more. I even posted it.
However, it's something I'd like to test one more time. The fact that it's red mana for Rite of Flame is somewhat relevant.
Re: [Deck] T.E.S. - The EPIC Storm
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bryant Cook
Doesn't exile the top 10. (I've only had this be relevant a handful of times in my six years of playing the deck)
Really? When ToA was in the maindeck, the negative effects of exiling actually came up a bunch of times for me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bryant Cook
Thoughts?
Seems awful.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DarkJester
Another (small) downside is that you are not able to reshuffle the yard against dredge....but if you are at this point of the game, you should have lost anyways.
Casting a slightly premature Dim Returns against Dredge (before they get, say, above two Zombie tokens in play at worst, none in play ideally) is actually a pretty nice line of play, so I'd say it's actually not a small downside.
Re: [Deck] T.E.S. - The EPIC Storm
on a similar note, what do you guys think about time spiral as an alternative to diminishing returns? if you have 2 lands out, it is the same mana cost more or less, and if you have more lands out, it actually becomes cheaper. The downside is that it costs 6 to pull off. Late game though, it is a very cheap way to reload. Thoughts?
Re: [Deck] T.E.S. - The EPIC Storm
Troll Food.
Diminishing returns is an oh-shit card. Replacing it with CMC =6 is not wise, as (1R + 4UU) open is unlikely.
Re: [Deck] T.E.S. - The EPIC Storm
Quote:
Originally Posted by
KevinTrudeau
Really? When ToA was in the maindeck, the negative effects of exiling actually came up a bunch of times for me.
Seems awful.
Casting a slightly premature Dim Returns against Dredge (before they get, say, above two Zombie tokens in play at worst, none in play ideally) is actually a pretty nice line of play, so I'd say it's actually not a small downside.
*Scratches head*
I guess since Bryant is suggesting something new this time then you are playing the role of "Bryant Cook" by shooting it down. Is that right?
Good job. Next time try to throw a little more humiliation in there, though.
Edit: Perfect example of humiliation-
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bryant Cook
Says the guy who isn't posting anything constructive. But it sounds like someone is a little butt hurt that I probably shot down their crappy idea?
@Bryant: Despite your brash way of accepting new ideas, I generally respect your deckbuilding skills and consider TES to be the best storm deck currently.
I do think Diminishing Returns>Refore the Soul though. I don't think the corner cases for Reforge the Soul happen enough to outweigh that extra mana. Unless you have multiple Rites of Flames then Reforge isn't any easier to cast either.
Also, wiping your opponent's graveyard is usually a better perk than keeping ours. With Rite of Flames and Past in Flames being the only exception to this. Stopping dredge and shrinking Knights and Goyfs can be revelant.
Re: [Deck] T.E.S. - The EPIC Storm
Quote:
Originally Posted by
joemauer
*Scratches head*
I guess since Bryant is suggesting something new this time then you are playing the role of "Bryant Cook" by shooting it down. Is that right?
Good job. Next time try to throw a little more humiliation in there, though.
Says the guy who isn't posting anything constructive. But it sounds like someone is a little butt hurt that I probably shot down their crappy idea?
Endure2004 (Ning) - Spiral is bad because of the additional mana, at that point there's not really any incentive to play it over returns and potentially open yourself up to Spell Pierce/Daze. Reforge is slightly different since it's a Wheel effect and not a Twister effect. You're still able to use the yard as a tool.
I played T.E.S. tonight at a local, I had an opportunity to use the Returns/Forge slot, I ran Reforge tonight. I went turn one Ponder looking at Dark Ritual, Rite of Flame, Petal against Death and Taxes. Draw Dark Ritual, pass. Untap, draw Rite. Play a second land, Rite, Rite, Ritual, Chrome Mox (Remove Silence), Burning Wish (No other Business or Cantrips). Reforge the Soul. Cast it floating a red, draw Lotus Petal, Lion's Eye Diamond, Rite of Flame, Gitaxian Probe, Infernal Tutor, and a pair of lands. Run out the spells and won. It may've been a corner case but it certainty was insane there.
For the person that said Returns is an "Oh-Shit" button. It really isn't, I've played it plenty of times in the past after playing a turn two wish on turn three with a Ritual or artifact source. I like it the most in these situations because it bites you in the ass less if it whiffs.
Re: [Deck] T.E.S. - The EPIC Storm
Quote:
Originally Posted by
joemauer
I guess since Bryant is suggesting something new this time then you are playing the role of "Bryant Cook" by shooting it down. Is that right?
Good job. Next time try to throw a little more humiliation in there, though.
It's not a new idea, though; it was brought up and weighed in this archetype as a Wish target back in spring when AVR came out, and the exact same conclusions were come to. Since nothing's dramatically changed regarding the decklist since then, I don't see why it should be seen in a different light now. Costing one more mana is simply too large of a caveat to ignore, and alone outweighs all of its unique benefits twofold, but hey, maybe I'm wrong.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bryant Cook
Says the guy who isn't posting anything constructive. But it sounds like someone is a little butt hurt that I probably shot down their crappy idea?
There's a difference between saying Carpet of Flowers is too narrow to be played (which is fine, something I even alluded to) and saying it's ineffective versus Canadian Threshold, which was your argument. I'm not even playing it right now due to the former reason, but if there's a grip of Canadian Threshold in the field you expect to be playing in, it seems better than Cabal Therapy as the matchup-specific disruption slot to board in, with an additional boon of being pretty got dang great in the UW matchup.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bryant Cook
For the person that said Returns is an "Oh-Shit" button. It really isn't, I've played it plenty of times in the past after playing a turn two wish on turn three with a Ritual or artifact source. I like it the most in these situations because it bites you in the ass less if it whiffs.
I second this.
Re: [Deck] T.E.S. - The EPIC Storm
just gonna make another pitch for my time spiral idea:
Has anyone cast diminishing returns for less than 2 mana floating recently? Personally, I don't think I have. At which point, time spiral is effectively the same cost. I don't remember ever casting it with less than two lands out either. At which point, it is effectively diminishing returns with the upside of mana bonuses at higher land counts.
I'm usually not casting diminishing returns against a pierce / daze deck unless 1. I'm about to die and have to cast it anyways 2. I've already protected my business spell, which in that case at 2 lands out they are basically the same and at 3 lands time spiral is 1 mana cheaper and at 4 lands out it is insane at 2 mana cheaper. If they pierce or daze you, it's the same as casting diminishing returns with 1 or 0 floating, so it's very difficult to win after that. I'm usually not casting burning wish against the pierce / daze deck to reload anyways, burning wish is usually fetching empty or past in flames in those situations, I feel like the diminishing returns slot is at its best against non-counterspell decks. In this case, in the grindy discard-based attrition matchups, time spiral has the potential to be bonkers, as if you get to 3+ lands, it becomes a very, very mana efficient way to draw 7 (much more so than diminishing returns). Thoughts?
Re: [Deck] T.E.S. - The EPIC Storm
Quote:
Originally Posted by
KevinTrudeau
It's not a new idea, though; it was brought up and weighed in this archetype as a Wish target back in spring when AVR came out, and the exact same conclusions were come to. Since nothing's dramatically changed regarding the decklist since then, I don't see why it should be seen in a different light now. Costing one more mana is simply too large of a caveat to ignore, and alone outweighs all of its unique benefits twofold, but hey, maybe I'm wrong.
There's a difference between saying Carpet of Flowers is too narrow to be played (which is fine, something I even alluded to) and saying it's ineffective versus Canadian Threshold, which was your argument. I'm not even playing it right now due to the former reason, but if there's a grip of Canadian Threshold in the field you expect to be playing in, it seems better than Cabal Therapy as the matchup-specific disruption slot to board in, with an additional boon of being pretty got dang great in the UW matchup.
Look, I overlooked and dismissed Gitaxian Probe a little too soon, that card is a game-changer. While I understand that Reforge the Soul isn't exactly the same thing or even as close as a game changer, it could be a subtle improvement. That's what I'm looking to accomplish. Subtle improvements until my list is damn near perfect and as of right now, I feel it's almost there with the current card pool. That is why I'm going back and looking at cards that didn't properly get tested or were overlooked.
Reforge the Soul may not be an improvement over Returns, it might be better because it's red mana. Last night, it was certainly better than Diminishing Returns, even with the one additional mana. The decision in my head currently is, "Is RR better than UU at the cost of an additional mana." Right now, I'm on the fence but I'm not ready to dismiss one over the other.
My comment wasn't directed at you, but rather joemauer and his useless, abrasive post. But regarding your apparent love affair with Carpet of Flowers. I've tested and tested and watched others play Carpet of Flowers. The fact of the matter is the card isn't that good. It's easily played around and does nothing to stop Force of Will. RUG can function off of as little as one land, then they can Daze or Wasteland themselves to prohibit you from gaining mana on a crucial turn. Yes, Carpet can negate a Spell Pierce, which is indeed awesome. But it won't always negate Spell Pierce + Daze/Spell Pierce. I would much rather just sideboard in cards that are good in other match-ups too and be more well rounded. If you would like to play Carpet, be my guest, just don't expect to see it in my list.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Endure2004
just gonna make another pitch for my time spiral idea:
Has anyone cast diminishing returns for less than 2 mana floating recently? Personally, I don't think I have. At which point, time spiral is effectively the same cost. I don't remember ever casting it with less than two lands out either. At which point, it is effectively diminishing returns with the upside of mana bonuses at higher land counts.
I'm usually not casting diminishing returns against a pierce / daze deck unless 1. I'm about to die and have to cast it anyways 2. I've already protected my business spell, which in that case at 2 lands out they are basically the same and at 3 lands time spiral is 1 mana cheaper and at 4 lands out it is insane at 2 mana cheaper. If they pierce or daze you, it's the same as casting diminishing returns with 1 or 0 floating, so it's very difficult to win after that. I'm usually not casting burning wish against the pierce / daze deck to reload anyways, burning wish is usually fetching empty or past in flames in those situations, I feel like the diminishing returns slot is at its best against non-counterspell decks. In this case, in the grindy discard-based attrition matchups, time spiral has the potential to be bonkers, as if you get to 3+ lands, it becomes a very, very mana efficient way to draw 7 (much more so than diminishing returns). Thoughts?
Yes. Spiral doesn't always have two lands to target, between Gemstone Mine counters and self-damage from City of Brass, untapping these lands isn't what you want to be doing. We aren't exactly playing Spiral Tide.
1.) You could be doing it wrong. As many times as I say this for some reason, people don't listen. Diminishing Returns is not an "Oh-Shit" button. Perhaps casting the spell earlier would put you in a position to not have to be forced to combo out before you're ready.
2.) How much mana are you generating on your combo turn at this point? Mana for protection against a blue deck with Daze/Pierce, Burning Wish, AND THEN Time Spiral. That's about ten mana you're claiming to create. There's a huge difference between eight and ten mana. In the "Grindy discard match-ups" Past in Flames is usually better, but even when it's not, returns is cheaper meaning you need to find less artifacts to sit on the board before casting your Wish for bomb.
Re: [Deck] T.E.S. - The EPIC Storm
Regarding Diminishing,
I can change IGG or PiF , one or other.
but D.R. for me is a must,
Yes 4 mana IS the difference against 5.
I don't think this is relevant to casting PiF. For me PiF in this archetype is simply slow, I'm not used to play it too often and I 've even switching between IGG and PiF...
@Bryant
Regaridng that torunament,
Do you have some report?
I played also a torunament too...
A friend also played TES he finally played the exact list as the post, I played the list with 3 gitaxian and full rainbow.
The past torunament with 11 lands made 5-2 this torunament was 2-5 and I only made 1 mistake the other rounds I lost one point is that I won 2-0 to miracles loosing 1 to a sucided A.N. (he played Entetat in resp to Silence). Thanks A.D.!!!
So I need to reach conclusions...
The meta has changed, at least in my meta there are more BUG, Canadian... abrupt shines but is worse vs generic hate than E.Truths...
The truth is that in match ups like BUG or RUG you CAN win 1st game but second games they're full of hate vs you and you 're about 50% to win those matcuhh ups... your plan needs to go thorugh assuming you will not win on first and second turn because they have a very hard turn 1 and 2 so beating in 1st and 2nd turns seems absurd to me...I just need to make the deck more stable...
I'm thinkng in switching to 13 lands 4 moxen 2 gitaxian. Definately. Still not sold on Empty Main, but thinking in setting 2 in side...
OR
Directly play what Emidlin suggest but this will be ANT (the one with 4 abrupts and 2 snapcasters seems really interisting list) or TNT. (the one with 14 lands 1 mox OR 15 lands.)
In that torunament I faced also some other combo players that were dying to a BUG, RUG infested meta, also Reanimator, Merfolk and SaT were there...
Please let me know your thinkings on the report or link.
Re: [Deck] T.E.S. - The EPIC Storm
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Pelikanudo
Regarding Diminishing,
I can change IGG or PiF , one or other.
but D.R. for me is a must,
Yes 4 mana IS the difference against 5.
I don't think this is relevant to casting PiF. For me PiF in this archetype is simply slow, I'm not used to play it too often and I 've even switching between IGG and PiF...
@Bryant
Regaridng that torunament,
Do you have some report?
I played also a torunament too...
A friend also played TES he finally played the exact list as the post, I played the list with 3 gitaxian and full rainbow.
The past torunament with 11 lands made 5-2 this torunament was 2-5 and I only made 1 mistake the other rounds I lost one point is that I won 2-0 to miracles loosing 1 to a sucided A.N. (he played Entetat in resp to Silence). Thanks A.D.!!!
So I need to reach conclusions...
The meta has changed, at least in my meta there are more BUG, Canadian... abrupt shines but is worse vs generic hate than E.Truths...
The truth is that in match ups like BUG or RUG you CAN win 1st game but second games they're full of hate vs you and you 're about 50% to win those matcuhh ups... your plan needs to go thorugh assuming you will not win on first and second turn because they have a very hard turn 1 and 2 so beating in 1st and 2nd turns seems absurd to me...I just need to make the deck more stable...
I'm thinkng in switching to 13 lands 4 moxen 2 gitaxian. Definately. Still not sold on Empty Main, but thinking in setting 2 in side...
OR
Directly play what Emidlin suggest but this will be ANT (the one with 4 abrupts and 2 snapcasters seems really interisting list) or TNT. (the one with 14 lands 1 mox OR 15 lands.)
In that torunament I faced also some other combo players that were dying to a BUG, RUG infested meta, also Reanimator, Merfolk and SaT were there...
Please let me know your thinkings on the report or link.
Well I'm glad you feel that way about Past in Flames vs. I'll-Gotten Gains. I could've swore that I said I was done trying to help you with things I've already discussed with you. You constantly ignore advice and do what you want to anyway.
I'm testing Reforge the Souls, it certainly hasn't been worse than Diminishing Returns yet. The fact that you can set up part of your draws with Ponder and Brainstorm has been relevant. Rite of Flame has been much better than it was with Returns. I haven't noticed the mana difference yet. The fact that its been red instead of blue has been relevant. I recommend some others try this out instead of being so skeptical. It certainly isn't bad.
No, there isn't a report. I don't write reports for weekly events.
Obviously Echoing Truth is better against random hate, it has more targets. But the fact of the matter is that Counterbalance exists and sees play currently.
You could just try my configuration... Whch is the in between of what you suggested. If you want to try more lands I recommend a different storm deck.
Re: [Deck] T.E.S. - The EPIC Storm
I just would like to share my thinking on TES build from my lasts testing between TNT ANT and likes.
I came to the conclusion of this list:
4 Gemstone Mine
3 City of Brass
2 Underground Sea
1 Volcanic Island
3 Fetches
4 Chrome Mox
4 Lotus Petal
4 Lion’s Eye Diamond
4 Dark Ritual
4 Rite of Flame
4 Burning Wish
4 Infernal Tutor
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
4 Silence
4 Duress
1 Tendrils
1 Ad Nauseam
1 Grim Tutor
1 T.Seize
2 Xantid Swarm
3 Karakas
3 Abrupt Decay
1 Revoke Existence
1 Grapeshot
1 Empty the Warrens
1 Tendrils of Agony
1 Diminishing Returns
1 Past in Flames
Explanations:
About 0 Gitaxian:
I have to recognize that it is great but in TES is used as a parity and it is not a card that is in deed needed, sure it is good well paired with Therapy OR Ampety main but we need more specific answers, also taking 2 lifes seems risky as this deck wants the bests outs to a Resolved A.N.
The idea is that the Build with 13 lands and 2 A.N seemed always ok except because of 2nd A.N.
About 1 Grim Tutor Main:
This is the best replace for 2# A.N. I wasn't very conscient of its existence, for sure this will be the perfect card to side and serves to make insane plays via Burning Wish -> G.Tutor in second and 3rd games.
About 0 Empty Main:
Never liked to play Empty main in a Storm Deck, same thoutghs as Emidlin and I don't want to play them in because they're good in the meta, I don't think so.
They re good because:
- Is good in 1st games vs RUG -Not needed really at least in first games.
- Well paired with Gitaxian and Therapys We don't need both of them
- About 3 Fetchlands
I'm thinking that I should play 4 and 2 City of brass, I think this is the correct configuration, but not sure if 3 Decays 2 Xantid can be supported by this. Please advice in here!
- About 3 Karakas: (Emidlin's suggestion)
This card as said is key vs soo many decks, even Renimator is using 2 in side logically but for us is sooo great, solves match ups vs:
Show And Tell Renimator And Thalias and Gaddock With Runes, that is all we need. It also serves to use as stable mana base instead of chrome and sometimes in control match ups is used to side in for that cause if we dont suspect Opponent Karakas.
- About Go back to 8 Disruption Effects and only 1 side (T.Seize):
The thing is that with Grim Tutor you have a +1 of whatever card in the deck so you can count as +1 the Cards To Be Countered so there is no need to really increase the number of Disruption Spells vs Control match ups mainly.
As an Example vs RUG I'll side just +1 Karakas -1 C.Mox. I'm considering this match up quite a lot.. I'm thinking in use in side 1 Pact Of Negation instead 1 Karakas, maybe the second Empty in Side is the soluction I need suggestion in here.
Some more notes:
- The idea is that increasing the mana to 13 as normal plus 4 moxen then you'll not have mana issues regarding casting the appropiate spell at its time and now getting screwed mainly in BUG and RUG match ups because of Wasteland.
- Empty is shit as a concept in Storm Decks you all boys need to agree with me, for sure maybe in side you can increase to 2 but the reality is that 0 Tendrils main decreasses the chances of winning post A.N.
Please let me know your thinkings mainly B.Cook, Final Fortune, Emidlins, Bahamut, Egosum paisano cuentate algo de TES, que macho ya te has pasado a ANT o TNT, realmente quiero apostar por TES todavía...
Re: [Deck] T.E.S. - The EPIC Storm
Quote:
- Empty is shit as a concept in Storm Decks you all boys need to agree with me, for sure maybe in side you can increase to 2 but the reality is that 0 Tendrils main decreasses the chances of winning post A.N.
Pelikanudo, What in the hell do you mean by this?!??!?!?!??! First Empty is fucken sick MD not shit. Since the return of it to MD statis I have had more people scoop or concede a game to a turn one storm of 6 or 7 some times 5 ending in Empty. With ToA MD you need to wait till at least turn 2 if you do not have a god draw. Second if you can not win with out ToA MD post A.N. then you need to go reevaluate how you are actually playing this deck cause i kinda remember there being 8 tutors, 3 disruption, 4 "the game is now just me versus my deck", and 8 ritual cards MD making it very easy to ToA after A.N. resolves I know I can do it and i have done it on several occassions versus Maverick, Show and Tell, and EsperBlade. So MD ToA is pretty much dead for rite now cause you have to wait to long for the set up or aggressively mulligan into being able to go off turn 1 putting yourself at a disadvantage from the go which you do not want to do at all especially game 2 or 3.
Re: [Deck] T.E.S. - The EPIC Storm
@Bryant
How has the Reforge testing coming? I haven't had time to test and was curious as it may seem like a more viable option allowing more set ups.
Re: [Deck] T.E.S. - The EPIC Storm
Quote:
Originally Posted by
lambert101
@Bryant
How has the Reforge testing coming? I haven't had time to test and was curious as it may seem like a more viable option allowing more set ups.
Same as the last time I posted about it. I haven't played T.E.S. in about a week, I've been preparing and testing my deck for tomorrow's Jupiter Games event.
Re: [Deck] T.E.S. - The EPIC Storm
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Pelikanudo
About 0 Gitaxian:
I have to recognize that it is great but in TES is used as a parity and it is not a card that is in deed needed, sure it is good well paired with Therapy OR Ampety main but we need more specific answers, also taking 2 lifes seems risky as this deck wants the bests outs to a Resolved A.N.
The idea is that the Build with 13 lands and 2 A.N seemed always ok except because of 2nd A.N.
Ad Nauseam never fizzles. I don't know what you're doing with your Ad Nauseams to make them fizzle tbh.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Pelikanudo
About 1 Grim Tutor Main:
This is the best replace for 2# A.N. I wasn't very conscient of its existence, for sure this will be the perfect card to side and serves to make insane plays via Burning Wish -> G.Tutor in second and 3rd games.
This card is horrible man. If you run Probes you don't have to run this.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Pelikanudo
- Empty is shit as a concept in Storm Decks you all boys need to agree with me, for sure maybe in side you can increase to 2 but the reality is that 0 Tendrils main decreasses the chances of winning post A.N.
I don't even know what it means that it's a bad concept, but I don't know why it's bad to have a card in my deck that probably wins me more games than Ad Nauseam.