Ever since I was a new player I loved Merfolk as a tribe, but until the release of Rivals of Ixalan, the commander options did not fit my play style. Starting the building process only a couple weeks after its release, kumena was immediately entertaining and fun for a fairly budget price, since then, i’ve moved out of the budget range, however the deck is consistently enjoyable with moderate control aspects as well as a plethora of ramp options. I’ve played this deck in a varied play environment, and what makes this deck so brilliant is that it can keep up with faster decks like Zur the enchanter, Krenko, Ezuri, and Scion of the Ur Dragon, as well as letting casual decks compete.
Why play this commander
-You Like playing tribal decks
-You like consistent card draw in decks
-Looking for a fun commander, that can be fast but is not quite at that top tier level
-Enjoy playing a very political game
Cons of Kumena
-Boardwipes are hard to recover from, but counterspells mitigate this problem to a degree
-Keeping Kumena alive keeps the engine running so spot removal is also potentially a problem
-Players who like to consistently combo kill
Other similar commanders:
Sygg, River Guide: Great way to protect merfolk, and a great commander as a whole, but the strategy gains so much from green Seedborn MuseTriumph of Hordes Ect Derevi, emperial tactician: The better choice of a deck if you don't want to focus on your commander
In the early days I used the budget alternatives for the free counterspells, as well as avoiding the cards such as Earthcraft, in order to save money, however through extensive trading and deal sniping it can be attainable for anyone to get to use such pricey cards.
Early game, play early game ramp (ex. Carpet of flowers, Aether vial) or low to the ground merfolk, and depending on your opponents keep up a counterspell for protection.
Notable Exceptions: Cavern of Souls: It’s a great card, I just can’t cough up the 60 odd bucks also nonbo with Back to basics (Tropical Island is in same category) Forerunner of the heralds: Four mana is a nonbo with aluren, also it is a bit redundant in terms of merfolk tutoring, (ie Seahunter, long term plans exedra). (See merrow harbinger) Tishana, Voice of Thunder: Not a great card for a curve topper, as well as the fact that 7 mana is a ton in my mana light deck Vanquisher's banner: Good budget card but for five mana there is much better effects, as well as the fact that card like Kumena and Sylvan Library provides plenty of card draw Cultivate: The curve is too low to the ground for this to be too effective, as well as the fact that a-lot of the best plays are done on turn three Arcane denial: letting your opponents draw extra cards is never good, let alone against combo/storm players Worldly Tutor: I play tested this, but it never blew me out of the water so I cut it for Long Term Plans which is simics version of demonic tutor, helping assemble our combo, and in some cases I get the card the turn it’s casted. Your Mom: For one this creature is much too easy to tap, second it is not even a magic card, so it definitely doesn’t fit here
Change Log
+Dakra Mystic Took out an opposition for this = higher merfolk count forgot to put either in the list
+Mutavault - a Reliquary tower for all the games ive played with this, only two really made a difference in having it, I'll have to play test to be sure
+Minamo, School at Water's Edge - Island Except for in games with back to basics is a strictly better land
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Why play this commander
-You Like playing tribal decks
-You like consistent card draw in decks
-Looking for a fun commander, that can be fast but is not quite at that top tier level
-Enjoy playing a very political game
Cons of Kumena
-Boardwipes are hard to recover from, but counterspells mitigate this problem to a degree
-Keeping Kumena alive keeps the engine running so spot removal is also potentially a problem
-Players who like to consistently combo kill
Other similar commanders:
Sygg, River Guide: Great way to protect merfolk, and a great commander as a whole, but the strategy gains so much from green Seedborn Muse Triumph of Hordes Ect
Derevi, emperial tactician: The better choice of a deck if you don't want to focus on your commander
In the early days I used the budget alternatives for the free counterspells, as well as avoiding the cards such as Earthcraft, in order to save money, however through extensive trading and deal sniping it can be attainable for anyone to get to use such pricey cards.
1 Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca
Creature
1 Seasinger
1 Birds of Paradise
1 Vodalian Mage
1 Empress Galina
1 Stonybrook Banneret
1 Cosi's Trickster
1 Cold-Eyed Selkie
1 Deeproot Elite
1 Seahunter
1 Lord of Atlantis
1 Fallowsage
1 Surgespanner
1 Lullmage Mentor
1 Thada Adel, Acquisitor
1 Selkie Hedge-Mage
1 Herald of Secret Streams
1 Kopala, Warden of Waves
1 Silvergill Adept
1 Edric, Spymaster of Trest
1 Kiora's Follower
1 Master of the Pearl Trident
1 Merrow Reejerey
1 Merfolk Sovereign
1 Merfolk Mistbinder
1 Jadelight Ranger
1 Jungleborn Pioneer
1 Seedborn Muse
1 Swift Warden
1 Tatyova, Benthic Druid
1 Murkfiend Liege
1 Craterhoof Behemoth
1 Hall of Gemstone
1 Aluren
1 Earthcraft
1 Carpet of Flowers
1 Merrow Commerce
1 Quest for Renewal
1 Call to the Kindred
1 Rhystic Study
1 Cryptolith Rite
1 Sylvan Library
1 Deeproot Waters
1 Propaganda
1 Back to Basics
Land
1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
1 Command Tower
1 Flooded Grove
1 Reliquary Tower
13 Island
13 Forest
Artifact
1 Cryptic Gateway
1 Quicksilver Fountain
1 Isochron Scepter
1 Paradox Engine
1 Aether Vial
1 Sol Ring
1 Metallic Mimic
1 Adaptive Automaton
1 Long-Term Plans
1 Pongify
1 Dramatic Reversal
1 Cyclonic Rift
1 Force of Will
1 Cryptic Command
1 Swan Song
1 Mana Leak
1 Mana Drain
1 Pact of Negation
1 Counterspell
1 Mystical Tutor
1 Beast Within
1 Negate
Sorcery
1 Triumph of the Hordes
1 Curse of the Swine
1 Bribery
Early game, play early game ramp (ex. Carpet of flowers, Aether vial) or low to the ground merfolk, and depending on your opponents keep up a counterspell for protection.
Mid/Late game, assemble the untap/tap engine with kumena, multiple merfolk, and if possibleisochron scepter with dramatic reversal and earthcraft.
Notable Exceptions:
Cavern of Souls: It’s a great card, I just can’t cough up the 60 odd bucks also nonbo with Back to basics (Tropical Island is in same category)
Forerunner of the heralds: Four mana is a nonbo with aluren, also it is a bit redundant in terms of merfolk tutoring, (ie Seahunter, long term plans exedra). (See merrow harbinger)
Tishana, Voice of Thunder: Not a great card for a curve topper, as well as the fact that 7 mana is a ton in my mana light deck
Vanquisher's banner: Good budget card but for five mana there is much better effects, as well as the fact that card like Kumena and Sylvan Library provides plenty of card draw
Cultivate: The curve is too low to the ground for this to be too effective, as well as the fact that a-lot of the best plays are done on turn three
Arcane denial: letting your opponents draw extra cards is never good, let alone against combo/storm players
Worldly Tutor: I play tested this, but it never blew me out of the water so I cut it for Long Term Plans which is simics version of demonic tutor, helping assemble our combo, and in some cases I get the card the turn it’s casted.
Your Mom: For one this creature is much too easy to tap, second it is not even a magic card, so it definitely doesn’t fit here
Maybe Board:
Mutavault : nice for merfolk count with kumena, as well as chip damage for craterhoof behemoth and triumph of the hordes
Minamo, School at Water's Edge: Especially good with seedborn muse but don’t know if it warrants a 30 dollar purchase
Curse of Bounty: Helping opponents can be risky see Intruder alarm, but could be a good political piece
Intruder Alarm
I’d love feedback about my deck and answer any questions
-MTGcam
Signature by Inkfox Aesthetics by Xen
[Modern] Allies
+Dakra Mystic Took out an opposition for this = higher merfolk count forgot to put either in the list
+Mutavault - a Reliquary tower for all the games ive played with this, only two really made a difference in having it, I'll have to play test to be sure
+Minamo, School at Water's Edge - Island Except for in games with back to basics is a strictly better land