Hello guys, cturose here again with the random discussion of cool combo decks across formats. Today's discussion will be on a deck in modern that I stumbled across a little while ago and decided to tune a bit. This deck falls in the second category I mentioned last week; while not technically infinite, the sequence of cards played will win you the game. The modern format is interesting in that in order for combo decks to be competitive, they either have to be faster than any other deck or able to win through a decent amount of removal/countermagic/other disruption, or both. Today's deck, while certainly fast, does seriously struggle with most of the hate in the format, and so while it will likely never win a major GP or PTQ, it may be something fun to try out at your local FNM. Without further ado, may I present: Pure Storm
(And if it doesn't show up for whatever reason, here's the link: http://www.mtgdeckbuilder.net/Decks/ViewDeck/406830)
And now to a discussion of the cards:
Puresteel Paladin: the heavy hitter for the deck. The combo engine that runs the game. Play him and draw as many cards off of 0 cost equipment as you can until you can just grapeshot for lethal. Also note: his draw trigger is optional, a relevant point if you draw yourself out with him.
Gitaxian Probe/Street Wraith: I grouped these 2 together because they both provide digging. If you have an opening hand without a paladin, these can help you find him for the low cost of a couple life. Aside from that, these also draw you cards even as you combo off.
Simian Spirit Guide: As I'll explain in the section talking about how to play the deck, this guy will be your main means of casting grapeshot on the turn you combo off, as you will likely use most of your mana on other things, like...
Retract: I can't believe no one's broken this card yet. Such a powerful, yet limited effect is just asking for a deck. In this deck, returning all your 0 cost artifacts to your hand to replay them is like saying (u) draw a minimum of about 5-6 cards. It's a ridiculously powerful effect.
Grapeshot: Wincon for the deck. Play this after playing 20 equipment and win. I only include 2 because typically when you combo off, you draw your entire deck, and you don't need 4 grapeshots when you do that.
Muddle the Mixture: The best tutor for this deck, as it can find your paladins and provide protection in some very fringe cases. Best option at the slot.
The rest of the cards are lands and 0 cost equipment, which all have roughly the same utility. So instead of talking about every one of them, I'm going to move on to playing the deck.
In testing, when I've goldfished the list, it is often a good idea to play puresteel on second turn and then wait until the third turn to combo off. This is so that when you draw into another paladin, you can play it. When you start running out of gas, play retract and start again. A point of interest is Paradise Mantle; equipping this to your first puresteel will let you tap him for any color mana you need, often blue for the second retract just stuck in your hand with a bunch of equipment on the field and nothing to do with it. You don't need to keep mana up for grrapeshot; there are 4 simian spirit guides in the list, enough to cast both of them. Acrually, if you have a muddle the mixture in hand turn 2 with no puresteel, it's often a good idea to use a spirit guide for a third mana and tutor one up.
This deck is extremely fast in testing, winning either turn 3 or 4 consistently, as long as there is no hate. However, before picking up this deck, keep this in mind: it can not win through hate. It's a much better deck in a metagame where you expect a lot of combo decks whose primary interactive pieces are to protect their combo, not stop you, as this is about half a turn faster than most other combo decks in the format. I will conclude by saying I really don't recommend this if you're looking to win big; it's just too easy to beat, especially post board. Notice that I haven't built a sideboard; I don't have a clue how to possibly change this deck post board so that it won't just die to an removal they bring in. Feel free to test it and try to figure it out though!
And now, in conclusion, I would like to say something: if you guys have any combos you want me to take a look at and try to work on, I love seeing new combos and trying to make something of them. Let me know what you think, and post your favorite combos in the comments, and I will likely try to make a fun deck that uses them. If your combo idea ends up as the topic for one of my posts, I'll be sure to give you some credit. Thanks for reading!
legacy Elves! they are a extrealmly fast combo, they win turn three or two or four 95% of the time. But good blog. i have made a similar deck non combo, but simply just equipment that revolves around pure steel. I love this combo but i do agree this would not do well at any tornament. [Report]
I encountered this very same deck and built it myself. One card which I find very useful is Spoils of the Vault to tutor up Puresteel as opposed to Muddle the Mixture, which I find a little too slow. And if you run out of steam before a Grapeshot, never fear: just equip all of you 0-cost equipment to Puresteel and swing. [Report]
This is funny considering my friend was the person to design both legacy and modern "cheerios", which is this deck. I like how his decks that he made from his passion for combo are gaining popularity. [Report]
This deck is funny, and I've seen it around for a while now, It's referred to as either: "Modern Cheerios" or "Equipment Storm". The deck although quite lethal if it gets the right draw, is easily disruptable and with a meta that is ripe with Thoughtseize, IoK, Lightning Bolt and Path to Exile, a deck that relies on a single card as the win condition makes for a struggle in a competitive field. It's a fun casual budget deck though. [Report]
I've had Puresteel Paladin in the back of my pocket (modern-wise) for quite some time now, the build of the deck is mono-white, and could have only been done as of Avacyn Restored. (I've been waiting to try it out on a tournament sometime as a surprise deck)
I've kept quiet about it, as I haven't seen anyone playing a deck like it, and was still trying to come up with a name for it.
Let's call it: "Condensed Milk", due to the mono-white attributes.
There is an infinite combo for damage, and best part, it's all colorless, just needing Puresteel Paladin for the free equips & extra draws.
1) Mortarpod - Sac for 1 dmg 2) Avacyn's Collar - if creature is human, put a 1/1 spirit into play. 3) Runed Stalactite - Equipped creature is all types
So have token equipped with Runed & Collar, sac for 1 dmg, create 1 spirit token, equip Runed & Collar, wash/rinse/repeat.
I've considered adding blue, to have Etherium Sculptor, to reduce Equipments for free casting, or Semblance Anvil.
Another option is to put Illusionist's Bracers, and just have multiple equips for multiple damage triggers. I also usually have Grand Abolisher to prevent opponent interaction, and found Flayer Husk was important for the deck too.
Lets see if the community can play with this info. :)
I just made a deck like this and it is amazing it combos off turn two and i side in the storm spell that gives plus 1 to each creature as another win condition. Im going to try and build it then take it too fnm. thank you for this blog [Report]
