We’re back again with a new edition of Infernal Tutoring! After our last session on macro management and overall strategies, this week focuses in the opposite direction: small, tactical plays to grind out an edge and open the breach for The EPIC Storm to rage.

For this week, the latest version of The EPIC Storm was used. It is, of course, available on the home page.

Situation #1 – UR Delver

We begin our journey against an unknown deck. I lose the dice roll and keep a hand of Brainstorm, Polluted Delta, Polluted Delta, Rite of Flame, Gitaxian Probe, Bloodstained Mire and Ponder. Three lands are a lot, but with a Brainstorm, it will be possible to shuffle away at least one if needed. In front of us, the opponent lays down a Polluted Delta and pass.

I get an additional Gitaxian Probe as my draw. Because I don’t know what I’m against and fear a Wasteland, I choose to not activate a fetchland and play a cantrip on the first turn. I question if I should at least play a Gitaxian Probe: it could reveal an opportunity to freely cast, for instance, the Ponder on this first turn, but at the same time, it would give a hint on what we’re playing and miss some synergy with the Brainstorm. I play a Polluted Delta and choose to pass, keeping both Gitaxian Probe for future uses.

I am met by a Wasteland and go. My second draw completes a pair of Brainstorm. Since the blind Ponder isn’t safe anymore due to the Wasteland (without a basic Island to fetch, we give away a land), I choose to cast a Gitaxian Probe to know what exactly is happening. As our opponent reveals a threatening hand (Young Pyromancer, Daze, Lightning Bolt, Stifle, Preordain and Preordain), I draw a second mana accelerator: Dark Ritual, leaving the battlefield as this:

EDITOR’S NOTE: You may click on the images to enlarge for better viewing.

Facing Daze, Wasteland and Stifle, how should the cantrip sequence be played?

Situation #2 – Reanimator

The second match begins again with an unknown deck. Losing the dice roll, I keep a vulnerable yet versatile hand of Lotus Petal, Lotus Petal, Infernal Tutor, Infernal Tutor, Cabal Therapy, Lion’s Eye Diamond and Bloodstained Mire. My opponent is less lucky than me and has to mulligan to 6.

The first card played is a Careful Study out of an Underground Sea: we’re facing Reanimator. Tidesprout Tyrant and Misty Rainforest go to graveyard, and I draw a Chrome Mox for the turn. A few options are available to us: rush for an Ad Nauseam or Empty the Warrens despite the possibility of Daze and Force of Will, play Cabal Therapy and blindly name a Reanimate effect or a counterspell, or use Infernal Tutor, revealing a card in our hand, to sculpt an even safer win for the following turn(s). What is the best play in this situation?

Situation #3: Infect

With the typical luck we have, the third match starts with a lost dice roll against an unknown opponent. The chosen seven are Chrome Mox, Lotus Petal, Dark Ritual, Brainstorm, Ponder, Polluted Delta and Lion’s Eye Diamond.

Two different moments define this match on our side, so let’s see how it played out. Opening with Gitaxian Probe, my opponent then searches for a Tropical Island to play a Noble Hierarch. Most likely, this is an Infect deck.

I draw a Dark Ritual. Infect usually plays Force of Will, Daze, and sometimes Spell Pierce, but no Wasteland. I choose to lay my Polluted Delta to get an Underground Sea and play Ponder over Brainstorm, as I think it sees more cards. Ponder resolves but reveals an awful trio, and I shuffle only to find Infernal Tutor.

This is our first opportunity. In a vacuum, it would be possible to play Lotus Petal, Chrome Mox (imprint: Brainstorm), Lion’s Eye Diamond, Dark Ritual, Dark Ritual, Infernal Tutor (sacrificing Lion’s Eye Diamond), and cast Ad Nauseam. On the other hand, since the opponent has no threats on the board and most likely can counter an important spell, waiting an extra turn isn’t an impossible choice.

My reasoning is the following: if I lead with a Chrome Mox that does not meet resistance, I would choose to imprint Brainstorm. I could then play a Lotus Petal and pay the required mana to nullify Daze if needed, but in the case of a Force of Will, I’ve lost the possibility to play a discard spell next turn, to play a cantrip depending on the need, and two storm counters. Nonetheless, one could argue that a Force of Will played this turn would cripple the opponent more than my chances to win. Unsure of the good decision to make, I choose to let the opportunity go and wait for a better one.

I watch my opponent tap the Noble Hierarch to cast a Brainstorm in the second turn. As a new land is found, a Blighted Agent enters the battlefield, leaving no lands untapped. Luckily, I draw a Swamp on my turn. I really wish I could see what’s against me, and hoping to find a Duress, Gitaxian Probe or Cabal Therapy, I play Brainstorm in my main phase. The second crucial point appears as I draw Ad Nauseam, Bloodstained Mire and Ponder.

With any land, the previous opportunity involving Infernal Tutor is still available, as long as Ad Nauseam is put back on top. However, it is now also possible to chain the pair of Dark Ritual and play Ad Nauseam. My opponent is also down a card compared to last turn, but the cards were filtered as a Brainstorm was casted. Moreover, it seems imperative to combo now, as a good Infect deck could win with only the Blighted Agent and a few pump spells.

What cards should be put back on top, and how should the combo be played to be as efficient as possible?

As always, feel free to send your suggestions for different match-ups and scenarios!