#14 – A Bird in the Hand…

This puzzle, like #5, begins in your opponent’s attack step and asks you to a) survive their attack and b) win on your next turn.

Player: 1 Life
    Lands: Forest (tapped), Plains (tapped), 2x Mountain, Mountain w/ Unbridled Growth
    Field: Auramancer, Shambling Shell, Aerie Ouphes w/ Stupefying Touch, Angelic Renewal
    Hand: Rites of Initiation, Smash to Smithereens, Pulse of Murasa
    Library: Aerial Volley, Death Spark, Lightning Bolt, Vithian Stinger

Opponent: 8 Life
    Field: Dawnfeather Eagle, 2x War Flacon, Daru Cavalier (all tapped and attacking),
           Veteran Cathar w/ Bonesplitter and Lifelink (untapped and attacking)

 

 

Solution

1. Float G and sacrifice Abundant Growth to draw Aerial Volley
2. Aerial Volley, dealing 1 damage to each flier
3. Smash to Smithereens Bonesplitter (opponent to 5)
4. Block Auramancer to Cathar, Ouphes to Cavalier
5. Sacrifice Shambling Shell to give Cavalier +1/+1
6. First Strike damage happens – Ouphes dies and comes back with a -1/-1 counter. Sacrifice it to kill Eagle. Return Ouphes with Renewal
7. Damage happens. Cathar and Auramancer die, and the opponent goes to 7 from lifelink
8. On your turn, Dredge back the Shell. Pay 2 to Unearth Vithian Stinger. Cast Rites of Initiation, discarding Shell and pulse, and swing with your 5/3 and 2/1 for lethal