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

[Pelikanudo]

If we're on the subject of oddball deck changes tho', has anybody tried adding Simian Spirit Guides back into the deck? I've been tinkering with reducing the Chrome Mox slots as far as possible and off setting them with SGS and man does having a red lotus petal instead of a resource intensive card like Chrome Mox make a huge difference on how quickly you can go off. I know the card kind of sucks as far as Ad Nauseam flips go, but it makes a pretty big difference on how reliably you can win on turn 2.

That exactly thing I've been thinking exactly this past weekend and also the same reason...

Pros:
- We play rite of Flame
- Is not as bad as C.Mox
- Is instant speed
- Forgot! You now have +1 Win Con.

Cons:
- 1 or 2 cards of 3 cost vs 1 or 2 cards of 0 cost. We will need to evaluate this, but I don't think this will affect too much... Need opinions in here


Also resuming about Empty and Tendrils Base, I think it is meta dependant and based on sinergy cards on the build, I don't think Empty Base worths but this is a Personal Choice, I prefer simply to play Tendrils Base, Examples: a) its is supposed to get better A.N, b) you can go long game vs Control Based if drawing Same opinions as Emidlins in here, etc, etc. I recognize Gitaxian gets better Empty, but I don't play Gitaxian, also.

So based on my latest build of Non Gitaxian List.

- I'm thinking on the Disruption approach and 3 Silence 2 Orims 3 Duress seems to me perfect to handle Canadian because of +1 Chant Effect and Letting The duress in side however 4 duress 4 silence as Kobys List seems interesting but I have no B.Wish disruption target good enough as Duress.
- The mana Base is 13 lands 7 of them Gold Lands, and can be 2 C.Moxen 2 Simian Spirit Guide. or 3 Moxen 1 Simian Spirit Guide -Need to agree on this with you boys.
- The Slot I Hate is the 1 Personal Tutor OR 1 Totally Discarded Grim Totor OR 2# A.N. OR Changing parity beetween -1Diruption = +2 Gitaxian -Discarded also OR as from now on +1 Preordain

Here it goes:

4 Gemstone Mine
3 City of Brass
2 Underground Sea
1 Volcanic Island
2 Scalding Tarn
1 Misty Rainforest

3 Chrome Mox
1 Simian Spirit Guide

OR

2 Chrome Mox
2 Simian Spirit Guide

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
3 Silence
2 Orims Chant
3 Duress
1 Tendrils of Agony
1 Ad Nauseam
1 Preordain (I hate this slot...)

The Side:
1 Duress
3 Karakas (Great Card I almos always Side In -1 C.Mox +1 Of this if I do not expect Opposite Karakas AND it is a Slow Match Up)
3 Abrupt Decay
1 Empty the Warrens - Thinking in swithcing to 2 as vs MUD I felt I lost significatly when swithch to A.D. instead of E.T. Maybe -1 Karakas I'll see need opinion in here, I think it is the ritgh move.
1 Tendrils of Agony
1 Grapeshot
1 Revoke Existence
1 Past in Flames
1 Diminishing Returns
2 Xantid Swarn (In my meta there is S&T, and this is the best cards vs them. Apart In mirror and In Merfolk and In Reanimator and In Surprising With No Removal Scenarios this cards is Simply Great)

[Pelikanudo]

If the deck lists were to go to no maindeck win conditions in order to streamline I would definitely be playing four Burning Wish. Anything less than that is a mistake in my eyes. At that point there's too much value placed on Wish in order for it to be anything less than four. Now I'm a huge advocate of Empty the Warrens for the time being, so I'll continue to keep it on my maindeck. However, if I was to cut it, I'd probably replace it for a land.

.

I agree, in DD Builds you can opt to not to play Main Win Con but these are decks that their only draw back is that you loose only some piles while the Usual Piles are still strong and mana efficent, For TES I think having Tendrils Main reduce the chance of Not Winning Post A.N as equal to Empty Main , but the position when you draw until 13 or 15 is irrelevant as you have 8 ways to kill with Tendrils regardless having them or not, and the Draw back is that for these 50Percent -4 you need extra 2 mana, as opposite to 9 (4 B.W , 4 I.T , 1 Tendrils Base).

I can agree that if siwthcing to Gitaxian Build I'd make also these change +1 Land, however as previous post now I'm considering in adding Simian Spirit Guide to reduce those C.Moxen.

I think the lists and ideas that are being thrown out there at this point are a bit unrealistic in their expectations. I wouldn't advise three Ad Nauseam or Mox Opal, pretty much ever. Being able to stop at four on Ad Nauseam against stopping at Five is huge, it's about three cards! I also believe that the chances of killing yourself are much higher with two additional Ad Nauseam in the deck compared to my current list. They've gone beyond streamlining to the point where they're just narrow effectively shutting off the benefits of Burning Wish by narrowing it down to two copies
.

No More than 2 A.N, I personally Will play 1 Until There is a better Draw Engine than A.N.
No Opal, I tryed Builds with this playing Senseis, Even Artifact Lands and simply doen's adapt to TES.
Burning Wish Is the Card that defines TES in my Opinion, even this card , I won't say it is better than I.T. but Again, defines the Concept of TES. Please no less than 4.

I need to get back to work and posting on my phone is obnoxious, but I see these new lists/ideas as steps in the wrong direction. They're being thrown out there for the sake of being something different or "cool" and not functionally equivalent.

I agree apart from Non Gitaxian Or Empty/Tendrils Main.

[RaNDoMxGeSTuReS]

dkafljs;lfdjkal;fk

I just love how in every post you reiterate, "Oh, you play probe. I don't. Maybe I'll play probe? Nevermind."

[Bahamuth]

I just love how in every post you reiterate, "Oh, you play probe. I don't. Maybe I'll play probe? Nevermind."

And how you keep adding bad cards instead of Probe.

[Pelikanudo]

I just love how in every post you reiterate, "Oh, you play probe. I don't. Maybe I'll play probe? Nevermind."

I, J, and Ks can re-iterate in a While Loop, unless I, J and Ks are equal to 1 in that case the I, J and Ks will only iterate, I don't see myself as a I, J and Ks iterating or re-iterating in a While Loop.

I hope this helps!


@Bahamut:
I don't see Gitaxian > Preordain At Least In TES Build. I recognize Grim Tutor was an Error.

[RaNDoMxGeSTuReS]

Preordain doesn't reveal your opponent's hand. Seems bad.

[Pelikanudo]

Preordain doesn't reveal your opponent's hand. Seems bad.

I play only 1 Preordain in that hatable Slot so this is not much relevant, apart and going on the discussion:

Preordain
- serves as 8th Suffle Effect to make Brainstorm Better
- It is better at Deepening into the deck
- Doesn't make you to loose 2 lifes
- I don't need to see hands to win with TES

If you find a better slot for that single Preordain I'd like to know,

I can see the list for Gitaxian as:

4 Gemstone Mine
3 City of Brass
2 Underground Sea
1 Volcanic Island
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Flooded Strand

3 Chrome Mox - Maybe -1 = +1 SSG.
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 Gitaxian Probe
4 Silence
3 Duress
1 Ad Nauseam

So as Bryant Post List For reference Except - 1 Win Con Main = +1 Gold Land.

But As said, applying the parity Concept I prefer, as opposite as Bryant Post List For reference :

a) -1 Empty = +1 Tendrils Main
b) -1 Gitaxian = + 1 Disruption
c) -1 Gitaxian = + 13th Land
d) -1 Gitaxian = + 4th C. Moxen - The idea in here is to test SSG as, yes its cost 3 but it is much better than C.M. as a 1 or 2 Of, Again For me Exploting A.N. is the important thing. so keeping 8 Free Mana Efffects is important for me also.
e) -1 Gitaxian = +1 Preordain.

[RaNDoMxGeSTuReS]

I play only 1 Preordain in that hatable Slot so this is not much relevant, apart and going on the discussion:

Preordain
- serves as 8th Suffle Effect to make Brainstorm Better
- It is better at Deepening into the deck
- Doesn't make you to loose 2 lifes
- I don't need to see hands to win with TES

If you find a better slot for that single Preordain I'd like to know,

I can see the list for Gitaxian as:

4 Gemstone Mine
3 City of Brass
2 Underground Sea
1 Volcanic Island
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Flooded Strand

3 Chrome Mox - Maybe -1 = +1 SSG.
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 Gitaxian Probe
4 Silence
3 Duress
1 Ad Nauseam

So as Bryant Post List For reference Except - 1 Win Con Main = +1 Gold Land.

But As said, applying the parity Concept I prefer, as opposite as Bryant Post List For reference :

a) -1 Empty = +1 Tendrils Main
b) -1 Gitaxian = + 1 Disruption
c) -1 Gitaxian = + 13th Land
d) -1 Gitaxian = + 4th C. Moxen - The idea in here is to test SSG as, yes its cost 3 but it is much better than C.M. as a 1 or 2 Of, Again For me Exploting A.N. is the important thing. so keeping 8 Free Mana Efffects is important for me also.
e) -1 Gitaxian = +1 Preordain.

Don't play SSG.

[thefringthing]

Don't quote fifty lines of text to add one.

I can't take these Simian Spirit Guides and stuff seriously.

I like the list Koby played -1 Duress +1 Tendrils or Empty the Warrens. Not sure about whether I'd want a different bounce split; depends on how likely you think you are to play against Chalices.

Recently started picking up cards for the deck on MTGO. Soon I'll be able to beg people to lend me LEDs so I can sit in DEs that don't fire!

Drew Levin tweeted about playing "5c Storm" in the SCG Invitational. Is his list available?

[Koby]

Don't quote fifty lines of text to add one.

I can't take these Simian Spirit Guides and stuff seriously.

I like the list Koby played -1 Duress +1 Tendrils or Empty the Warrens. Not sure about whether I'd want a different bounce split; depends on how likely you think you are to play against Chalices.

Recently started picking up cards for the deck on MTGO. Soon I'll be able to beg people to lend me LEDs so I can sit in DEs that don't fire!

Drew Levin tweeted about playing "5c Storm" in the SCG Invitational. Is his list available?

He is playing Bryants list but Tendrils instead of EtW. 12 land, 3 Duress, 4 Bwish, sb infinite sorceries no Chain of Vapor.

[Bryant Cook]

Took first place at Jupiter with the list from the opening post.

Read all of the suggestions from the last day or so on my phone... /facepalm

Edit: Ning top 8'd with TES too.

[Clown of Tresserhorn]

Just T4ed a GPT with TES after months of non-play.

The deck is fucking savage, as I ripped through a room filled with RUG. Empty MD will never be questioned again by me. That card is the fucking nut sauce, and gives the deck a way to win at low life without Ad Naus. I'll write a tourney report soon.

[Deviruchi]

Took first place at Jupiter with the list from the opening post.

Read all of the suggestions from the last day or so on my phone... /facepalm

Edit: Ning top 8'd with TES too.

Nice results for the deck. Next report should be interesting. I was watching a little bit of Jupiter twitch and TES was strong in action. That game vs Eli :D He may be switching to FoW deck again ;)

[phazonmutant]

Long-time ANT player, took TES to a small local tournament for the first time today, got 2nd. Punted away g3 to not playing out LEDs against that Goblin Bombardment zombie deck when he played 5 disruption spells in the first 4 turns. Sweet deck, seems like to flows much better than ANT nowadays.

Bryant, why do you play 4 Gemstone Mine instead of like a 3-3 split with City of Brass? I had some issues with it as my only mana source in my opener and it going away against control decks. Also, I'm surprised there's no Badlands. Otherwise the list seems tight. Loved the Diminishing Returns!

[Final Fortune]

There's an issue with this thread being selectively critical, if a player wants to play the 9th cantrip or split acceleration into 2xChrome Mox and 1xSimian Spirit Guide it's not going to have any where near the same impact as cutting Burning Wish(es) from the deck or playing 3 Ad Nauseams, 2 additional 5c spells, and playing with no win conditions MD. I realize Pelikunado is kind of annoying, but I don't see where you guys can get away with suggesting massive structural changes to the deck and then chastize other players for making small structural changes to the deck for the purposes of decreasing the odds of double Chrome Mox hands/draws or increasing the odds of opening with a cantrip or chaining cantrips and not come off as complete hypocrites.

I mean seriously, you guys are cutting win conditions, cutting kill conditions, adding 2 Ad Nauseams to the deck and then just scoffing at 2xChrome Mox and 1xSimian Spirit Guide configurations or an extra 1x Pre-Ordian without any actual counter arguments?

As far as not running Gitaxian Probe for 4 more cards, it's not like TES without Gitaxian Probe isn't viable, and I could definitely follow the logic if somebody wanted to make a more stable TES deck that wasn't running the absolute bare number of lands. I definitely like Gitaxian Probe myself, but there may be some underlying problems with the deck's ability to consistently reveal a land off a Brainstorm or Pre-Ordain with only 12 lands compared to 14 or the ability to open a land off a mulligan to 6 that could need to be addressed. There needs to be less ego based bull shitting and more math done in a few areas of the deck.

[Bahamuth]

There's an issue with this thread being selectively critical, if a player wants to play the 9th cantrip or split acceleration into 2xChrome Mox and 1xSimian Spirit Guide it's not going to have any where near the same impact as cutting Burning Wish(es) from the deck or playing 3 Ad Nauseams, 2 additional 5c spells, and playing with no win conditions MD. I realize Pelikunado is kind of annoying, but I don't see where you guys can get away with suggesting massive structural changes to the deck and then chastize other players for making small structural changes to the deck for the purposes of decreasing the odds of double Chrome Mox hands/draws or increasing the odds of opening with a cantrip or chaining cantrips and not come off as complete hypocrites.

I mean seriously, you guys are cutting win conditions, cutting kill conditions, adding 2 Ad Nauseams to the deck and then just scoffing at 2xChrome Mox and 1xSimian Spirit Guide configurations or an extra 1x Pre-Ordian without any actual counter arguments?

As far as not running Gitaxian Probe for 4 more cards, it's not like TES without Gitaxian Probe isn't viable, and I could definitely follow the logic if somebody wanted to make a more stable TES deck that wasn't running the absolute bare number of lands. I definitely like Gitaxian Probe myself, but there may be some underlying problems with the deck's ability to consistently reveal a land off a Brainstorm or Pre-Ordain with only 12 lands compared to 14 or the ability to open a land off a mulligan to 6 that could need to be addressed. There needs to be less ego based bull shitting and more math done in a few areas of the deck.

All I'm criticizing is that he's not running Gitaxian Probes. There is in my mind absolutely no reason not to run Probe. I don't even know what you mean with 'TES without Probe is viable'. You can probably say Solidarity is viable, or pre Ad Nauseam TES is viable. I'm sure you can win game with it. It's just worse than other decks. Additionally, I think it's easy to see that Simian Spirit Guide is just not a good card at all. I have had the same list for a long time now, and I still think it's the best.

You say you think math should be done. The truth is that there's next to no math possible in MtG. The only thing you can realistically do is calculate probabilities of drawing combinations of cards, and that's not going to get you anywhere, since the only possible conclusion would be 'if I add more of these cards, I'll draw them more often'.

[Final Fortune]

All I'm criticizing is that he's not running Gitaxian Probes. There is in my mind absolutely no reason not to run Probe. I don't even know what you mean with 'TES without Probe is viable'. You can probably say Solidarity is viable, or pre Ad Nauseam TES is viable. I'm sure you can win game with it. It's just worse than other decks. Additionally, I think it's easy to see that Simian Spirit Guide is just not a good card at all. I have had the same list for a long time now, and I still think it's the best.

You say you think math should be done. The truth is that there's next to no math possible in MtG. The only thing you can realistically do is calculate probabilities of drawing combinations of cards, and that's not going to get you anywhere, since the only possible conclusion would be 'if I add more of these cards, I'll draw them more often'.

So a card that produces an on color mana without the cost of imprinting a card is "easy to see that it's not good" despite being played in the deck before both pre and post Ad Nauseam from 4 to 2 copies and mathematics doesn't apply to a deck of 60 cards beyond basic probability? This translates into you making arbitrary judgement calls regarding card choices and having no understanding of applied math, which is exactly the kind of crap I'm talking about in this thread. It's all ego and no substance based on speculation instead of mathematics or design objectives, even if it's something as simple as the utility of reducing the odds that you draw a second Chrome Mox compared to bolting yourself with Ad Nauseam flips, you just give a one liner without any substance instead of providing any arguments that contain an ounce of actual merrit.

There are definitely reasons not to run Probe, the "Street Wraith" effect being one of them, but the overall land count despite the deck thinning effect is a bit unreliable if you want to be able to mulligan and open up with a land without having to accept the variance from Probe. And honestly if that is an issue, what other card would you cut before Probe in order to increase the land count? Burning Wish? Please.

[Bahamuth]

So a card that produces an on color mana without the cost of imprinting a card is "easy to see that it's not good" despite being played in the deck before both pre and post Ad Nauseam from 4 to 2 copies

The fact that others used to run SSG is no argument at all. I don't know why you would be wanting to take 3 damage for a card that probably has less value after resolving Ad Nauseam. The fact that it doesn't count for storm is a huge deal too.

and mathematics doesn't apply to a deck of 60 cards beyond basic probability? This translates into you making arbitrary judgement calls regarding card choices and having no understanding of applied math, which is exactly the kind of crap I'm talking about in this thread.

Oh please, go ahead and lecture me on math. You can't mathematically determine if running a SSG over a Chrome Mox is better.

It's all ego and no substance based on speculation instead of mathematics or design objectives, even if it's something as simple as the utility of reducing the odds that you draw a second Chrome Mox compared to bolting yourself with Ad Nauseam flips, you just give a one liner without any substance instead of providing any arguments that contain an ounce of actual merrit.

You just confirmed my statement. You can use math to calculate the odds of seeing 2 Chrome Mox and the odds of Bolting yourself with Ad Nauseam flips. Now what? You're going to make the same arbitrary call on what odds you like better? On what authority are you stating that a certain combination of odds is better for the deck then another? There's no way to tell.

There are definitely reasons not to run Probe, the "Street Wraith" effect being one of them, but the overall land count despite the deck thinning effect is a bit unreliable if you want to be able to mulligan and open up with a land without having to accept the variance from Probe. And honestly if that is an issue, what other card would you cut before Probe in order to increase the land count? Burning Wish? Please.

Yes, I am aware of the fact that running Probe has this extremely obvious consequence. You know, there's reasons not to run LED too actually. Yeah, if you draw LED + Ad Nauseam, the LED is pretty often pretty much dead. Also, you have to discard your hand when you sac it. That's really bad you know. The fact that there are reasons not to run a card is by no means an argument not to run it.

And yes, I would cut Wish down to 2 before cutting the 4th Probe. The value of seeing my opponents hand is way too high to cut it.

[Final Fortune]

The fact that others used to run SSG is no argument at all. I don't know why you would be wanting to take 3 damage for a card that probably has less value after resolving Ad Nauseam. The fact that it doesn't count for storm is a huge deal too.



Oh please, go ahead and lecture me on math. You can't mathematically determine if running a SSG over a Chrome Mox is better.



You just confirmed my statement. You can use math to calculate the odds of seeing 2 Chrome Mox and the odds of Bolting yourself with Ad Nauseam flips. Now what? You're going to make the same arbitrary call on what odds you like better? On what authority are you stating that a certain combination of odds is better for the deck then another? There's no way to tell.



Yes, I am aware of the fact that running Probe has this extremely obvious consequence. You know, there's reasons not to run LED too actually. Yeah, if you draw LED + Ad Nauseam, the LED is pretty often pretty much dead. Also, you have to discard your hand when you sac it. That's really bad you know. The fact that there are reasons not to run a card is by no means an argument not to run it.

And yes, I would cut Wish down to 2 before cutting the 4th Probe. The value of seeing my opponents hand is way too high to cut it.

Fuck it, I can't take some one who just advocated cutting two of their win conditions before cutting a free Peek seriously after going on a tirade about how math should and should not be applied to this deck.

Yeah, I can't "prove" SSG is better than Chrome Mox based on a mathematical argument, however I can calculate the increase in the average amount of life lost while flipping after an Ad Nauseam and I can calculate the decrease in the average amount of times I draw 2xChrome Mox and make a value judgement based on an actual metric as opposed to saying such brilliant one liners as "cards that produce on color mana for free in Storm are clearly bad" or "seeing my opponent's hand is more important than drawing the cards that can actually win the game in a timely manner" based on nothing at all but a biased opinion. Go ahead, cut 2 Burning Wish from the deck and then wonder why your turn 1 and 2 win percentages plummet, math is totally overrated right?

Edit: Obviously SSG is worse after an Ad Nauseam, it's also significantly better than Chrome Mox before it.

[Bahamuth]

Fuck it, I can't take some one who just advocated cutting two of their win conditions before cutting a free Peek seriously after going on a tirade about how math should and should not be applied to this deck.

I'm not advocating cutting Wish down to 2. Don't put words in my mouth. I run 3 Wish 4 Probe.

Yeah, I can't "prove" SSG is better than Chrome Mox based on a mathematical argument, however I can calculate the increase in the average amount of life lost while flipping after an Ad Nauseam and I can calculate the decrease in the average amount of times I draw 2xChrome Mox and make a value judgement based on an actual metric

You know what, I think I'll go do this for you to show you there's no point. Give me some time. The amount of Chrome Mox you see is pretty easy, but getting to a quantification of how bad a SSG is may be a bit more difficult. I think it's probably easier to simulate it.

as opposed to saying such brilliant one liners as "cards that produce on color mana for free in Storm are clearly bad" or "seeing my opponent's hand is more important than drawing the cards that can actually win the game in a timely manner" based on nothing at all but a biased opinion.

No one here is saying things that are not biased opinions. Your opinion is that math can tell you what the best configuration is. I also never said any of these things. I can go ahead and exaggerate what you're saying too if you like. 'We should go ahead and base everything on math, instead of actually relying on playing the deck'. Yeah, that's not what you said either.

Go ahead, cut 2 Burning Wish from the deck and then wonder why your turn 1 and 2 win percentages plummet, math is totally overrated right?

I think I value math more than you do. I use math on a daily basis in my life.

Edit: Obviously SSG is worse after an Ad Nauseam, it's also significantly better than Chrome Mox before it.

It is definitely not significantly better, because not producing storm is a huge deal.