How about Aquitect's Will in a Simic build instead of Spreading Seas, because we don't need the devotion off of the enchantment? Obviously, it does not colorscrew the opponent, but it is cheaper and thus lower to the ground, which is exactly the plan of MerfolkJoe's list and is also what Nikachu often sais in his videos. What do you think?
i really like that it's a cantrip, and the 1-mana cost is relevant in a deck filled with 2-drops. I'd probably consider it over sea's claim in the simic version if I wanted to go 8-seas or 6-seas effects in the maindeck.
Also, it triggers Merrow Reejerey.
The problem with this card I think , is that you don’t denial the land you choose , it just add the island unless sea’s claim ! And the color/land denial is almost as important than the fact that it gives us the possibility to break through
How about Aquitect's Will in a Simic build instead of Spreading Seas, because we don't need the devotion off of the enchantment? Obviously, it does not colorscrew the opponent, but it is cheaper and thus lower to the ground, which is exactly the plan of MerfolkJoe's list and is also what Nikachu often sais in his videos. What do you think?
i really like that it's a cantrip, and the 1-mana cost is relevant in a deck filled with 2-drops. I'd probably consider it over sea's claim in the simic version if I wanted to go 8-seas or 6-seas effects in the maindeck.
Also, it triggers Merrow Reejerey.
Wow I missed the fact that it also triggers Merrow Reejerey that's even cooler
(But at least the version of MerfolkJoe for example doesn't even play Merrow Reejerey.)
But you don't think one could replace Spreading Seas with it?
How about Aquitect's Will in a Simic build instead of Spreading Seas, because we don't need the devotion off of the enchantment? Obviously, it does not colorscrew the opponent, but it is cheaper and thus lower to the ground, which is exactly the plan of MerfolkJoe's list and is also what Nikachu often sais in his videos. What do you think?
i really like that it's a cantrip, and the 1-mana cost is relevant in a deck filled with 2-drops. I'd probably consider it over sea's claim in the simic version if I wanted to go 8-seas or 6-seas effects in the maindeck.
Also, it triggers Merrow Reejerey.
The problem with this card I think , is that you don’t denial the land you choose , it just add the island unless sea’s claim ! And the color/land denial is almost as important than the fact that it gives us the possibility to break through
PS : sorry for my miserable english writing
No worries.
In fact, I think it depends whether your intention for the Spreading Seas effect is mainly to colorscrew the opponent or to get yourself islandwalk and at the same time be as mana efficient as possible. Therefore obviously depends on the meta, but I could see a world where Aquitect's Will feels better since I most often just use the effect to get myself islandwalk.
The question is: is it worth paying an additional 1 to gain one Devotion and potentially color-screw an opponent, disable Urza-Tron, or disable a man-land? In my book, the answer is yes. YMMV, and it depends on the meta.
I don't like Metallic Mimic, truth be told - it's a sequencing-intensive creature, which is less than ideal. I also like Reejerey as yet another way to punch through blockers, which is more important in the UG build.
My guess is because of the mana base. One of the strong points of mono-U is that you don't take damage fetching. So you either
a) start at 17 life
b) start a turn behind (fetch a tapped Breeding Pool to minimize damage)
c) end a turn slow because you don't have the mana for the counterspells available.
Yeah, that's one of the matchups where I'd expect it to struggle relative to the mono-U version. Better luck next time.
Why would you expect it to struggle more ? GU has similar amount of removal, faster clock, more cantrip to look for answers, same access to counterspells and GY hate, no super clunky useless 4 drops in game one – I see Mono U as the weaker shell here.
Lack of Dismember is a big one. (Most UG shells are not playing any main)
I'm still unsure of the appeal of the two-color approach. Speaker seems pretty marginal; it's a 1-mana 2/2, but blue has Cosi's Trickster which usually gets bigger on opposing fetches alone, and Triton Shorestalker which is simply unblockable if needed. People seem resolved that CoCo is inferior to Vial. If that's the case, this is about Branchwalker. I don't think Branchwalker is good enough to justify taking a bunch of fetch/shock damage in matchups with other aggro decks (and a newfound susceptibility to Blood Moon). I'll be interested to see what new technology comes out to further validate the approach.
Playing UG merfolk is a great way to get crushed by Storm - I think the top 8 guy lasted like 9 mins before getting crushed 2-0 by storm. Mostly because he had no maindeck creature removal - this version of Merfolk also dies really hard to Counters Company and indeed anything that uses creatures to combo kill you. The reality for UG merfolk is that you are giving up substantial points to Storm, Company, burn and other aggro by slotting in green cards - of which only Branchwalker seems any good.
I'd love to hear from ppl that are playing UG from a non-biased view point and are comparing it to Mono-U merfolk - is it worth it based on competitive outcomes? I understand Nikachu doesnt want to make a call yet without more data..
I played the deck to mess around with the green splash. Honestly didn't expect to top 8, but it got there.
One comment is that the storm player was on the play and turn 2 spit out 12 goblins. No baral or electromancer. Lacking dismember does hurt, but not during g1.
G2 he combod again without his mana creature. I had dismember in hand, relic on board, and he grapeshot my team followed by 12 goblins. It was rough.
about 53 minutes in he talks about merfolk and on top of what he mentions in the chat he also mentioned on twitter that they will keep pushing merfolk in the next set and seem to be throwing a bone to the non rotating formats for merfolk.
@ascummings01: congrats on the results! That kind of experience is the one the discussion of the Merfolk splash needs to keep moving forward. I think the UG Merfolk deck will have a real chance after we see what Rivals of Ixalan brings. But it always good to see some solid results, keep them coming guys!
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Mostly Modern Player RBridgevineB RGR/G EldraziX UBlue MoonR UU/W TronW
Yeah, that's one of the matchups where I'd expect it to struggle relative to the mono-U version. Better luck next time.
Why would you expect it to struggle more ? GU has similar amount of removal, faster clock, more cantrip to look for answers, same access to counterspells and GY hate, no super clunky useless 4 drops in game one – I see Mono U as the weaker shell here.
People tend to subestimate Cursecatchers, because it's against combo decks where it truly shines (against wrath effects other than Supreme Verdict is good also), which is one of the merfolks UG lists are cutting through. Faster clock won't help much because Storm can go off on turn 3-4 if not disrupted, thing that even Affinity struggle to rush with.
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Mostly Modern Player RBridgevineB RGR/G EldraziX UBlue MoonR UU/W TronW
I'm pretty convinced that Storm is degenerate at this point, and Past in Flames will see a banning at some point. It's basically Yawgmoth's Will. Until then, neither Cursecatcher nor creature removal is really sufficient against that. I'm not sure of a single other deck that MDs the cards to beat them on a regular basis, with the possible exception of certain decks that use black. Chill, or maybe Arcane Laboratory would have worked, but they're not in the format. White has the best SB options, between Thalia, Rule of Law effects, and Rest in Peace. Plus, that gives Path to Exile, for the creature-removal slot.
I feel like if what you're worried about is combo, you should probably be splashing White.
People tend to subestimate Cursecatchers, because it's against combo decks where it truly shines (against wrath effects other than Supreme Verdict is good also), which is one of the merfolks UG lists are cutting through. Faster clock won't help much because Storm can go off on turn 3-4 if not disrupted, thing that even Affinity struggle to rush with.
Maybe I'm mistaken or misunderstanding your post, but I don't think I've seen a UG list cut Cursecatcher yet. Most people were excited to have more 1 drops.
Yeah, that's one of the matchups where I'd expect it to struggle relative to the mono-U version. Better luck next time.
Why would you expect it to struggle more ? GU has similar amount of removal, faster clock, more cantrip to look for answers, same access to counterspells and GY hate, no super clunky useless 4 drops in game one – I see Mono U as the weaker shell here.
No Dismember main + only 1 Negate (Spell Pierce is pretty easy to ramp past) = losing to Storm. You can theorycraft about what should be in the list, I'm talking about what's actually in it.
As for the Storm matchup... my record against it with mono-U is actually pretty good. I'm 18-7 against it on MTGO leagues since adopting my 2 Dispel/2 Echoing Truth/4 Negate/4 Relic of Progenitus sideboard configuration. If you're struggling against it, I recommend that you adopt this plan - they may take Game 1, but you are the overwhelming favorite postboard.
Going in I thought branchwalker was the bees knees, but after playing with speaker I have a new appreciation for a one Mana 2/2. Branchwalker is still great, but I was more impressed by speaker. Probably because my expectations for it were lower
Definitely would have main board creature interaction.
The problem with this card I think , is that you don’t denial the land you choose , it just add the island unless sea’s claim ! And the color/land denial is almost as important than the fact that it gives us the possibility to break through
PS : sorry for my miserable english writing
Wow I missed the fact that it also triggers Merrow Reejerey that's even cooler
(But at least the version of MerfolkJoe for example doesn't even play Merrow Reejerey.)
But you don't think one could replace Spreading Seas with it?
No worries.
In fact, I think it depends whether your intention for the Spreading Seas effect is mainly to colorscrew the opponent or to get yourself islandwalk and at the same time be as mana efficient as possible. Therefore obviously depends on the meta, but I could see a world where Aquitect's Will feels better since I most often just use the effect to get myself islandwalk.
Modern: Merfolk UU // Green Devotion GG // SkRed Red RR
Legacy: Death & Taxes WW // Burn RR // Death's Shadow Delver UB
Commander: Brago UW // Karlov WB
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
a) start at 17 life
b) start a turn behind (fetch a tapped Breeding Pool to minimize damage)
c) end a turn slow because you don't have the mana for the counterspells available.
Lack of Dismember is a big one. (Most UG shells are not playing any main)
He's actually off mimic.
He posted some follow up to his initial build.
BLiliana, Heretical HealerB| |GTitania, Protector of ArgothG
GWBDoom Plane EnchantressBWG
Modern: Merfolk UU // Green Devotion GG // SkRed Red RR
Legacy: Death & Taxes WW // Burn RR // Death's Shadow Delver UB
Commander: Brago UW // Karlov WB
I'd love to hear from ppl that are playing UG from a non-biased view point and are comparing it to Mono-U merfolk - is it worth it based on competitive outcomes? I understand Nikachu doesnt want to make a call yet without more data..
Bant Eldrazi
UW Control
U Merfolk
Legacy
Merfolk
UR Delver
I played the deck to mess around with the green splash. Honestly didn't expect to top 8, but it got there.
One comment is that the storm player was on the play and turn 2 spit out 12 goblins. No baral or electromancer. Lacking dismember does hurt, but not during g1.
G2 he combod again without his mana creature. I had dismember in hand, relic on board, and he grapeshot my team followed by 12 goblins. It was rough.
about 53 minutes in he talks about merfolk and on top of what he mentions in the chat he also mentioned on twitter that they will keep pushing merfolk in the next set and seem to be throwing a bone to the non rotating formats for merfolk.
RBridgevineB
RGR/G EldraziX
UBlue MoonR
UU/W TronW
People tend to subestimate Cursecatchers, because it's against combo decks where it truly shines (against wrath effects other than Supreme Verdict is good also), which is one of the merfolks UG lists are cutting through. Faster clock won't help much because Storm can go off on turn 3-4 if not disrupted, thing that even Affinity struggle to rush with.
RBridgevineB
RGR/G EldraziX
UBlue MoonR
UU/W TronW
I feel like if what you're worried about is combo, you should probably be splashing White.
Modern: Merfolk UU // Green Devotion GG // SkRed Red RR
Legacy: Death & Taxes WW // Burn RR // Death's Shadow Delver UB
Commander: Brago UW // Karlov WB
Maybe I'm mistaken or misunderstanding your post, but I don't think I've seen a UG list cut Cursecatcher yet. Most people were excited to have more 1 drops.
BLiliana, Heretical HealerB| |GTitania, Protector of ArgothG
GWBDoom Plane EnchantressBWG
No Dismember main + only 1 Negate (Spell Pierce is pretty easy to ramp past) = losing to Storm. You can theorycraft about what should be in the list, I'm talking about what's actually in it.
As for the Storm matchup... my record against it with mono-U is actually pretty good. I'm 18-7 against it on MTGO leagues since adopting my 2 Dispel/2 Echoing Truth/4 Negate/4 Relic of Progenitus sideboard configuration. If you're struggling against it, I recommend that you adopt this plan - they may take Game 1, but you are the overwhelming favorite postboard.
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
Definitely would have main board creature interaction.
That probably mean reducing the number of spreading seas, and that sounds like heresy. However I was curious if anyone had any thought on this.