Sometimes, when you sit down to play a game of Magic, you want to assume the role of a master strategist. You want to carefully calculate every possible outcome, deploy your removal at exactly the right time, and eke out the win as neatly and efficiently as possible. Other times, you just want to rush down your opponent’s face with a million shrieking Otters. The latter is quite a specific want, I’ll admit, but it’s now finally being provided for. Thanks to a neat new MTG card by the name of Stormbreaker.
Stormbreaker MTG
Stormbreaker was revealed earlier today by MTG Arena Japan, and as of yet, no official English translation has been distributed. As in most cases, this means the name of the card may differ, but the translated effect we’re listing here should be fairly final.
Stormbreaker
3R
Creature – Otter Wizard
Haste
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, create a token that’s a copy of Stormbreaker. Exile that token at the beginning of the next end step.
1/4
I’m sure you’d agree, this is quite the card. It doesn’t take much for Stormbreaker to produce a lotta Otters, especially in a dedicated spellslinger deck. Each copy you create with Stormbreaker’s ability retains the copy effect, which means they scale up exponentially. Casting your first spell with a Stormbreaker out will get you one copy, your second will get you two, your third four, etc.
Based on general math, you’ll only need to cast 4-5 spells with Stormbreaker in play to end the game on the spot. Doing so will leave you with either 16 or 32 hasty 1/4s, which should be enough to attack for lethal in most game states. The best way to hit these kinds of numbers in Standard is through combat tricks and cantrips; cheap spells, basically.
Cards like Might of the Meek and Flick a Coin are great picks for this. Drawing cards is crucial since it will give you the fuel you need to possibly hit that 4-5 spell threshold in a single turn. Four toughness gives Stormbreaker a decent chance of living through a turn in Standard, unlike older formats. That said, those may well be where the card shines the brightest.
Storms On The Horizon
Storm is a well-established deck type in Magic at this point, with Ruby Storm currently doing very well in Modern. For the uninitiated, a Storm deck aims to cast a ton of spells in a single turn, then end on a card with the Storm mechanic, like Grapeshot or Empty the Warrens, for an instant win. Stormbreaker feels very similar but in reverse. Rather than stacking up the spells and ending on the payoff, Stormbreaker asks you to drop the payoff first and then stack up the spells.
Since it encourages a very similar playstyle, Stormbreaker could provide an alternative win condition for Storm decks. The decks definitely have enough rituals to get it out before turn four, and since it only needs 4-5 spells, as opposed to the 15+ normal Storm needs, it’s easier to combo off with as well. If you do reach that point with Stormbreaker, you’ll end up with a whopping 32,768 Otters under your command.
Of course, there are downsides too. Storm as a mechanic counts all spells, which allows free artifacts like Mishra’s Bauble to factor into your game-winning turns. Stormbreaker only counts instants and sorceries. Current versions of Storm also rely on Wish to grab their one-of win con from the sideboard, freeing up room in the main deck for more momentum-generating spells. Since you need to start your combo turn with Stormbreaker, this isn’t really possible.
That said, it’s rare that a new card is even considered for a deck like Storm, so Stormbreaker is quite exciting even if it doesn’t make it. And who knows; maybe the cool factor of swinging in with a horde of Otters will persuade some hardened Spikes to give it a try.
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