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

[RaNDoMxGeSTuReS]

It's not a matter of personal preference. There is a configuration that is better than the others. The entire point of the thread is to figure out what configuration that is. The ritual package is more or less standard depending on if you're UBR or UB. Which colors and what disruption is mostly what's left to discuss.

I guess we could discuss alternate win conditions instead.

Options:

Tendrils of Agony. A strong solution; easy to cast with Ritual, comparatively light storm requirements, kills immediately.
Empty the Warrens. Sure, this is a good option if you can ramp DI mana and storm on turn one or two.
Grapeshot. Sometimes you need to kill Gaddock Teeg, and sometimes you want to humiliate the other guy.
Hunting Pack. Hits you with Searing Flesh when you flip it with Ad Nauseam. Basically impossible to cast without Infernal + LED. Doesn't kill immediately.

Hmm.

I really wish Wizards would give us some new Storm toys already.

[Lorgalis]

Hummmmm


I don't think that is going to happen anytime soon. In fact, it looks like Wizards won't be printing ANYTHING that helps combo in a long time. Yeah, I know that they printed Ad Nauseam in Shards, but I bet that it was a mistake on their part. I highly doubt that they realized the power of the card.
As I said elsewhere, Wizards keeps printing one hatebear/hate card per block: Lorwyn (Gaddock teeg), Shadowmoor (Runed Halo), M10 (Silence--> that works for us though ;) ), Alara (Ethersworn Canonist), Zendikar (Mindbreak Trap), M11 (Leyline of Sanctity), Scars (Leonin Arbiter). Admittedly, the only good hate cards are Canonist and Teeg, BUT the trend is clear. 7 hate cards recently printed Vs. 2 cards that we can use (Silence and Ad Nauseam).

[Dia_Bot]

Hummmmm


I don't think that is going to happen anytime soon. In fact, it looks like Wizards won't be printing ANYTHING that helps combo in a long time. Yeah, I know that they printed Ad Nauseam in Shards, but I bet that it was a mistake on their part. I highly doubt that they realized the power of the card.
As I said elsewhere, Wizards keeps printing one hatebear/hate card per block: Lorwyn (Gaddock teeg), Shadowmoor (Runed Halo), M10 (Silence--> that works for us though ;) ), Alara (Ethersworn Canonist), Zendikar (Mindbreak Trap), M11 (Leyline of Sanctity), Scars (Leonin Arbiter). Admittedly, the only good hate cards are Canonist and Teeg, BUT the trend is clear. 7 hate cards recently printed Vs. 2 cards that we can use (Silence and Ad Nauseam).

Unfortunately that's true.

[Bryant Cook]

Grapeshot. Sometimes you need to kill Gaddock Teeg, and sometimes you want to humiliate the other guy.

I love this.

I just read the last few pages and all I have to say is Hunting Pack, really? I don't remember who's idea, but awful. Seven mana, two if it green, it's more expensive and is off color. You might as well put Ill-Gotten Gains back in the maindeck and win for one less mana. Not to mention, winning with Grapeshot is just cooler.

On a different note, I updated the opening post with new reports and articles. Enjoy.

[DragoFireheart]

Tendrils of Agony. Best kill spell.
Empty the Warrens. Loses to Echoing truth or EE for 0.
Grapeshot. Coolest kill spell
Hunting Pack. Awful kill spell.

Hmm.

Fix'd.

Has anyone tested Mox Opal in any serious amounts?

[Nidd]

Fix'd.

Has anyone tested Mox Opal in any serious amounts?

Yes and it's awful.

[DragoFireheart]

Yes and it's awful.

Alright, so it is what I thought. Has anyone seen any previews of the second block set of Scars that we could use?

[OurSerratedDust]

Fix'd.

Has anyone tested Mox Opal in any serious amounts?

It is really only good post-ad nauseam, and you should be winning anyhow.

[lorddotm]

I love this.

I just read the last few pages and all I have to say is Hunting Pack, really? I don't remember who's idea, but awful. Seven mana, two if it green, it's more expensive and is off color. You might as well put Ill-Gotten Gains back in the maindeck and win for one less mana. Not to mention, winning with Grapeshot is just cooler.

On a different note, I updated the opening post with new reports and articles. Enjoy.

Can you update the sideboarding?

K thanx <3

[Bryant Cook]

Can you update the sideboarding?

K thanx <3

Would you like a beer now that I'm done? Possibly for me to take off your shoes?

[emidln]

Would you like a beer now that I'm done? Possibly for me to take off your shoes?

I could use a back massage, something better to wish for than Diminishing Returns, and a hooker. Hook a brother up.

[Jason]

I could use a back massage, something better to wish for than Diminishing Returns, and a hooker. Hook a brother up.

Sorry... Mind's Desire is banned.

[Koito]

What about Time Reversal (from M11) over Diminishing Returns?

[OurSerratedDust]

What about Time Reversal (from M11) over Diminishing Returns?

In my extensive testing with Diminishing Returns (see opening post), I found that having an additional mana available increased your chances of winning significantly, not to mention the fact that the ten exiled cards from DR are usually irrelevant.

[mechanize]

Yeah in my limited testing with Tes at my local store and gold fishing. Well after learned when the proper time to use Diminishing Returns, i have seen the same thing OurSerratedDust is going with. One extra mana can mean that you are going off a turn slower, can't power through a daze. I think diminishing returns is a better choice.

That being the case I wanted to ask the you guys about if my view on diminishing returns is correct. In every matchup that doesn't have counterspells(daze/FoW) you can use diminishing returns as an aggressive case but against decks running counters it should be used as a last resort?

I just am wondering against which match-ups it is a viable card that you wouldn't normally think of.

Thanks.

[ComboMan]

On a different note, I updated the opening post with new reports and articles. Enjoy.

Thx...

BTW, how did u board against Vengevines decks? (UG and GW)

Now I'm testing your SB with a little diference: -2 pyroblast, +2 seizes...

[yankeedave]

Would you like a beer now that I'm done? Possibly for me to take off your shoes?

Why are you wearing my shoes?!?! Take them off right this instant! You will get them all Bryant-y!

That said, they say you should walk a mile in another man's shoes. That way, you are a mile away and have his shoes.

[Piceli89]

Please stop trolling the thread and put up some serious shit. For example: did anyone felt that Carpet of Flowers could be a good card in the sideboard? People here have picked it up and found it very useful to compensate the bad manabase issues.

[RaNDoMxGeSTuReS]

Please stop trolling the thread and put up some serious shit. For example: did anyone felt that Carpet of Flowers could be a good card in the sideboard? People here have picked it up and found it very useful to compensate the bad manabase issues.

I don't think Carpet of Flowers is as practical in TES than in other storm combo decks. It's main usage is to beat Daze and cast big spells when mana accel isn't available.

Xantid Swarm is better against Merfolk for the same casting cost and you're usually dead against the fish before Carpet of Flowers becomes useful. It's strong against slow blue control decks.

Carpet of Flowers, I think, suffers from the same issue with Sensei's Divining Top. When you play it, you're assuming that you're going for a "slow win." And this deck is trying to win ASAP.

tldr;
If I wanted to run Carpet of Flowers, I'd sleeve up UBG ANT with Cabal Ritual because it plays like control.

[OurSerratedDust]

Yeah in my limited testing with Tes at my local store and gold fishing. Well after learned when the proper time to use Diminishing Returns, i have seen the same thing OurSerratedDust is going with. One extra mana can mean that you are going off a turn slower, can't power through a daze. I think diminishing returns is a better choice.

That being the case I wanted to ask the you guys about if my view on diminishing returns is correct. In every matchup that doesn't have counterspells(daze/FoW) you can use diminishing returns as an aggressive case but against decks running counters it should be used as a last resort?

I just am wondering against which match-ups it is a viable card that you wouldn't normally think of.

Thanks.

I know what you're saying here, but there are a number of factors to consider. Against both control and aggro decks, if you can safely win with Tendrils, Empty the Warrens, or Ill-Gotten Gains, you should. With IGG, you need to watch for any lethal burn spells or permission they could get back (chants and xantid swarm help here a lot.)

If you really can't do those things and can't afford to wait, then go for Diminishing Returns and see how it pans out. I agree with you that I'd be more hesitant to cast it against a control deck, but sometimes you just have to. I don't think I have ever really used Diminishing Returns "aggressively" though.

Also, consider that you cast Diminishing Returns against a deck with running four Force of Will. Let's say that they have five cards in play (lands, creatures, etc.) The chances of them drawing Force in their new seven is 43%, and the same goes with 4-of card in a deck. Luckily, we have a whole boatload of protection spells that we either played earlier, or may draw into with Diminishing Returns. Just something to keep in mind.