[Deck] ANT (Ad Nauseam Tendrils) Storm Combo

[Miscanthus]

I still don't understand how chrome mox is a good solution against eldrazi. IF you are on the play and IF you have them in your opening hand ok, probably you have a fast combo.......but with thorn in play, is a +1storm -2 cards +0mana. Is being super fast the solution to eldrazi? We are far from a belcher/all spells deck, I don't think we can increase our chance to combo off on turn 1 just adding 2-3 cards in the sideboard.

I have found so far that being super fast is indeed the best solution (so far) to Eldrazi (and generally good against other permanent based hate decks such as Death and Taxes, etc.). Barring our own very occasional turn-one-tendrils-for-twenty hands, this generally means casting Empty the Warrens or Ad Nauseam as soon as possible (TES style). This is where Chrome Mox shines, as even adding two or three does increase your chances of doing this successfully on turn one ( this is not to say that it "always" happens, but it does occur significantly more often than otherwise).

When going the Empty the Warrens route, casting a Chrome Mox without imprint can be good just to increase your goblin count. This is important, because casting an early horde of even 8 - 10 goblins can often be enough.

When going the Ad Nauseam route, I actually prefer not to see Chrome Mox in my opening hand, as revealing it to Ad Nauseam greatly increases its chance of success (as casting Ad Nauseum with zero mana floating becomes a somewhat less risky proposition).

Ultimately we are not so much trying to be like Belcher or All Spells. Rather, we are trying to take a page out of the TES playbook.
When facing Eldrazi, I usually look to see if I have either a turn one combo route (such as an Ad Nauseam or Empty the Warrens line mentioned above), or some effective disruption (such as Serenity, discard when on the play, etc.). If I don't have these I seriously consider mulling.

[Alakhai84]

I agree!

@Togores,
I watched you GP prep Twitch stream and really enjoyed the games. I was particularly interested in seeing how you sideboard and hearing your thoughts on this. For instance, you mentioned a reconfigured SB for Miracles players who may anticipate our usual boarding plan. Really neat stuff! It would be great if you could slow down just a bit when you go to sideboard. I had to re-watch the stream to catch a few of these illuminating moments.

Can't find those videos on Rodrigo's twitch page? Did you remove them? :(

[Togores]

Should be in past broadcasts.
Also it can be that already the days passed to twitch erase them.

Today in that huge shop called Hareruya I played against a guy on miracles.
Defeated him g1 and then also all the bunch of sb games we played. Also he didnt knew the grinding sb aproach. Which is good.

Also I won the gp round 2-0 and keep just slaming most og the mirackes players I face. Now the problem is beat thos eldrazi and white decks.

[Jonathan Alexander]

Finally got around to writing my Storm primer, which is the first one to cover a specific list I have written since 2013. Featuring both Ad Nauseam Tendrils and Grinding Station:

https://theweeklywars.wordpress.com/...-storm-primer/

[Jeff]

Should be in past broadcasts.

Sadly I don't see anything in past broadcasts at all :(

[Morden]

sooooo guys, I need you feedback about this list I'm gonna try in a big tournament in Italy next days.

4 Lion's Eye Diamond
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
1 Swamp
1 Island
4 Misty Rainforest
2 Underground Sea
1 Tropical Island
1 Volcanic Island
4 Infernal Tutor
1 Tendrils of Agony
1 Past in Flames
1 Ad Nauseam
4 Cabal Ritual
4 Dark Ritual
3 Cabal Therapy
3 Duress
4 Lotus Petal
4 Polluted Delta
1 Preordain
1 Thoughtseize
1 Chrome Mox
1 Rain of Filth
1 Empty the Warrens
SB: 3 Abrupt Decay
SB: 1 Echoing Truth
SB: 1 Massacre
SB: 3 Dark Confidant
SB: 1 Tendrils of Agony
SB: 1 Krosan Grip
SB: 1 Hurkyl's Recall
SB: 1 Chain of Vapor
SB: 1 Sensei's Divining Top
SB: 2 Flusterstorm

my fears are eldrazi, miracle, and D&T, I expect TONS of them. That's why 7 discards (1 thoughtseize for creatures), mox, rain of filth, I want to generate fast mana as soon as possible and hopefully combo off soon. I used to play 2 pif MD, I think the actual meta doesn't require 2 of them. Confidant is HUGE against miracle, nice against bug also. I decided to split the bouncer in 3 different options to be more versatile, everyone has pros and cons.

[Douif]

Finally got around to writing my Storm primer, which is the first one to cover a specific list I have written since 2013. Featuring both Ad Nauseam Tendrils and Grinding Station:

https://theweeklywars.wordpress.com/...-storm-primer/

Nice primer Jonathan, thanks !

[Jeff]

I've been really happy with Confidant vs Miracles lately. Much, much happier than in the grinding station approach. Pressuring them with things they have to deal with has proven much more effective than trying to sit back and beat them at the long game. That said, I found my win percentage really does go noticeably down once they start boarding for Confidant. My go-to miracles opponent was originally leaving in 1 Terminus, 1 EE, and 1 Kozilek's Return to deal with creatures post board, and I was significantly ahead on win percentage. When he traded the terminus for 3 StPs, I went back to around 50%. This is with 3 confidants coming in. To combat this, I'm planning to play some Xantid Swarms as well and try to overload the StPs, but obviously this could have it's own problems with sweepers. Let's just say it's a delicate balance the storm player can come out ahead on, but you're going to have to read your opponent right.

I'm actually not bringing in confidant against BUG, since between liliana and Golgari Charm they've got a lot of answers to him, and I don't think he's as necessary as he is vs Miracles.

The only other thought I'd have is that I would play the 4th Therapy and cut a duress if you want the thoughtseize. 4 Therapy is where it's at, especially if you're afraid of creatures. Trimming a therapy for a thoughtseize isn't making a huge difference, while trimming a duress for one is.

[Morden]

The only other thought I'd have is that I would play the 4th Therapy and cut a duress if you want the thoughtseize. 4 Therapy is where it's at, especially if you're afraid of creatures. Trimming a therapy for a thoughtseize isn't making a huge difference, while trimming a duress for one is.

I think you are right. Also because with emtpy MD, therapy from the graveyard it's a thing. Thanks for the suggestion!

[Alakhai84]

my fears are eldrazi, miracle, and D&T, I expect TONS of them. That's why 7 discards (1 thoughtseize for creatures), mox, rain of filth, I want to generate fast mana as soon as possible and hopefully combo off soon. I used to play 2 pif MD, I think the actual meta doesn't require 2 of them. Confidant is HUGE against miracle, nice against bug also. I decided to split the bouncer in 3 different options to be more versatile, everyone has pros and cons.

Death and Taxes, Miracle and Eldrazi will be the most played deck and I think that they're the worst matchup for ANT. Expecially Eldrazi with Chalice, Thorn and Thoughtknot Seer that's why this is not the best moment to play this deck, though I really love it. Anyway I think your decklist it's pretty good with good choiches, you just need good pairings and nice draws! ;) Good luck for your tournament! You will really need it!

[Jeff]

Yeah I don't think there's really an argument to be made that Storm is the right deck to play right now. It's objectively bad at the moment. But it's a fun deck to play and sometimes that's enough.

It's very possible I'm gonna play it in Louisville because I'm a better storm player than I am of anything else that is good right now. I could play Delver Mirrors all day, which sounds kind of miserable, or I could just try to kill some people on turn 1.

[Alakhai84]

Yeah I don't think there's really an argument to be made that Storm is the right deck to play right now. It's objectively bad at the moment. But it's a fun deck to play and sometimes that's enough.

I agree with you, I would play Storm too but just because I love it and I know it very well. I think that nowadays RB Reanimator is the "new Ant"...has free turn 1 kills and has better eldrazi and miracle matchup. Anyway I hope you will "tendrils 'em all!" ;)

[Jonathan Alexander]

Why are people afraid of Death & Taxes? It by far the deck Storm can most easily adapt to.

[Morden]

Why are people afraid of Death & Taxes? It by far the deck Storm can most easily adapt to.

I'm not, I'd wish I'll face only D&T!! I was just pointing out that the meta here has a big percentage of D&T. My list is made mainly to fight eldrazi and miracle, D&T is not a big menace, that's why only 1 massacre and no dread or specific hate. Empty MD is there only because I have no space in SB...... XD..... it could a dark petition, but let's try to have empty maindeck, maybe it's useful in some circumstances.

[Jeff]

Exactly. It's not D&T itself, it's that I used to have to face D&T a few times a tournament as my bad matchup, and now it's one of my good ones because they can't interact with me at all until turn 2.

[Togores]

Exactly. It's not D&T itself, it's that I used to have to face D&T a few times a tournament as my bad matchup, and now it's one of my good ones because they can't interact with me at all until turn 2.

Until they surgical your turn 1 kill. That happened my last round of the GP fighting for cash :(

[Jeff]

Oh great, another thing to worry about :P

Stupid RB Reanimator, screwing things up for me everywhere.

[SaberTooth]

hi, im goin to play a tournament in a couple of days, could someone give me (with gp prague list) advices of how to sideboard? or at least tell me in which page of this thread can i find this info? thank you :D

[Ronald Deuce]

Why are people afraid of Death & Taxes? It by far the deck Storm can most easily adapt to.

I just have problems with its consistency. It's like if I don't throw down and combo on T1-T2, they just keep playing hatebear after hatebear and I can't break through. I've brought back a singleton Massacre just because it's the only way I know to beat T1 Mom, T2 Thalia, T3 Other Thalia + Canonist/whatever. Try as I might, I can't get my T1-2s high enough to feel like I've really got a good shot at the matchup. (My postboard plan runs an Empty, a PiF, an Ad Nauseam, a Massacre, a Disfigure, two Chains of Vapor, and a Chrome Mox.)

I think it's worth mentioning that this wasn't a problem six months ago. Back then they actually had to find lock-pieces; now, they're more likely to have several of them than none of them.

With that said, I'm not using Daze, which might be the best thing we've got. Not sure. I just don't like running countermagic in a deck that tries to empty its hand.

By the way, thanks for the primer! Good work!

[Jeff]

I've brought back a singleton Massacre just because it's the only way I know to beat T1 Mom, T2 Thalia, T3 Other Thalia + Canonist/whatever.

Yeah, the problem is the massacre plan is fucking terrible against T1 Plains + Vial, T2 Karakas + Thalia. Even worse if they play the vial off of not plains. But once they've got thalia+karakas+vial on 2, dread of night or sulfur elemental or something similar is the only thing that saves you.

They've got a ton of different ways to fuck you, and since its' all just 4of's with no early filtering, your sideboarding is at the mercy of their draws. Awkward place to be. You can lose with massacre against a hand Dread would've killed, and vice versa.