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

[spike7777]

Leaving A Legacy: Storming To Worchester by Bryant Cook

Opening post now contains new links.

I didn't realize you were there- that's awesome. I went with a friend after only having played the deck for a couple weeks and got absolutely wrecked (went 3-6, losing at least 4-5 games to my own play mistakes that were so obvious I recognized that I'd misplayed as soon as I did it). I'm certainly not good with the deck yet, but I'm having a ton of fun learning as I go.

While I did really badly, I did get to match 1, game 1, turn 1 kill a guy on either UW or UWr tempo with ad nauseam -> tendrils for 13 copies. I got the biggest shit-eating grin on my face and it was probably the best time I've had playing Magic. Thanks a ton for the deck/decklist.

[Jay_Gatz]

Bryant, you should try to convince SCG to do a deck tech at the invitational.

[Bryant Cook]

Bryant, you should try to convince SCG to do a deck tech at the invitational.

...and that was the last time Bryant Cook owned a Japanese foil version of T.E.S.

[Lemnear]

Bryant, you should try to convince SCG to do a deck tech at the invitational.

Plain bad idea I fear. I doubt you can explain more interactions than Infernal + LED into Ad Nauseam until your discussion Partner at SCG mentally blanks and need an ambulance because you have to slap him each time he says "Ad Nauseam Tendrils".

You don't expect people watching the deck tech understanding the SB engines while it's obvious that even a lot of the pilots have problems choosing the right Engine for given situations.

[Royce Walter]

"I think these two are friends because they have the exact same 75."

To be fair, we also both said we came from Syracuse and we looked like we were pretty chatty while shuffling up.

[Kayradis]

To be fair, we also both said we came from Syracuse and we looked like we were pretty chatty while shuffling up.

We probably all noticed that. Also, it was the only good comment coming out of the announcers.

[Royce Walter]

We probably all noticed that. Also, it was the only good comment coming out of the announcers.

I was a pretty big fan of "it looks like he's burning wishing for tendrils.... Our producer is telling us it's cabal therapy.... Nah, it's tendrils."

[Star|Scream]

I was a pretty big fan of "it looks like he's burning wishing for tendrils.... Our producer is telling us it's cabal therapy.... Nah, it's tendrils."

You're making this up?

[Royce Walter]

You're making this up?

I'm sure that's not the exact quote, but that's the sentiment.

[Lemnear]

It's pointless to pick quotes and drag them through the dirt. We already know all that SCG commentary could be better than it is.

Question: Are all those guys and gals responsible for the Video coverage volunteers or do they get payed. If they do this for (nearly) free i would be rather thankful for their work and overall quality. The worlds biggest tournament series, Bazaar of Moxen still lacks ANY coverage even in it's 7th iteration.

[Star|Scream]

I have a situation question.

It is your turn 3 against a discard opponent who plays no countermagic. You are at 14 life.

On the battlefield: LED, LED, Chrome Mox (imprint therapy), Lotus Petal, Underground Sea
In your hand: Silence, Ad Nauseam, Burning Wish
Graveyard: Ponder, Burning Wish


Can you win this turn?

I see a diminishing returns line, but PIF and IGG aren't showing me a win. Is it there?

[SaberTooth]

i think that your only way, if you want to win that turn is with diminishing returnss

[phazonmutant]

I have a situation question.

It is your turn 3 against a discard opponent who plays no countermagic. You are at 14 life.

On the battlefield: LED, LED, Chrome Mox (imprint therapy), Lotus Petal, Underground Sea
In your hand: Silence, Ad Nauseam, Burning Wish
Graveyard: Ponder, Burning Wish


Can you win this turn?

I see a diminishing returns line, but PIF and IGG aren't showing me a win. Is it there?

DimRet seems like a pretty likely win. You have a land drop, so only crack one LED to make it more likely to win with IT.

Most discard decks play at most one way to deal with a horde of goblin tokens, so you can also do an IGG loop into Empty for 12 tokens. If they have nothing in their hand that's probably not optimal, but if they have a loaded grip, Mind Twisting them might be good.

[Dark Ritual]

...and that was the last time Bryant Cook owned a Japanese foil version of T.E.S.

My thoughts exactly. While deck techs are nice for attention, showing that you have a deck worth over 10 grand seems like a bad idea. Noticed you swapped out the polluted delta. I'm guessing it was because of Reuben Bresler's commentary last time? I agree, that was pretty annoying and imitating other decks is very useful generally.

I would just DReturns in that situation Star|Scream. You're almost a lock to win that game with mana floating of your choice as well as a land drop.

Yeah, agreed on the commentary being awful. They couldn't tell what the cards were for shit, what was going on, etc. etc.

They do get paid to do coverage Lemnear and probably quite a bit. I know a guy who does coverage for SCG, but he can't disclose his pay due to a NDA of course. I would gladly do coverage as I at least know what all the decks are trying to accomplish and what the cards are. Only problem for me is I don't really follow standard because I think the format is super lame sauce.

Really sweet tournament report though, sad that you lost to UWR in the top 8.

[Star|Scream]

DimRet seems like a pretty likely win. You have a land drop, so only crack one LED to make it more likely to win with IT.

Are you sure it wouldn't be better to pop both LEDS to have mana available in case you brick on business but you do have cantrips?

[Megadeus]

Are you sure it wouldn't be better to pop both LEDS to have mana available in case you brick on business but you do have cantrips?

Possibly, but if you draw IT, and no LED and you rip multiple lands, you kiss your shot of doing anything that turn goodbye.

[Lemnear]

Are you sure it wouldn't be better to pop both LEDS to have mana available in case you brick on business but you do have cantrips?

I would pass on PIF and IGG because DR is unlikely to fizzle here. Pop both LED (RRRUUU) and get them back into your deck to draw them again. You can still drop a Land for B in Case you draw infernal and LED.

Having Access to Blue mana Post DR is vital to fix your grip with further cantrippin (Into a Wish or LED in most cases)

[phazonmutant]

I would pass on PIF and IGG because DR is unlikely to fizzle here. Pop both LED (RRRUUU) and get them back into your deck to draw them again. You can still drop a Land for B in Case you draw infernal and LED.

Having Access to Blue mana Post DR is vital to fix your grip with further cantrippin (Into a Wish or LED in most cases)

Those are definitely the correct options - go for DimRet either cracking for RRRUUU or only cracking one for nothing floating. Without doing the math I think that the chances of having multiple cantrips or not having another IMS for a ritual is less likely than either completely bricking off DimRet or needing LED to IT successfully, so I would leave one LED on the board. I try really hard to not crack my LEDs unless absolutely necessary, so that could be a bias on my part in this analysis.

In any case, I'm pretty sure everyone agrees DimRet is much more likely to win than any other options, and the difference to win between popping both LEDs and only one seem like 5% at most.

[Lemnear]

Those are definitely the correct options - go for DimRet either cracking for RRRUUU or only cracking one for nothing floating. Without doing the math I think that the chances of having multiple cantrips or not having another IMS for a ritual is less likely than either completely bricking off DimRet or needing LED to IT successfully, so I would leave one LED on the board. I try really hard to not crack my LEDs unless absolutely necessary, so that could be a bias on my part in this analysis.

In any case, I'm pretty sure everyone agrees DimRet is much more likely to win than any other options, and the difference to win between popping both LEDs and only one seem like 5% at most.

If you Crack only one (asuming for UUU) you reduce the Chance of drawing another one off DR or the following cantrippin and often results in forcing you to find not only a Black IMS but a red one too aka a Lotus Petal or a Chrome Mox.

Being forced to Probe, Ponder, Brainstorm into a lesser accelerant like Petal or Mox is nothing you want aside the fact that you have less mana in your Pool to operate with and that all for the Chance of drawing Infernal Tutor, a possible 3-off in postboard games (did StarScream mention if it was postboard?).

I'm 100% sure popping both LED's gives you the most mana and options out of the situation aka not being able to float a Single Red or Black mana into the DR

Edit: with RRRUUU Floating you can even pull off something useful with a drawn EtW or lonely Wish even if the Rest is crap.

[sconnell]

It is your turn 3 against a discard opponent who plays no countermagic. You are at 14 life.

On the battlefield: LED, LED, Chrome Mox (imprint therapy), Lotus Petal, Underground Sea
In your hand: Silence, Ad Nauseam, Burning Wish
Graveyard: Ponder, Burning Wish


Can you win this turn?

I try really hard to not crack my LEDs unless absolutely necessary, so that could be a bias on my part in this analysis.

In any case, I'm pretty sure everyone agrees DimRet is much more likely to win than any other options, and the difference to win between popping both LEDs and only one seem like 5% at most.

I also lean towards preferring to keep a LED in play when resolving Ad Nauseum or Diminishing Returns, for two reasons:
1. Hellbent
2. It's hedge in case I can't actually go off, which particularly applies for DR since it usually draws fewer cards than Ad Nauseum. DR will put the game in a better situation than it was in lots of situations even when it doesn't convert to a win that turn. In that case, it might be better to be able to have access to LED the following turn rather than potentially lose the 3 mana if you weren't able to spend it right away.

I know the question here was "Can you win this turn?" but there's still a number of ways that DR -> not go off that turn can still end up being a win. For example, you might keep LED, play a land for the turn and play a brainstorm/ponder to set up to win the following turn after untapping with LED + 2 land + mox. Or, you might go gold mana source -> silence on opponent's upkeep -> untap and win on your turn. Or, it might be that a discard spell is enough to get you to your next turn where you can win.

Without knowing the composition of the opponent's deck other than that they have discard and no counterspells, it's hard to know how important it is to be able to win this turn. If the opponent has hatebears or other troublesome permanents, this makes it more urgent to try and win this turn.