[Deck] T.E.S - The EPIC Storm

[John Cox]

Past in Flames is good, and I have one in my wishboard, but I don't think it is better than the second Ad Nauseam, though I don't really have any testing behind it, just general theory.

Past In Flames requires you to get it with a Tutor (so you can flashback the tutor) and excessive mana, while Ad Nauseam tends to give you the mana back and then some. Drawing PIF naturally without a tutor makes it essentially worthless, unless you have 2 ponders in the GY and enough Blue and Red or Black Mana depending on the yard. Drawing 2 LEDs when you need instants/sorceries for PIF seems like it could be embarrasing as well.

I didn't post sooner because I was still testing this slot, I've gone back to Ad Nauseam main but I'll outline my reasoning. Basically if I wanted to burning wish for it from the side I would need 2 burning wish or 1 + 1infernal tutor since burning wish gets exiled when you cast it. it much more likely to have one infernal tutor than 2 burning wish and cast it from the main deck.

Further, you lose the ability to be annoying and fire off Ad Nauseam at the end of their turn and just combo off next turn (if you draw PIF instead of Ad Nauseam number 2, I mean). Some people are shy about countering a Silence/Chant on their upkeep thinking that the point is to stop pressure, when it's really for clearing the way.

I have never done this because I have never thought of doing it, I'm going to try this soon.

PIF wins when IGG can't and you don't have protection for Diminishing Returns. If you have protection, then Ad Nauseam is almost always going to win, unless you are at a low life total and have the right combination of cards in the yard. The speed of the deck, in my opinion, lends towards a second Ad Nauseam over PIF.

I disagree entirely. Past in flames gives you another one to two turns to combo off and allows you to slow down and strip their hand, recover from wasteland, and correct course.
Wining with Ad Nauseam is like playing chicken with fast cars on a short road to a cliff. If you spend too much time building up acceleration you'll end up driving over the cliff. Past in flames is way better, you can take your time and push the other guy over the cliff when he's burnt out from trying to race you.



I've gone back to two Ad Nauseam main deck for a few reasons, mainly because If I drew it naturally with Past in Flames main and only one ad nauseam in the deck it becomes difficult to use LEDs effectively, and in part the reasons you outlined. These are trade offs I'm not willing to make.