Deck Name: Blue Screen of Brain

Format: Legacy
Deck Type: Combo
Deck Theme: Storm Combo – Brain Freeze Kill via High Tide Engine
Colors: Blue (Mono-Blue)

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Description

Blue Screen of Brain is a mono-blue storm combo deck built for explosive spell chaining and instant library destruction. Its core win condition revolves around resolving High Tide, generating massive mana through Cloud of Faeries, Snap, and Turnabout, and then casting 15+ spells in a single turn to unleash a lethal Brain Freeze.

The deck operates with surgical precision: it runs an ultra-low mana curve, powerful cantrip engines (like Ponder, Brainstorm, and Preordain), and recursion tools such as Mystic Retrieval. It is supported by a suite of tutors and protection, allowing it to execute the combo reliably by turn 4 or 5.

Ideal for competitive casual 1v1 play or fast-paced multiplayer, the deck rewards players who enjoy sequencing challenges and big-brain plays with a definitive, non-interactive win.

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How to Play

Early Game:
Use Ponder, Preordain, Brainstorm, and Impulse to fix your hand and dig for key pieces.
Establish at least 3–4 Islands and hold onto High Tide, Snap, Cloud of Faeries, and a draw engine.
Use Merchant Scroll or Mystical Tutor to find missing combo pieces.

Mid-Game:
Begin your combo turn with High Tide.
Loop Cloud of Faeries + Snap to untap Islands and generate excess mana.
Untap all lands using Turnabout or Frantic Search.
Dig deeper with Treasure Cruise, Dig Through Time, or Mystic Retrieval.
Cast spells continuously to build your storm count.

Late Game (Combo Turn):
Once your storm count hits 15 or more, cast Brain Freeze.
Target your opponent for 45+ cards milled.
If needed, recur Brain Freeze via Mystic Sanctuary, Mnemonic Wall, or Mission Briefing.

Ideal Opening Hand
A strong opening hand contains:
2 Islands
1 Cantrip (Ponder, Preordain, or Brainstorm)
1 Combo piece (High Tide or Cloud of Faeries)
1 Tutor (Merchant Scroll or Mystical Tutor)

Optional: 1 Pact of Negation or Flusterstorm for protection

Mulligan if you lack mana sources or interaction.

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How the Combo Works

Mana Engine:
High Tide doubles the mana output of all Islands.
Snap and Cloud of Faeries generate positive loops.
Turnabout untaps all lands, enabling massive burst plays.

Card Flow & Redundancy:
Frantic Search, Impulse, Treasure Cruise, and Dig Through Time provide fast and flexible draw.
Merchant Scroll and Mystical Tutor give access to combo tools.
Mystic Retrieval, Mnemonic Wall, and Mission Briefing ensure you can recover key spells.

Finisher:
Brain Freeze targets the opponent for 3 cards per storm copy.
With 15+ spells cast, you can mill 45+ cards—usually the entire deck.

Backup Plans (via Sideboard):
Laboratory Maniac for self-mill win.
Jace’s Erasure for a long-game soft mill approach.

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Sideboard Strategy

Against Control Decks:
+2 Defense Grid, +2 Flusterstorm, +1 Pact of Negation
Cut Gitaxian Probe, Peer Through Depths, and a cantrip or Snap

Against Graveyard Hate or Hate Permanents:
+2 Echoing Truth, +1 Wipe Away
Replace Mystic Retrieval, Mystic Sanctuary, or lower-value cantrips

For Longer Games / Recursion:
+1 Mnemonic Wall, +1 Mission Briefing, +1 Arcane Denial
Sub out excess tutors or protection if meta allows

Alternative Win Conditions:
+1 Jace’s Erasure, +1 Laboratory Maniac
Include in matchups where Brain Freeze is not reliable

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Skill Level and Playability

Blue Screen of Brain is ideal for players who enjoy puzzle-like decklines, stack mastery, and one-turn kill strategies. Every turn counts, every mana matters, and every cantrip may be the difference between glory and a fizzled combo.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Playstyle: Explosive storm combo with light interaction
Best For: 1v1 competitive casual, fast-turn formats, combo-lovers

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Competitive Profile and Ratings

Attribute Rating
Power Level ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Combo Speed ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5) – Turn 4–5
Consistency ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Resilience ⭐⭐⭐☆ ☆ (3/5)
Format Fit ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Complexity ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)

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Play Like a Pro – 5 Tips for Mastering the Deck

Plan your High Tide turn.
Don’t rush it—count mana, storm, and cards in hand before committing.

Snap smart.
Always Snap your own Faeries unless your opponent plays a must-bounce threat.

Keep your protection.
Use Pact and Flusterstorm only to protect your win—not early tempo.

Track your storm count and mana actively.
Say it aloud or write it down. One mistake can collapse your whole chain.

Don’t show your Brain Freeze too early.
Wait until the turn you plan to kill. Surprise is your greatest ally.

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Quote:
"The screen froze. Then the spells came. Then... nothing."

Last Update: 23/05/2025