If it's harbinger of the tides you probably can get away with 19 lands and maybe go up to 3 smuggler's copters for max. consistency (and a better ability to draw into new cards), or maybe add a few master of waves (not 4), or cheaper lords.
BTW, I can understand why you might not want master of waves: though powerful, its cost and effects warp a bit the deck in terms of lands needed and cohesion. People usually accept the compromise in light of its strenght, but if you try another path please tell us how it goes!
If it's Master of waves, then why no copies of harbinger of the tides? it's a bit clunky (i usually play only 3 of them) but it's really good! And if you have problems with stompy, this is a card you should have!
it's Master of Waves. i took out Harbinger of the Tides due to losing to Elves w/it.
for now, i'll SB Tidebender Mage. ty for the input!
our elves matchup is nearly unwinnable anyway. hibernation is our only hope and not really worth it unless you have lots of elves in your meta. even with it you're unlikely to beat that deck ever.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Modern U Merfolk U WUBRGPeopleGRBUW U Turbo Turns U UB Fae BU WBG Aristocrats GBW
Hey all! Been playing a lot of Merfolk lately and needless to say, it has been very good in the current meta. Earlier this week at the Modern Mondays event, I decided the play Merfolk to change things up since at FNM I played Dredge.
This Monday was the biggest Modern event we had in a long time. 28 people showed up! I was in for a long tournament to say the least. Round 1 I faced Grixis Delver, I knew this tournament is gonna have a lot of top tier meta decks. That being said, I went 2-0 round 1. Merfolk just A LOT answers to that deck and they can't stop the swinging with islandwalk and ate threw all of their removal spells. Round 2 I faced Grixis Delver, essentially the same deck I faced Round 1 but they weren't trying to hurt themselves intentionally for Death's Shadow synergy. Needless to say, I beat that deck easily, 2-0 win, by doing the same thing as Round 1. Also helped I that I too play that deck and know exactly what to deck to get in their quickly and effectively. Round 3 was against Esper Death's Shadow, a build I haven't seen too much recently. Similar to the last two Rounds... I 2-0 again thanks to lords getting in their with islandwalk and the fact they like having a lower life total than normal. Round 4 was my alone loss and it was a 1-2 loss at that, the deck I faced was Jund. Usually I like facing Jund because my sideboard, and honestly mainboard, tends to destroy Jund. They just kept drawing all their removal and right cards when they needed them and I just didn't draw as well and I should have.
Being 3-1 in the tournament overall and loosing a person in the top seed, I draw the 5th Round and as my 4th Round opponent. I finisher the tournament 6th out of 28 people with Merfolk against a lot of Death's Shadow decks and matches the are considered hard, I am pretty satisfied with myself
For fellow Merfolk players, Sea's Claim is a 'must' in our sideboard, it is just sooooooo good and I encourage you all to consider running it as well.
Here is my sideboard from the tournament I came in 6th with.
Congrats on the result. Sea's Claim seems good if you're expecting classic Jund - I know I ran it to good effect for a long time.
In the way of a short MTGO meta report, I'd also like to add that uninteractive decks (Affinity, Company, Titanshift) are currently cresting, so I've decided to bench my Kiras in favor of Cliques. Early returns have been positive, and my Shadow matchup hasn't budged much. I'll keep you all posted on how it goes.
and a maindeck tidebinder, a maindeck negate, a maindeck relic, and a maindeck ghost quarter,
zero Reejereys
7 more counterspells in the sideboard including 4 unified will
pretty unconventional build, i wonder what inspired some of these choices
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Modern U Merfolk U WUBRGPeopleGRBUW U Turbo Turns U UB Fae BU WBG Aristocrats GBW
Seems to be underperforming for me. Many times the crewing is counterproductive, as I could be just be swinging for 3 islandwalk. Any flying token on the other side eliminates the damage and only gets the card cycle.
I know I may be in the minority but I really like Cold-Eyed Selkie . Natural islandwalk, without a lord, card draw when damage goes through is super valuable.
If he eats spot removal it just means I keep something more valuable in play.
I should mention I play 8 seas. Pretty much always enables me to have islandwalk each and every game.
I do admit that Merfolk is really strong in the meta right now. At FMM this week, I played with it again and made top cut with it. The Merfolk are strong and will remain strong!
I do really like running Kira, Great Glass-Spinner mainboard for myself, two of them for sure because Modern as of right now is really removal heavy om creatures. I also like Vendilion Clique as well. I haven't tried it in Modern, mostly use it in Legacy. I might have to try it out one of these days.
Hey fellow folks, been a while since I posted, but will keep it short and sweet.
What are peoples opinions on trying out Nimble Obstructionist in the deck as a potential combo beater. I know it's not particularly amazing at the minute, but it could be good if the meta shifts.
3 mana for a 3/1 flyer with Flash (same as clique, only needs 1 U) but obviously don't get the hand disrupt, or 3 mana for the trigger part of Disallow and draw a card. Anyway, yeah, just been thinking about it since I got a couple in release day draft. Let me know what you think. (:
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Modern UMerfolkU Legacy UFishU "I Want To Believe"
Do you guys think its 2x or 0x of each, or should be viable 1x of each main deck ?
I'm usually of the mindset that you should have a game plan and stick to it. Decide whether you want to beat combo or spot removal game one and adjust accordingly in games two and three, don't try to hedge against everything out of the gate. I think when you have a more consistent plan A in your main it will give you more freedom to tune your sideboard.
But ultimately, this decision may be based more on play style than science. There are going to be times where you draw Clique against a deck you want Kira, and Kira against a deck you want Clique. There will also be times where you get them game one because you drew the right one.
Do you guys think its 2x or 0x of each, or should be viable 1x of each main deck ?
Personally I would recommend it depends on the meta you're facing. @rothgar13 is right in that with a more heavy combo meta, Vendilion Clique is the one you would like to have. In a meta with a lot of removal, like the meta I see weekly, Kira, Great Glass-Spinner is definitely the way to go. I personally run 2 of Kira, Great Glass-Spinner but that's my call. For you, one of each of quite good, just to be prepared for variance in the meta.
Hey fellow folks, been a while since I posted, but will keep it short and sweet.
What are peoples opinions on trying out Nimble Obstructionist in the deck as a potential combo beater. I know it's not particularly amazing at the minute, but it could be good if the meta shifts.
3 mana for a 3/1 flyer with Flash (same as clique, only needs 1 U) but obviously don't get the hand disrupt, or 3 mana for the trigger part of Disallow and draw a card. Anyway, yeah, just been thinking about it since I got a couple in release day draft. Let me know what you think. (:
Seems a bit hard to evaluate, to be honest. It has a unique and reasonably powerful effect, and Clique has shown us that a 3/1 flyer with flash can do stuff in the flex spot. On the other hand, 3 mana is an awful lot to hold up sometimes, and the cycling ability can't be used with Vial. I can come up with a few matchups in which it may do well (Living End, Storm, most decks with fetchlands), but is it overall better than Clique or Kira? Hard to say.
Nikachu says if you play copter you should play 4. I disagree. Played 2 in a PPTQ yesterday and they just felt OK, until they won me a game vs Affinity in the quarter finals by blocking a lethal inkmoth. Lost in the Semi's to Counters Company. Too much to ask to beat 2 horrible matchups in a row i guess. Would have crushed the final against a zoo player i slaughtered in round 1 too... oh well, on to the next one.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Modern U Merfolk U WUBRGPeopleGRBUW U Turbo Turns U UB Fae BU WBG Aristocrats GBW
I just don't know I feel about Smuggler's Copter. Yes, it is a pretty good card and potential beater in the air; however, it doesn't fit with the Merfolk synergy. Every creature my build of Merfolk is synergy related expect for Kira, Great Glass-Spinner which isn't Merfolk but protects my Merfolk. Smuggler's Copter is an interesting choice for getting the job done by discarding cards we don't need and getting cards we need for Merfolk synergy. I would not know how to make cuts to try it out, I'm just very used to my build of Merfolk
so I broke down and bought 2 Vendilion Clique ...how are people playing that card? Do you flash it in on the opponent's upkeep? How are you playing it? What about smuggler's copter? Are you dropping that turn two instead of, say, a lord or silvergill adept?
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"I hope to have such a death—lying in triumph upon the broken bodies of those who slew me."
—Radha, Keldon warlord
You usually want to flash in Clique on their draw step to see one more card in their hand and have a better shot of nabbing whatever it is you're after. There are times to do it EoT to get a beater on the board or target yourself and cycle away an extra vial or something. It's situational, but it's most powerful in the draw step.
I don't have enough testing with Copter to comment there.
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
our elves matchup is nearly unwinnable anyway. hibernation is our only hope and not really worth it unless you have lots of elves in your meta. even with it you're unlikely to beat that deck ever.
U Merfolk U
WUBRGPeopleGRBUW
U Turbo Turns U
UB Fae BU
WBG Aristocrats GBW
This Monday was the biggest Modern event we had in a long time. 28 people showed up! I was in for a long tournament to say the least. Round 1 I faced Grixis Delver, I knew this tournament is gonna have a lot of top tier meta decks. That being said, I went 2-0 round 1. Merfolk just A LOT answers to that deck and they can't stop the swinging with islandwalk and ate threw all of their removal spells. Round 2 I faced Grixis Delver, essentially the same deck I faced Round 1 but they weren't trying to hurt themselves intentionally for Death's Shadow synergy. Needless to say, I beat that deck easily, 2-0 win, by doing the same thing as Round 1. Also helped I that I too play that deck and know exactly what to deck to get in their quickly and effectively. Round 3 was against Esper Death's Shadow, a build I haven't seen too much recently. Similar to the last two Rounds... I 2-0 again thanks to lords getting in their with islandwalk and the fact they like having a lower life total than normal. Round 4 was my alone loss and it was a 1-2 loss at that, the deck I faced was Jund. Usually I like facing Jund because my sideboard, and honestly mainboard, tends to destroy Jund. They just kept drawing all their removal and right cards when they needed them and I just didn't draw as well and I should have.
Being 3-1 in the tournament overall and loosing a person in the top seed, I draw the 5th Round and as my 4th Round opponent. I finisher the tournament 6th out of 28 people with Merfolk against a lot of Death's Shadow decks and matches the are considered hard, I am pretty satisfied with myself
For fellow Merfolk players, Sea's Claim is a 'must' in our sideboard, it is just sooooooo good and I encourage you all to consider running it as well.
Here is my sideboard from the tournament I came in 6th with.
1 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Relic of Progenitus
4 Sea's Claim
2 Tidebinder Mage
3 Unified Will
In the way of a short MTGO meta report, I'd also like to add that uninteractive decks (Affinity, Company, Titanshift) are currently cresting, so I've decided to bench my Kiras in favor of Cliques. Early returns have been positive, and my Shadow matchup hasn't budged much. I'll keep you all posted on how it goes.
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
and a maindeck tidebinder, a maindeck negate, a maindeck relic, and a maindeck ghost quarter,
zero Reejereys
7 more counterspells in the sideboard including 4 unified will
pretty unconventional build, i wonder what inspired some of these choices
U Merfolk U
WUBRGPeopleGRBUW
U Turbo Turns U
UB Fae BU
WBG Aristocrats GBW
Seems to be underperforming for me. Many times the crewing is counterproductive, as I could be just be swinging for 3 islandwalk. Any flying token on the other side eliminates the damage and only gets the card cycle.
I know I may be in the minority but I really like Cold-Eyed Selkie . Natural islandwalk, without a lord, card draw when damage goes through is super valuable.
If he eats spot removal it just means I keep something more valuable in play.
I should mention I play 8 seas. Pretty much always enables me to have islandwalk each and every game.
I do really like running Kira, Great Glass-Spinner mainboard for myself, two of them for sure because Modern as of right now is really removal heavy om creatures. I also like Vendilion Clique as well. I haven't tried it in Modern, mostly use it in Legacy. I might have to try it out one of these days.
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
What are peoples opinions on trying out Nimble Obstructionist in the deck as a potential combo beater. I know it's not particularly amazing at the minute, but it could be good if the meta shifts.
3 mana for a 3/1 flyer with Flash (same as clique, only needs 1 U) but obviously don't get the hand disrupt, or 3 mana for the trigger part of Disallow and draw a card. Anyway, yeah, just been thinking about it since I got a couple in release day draft. Let me know what you think. (:
U Merfolk U
Legacy
U Fish U
"I Want To Believe"
Do you guys think its 2x or 0x of each, or should be viable 1x of each main deck ?
I'm usually of the mindset that you should have a game plan and stick to it. Decide whether you want to beat combo or spot removal game one and adjust accordingly in games two and three, don't try to hedge against everything out of the gate. I think when you have a more consistent plan A in your main it will give you more freedom to tune your sideboard.
But ultimately, this decision may be based more on play style than science. There are going to be times where you draw Clique against a deck you want Kira, and Kira against a deck you want Clique. There will also be times where you get them game one because you drew the right one.
BLiliana, Heretical HealerB| |GTitania, Protector of ArgothG
GWBDoom Plane EnchantressBWG
Personally I would recommend it depends on the meta you're facing. @rothgar13 is right in that with a more heavy combo meta, Vendilion Clique is the one you would like to have. In a meta with a lot of removal, like the meta I see weekly, Kira, Great Glass-Spinner is definitely the way to go. I personally run 2 of Kira, Great Glass-Spinner but that's my call. For you, one of each of quite good, just to be prepared for variance in the meta.
Seems a bit hard to evaluate, to be honest. It has a unique and reasonably powerful effect, and Clique has shown us that a 3/1 flyer with flash can do stuff in the flex spot. On the other hand, 3 mana is an awful lot to hold up sometimes, and the cycling ability can't be used with Vial. I can come up with a few matchups in which it may do well (Living End, Storm, most decks with fetchlands), but is it overall better than Clique or Kira? Hard to say.
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
U Merfolk U
WUBRGPeopleGRBUW
U Turbo Turns U
UB Fae BU
WBG Aristocrats GBW
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
—Radha, Keldon warlord
I don't have enough testing with Copter to comment there.
BLiliana, Heretical HealerB| |GTitania, Protector of ArgothG
GWBDoom Plane EnchantressBWG