Quote Originally Posted by emidln View Post
In an effort to get away from this discussion, here is a play scenario. You are playing a game one against an unknown opponent and are on the play. You are playing Pulp_Fiction's hybrid list*. You keep this opening hand:

Sensei's Divining Top
Brainstorm
Misty Rainforest
Flooded Strand
Tundra
Dark Ritual
Doomsday

You lead Misty Rainforest->Island, Sensei's Divining Top. It resolves and you pass the turn. From here:

If your opponent leads with Taiga, Wild Nacatl, what do you do?
If your opponent leads with a blue fetch, pass, what do you do?
If your opponent leads with a Bayou, Thoughtseize, what is the most damaging card they can take and why?

Not all of these situations have finite endings. Some are just to see how you play with limited information while trying to improve your own position.


*for reference, pulp_fiction's hybrid maindeck in shorthand
9 u-fetch
2 sea
2 tundra
1 trop
1 island
4 petal
2 mox
4 rit
2 crit
4 led
4 bs
2 ponder
4 sdt
3 chant
3 silence
1 kgrip
4 mystical
3 infernal
1 adn
1 dd
1 med
1 igg
1 toa
- If your opponent leads with Taiga, Wild Nacatl, what do you do?

He passes.
You draw for the turn, play Flooded Strand for Underground Sea.
Cast Dark Ritual -> Doomsday making the pile LED, LED, IGG, BS, ToA.
Cast BS getting LED, LED.
Play LED, LED crack'em both for UUUBBB.
Spin Top into IGG, play IGG for BS, LED, LED with UB floating.
Cast LED, LED, Brainstorm cracking LEDs in response for BBBBUUU.
Get BS with BS and cast it, get Top play it and spin it into ToA for 24 life loss.

This is not even the optimal pile, because this pile can be done with just 1 extra card in hand, you have 2. Pile by cheeseburger.


- If your opponent leads with a blue fetch, pass, what do you do?

Search for protection with Top and pray he isn't playing CB. But maybe trying for a turn 3 win you should probably draw for the turn, play the fetch and play Brainstorm. Then on his EOT you break the fetch and see the Top 3. That way you get to see the maximum amount of card until next turn. Is this right?

- If your opponent leads with a Bayou, Thoughtseize, what is the most damaging card they can take and why?

Doomsday, everything else is redudant. BS can be another Top, Dark Ritual can be another DR or a Cabal Ritual one turn slower. Taking the DD forces you into Ad Nauseam or Ill-Gotten Gains territory.