I've been testing out Simic, Dimir, and Sultai Flash decks since Kaladesh Remastered released Torrential Gearhulk into the format and this has really performed incredibly.
There is so much linear combo/aggro, ramp, and control in Historic, very few decks can counter spells and put pressure on an opponent at the same time. This is why I've been playing with Flash a bunch, and have found that it feels particularly strong in the meta. Lots of decks just scoop to their big spell getting countered, like Forsaken Monument for example. Then this deck has big game against control because of instant speed and Cunning Nightbonder making our flash spells uncounterable.
The Deck:
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Brineborn Cutthroat - This card has gone up and up for me. I started with just a couple, but it's a solid threat, cheap play, and it's especially busted when you have a Cunning Nightbonder and it only costs 1 mana, so you can almost always follow it up with another spell.
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Jwari Disruption
- BO1 Historic is streamlined enough that you can always snag something with this. It's just a great free roll in the deck doubling as a land.
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Quench - I assume this might be a controversial pick, but with the speed of the format and the diversity of decks, I prefer this over things like Essence Scatter, Negate, Censor, or Tale's End. If you prefer something else, go for it, but it's played great for me.
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Cunning Nightbonder - I have been surprised to learn that this is easily the most important card in the deck, in my opinion. The discount on your threats (turn 3 Nightpack Ambusher??) completely takes over games, can allow for insanely efficient turns, and the uncounterable clause completely hoses some decks. Unless it's a must-counter from my opponent on turn 2, I always play this.
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Growth Spiral - We have a lot of 2's and 4's in this deck, so skipping 3 is nice. Such a powerful spell made better by being able to hold it up alongside counter magic. Often it's also a worst-case flashback with Torrential Gearhulk which is still pretty insane.
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Brazen Borrower - I usually find this card pretty underwhelming, but with the solid tempo and pressure this deck provides, the bounce is invaluable and can often be followed up with a counter. Flashing in the creature for 2 mana is such a cheap, efficient threat too. There could definitely be 4 in the deck.
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Neutralize - This is my current 3-mana counterspell of choice, but I may try out some Disallow down the road. The cycling has come up a couple times too, when I'm counter flooded and am looking for a threat.
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Sea-Dasher Octopus - I play this card because it's fun and has dug me out of some jams. I am not ashamed to include fun-of cards in my decks, and this is one for sure, but it also has performed well whenever I've drawn it. Could be a 4th Borrower or Neutralize though, surely.
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Ashiok's Erasure - This getting discounted by Nightbonder has been impressive, and I've had opponents scoop to one of their deck's fundamental cards being erasured for sure.
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Rewind - This is just too much fun to not include. I am always debating playing more. I have never cast this and not had a great play lined up to follow it. Rewind into Nightpack Ambusher is so ridiculously satisfying.
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Nightpack Ambusher - This stopped getting a lot of play for a while before it rotated out and I forgot what a sick clock it is. The best is to play it for 3 mana and uncounterable following a Nightbonder and protect it with counters and you can't lose. There should be a 4th one in the deck if you want maximum competitiveness rather than some fun-ofs.
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Frilled Mystic - This card is also insane. It's essentially a guaranteed 2-for-1 which is ridiculous. This card prompts opponent scoops more than any other, by far.
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Voracious Greatshark - This is another fun-of that is also super powerful. Considering all the artifact decks in the Historic meta right now, this will rarely miss. It's also a big body that can make big swings on blocks or pressuring planeswalkers even if it doesn't counter something. When it costs 4 from Nightbonder, it's broken. It's definitely an option to cut this for the 4th Ambusher if you want though.
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Sublime Epiphany - I just love this card. It can completely turn around a game. In particular, I play it so I can combo it with Torrential Gearhulk. In either order, you get to make a token of the gearhulk and either recast Epiphany or just another instant, and that's such unbelievable value.
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Torrential Gearhulk - I think flash decks with the Gearhulk haven't been explored enough and my experience with them so far has been fantastic. If worst-case is that you get a free Growth Spiral, average case is you flashback a Quench or Neutralize, and best case flashback a Rewind or Sublime Epiphany, you are winning most games you cast this. Don't forget, it also sometimes only costs 5 mana because of Nightbonder, and once I cast it for 4 following two Nightbonders. Insane.
Mana base is pretty straight forward. I play the Triome over the Temple for the Hinterland Harbors. You could play both with little problem, I just want as few tapped lands as is reasonable.
I tested out some Spectral Sailor for a bit, but they didn't seem to have enough impact. Opt felt similarly. Even tried Glimmer of Genius since it's such a juicy target for Gearhulk, but found I'd rather just have threats and counters.
So lastly, to optimize this deck based on my experience and assuming you still want to play the Gearhulk, I'd probably go:
-1 Voracious Greatshark, -1 Sea-Dasher Octopus, -1 Sublime Epiphany
+1 Brazen Borrower, +1 Neutralize, +1 Nightpack Ambusher
Rewind and Ashiok's Erasure can be either/or, I think the slots are right for them, but which to play is mostly preference I think.
If anyone tries out the deck, let me know how it goes, it's been an absolute blast to play!
