Tag: deckbuilding

Episode 039 — Dice, decks, and disappointing Dad

Fresh off GP Toronto, Wilson shares his thoughts on the meta, team tournaments, and bad cards (read: Bomat Courier). We talk dice rolls, some hot new decks (find lists below), and somehow end on a note of disappointing the people we care most about. The cat’s in the cradle, y’all.

Steel Stompy
Courtesy of Jarvis Yu

4 Walking Ballista
4 Arcbound Ravager
4 Phyrexian Revoker
4 Steel Overseer
3 Vault Skirge
3 Etched Champion
3 Karn, Scion of Urza

4 Chalice of the Void
4 Lotus Petal
3 Mox Opal
4 Thorn of Amethyst

4 Ancient Tomb
4 City of Traitors
2 Ghost Quarter
2 Karakas
4 Mishra’s Factory
4 Wasteland

Sideboard
2 Ratchet Bomb
2 Sorcerous Spyglass
1 Umezawa’s Jitte
1 Warping Wail
4 Ensnaring Bridge
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
4 Leyline of the Void

(Untested) Brainstorm Show Steel Stompy
4 Walking Ballista
4 Arcbound Ravager
4 Phyrexian Revoker
4 Steel Overseer
4 Vault Skirge
3 Karn, Scion of Urza

4 Chalice of the Void
4 Lotus Petal
3 Mox Opal
4 Thorn of Amethyst
2 Umezawa’s Jitte

4 Ancient Tomb
4 City of Traitors
4 Blinkmoth Nexus
4 Mishra’s Factory
4 Wasteland

Sideboard
2 Ratchet Bomb
2 Sorcerous Spyglass
2 Warping Wail
4 Ensnaring Bridge
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
4 Leyline of the Void

“Medium Depths”
Ben Friedman article

4 Dark Confidant
4 Deathrite Shaman
3 Sylvan Safekeeper
4 Vampire Hexmage
3 Pithing Needle
3 Abrupt Decay
4 Crop Rotation
4 Duress
2 Sylvan Scrying
4 Thoughtseize

2 Forest
2 Swamp
2 Bayou
1 Bojuka Bog
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Sejiri Steppe
4 Thespian’s Stage
4 Verdant Catacombs
3 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
4 Dark Depths

Sideboard
1 Pithing Needle
1 Sorcerous Spyglass
2 Tireless Tracker
1 Abrupt Decay
3 Surgical Extraction
3 Cabal Therapy
1 Marsh Casualties
2 Bitterblossom
1 Karakas

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Episode 038 — The Rising Tide

Welcome back to The Brainstorm Show! We appreciate your patience for this episode. In this edition of The BSS, we talk about our wonderful sponsors, upcoming events on the horizon, some newish key cards in Legacy, updates to the Grixis Control list, and a better Predict deck than Miracles: High Tide.

We hope you enjoy.

Grixis Control + Sideboard Map
4 Deathrite Shaman
4 Young Pyromancer
2 Snapcaster Mage
1 True-Name Nemesis
1 Gurmag Angler
1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor

4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
4 Gitaxian Probe
3 Cabal Therapy
2 Thoughtseize
1 Lightning Bolt
3 Fatal Push
2 Diabolic Edict
2 Kolaghan’s Command
4 Force of Will

2 Island
1 Swamp
1 Mountain
2 Underground Sea
1 Volcanic Island
1 Badlands
1 Tropical Island
4 Polluted Delta
2 Scalding Tarn
3 Bloodstained Mire

SB
3 Blood Moon
2 Spell Pierce
1 Flusterstorm
2 Pyroblast
1 Grim Lavamancer
1 Liliana, the Last Hope
2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Toxic Deluge
1 Ancient Grudge

Grixis Delver
+2 Pyroblast, +1 Flusterstorm, +1 Engineered Explosives, +1 Toxic Deluge, +1 Grim Lavamancer, +1 Liliana, the Last Hope
-4 Force of Will, -3 Cabal Therapy

Czech Pile
+3 Blood Moon, +2 Spell Pierce, +1 Flusterstorm, +2 Pyroblast, +1 Liliana, the Last Hope, +2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
-4 Force of Will, -2 Diabolic Edict, -3 Cabal Therapy, -2 Fatal Push

Miracles
+2 Spell Pierce, +1 Flusterstorm, +2 Pyroblast, +2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
-2 Diabolic Edict, -3 Fatal Push, -2 Kolaghan’s Command

Eldrazi
+3 Blood Moon, +1 Ancient Grudge, +1 Engineered Explosives, +2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
-3 Cabal Therapy, -1 Lightning Bolt, -2 Thoughtseize, -1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor

D+T
+1 Toxic Deluge, +1 Grim Lavamancer, +1 Engineered Explosives, +1 Liliana, the Last Hope, +1 Ancient Grudge
-4 Force of Will, -1 Gurmag Angler

Elves
+2 Spell Pierce, +1 Flusterstorm, +1 Toxic Deluge, +1 Grim Lavamancer, +1 Engineered Explosives, +1 Liliana, the Last Hope
-3 Cabal Therapy, -1 True-Name Nemesis, -1 Gurmag Angler, -2 Diabolic Edict

ANT
+2 Spell Pierce, +1 Flusterstorm, +2 Pyroblast, +1 Engineered Explosives
-3 Fatal Push, -1 Lightning Bolt, -2 Diabolic Edict
Note: board in Deluge and/or Bolt against Empty and/or Swarm

TES
+2 Spell Pierce, +1 Flusterstorm, +2 Pyroblast, +1 Engineered Explosives, +1 Toxic Deluge
-3 Fatal Push, -2 Diabolic Edict, -1 Lightning Bolt, -1 True-Name Nemesis

Sneak and Show
+2 Spell Pierce, +1 Flusterstorm, +2 Pyroblast
-3 Fatal Push, -1 Lightning Bolt, -1 True-Name Nemesis

BR Reanimator
+2 Spell Pierce, +1 Flusterstorm, +2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
-3 Fatal Push, -2 Kolaghan’s Command

Lands
+3 Blood Moon, +2 Spell Pierce, +1 Ancient Grudge, +1 Engineered Explosives, +2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
-3 Fatal Push, -1 Lightning Bolt, -3 Cabal Therapy, -2 Thoughtseize

Turbo Depths
+3 Blood Moon, +2 Spell Pierce, +1 Flusterstorm
-2 Fatal Push, -3 Cabal Therapy, -1 True-Name Nemesis

High Tide by Marcus Ewaldh
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
4 Preordain
4 Predict

4 Merchant Scroll
3 Cunning Wish
1 Intuition

4 High Tide
3 Turnabout
4 Time Spiral

3 Flusterstorm
4 Force of Will

12 Island
2 Flooded Strand
2 Scalding Tarn
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Polluted Delta

SB
1 Brain Freeze
1 Blue Sun’s Zenith
1 Meditate
1 Turnabout
1 Snap
1 Echoing Truth
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Swan Song
1 Surgical Extraction
2 Grafdigger’s Cage
2 Teferi’s Realm
2 Search for Azcanta

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Episode 037 — Listener’s Delight

Welcome back to The Brainstorm Show! In this episode, we field a wide array of listener questions. We reference our colleagues over at Leaving a Legacy podcast. Check them out at https://www.hipstersofthecoast.com/leaving-a-legacy/

We also make a couple updates to a sweet, non-Miracles, non-Baleful Strix control list we have been pushing for some months now. Find it below:

Grixis Control
4 Deathrite Shaman
4 Young Pyromancer
3 Snapcaster Mage
1 Gurmag Angler
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor

4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
4 Gitaxian Probe
3 Cabal Therapy
2 Thoughtseize
1 Inquisition of Kozilek
1 Lightning Bolt
2 Fatal Push
1 Diabolic Edict
2 Kolaghan’s Command
4 Force of Will

2 Island
1 Swamp
1 Mountain
2 Underground Sea
1 Volcanic Island
1 Badlands
1 Tropical Island
4 Polluted Delta
3 Scalding Tarn
2 Bloodstained Mire

SB
3 Blood Moon
2 Surgical Extraction
1 Flusterstorm
2 Pyroblast
1 Diabolic Edict
1 Darkblast
1 Forked Bolt
1 Izzet Staticaster
1 Liliana, the Last Hope
1 Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1 Ancient Grudge

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Episode 036 — Once in a Blue Moon…

Welcome back to The Brainstorm Show, ladies and gentlemen! We are excited to bring you a new episode covering the state of Legacy, deckbuilding at the Pro Tour, New Miracles, Search for Azcanta, and more! We hope you enjoy.

Grixis Azcanta by Rugved Karhade

3 Baleful Strix
3 Snapcaster Mage
1 True-Name Nemesis
1 Gurmag Angler

2 Search for Azcanta
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor

4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
2 Spell Snare
2 Fatal Push
3 Lightning Bolt
1 Pyroblast
2 Thoughtseize
2 Counterspell
1 Diabolic Edict
2 Night’s Whisper
2 Kolaghan’s Command
4 Force of Will

3 Island
2 Swamp
1 Creeping Tar Pit
2 Underground Sea
2 Volcanic Island
4 Polluted Delta
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Flooded Strand
1 Misty Rainforest
2 Bloodstained Mire

SB
2 Flusterstorm
3 Surgical Extraction
1 Pyroblast
2 Red Elemental Blast
2 Diabolic Edict
1 Painful Truths
1 Toxic Deluge
1 Izzet Staticaster
2 Blood Moon

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Brief Brainstorm 011 — Popeye Stompy

In this Brief Brainstorm, Paul and Wilson share their thoughts on the recent Popeye Stompy internet troll and its consequences for the Legacy community.

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Brief Brainstorm 010 — Vintage Storm with Wilson Hunter

Wilson takes us through his EE7 Vintage Paradoxical Outcome list. Check it out!

Vintage Paradoxical Outcome
By Wilson Hunter
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
1 Ponder
4 Preordain
1 Gitaxian Probe
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
2 Dark Ritual
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Chain of Vapor
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Time Walk
4 Paradoxical Outcome
1 Tendrils of Agony
1 Empty the Warrens
1 Timetwister
1 Wheel of Fortune
1 Windfall
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
3 Mox Opal
1 Lotus Petal
1 Manavault
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Crypt
2 Sensei’s Divining Top
1 Monastery Mentor
4 Force of Will

2 Flooded Strand
2 Misty Rainforest
1 Polluted Delta
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Tolarian Academy
2 Underground Sea
1 Tundra
1 Volcanic Island
1 Island
1 Ancient Tomb

SB
1 Tinker
1 Blightsteel Colossus
4 Defense Grid
2 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Steel Sabotage
1 Chain of Vapor
1 Grafdigger’s Cage
2 Containment Priest
1 Yixlid Jailer

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Episode 035 — The Best Laid Plans…

Welcome back to The Brainstorm Show. In this episode, we provide you with a look at Wilson’s EE7 experience, a starting point for Czech Pile, and take a large helping of listener questions. Hidden in this episode is the secret to becoming a better Magic player. Spoiler alert: it’s not much of a secret. We hope you enjoy!

The Brainstorm Show’s “Czech Pile/4C Control” + Sideboard Guide:
4 Deathrite Shaman
3 Baleful Strix
3 Snapcaster Mage
2 Leovold, Emissary of Trest
1 Kess, Dissident Mage
1 True-name Nemesis

2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor

2 Thoughtseize
1 Counterspell
1 Toxic Deluge
1 Umezawa’s Jitte
1 Lightning Bolt
2 Fatal Push
2 Kolaghan’s Command
2 Abrupt Decay
4 Ponder
4 Brainstorm
4 Force of Will

4 Polluted Delta
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Verdant Catacombs
3 Underground Sea
2 Volcanic Island
2 Tropical Island
1 Badlands
1 Swamp
1 Island

SB
3 Surgical Extraction
2 Flusterstorm
3 Pyroblast
2 Duress
1 Diabolic Edict
2 Pithing Needle
1 Toxic Deluge
1 Kess, Dissident Mage

Grixis Delver
-4 Force of Will, -1 Counterspell, -2 Thoughtseize
+2 Flusterstorm, +3 Pyroblast, +1 Toxic Deluge, +1 Diabolic Edict

Death & Taxes
-4 Force of Will, -1 Counterspell
+1 Diabolic Edict, +1 Toxic Deluge, +2 Pithing Needle, +1 Kess, Dissident Mage

Grixis Control
-2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor, -2 Thoughtseize, -1 Counterspell, -1 Force of Will
+3 Pyroblast, +2 Flusterstorm, +1 Diabolic Edict

Mirror
-4 Force of Will, -2 Thoughtseize
+3 Pyroblast, +2 Flusterstorm, +1 Kess, Dissident Mage

UWx Control
-4 Force of Will, -1 Counterspell, -1 Baleful Strix
+3 Pyroblast, +1 Toxic Deluge, +1 Diabolic Edict, +1 Kess, Dissident Mage

Storm
-3 Baleful Strix, -2 Fatal Push, -1 Lightning Bolt, -1 Umezawa’s Jitte, -2 Abrupt Decay, -1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor, -1 True-name Nemesis
+2 Duress, +3 Surgical Extraction, +3 Pyroblast, +2 Flusterstorm, +1 Kess, Dissident Mage

Dark Depths
+2 Flusterstorm, +2 Pithing Needle, +1 Diabolic Edict
-2 Thoughtseize, -1 Umezawa’s Jitte, -1 Toxic Deluge, -1 Fatal Push

Lands
+3 Surgical Extraction, +2 Pithing Needle, +1 Diabolic Edict
-1 Toxic Deluge, -2 Thoughtseize, -1 Lightning Bolt, -1 Umezawa’s Jitte, -1 Fatal Push

4C Loam
-4 Force of Will, -1 Counterspell, -2 Thoughtseize
+2 Pithing Needle, +3 Surgical Extraction, +1 Kess, Dissident Mage, +1 Diabolic Edict

Burn
-2 Thoughtseize, -2 Jace, the Mindsculptor
+2 Duress, +2 Flusterstorm

Elves
-2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor, -1 Baleful Strix
+1 Toxic Deluge, +2 Flusterstorm

BR Reanimator
+3 Surgical Extraction, +2 Flusterstorm, +2 Duress, +1 Diabolic Edict
-2 Jace, the Mindsculptor, -2 Fatal Push, -1 Lightning Bolt, -2 Abrupt Decay, -1 Umezawa’s Jitte

Sneak and Show
+2 Flusterstorm, +3 Pyroblast, +2 Pithing Needle, +2 Duress
-1 Jace, the Mind Sculptor, -2 Fatal Push, -1 Lightning Bolt, -1 Umezawa’s Jitte, -1 True-name Nemesis, -3 Baleful Strix

——————————————————————–

Wilson Hunter’s Vintage Restricted Storm
1 Ancestral Recall
1 Brainstorm
1 Ponder
4 Preordain
1 Gitaxian Probe
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Vampiric Tutor
2 Dark Ritual
1 Demonic Tutor
1 Chain of Vapor
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Merchant Scroll
1 Time Walk
4 Paradoxical Outcome
1 Tendrils of Agony
1 Empty the Warrens
1 Timetwister
1 Wheel of Fortune
1 Windfall
1 Yawgmoth’s Will
1 Black Lotus
1 Mox Emerald
1 Mox Jet
1 Mox Pearl
1 Mox Ruby
1 Mox Sapphire
3 Mox Opal
1 Lotus Petal
1 Manavault
1 Sol Ring
1 Mana Crypt
2 Sensei’s Divining Top
1 Monastery Mentor
4 Force of Will

2 Flooded Strand
2 Misty Rainforest
1 Polluted Delta
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Tolarian Academy
2 Underground Sea
1 Tundra
1 Volcanic Island
1 Island
1 Ancient Tomb

SB
1 Tinker
1 Blightsteel Colossus
4 Defense Grid
2 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
1 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Steel Sabotage
1 Chain of Vapor
1 Grafdigger’s Cage
2 Containment Priest
1 Yixlid Jailer

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Episode 032 — Storm Reborn

It is high time to revisit Storm, given that it has become a deck to beat over the past few weeks since Sensei’s Divining Top was banned. Find our list and sideboarding map below:

Storm (ANT) by The Brainstorm Show
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Duress
3 Cabal Therapy

4 Dark Ritual
4 Cabal Ritual
4 Lotus Petal
4 Lion’s Eye Diamond

4 Infernal Tutor
2 Grim Tutor / Dark Petition
2 Past in Flames
1 Empty the Warrens
1 Tendrils of Agony

2 Underground Sea
1 Volcanic Island
2 Island
1 Swamp
4 Polluted Delta
2 Flooded Strand
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Bloodstained Mire

SB
1 Ad Nauseam
2 Chrome Mox
1 Massacre
3 Chain of Vapor
3 Hurkyl’s Recall
1 Inquisition of Kozilek
4 Leyline of the Void

Sideboarding Map:

Delver (assuming no Arcane Labs, adjust for g3 if needed):
+1 Inquisition of Kozilek
-1 Past in Flames

BUG/4c Midrange/Czech Pile:
No Changes

Sneak and Show:
+1 Ad Nauseam
+1 Inquisition of Kozilek
-1 Past in Flames
-1 Island

Death and Taxes (note no outs to Mindbreak Trap):
+1 Ad Nauseam
+2 Chrome Mox
+3 Chain of Vapor
+1 Massacre
+1 Inquisition of Kozilek
-4 Duress
-3 Cabal Therapy
-1 Past in Flames

Eldrazi:
+3 Hurkyl’s Recall
+2 Chrome Mox
+1 Ad Nauseam
+1 Inquisition of Kozilek
-2 Duress
-3 Cabal Therapy
-1 Island
-1 Past in Flames

Lands:
+3 Hurkyl’s Recall
+3 Chain of Vapor
+2 Chrome Mox
+1 Ad Nauseam
-1 Empty the Warrens
-1 Past in Flames
-3 Cabal Therapy
-4 Duress

BR Reanimator:
+4 Leyline of the Void
+2 Chrome Mox
+1 Ad Nauseam
-1 Island
-1 Past in Flames
-1 Empty the Warrens
-3 Cabal Therapy
-1 Duress

Storm Mirror:
+1 Ad Nauseam
+1 Inquisition of Kozilek
-1 Island
-1 Ponder

Burn:
+1 Ad Nauseam
+2 Chrome Mox
+1 Inquisition of Kozilek
+3 Chain of Vapor
-1 Past in Flames
-1 Island
-4 Duress
-1 Cabal Therapy

Elves:
+1 Ad Nauseam
+2 Chrome Mox
+1 Inquisition of Kozilek
+1 Chain of Vapor
-1 Empty the Warrens
-1 Past in Flames
-3 Cabal Therapy

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Episode 030 — How to Sideboard

Hi loyal listeners! We are back with more in-depth content. This time we step away from individual decks and cards to take a look at how The Brainstorm Show constructs sideboards. We dive into the theory we employ to build an optimal sideboard plan for an anticipated metagame. Check it out!

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Episode 023 — Alternate Universes

This week we talk about decks we might have played in alternate universes where Legacy bannings actually happened. We also present a brand new list for you to take to battle in THIS universe: MentorBlade, AKA “Bring the Hammer.” Check it out below.

MentorBlade
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
4 Sensei’s Divining Top
4 Swords to Plowshares
4 Counterbalance
4 Force of Will
4 Terminus

4 Stoneforge Mystic
2 Snapcaster Mage
4 Monastery Mentor

1 Umezawa’s Jitte
1 Batterskull

4 Island
2 Plains
2 Tundra
2 Volcanic Island
4 Flooded Strand
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Arid Mesa

SB:
1 Mountain
3 Pyroblast
2 Wear/Tear
2 Blood Moon
1 Vendilion Clique
2 Surgical Extraction
3 Flusterstorm
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
————————————
U/W/R Punishing Mentor
4 Brainstorm
4 Ponder
4 Sensei’s Divining Top
4 Swords to Plowshares
4 Punishing Fire
4 Counterbalance
2 Snapcaster Mage
4 Monastery Mentor
2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
4 Force of Will
2 Engineered Explosives

2 Island
1 Plains
1 Mountain
2 Tundra
2 Volcanic Island
4 Flooded Strand
4 Scalding Tarn
1 Arid Mesa
1 Cascade Bluffs
4 Grove of the Burnwillows

SB
3 Flusterstorm
2 Surgical Extraction
2 Vendilion Clique
3 Pyroblast
2 Pyroclasm
1 Path to Exile
2 Wear / Tear

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