2 Decks in 1! Storm's a Comin'

Any room for dispels in the mainboard? Just in case they try to counter your counter?

Dispels are great since they are only 1 blue, especially since they'll be using counterspells as instants, but because it's a combo-control deck, I can't remove any cantrips. I think for now I'll have to just rely on my "higher-mana" counterspells instead of dispels. But I will definitely keep dispels in mind if I need to make changes. Thanks for the advice!

Hmmm. Combo/control decks always scare me, like splinter twin and scapeshift, because those 2 decks run counterspells as well, and I always worry that if I counter splinter twin or scapeshift, they will counter my counter. Technically, I should have more mana open, but still...

I hear what you're saying. But like I always tell my friends, there's no perfect deck. If there was, everyone would play it. A deck will ALWAYS have some weaknesses. Just gotta try to minimize as many of them as possible ;-)

Anticipate might be better for card draw, as it could help you avoid drawing Emrakul; either that, or a means of putting it back in your library, such as See Beyond or draw that requires you to discard.

That's a very good point. I was banking on Izzet Charms to discard Emrakul if I have it in hand. I'd probably go with Anticipate, since it can dig a little deeper than See Beyond. Thanks! =)

http://www.ebay.com/sch/wowwow27/m.html?item=182046835491&hash=item2a62d64323%3Ag%3A5soAAOSwv9hW3acr&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

So, aside from switching the lands, the only cards that HAVE to be boarded in (based on other lists I've seen) are Scapeshift, Snapcaster, & Elder; cards culled would be Emrakul, Storm, & I assume Explore, leaving the remaining choices discretionary. 2-decks-in-1 is the kind of shenanigan I love (the look on your opponent's face: priceless :D), & this looks well done; some filter lands might be good. +1.

Oops! Looks like Umoonpuca beat me to the punch haha. But yes, what Umoonpuca said was correct. Explores can be taken out since Sakura-Tribe Elder provides mana ramp and also a chump blocker to help you live longer. Thanks for answering jordan2's question already! Filter lands huh? Yeah, maybe a Cascade Bluffs would help since I have high devotion to blue and red. Thanks!

thanks a lot umoonpuca. you are sooooo right. someone did the same thing to me in a battle for zendikar draft recently (made a 2-deck-in-1). game1 was a boros aggro deck so it was totally unexpected when he switched to a azorius control deck in game2. I was like, OMFG! WTF deck are you playing?!?!? LOL. so when you said the look on your opponent's face was priceless...that was MY face! LOLOLOL!!!!
but seriously. thanks for explaining. I can see how explore can be replaced with sakura tribe elders.

(No offense to anyone's persuasion.)

Hehehe. Thanks! You helped a lot with your explanations. But I only put it on the Unloved page cause I want tips and stuff too. I'm still debating about the Cascade Bluffs...
Anyway, like I was saying, who cares about the HP. But I'm glad it's full of various stuff. EDH, Standard, Budget, etc. =)

...& speak of the devil...Hot Page!!!

Thanks Umoonpuca. Your advice on cards and explanations of sideboarding also helped! =)

Actually, this deck isn't a mill deck. The goal is cheat out emrakul with possibility storm. I think you're supposed to morph a zoetic cavern (either tutoring for it with tolaria west or with the other dig cards). morphing = casting, which triggers possibility storm, which cheats out emrakul (you can cast it for free). and since you're technically casting it (without paying the mana cost), it can't be countered and you get to take an extra turn. on the second turn, you attack and with annihilator 6, it's KILLER to the other guy.

I can still counter a morph creature since it is a casting.......
As per my point, if I have anything to remove Emrakul (yes it is possible) then you need a backup

Also, I missed the morphing land.

You are correct, you can still counter a creature, but Possibility Storm will trigger, meaning their counterspell will not resolve, and force them to start revealing until they can hit an instant. Of course, they might end up revealing another counterspell (which happened to me before), but I respond by casting a Lightning Bolt (which gets exiled due to Possibility Storm), and, like my opponent, hope that I end up revealing a counterspell for THEIR counterspell.

but they literally cannot counter zoetic cavern, since the possibility storm trigger goes immediately on the stack, and then you are casting emrakul which cant be countered

BAM! You are right. Another good point! Even if they somehow manage to counter Zoetic Cavern, the casting trigger goes on the stack, meaning even if it's countered, Possibility Storm's trigger will still resolve. Kind of like Kor Spiritdancer - Whenever you cast an Aura spell, you may draw a card. So if I attach Ethereal Armor to it, but my opponent Lightning Bolts it in response (or counterspells my Ethereal Armor), no matter what, I still get to draw a card because I still cast Ethereal Armor.

BAMBAMBAM!!!

No it doesn't. Countering prevents it from casting, therefore stopping Possibility Storm. Basic MTG playing just overlooked

No it doesn't. Countering prevents it from casting, therefore stopping Possibility Storm. Basic MTG playing just overlooked

Countering does NOT prevent it from being cast. it prevents it from being resolved:
601.2. To cast a spell is to take it from where it is (usually the hand), put it on the stack, and pay its costs, so that it will eventually resolve and have its effect. Casting a spell follows the steps listed below, in order. If, at any point during the casting of a spell, a player is unable to comply with any of the steps listed below, the casting of the spell is illegal; the game returns to the moment before that spell started to be cast (see rule 717, “Handling Illegal Actions”). Announcements and payments can’t be altered after they’ve been made. #

?601.2a The player announces that he or she is casting the spell. That card (or that copy of a card) moves from where it is to the stack. It becomes the topmost object on the stack. It has all the characteristics of the card (or the copy of a card) associated with it, and that player becomes its controller. The spell remains on the stack until it’s countered, it resolves, or an effect moves it elsewhere. #

In simpler terms, "casting" is the act of paying a cards mana cost, removing it from your hand, and placing it on the stack waiting to resolve. In terms of creatures, resolving and entering the battlefield are the same thing. In terms of instants and sorceries, resolving means the cards effect takes place and the card is moved from the stack to the graveyard.

Bottom line: Countering a spell does not stop it from being cast, it stops it from resolving.

My bad. I misread the rulings there.

Thanks for the explanation jj5. I was a little worried I was playing the deck incorrectly. I DID check with one of my friends last night since he is an L1 judge, but even he couldn't figure out the following situation:
I cast/morph Zoetic Cavern, triggering Possibility Storm. Opponent casts a Lightning bolt, triggering Possibility Storm, and he reveals a Mana Leak (which I cannot pay for). The stack would be:
Cavern -> trigger -> Bolt -> trigger -> Mana Leak
Resolution: Cavern gets countered. There is still Cavern's trigger, but because there is no legal target, we weren't sure if the trigger would resolve.
However, what I found online was: If Possibility Storm's ability doesn't exile the original spell (perhaps because another Possibility Storm already exiled it or it was countered), you'll still exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a card that shares a card type with it and have the opportunity to cast that spell.
This suggests that it would still work, but I will ask an L2 or L3 judge the next time I'm at Channel Fireball (within the next few days).

It does exile the spell. It even says that in the first but of text. "... that player exiles it, then exiles cards of the top of their deck ...." So your opponent(s) then have to wait to see what it cast instead! Making countering in this deck nearly impossible

Thanks for stopping by sorin! =)
Actually, what jordan2 said already was correct. The win-con of this isn't mill, but to use Possibility Storm to cast Emrakul without paying the crazy 15 mana. You only need to pay 3 mana (morphing a Zoetic Cavern - it'll get exiled and shuffled back in due to Possibility Storm's trigger) and you reveal until you hit a creature, and since the only creature is Emrakul, you're guaranteed to cast him, uncounterable, for free. It may not be able to kill in a single turn, but the Annihilator 6 slows your opponent WAY down, forcing them to sacrifice creatures, lands, planeswalkers, anything.

My point with mill was win-cons for control. This idea is similar to one of my decks.

but this decks win con is emrakul cheated into play with possiblity storm, this deck doesnt need mill as win con

.... Again, I know and use a deck based off the ideas. I am the arsehole who originally posted it on here!

Yes! A friend suggested I test out Polymorph. I proxy-ed a deck up, but it consistently failed unfortunately. Many reasons. Against burn, it was too slow. Polymorph says "put that creature (Emrakul) onto the battlefield". But because it wasn't cast, I didn't get to take an extra turn, usually allowing the burn player an extra turn to kill me. Against control decks, they would usually counter my Polymorph, or counter my counter to THEIR counter =\ not to mention that they had plenty of Lightning Bolts and Electrolyzes to kill my tokens so I never had a chance to use Polymorph on my creatures.

To answer your question about Possibility Storm disrupting my counterspells, well, I don't really cast Possibility Storm until I have my combo ready (either Zoetic Cavern of Tolaria West to tutor for the Zoetic Cavern). I don't really use it to disrupt their spells.

Thanks for taking a look man! =)

LOL! I mentioned this is an earlier comment. I love dispel. But I can see why this list runs cryptics and remands - for the card draw and, well, there's mana ramp, so hopefully there's enough mana around to play the counterspells

Yes, you are correct. Assuming he goes first, and turn1 Thoughtseize (assuming I have the only Emrakul in my hand) and then Surgical Extraction, would wreck me, but that is very situation. Probably a very low chance. Still, being modern, I would imagine they would first play a fetch land and fetch for a shock land. Then Thoughtseize and Surgical Extraction. Before I even take my first time, they would be at 13 life. I suppose in that situation, I would have to burn them with my Bolts and Electrolyzes. In any case, thank goodness I have counterspells.
You made a very good point when you talked about game 2. They wouldn't expect Scapeshift...SURPRISEEEEEE!!!! =P

I am sure having Emrakul in your opener makes it an instant Mulligan : )
Also, i would play Farseek and Sylvan scrying over Explore, since that relies on you having an extra land in your hand. Farseek acts almost like a sakura tribe elder, and sylvan scrying could find a zoetic cavern if you needed one.
did you think about playing four possibility storm?

if you are interested, i cloned your deck and made my own version: http://www.mtgvault.com/rhodanperry8/decks/storms-a-comin/

Great Idea by the Way! +1

I have actually revised my original version at:
http://www.mtgvault.com/s0rinmark0v/decks/bounce-bounce-emrakul/
Mine uses Faithless Looting in order to get Emrakul into the graveyard. For the current version of my deck, go to:
http://www.mtgvault.com/s0rinmark0v/decks/cloudy-witha-chance-of-emrakul/

Thanks for looking rhodanperry8 and the suggestions! I'll definitely have to consider Sylvan Scrying since I can get any land I need to not get color screwed. And yes, I considered 4 Possibility Storm. I'm STILL considering it since it's essential for the combo hahah. =)

Thanks s0runmark0v. Yeah, I already saw the bounce bounce emrakul deck back when it was on the Hot Page. Great way to cheat Emrakul out haha. =)

The Scapeshift combo is actually an instant-win. I know it seems like you would need 5 mountains FIRST, and then additional mountains to enter, but the rules are very precise (and confusing at the same time).

The key is that since Scapeshift puts everything onto the battlefield simultaneously, there's a large mass of Mountains on the battlefield at the time Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle would trigger from them entering. Because of this the condition checked by the "intervening if" clause for each potential trigger ("if you control at least 5 other Mountains") turns up true for all of them, and the triggers are put onto the stack. If that condition is still true at the time those triggers start resolving (hopefully it is), then you deal a bunch of damage to your opponent.

Because objects that enter the battlefield at the same time can see each other, this will also work if one or more of the lands you got with Scapeshift is a Valakut (provided you have enough total Mountains, that is).

Here's the exact ruling:
603.4. A triggered ability may read "When/Whenever/At [trigger event], if [condition], [effect]." When the trigger event occurs, the ability checks whether the stated condition is true. The ability triggers only if it is; otherwise it does nothing. If the ability triggers, it checks the stated condition again as it resolves. If the condition isn't true at that time, the ability is removed from the stack and does nothing. Note that this mirrors the check for legal targets. This rule is referred to as the "intervening 'if' clause" rule. (The word "if" has only its normal English meaning anywhere else in the text of a card; this rule only applies to an "if" that immediately follows a trigger condition.)

Additionally, clarification is provided from Oracle:

10/1/2009: If multiple Mountains enter the battlefield under your control at the same time, Valakut's second ability could trigger that many times. Each ability takes into consideration the other Mountains that entered the battlefield at the same time as the one that caused it to trigger.

Scapeshift's effect puts all the lands onto the battlefield simultaneously. Then, any application triggers from that effect would be checked. In this case, Valakut would check to see if a Mountain entered the battlefield, and if 5 other Mountains are also in play, for each land that enters play. For all non-Mountains, that land would not trigger Valakut. For each Mountain that enters, Valakut would first check if 5 other Mountains exist on the battlefield, then if the condition is met, a trigger would be generated.

I'm glad to see such a good explanation. Permission to copy/paste this? We get new modern players at my shop a lot and this is a nice reference to a combo that people have trouble understanding

Yeah, no problem. I was confused by the exact rulings the first time I saw the combo, as with some other rules, like using Lightning Bolt on a 2/3 Tarmogoyf (with a land and sorcery in the graveyard). Imagine my surprise when I found out the Tarmogoyf actually still lived. The judge came over and explained that the Lightning Bolt resolves by assigning Tarmogoyf 3 damage and the Lightning Bolt goes to the graveyard. THEN the game checks to see the toughness of the Tarmogoyf by checking the graveyards. And since the Lightning Bolt is now in the graveyard, the toughness is now 4, so it didn't actually die. DOH!!!!

Well, why don't you give your thoughts, comments, tips, advice, suggestions, etc. on this deck FIRST?

Hey thanks for the support! Yeah, I love home-brews (although Scapeshift isn't really a home-brew...but putting the entire combo in the sideboard is! haaaaa). Sure, I'll take a look at some of your decks right now.

Yes, you're right. But I'm playing the odds here. I'm hoping Serum Visions and Sleight of Hand will allow me to put it back into the library. Plus, I have 2 Izzet Charms, which can let me discard Emrakul and it'll get shuffled back in. So yeah, there's still a chance of accidentally drawing it, but I'll try to play the odds. My other "Possibility Storm-combo-only" deck runs 2 of Emrakul.

LOL. Guess you didn't read the "How to Play" section. Go back and read it. You morph a zoetic cavern (or search for one with tolaria west). Morphing is considered casting a creature, triggering possibility storm, letting you reveal until you hit emrakul. Official rules:
702.36. Morph #

?702.36a Morph is a static ability that functions in any zone from which you could play the card it’s on, and the morph effect works any time the card is face down. “Morph [cost]” means “You may cast this card as a 2/2 face-down creature, with no text, no name, no subtypes, and no mana cost by paying {3} rather than paying its mana cost.” (See rule 707, “Face-Down Spells and Permanents.”) #

?702.36b To cast a card using its morph ability, turn it face down. It becomes a 2/2 face-down creature card, with no text, no name, no subtypes, and no mana cost. Any effects or prohibitions that would apply to casting a card with these characteristics (and not the face-up card’s characteristics) are applied to casting this card. These values are the copiable values of that object’s characteristics. (See rule 613, “Interaction of Continuous Effects,” and rule 706, “Copying Objects.”) Put it onto the stack (as a face-down spell with the same characteristics), and pay {3} rather than pay its mana cost. This follows the rules for paying alternative costs. You can use morph to cast a card from any zone from which you could normally play it. When the spell resolves, it enters the battlefield with the same characteristics the spell had. The morph effect applies to the face-down object wherever it is, and it ends when the permanent is turned face up. #

Cool enough :D
I never suspected morph to be "cast".
Sometimes magic is filled with errata, like during the weekend I had activated 3 inkmoth and my opponent had a liliana of the veil. He wondered if liliana could be killed, and I interpretted it as if it could'nt, but turned out the rules stated she dies. :(

Yeah, sometimes the wordings and rules can get complicated. Like "casting a spell" versus "playing a land" since lands aren't spells. Or like when you cast a Tidehollow Sculler and then they Lightning Bolt it (because they have no other nonland cards in hand). You end up not being able to take anything.

Hahaha. Yes, I originally had a Desolate Lighthouse in my Possibility Storm-only combo deck to help with that problem (as well as digging for Possibility Storm). I was worried about color-fixing my mana, but I'll have to re-consider it. Thanks for looking! =)

There's actually 10 Mountains. Besides the basic Mountains, 4 Steam Vents and 4 Stomping Ground still count as Mountains as well as it's other types. ;-)

Ok so it was pretty obvious lol...

Possibility Storm only triggers for cards cast from your hand - "Whenever a player casts a spell from his or her hand...". So casting it from the library/from exile won't cause it to trigger.

Thanks a lot for looking! =)

Thanks a lot Umoonpuca! Happy New Year to you too!

Hey thanks! Yeah, when people see Sakura-Tribe Elder they are like, WTF?!?!

Thanks for looking! But I wouldn't recommend them because I might accidentally hit one instead of hitting Emrakul with Possibility Storm. ;-)

maybe that new jace plainswalker then

He isn't out yet, I haven't seen the leak for him, can you post it here? :D

the origins one.

he is a creature, this deck doesnt want creatures. how hard is that to understand?

https://youtu.be/82PkAEAozWs

Yeah, sorry wowwow27, I can't have any other creature in the deck. Aside from the fact that I might hit that creature instead of Emrakul, my opponent might be able to Thoughtseize or Inquisition it away. But because Zoetic Cavern (and Tolaria West) is a land, they cannot make me discard it heheheh. BAM!

yeah, emrakul put more of him in it

dude that's not the way it works, please just stop

Alarma!!@!!

How are you still here on this account. >.<

How are you still here on this account. >.< why aren't you people new rating this troll to get him an op ban.

i make magic decks modern playable that aren't befure

how bout eldrazie?

buts were hertz

I'm not sure what you mean. Emrakul IS an Eldrazi creature. In any case, as long as you understand how this deck works, then that's good =)