How good is Merfolk in the current meta with GDS, E-Tron and bg/x? I have been looking in this deck, but not sure if it is the right choice tho
All of those matchups are varying degrees of good for us (with Grixis Shadow being the easiest and E-Tron being the closest). The ones that are tough are Affinity and Valakut.
I can already see BUG Merfolk in Standard: Walk the Plank and Fatal Push (flavorful connection in those two cards is beautiful), Snek as enabler and Rishkar and Merfolk Rishkar (Vineshaper), maybe Ballista if all those counters are flying around and some random cards to fill the curve.
Yeah I'm a fan of his as well. I was thinking more in the twitch realm of live streams where we could chat. It would be informative but also pretty fun imo. I'd totally do a few but I'm barely an above average league grinder haha.
I'm a huge fan of Shapers' Sanctuary in U/G Merfolk. It's the mini Standstill that I've been looking for. And seeing how powerful Leovold is in Legacy, I can see Shapers' being a huge gamechanger for Merfolk.
I'm a huge fan of Shapers' Sanctuary in U/G Merfolk. It's the mini Standstill that I've been looking for. And seeing how powerful Leovold is in Legacy, I can see Shapers' being a huge gamechanger for Merfolk.
Don't disagree with you about the potential of the card, but I would consider it mainly as a sideboard option.
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Would you like to read Commander stories? Check my latest stories, coming from Lorwyn and Innistrad: Ghoulcaller Gisa and Doran, The Siege Tower! If you like my writing, ask me to write something for your commander as well!
So yeah...the full set of Ixalan is being spoiled...and boy I'm not seeing a lot for us. That's SUPER depressing considering the build up. (Although I'm not surprised). Some interesting ideas, including a green splash, but it feels like this set is a big swing and a miss.
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"I hope to have such a death—lying in triumph upon the broken bodies of those who slew me."
—Radha, Keldon warlord
The best merfolk to come out of this set to me is Merfolk Branchwalker. If I'm not mistaken, it is also the only explore card in the set that costs 2 with 2 power. Kumena's Speaker is also pretty decent. I will test them as I said before, and I have other lists in mind in case they don't work out as intended.
For reference, the other merfolk in the set:
GREEN
Deeproot Champion - bad in our deck, due to low density of noncreature spells. Deeproot Warrior - just a bear with small upside. Bad card overall, just limited fodder. Jade Guardian - unplayable. Jungle Delver - unplayable. Had they make the card a 2/1, we would be talking. Tishana's Wayfinder - overcosted. Fortunately we have branchwalker. Vineshaper Mystic - overcosted by one mana. Waker of the Wilds - mana hungry, much worse than master of waves.
A card I didn't see anyone mention yet was Chart a Course. I think this is a very powerful card draw spell, and I could see this being playable mainboard in some lists, or at least on the sideboard for some control matchups. I will test this one card for sure.
Would you like to read Commander stories? Check my latest stories, coming from Lorwyn and Innistrad: Ghoulcaller Gisa and Doran, The Siege Tower! If you like my writing, ask me to write something for your commander as well!
As a positive note, there were a lot of Merfolk left in the set!
I was fearing the Merfolk part of this block was not really significant, but there were a lot of cards missing, so I guess Rivals still can bring us some nice cards.
Ixalan has certainly fell short of my expectations for Merfolk. There is some room for Standard Merfolk, but I don't think it can be truly competitive.
Keen observations. A CMC2 version of Weaver would definitely be something that I would playtest, since it gets around those pesky ETB effects that sometimes make Harbinger problematic. And a Shaper Apprentice with some sort of effect would also be up for testing.
Ive been speaking to some standard grinders and they are pretty doubtful that Merfolk will even be a deck in Standard - ppl have been testing on free online software and are not impressed..
Watertraper Weaver is amazing, but come on CMC3 =( Im really sad about this set...im pretty sure nothing relevant will come in the next one too, and we will have to wait anoter 10 years for a folk set
Ive been speaking to some standard grinders and they are pretty doubtful that Merfolk will even be a deck in Standard - ppl have been testing on free online software and are not impressed..
Not surprising - the Standard deck seems to be a few cards away in my eyes as well (namely because the interaction options look bad). Maybe by next set.
Am I the only one that things that if you are going to splash green (with Forests in the mana base), Selkie Hedge-Mage should be included? Or at least considered?
Played
R1 Blue Steel 2-1 Opponent was grumbling about having to play against "the merfolk guy" but I've found this matchup to be deceptively dangerous. they are capable of some very explosive stuff and a Grand Architect into a giant Walking Ballista can destroy you. I took game 1 barely. I was dead next turn, he was at 13 i swung for 12 and then vialed in a Master of Waves before damage politely explaining that "Mutavault is an Elemental too". G2 i punted... bounced a lodestone golem with a harbinger holding up U so i could ceremonious rejection when he tried to replay it, instead he played Trinket Mage got a Ballista and I was thinking "Sweet he's going to tap out with grand architect for a giant ballista and i'll counter that instead" instead he floated a ton of mana, and then cast the Golem. I brain farted... Thinking "crap now i can't counter the ballista" and heard myself say "OK"... should have countered it... He followed up with Ballista while i was staring at the rejection in my hand like an idiot. The tax was too much and i couldn't cast enough spells to live next turn even with a Reejerey in play. G3 went T2 lord, T3 lord, T4 reejerey, T5 reejerey. He played a ballista and trinket maged for a basilisk collar but was 1 mana short of being able to kill enough creatures to survive.
R2 Jeskai Control 2-0 Just played it out slow and steady, 2-3 creatures at a time chipping away both games. I never played into it but he never saw a Supreme Verdict either game.
R3 Mono-Red Burn 2-0 This guy must have been lucky in the first two rounds. He had a very sub-optimal burn deck full of Vexing Devil and Shard Volley. Pretty simple to navigate.
R4 Naya Burn 2-0 Much better burn player. He got stuck on 1 land for too long. I stabilized at 8 life (plenty) with a huge board. G2 a bunch of spreading seas showed up. i hit both his sacred foundrys and he had no more white sources to fetch for. Ended the game with a Path and 2 Boros Charms stuck in his hand.
R5 Counters Company 2-1 (my friend, he refused to draw with me because he knew the matchup and the store is very lopsided with their prize payouts. playing it out pretty much guaranteed one of us (him) would get the first-place-after-swiss purse of $300 but i beat him and got to brag about it) He took G1, i stole G2 on a misplay from him. He tapped out for a chord to grab the vizier but used all his land instead of tapping his last creature, when i sacrificed my cursecatcher he had to untap his devoted druid to pay for it and i gut shotted it to death in response.) G3 top decked a gut shot for his bird and slammed lords faster than he could combo.
R6 Draw (UW Control)
1st after Swiss won me $300
T8
QF: EldraziTron 0-2 The wheels fell off... I was running hot all day and then the extreme end of variance showed up to bring me back to earth. My draws were almost statistically impossible. I have never seen anything like it. G1 Mull to 4 without seeing a single land in any hand. Keep a 4 card no-lander, scry to bottom, 4 turns pass and draw 0 lands. Scoop in response to Thought-Knot Seer. Go to game 2 without my opponent having seen a single card. G2 Mull to 5 without seeing a single land. Keep a 5 card no-lander. scry a cavern to the top. Play cavern cursecatcher and that was the only spell i cast in the entire top 8...
I saw 1 land out of 45+ cards...
All of those matchups are varying degrees of good for us (with Grixis Shadow being the easiest and E-Tron being the closest). The ones that are tough are Affinity and Valakut.
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
*stretching sounds*
Also, 3 mana 2/4 is a decent body.
The green splash is rough, but with this and the 1-drop...
Turn 1, 2/2
Turn 2, Lord, swing for 3
Turn 3, Vineshaper Mystic, swing for 7
Modern, not so much.
Modern Tallowisp Spirits - A Modern Tallowisp Deck UW
Eldrazi Ninjas - Summoning Octopus Jutsu YYYYAAAHHHH!
STANDARD
Naban Wizards
Read my other stories as well (some ongoing):
Reaper King (a horror story), Kaalia of the Vast (an origin story), Sequels for Innistrad (Alternative sequels for Inn), Grey Areas (Odric's fanfic), Royal Succession (goblins),The Tracker's Message (eldrazi on Innistrad) and Ugin and his Eye (the end of OGW).
—Radha, Keldon warlord
For reference, the other merfolk in the set:
GREEN
Deeproot Champion - bad in our deck, due to low density of noncreature spells.
Deeproot Warrior - just a bear with small upside. Bad card overall, just limited fodder.
Jade Guardian - unplayable.
Jungle Delver - unplayable. Had they make the card a 2/1, we would be talking.
Tishana's Wayfinder - overcosted. Fortunately we have branchwalker.
Vineshaper Mystic - overcosted by one mana.
Waker of the Wilds - mana hungry, much worse than master of waves.
BLUE
Headwater Sentries - clearly limited fodder.
Herald of Secret Streams - not only it requires building around it, it is overcosted.
Kopala, Warden of Waves - interesting sideboard card.
River Sneak - should have one more power
Shaper Apprentice - weak.
Storm Sculptor - weak and overcosted.
Tempest Caller - I actually like this card. I can see a world where I put one copy of this on the sideboard.
Watertrap Weaver - Overcosted, and the effect would be better if it lasted as long as it remained on the field. I suppose they didn't want to print a strictly better Tidebinder Mage.
Wind Striker - laughably overcosted.
MULTICOLORED
Shapers of Nature - effects are overcosted.
Tishana, Voice of Thunder - even more laughably overcosted.
A card I didn't see anyone mention yet was Chart a Course. I think this is a very powerful card draw spell, and I could see this being playable mainboard in some lists, or at least on the sideboard for some control matchups. I will test this one card for sure.
Read my other stories as well (some ongoing):
Reaper King (a horror story), Kaalia of the Vast (an origin story), Sequels for Innistrad (Alternative sequels for Inn), Grey Areas (Odric's fanfic), Royal Succession (goblins),The Tracker's Message (eldrazi on Innistrad) and Ugin and his Eye (the end of OGW).
I was fearing the Merfolk part of this block was not really significant, but there were a lot of cards missing, so I guess Rivals still can bring us some nice cards.
Ixalan has certainly fell short of my expectations for Merfolk. There is some room for Standard Merfolk, but I don't think it can be truly competitive.
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
Bant Eldrazi
UW Control
U Merfolk
Legacy
Merfolk
UR Delver
BLiliana, Heretical HealerB| |GTitania, Protector of ArgothG
GWBDoom Plane EnchantressBWG
Not surprising - the Standard deck seems to be a few cards away in my eyes as well (namely because the interaction options look bad). Maybe by next set.
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:
Finished first in the swiss at 5-0-1
Played
R1 Blue Steel 2-1 Opponent was grumbling about having to play against "the merfolk guy" but I've found this matchup to be deceptively dangerous. they are capable of some very explosive stuff and a Grand Architect into a giant Walking Ballista can destroy you. I took game 1 barely. I was dead next turn, he was at 13 i swung for 12 and then vialed in a Master of Waves before damage politely explaining that "Mutavault is an Elemental too". G2 i punted... bounced a lodestone golem with a harbinger holding up U so i could ceremonious rejection when he tried to replay it, instead he played Trinket Mage got a Ballista and I was thinking "Sweet he's going to tap out with grand architect for a giant ballista and i'll counter that instead" instead he floated a ton of mana, and then cast the Golem. I brain farted... Thinking "crap now i can't counter the ballista" and heard myself say "OK"... should have countered it... He followed up with Ballista while i was staring at the rejection in my hand like an idiot. The tax was too much and i couldn't cast enough spells to live next turn even with a Reejerey in play. G3 went T2 lord, T3 lord, T4 reejerey, T5 reejerey. He played a ballista and trinket maged for a basilisk collar but was 1 mana short of being able to kill enough creatures to survive.
R2 Jeskai Control 2-0 Just played it out slow and steady, 2-3 creatures at a time chipping away both games. I never played into it but he never saw a Supreme Verdict either game.
R3 Mono-Red Burn 2-0 This guy must have been lucky in the first two rounds. He had a very sub-optimal burn deck full of Vexing Devil and Shard Volley. Pretty simple to navigate.
R4 Naya Burn 2-0 Much better burn player. He got stuck on 1 land for too long. I stabilized at 8 life (plenty) with a huge board. G2 a bunch of spreading seas showed up. i hit both his sacred foundrys and he had no more white sources to fetch for. Ended the game with a Path and 2 Boros Charms stuck in his hand.
R5 Counters Company 2-1 (my friend, he refused to draw with me because he knew the matchup and the store is very lopsided with their prize payouts. playing it out pretty much guaranteed one of us (him) would get the first-place-after-swiss purse of $300 but i beat him and got to brag about it) He took G1, i stole G2 on a misplay from him. He tapped out for a chord to grab the vizier but used all his land instead of tapping his last creature, when i sacrificed my cursecatcher he had to untap his devoted druid to pay for it and i gut shotted it to death in response.) G3 top decked a gut shot for his bird and slammed lords faster than he could combo.
R6 Draw (UW Control)
1st after Swiss won me $300
T8
QF: EldraziTron 0-2 The wheels fell off... I was running hot all day and then the extreme end of variance showed up to bring me back to earth. My draws were almost statistically impossible. I have never seen anything like it. G1 Mull to 4 without seeing a single land in any hand. Keep a 4 card no-lander, scry to bottom, 4 turns pass and draw 0 lands. Scoop in response to Thought-Knot Seer. Go to game 2 without my opponent having seen a single card. G2 Mull to 5 without seeing a single land. Keep a 5 card no-lander. scry a cavern to the top. Play cavern cursecatcher and that was the only spell i cast in the entire top 8...
I saw 1 land out of 45+ cards...
List
4 Harbinger of the Tides
1 Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
4 Lord of Atlantis
4 Master of the Pearl Trident
4 Master of Waves
4 Merrow Reejerey
4 Silvergill Adept
1 Echoing Truth
4 Aether Vial
2 Dismember
4 Spreading Seas
9 Island
1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge
4 Mutavault
1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds
3 Wanderwine Hub
2 Ceremonious Rejection
2 Dispel
1 Echoing Truth
3 Gut Shot
1 Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
3 Relic of Progenitus
3 Unified Will
U Merfolk U
WUBRGPeopleGRBUW
U Turbo Turns U
UB Fae BU
WBG Aristocrats GBW