"The Beautiful Woman without Mercy" (French Translation)
Named this in development and per the artist, Heather Hudson, it was inspired by a poem by John Keats. (see far right)
She has has an interesting variation of an often-used mechanic during the game’s early years (seen on Seasinger, Preacher, Spirit Shield, and a dozen others around its time). In almost all cases, you had the choice to untap them and end its effect; however, Merieke was the exception. Her power comes with a drawback: she needs assistance to untap.
Best case scenario:
She steals the highest utility/most powerful creature.
Worst case scenario:
3 mana spot removal
She is balanced, versatile, and economical because
Other Esper TLs: Lady Evangela: does not immediately impact the board. Nor can she threaten it. There are other cards that do the same as she does but for less (lands, creatures, enchantments).
Sydri, Galvanic Genius: plays a different type of game. I am not familiar with her, but her decklist seems more geared toward artifacts
Over these 2, when you run Merieke at the helm, she just begs to be abused. However, in TL over EDH, there is limited space to add cards that provide synergy with her ability.
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I think you took out the wrong pain land. Please note Mana Confluence > City of Brass, Rishadan Port etc. wouldn't hurt you Small difference, but sometimes it can cost you a game.
I initially removed Academy Ruins when I tried without SFM/swords/O-stone and went down to 3ish creatures. Now that I added value creatures, I should re-add Academy Ruins for EE and the swords.
Looking for ideas about how to gain life. Over time, I self inflict a lot of damage via fetches, bob (occasionally), Mana Confluence, paying 2 life for dual lands, etc.
Random funny thought was Nyx-Fleece Ram. Early drop, high defense, easy to cast. Only drawback: enchantment.
Ballad by John Keats
O WHAT can ail thee, knight-at-arms,
Alone and palely loitering?
The sedge has wither’d from the lake,
And no birds sing.
II.
O what can ail thee, knight-at-arms!
So haggard and so woe-begone?
The squirrel’s granary is full,
And the harvest’s done.
III.
I see a lily on thy brow
With anguish moist and fever dew,
And on thy cheeks a fading rose
Fast withereth too.
IV.
I met a lady in the meads,
Full beautiful—a faery’s child,
Her hair was long, her foot was light,
And her eyes were wild.
V.
I made a garland for her head,
And bracelets too, and fragrant zone;
She look’d at me as she did love,
And made sweet moan.
VI.
I set her on my pacing steed,
And nothing else saw all day long,
For sidelong would she bend, and sing
A faery’s song.
VII.
She found me roots of relish sweet,
And honey wild, and manna dew,
And sure in language strange she said—
“I love thee true.”
VIII.
She took me to her elfin grot,
And there she wept, and sigh’d fill sore,
And there I shut her wild wild eyes
With kisses four.
IX.
And there she lulled me asleep,
And there I dream’d—Ah! woe betide!
The latest dream I ever dream’d
On the cold hill’s side.
X.
I saw pale kings and princes too,
Pale warriors, death-pale were they all;
They cried—“La Belle Dame sans Merci
Hath thee in thrall!”
XI.
I saw their starved lips in the gloam,
With horrid warning gaped wide,
And I awoke and found me here,
On the cold hill’s side.
XII.
And this is why I sojourn here,
Alone and palely loitering,
Though the sedge is wither’d from the lake,
And no birds sing.
source: http://www.bartleby.com/126/55.html
"The Beautiful Woman without Mercy" (French Translation)
Named this in development and per the artist, Heather Hudson, it was inspired by a poem by John Keats. (see far right)
She has has an interesting variation of an often-used mechanic during the game’s early years (seen on Seasinger, Preacher, Spirit Shield, and a dozen others around its time). In almost all cases, you had the choice to untap them and end its effect; however, Merieke was the exception. Her power comes with a drawback: she needs assistance to untap.
Best case scenario:
She steals the highest utility/most powerful creature.
Worst case scenario:
3 mana spot removal
She is balanced, versatile, and economical because
Other Esper TLs:
Lady Evangela: does not immediately impact the board. Nor can she threaten it. There are other cards that do the same as she does but for less (lands, creatures, enchantments).
Sydri, Galvanic Genius: plays a different type of game. I am not familiar with her, but her decklist seems more geared toward artifacts
Over these 2, when you run Merieke at the helm, she just begs to be abused. However, in TL over EDH, there is limited space to add cards that provide synergy with her ability.
1 Merieke Ri Berit
1 Baleful Strix
1 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
1 Dark Confidant
1 Snapcaster Mage
1 Stoneforge Mystic
1 Trinket Mage
1 True-Name Nemesis
Artifacts (4)
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Sensei's Divining Top
1 Sword of Feast and Famine
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
Enchantments (1)
1 Bitterblossom
Instants (9)
1 Brainstorm
1 Counterspell
1 Mental Misstep
1 Path to Exile
1 Repeal
1 Smother
1 Spell Snare
1 Sphinx's Revelation
1 Swords to Plowshares
Sorcery (8)
1 Ancestral Vision
1 Council's Judgment
1 Inquisition of Kozilek
1 Lingering Souls
1 Ponder
1 Preordain
1 Thoughtseize
1 Toxic Deluge
1 Liliana of the Veil
1 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
1 Jace Beleren
Land (17)
1 Arcane Sanctum
1 Command Tower
1 City of Brass
1 Reflecting Pool
1 Flooded Strand
1 Polluted Delta
1 Marsh Flats
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Godless Shrine
1 Watery Grave
1 Celestial Colonnade
1 Creeping Tar Pit
1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge
1 Scrubland
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Island
1 Plains
1 Perish
1 Chill
1 Story Circle
1 Pithing Needle
1 Hydroblast
1 Relic of Progenitus
1 Oblivion Stone
1 Tempest of Light
1 Threads of Disloyalty
1 Disenchant
Considering:
1 Vindicate
1 Black Sun's Zenith
1 Hymn to Tourach
Instants:
1 Dismember
1 Cyclonic Rift
1 Hero’s Downfall
1 Far // Away
0 More Basics?
1 Maze of Ith
1 Wasteland
1 Nephalia Drownyard
Misc:
1 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Tormond’s Crypt
1 Thousand-Year Elixir
1 Magewright’s Stone
I buy HP and Damaged cards!
Only EDH:
Sigarda, Host of Herons: Enchantress' Enchantments
Jenara, Asura of War: ETB Value Town
Purphoros, God of the Forge: Global Punishment
Xenagos, God of Revels: Ramp, Sneak, & Heavy Hitters
Ghave, Guru of Spores: Dies_to_Doom_Blade's stax list
Edric, Spymaster of Trest: Donald's list
Added content, pictures.....basically an entire revamp.
I buy HP and Damaged cards!
Only EDH:
Sigarda, Host of Herons: Enchantress' Enchantments
Jenara, Asura of War: ETB Value Town
Purphoros, God of the Forge: Global Punishment
Xenagos, God of Revels: Ramp, Sneak, & Heavy Hitters
Ghave, Guru of Spores: Dies_to_Doom_Blade's stax list
Edric, Spymaster of Trest: Donald's list
What other utility lands would you suggest? I will swap Mana Confluence > City of Brass. I would like to add Wasteland/Tectonic Edge but not sure what to swap out. How do you feel about Maze of Ith?
I initially removed Academy Ruins when I tried without SFM/swords/O-stone and went down to 3ish creatures. Now that I added value creatures, I should re-add Academy Ruins for EE and the swords.
I buy HP and Damaged cards!
Only EDH:
Sigarda, Host of Herons: Enchantress' Enchantments
Jenara, Asura of War: ETB Value Town
Purphoros, God of the Forge: Global Punishment
Xenagos, God of Revels: Ramp, Sneak, & Heavy Hitters
Ghave, Guru of Spores: Dies_to_Doom_Blade's stax list
Edric, Spymaster of Trest: Donald's list
Random funny thought was Nyx-Fleece Ram. Early drop, high defense, easy to cast. Only drawback: enchantment.
On another note, I am thinking about adding the new Liliana, Heretical Healer. This would combo well with High Market.
I buy HP and Damaged cards!
Only EDH:
Sigarda, Host of Herons: Enchantress' Enchantments
Jenara, Asura of War: ETB Value Town
Purphoros, God of the Forge: Global Punishment
Xenagos, God of Revels: Ramp, Sneak, & Heavy Hitters
Ghave, Guru of Spores: Dies_to_Doom_Blade's stax list
Edric, Spymaster of Trest: Donald's list