Like I said, I went to a 2k modern event and mulliganed EVERY match to FIVE at least one game. 18 lands is certainly enough, and it does stop you from a mana flood, but it feels like you can get mana screwed VERY easily.
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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
I've found that at 19 land I choke. I don't know why.
3 Master of Waves always seems too few, but 4 always seems too many.
I didn't have good experiences with Watertrap Weaver the other day, but my draws were abysmal, so I'm not sure I should take anything from that. I'd really rather another decent anti-spell effect at 3-mana.
The card I've decided we really want is Blurry Beeble with the correct creature type. Looter il-Kor and Merfolk Looter exist, so a non-evasive 1/1 merfolk with on-hit looting seems reasonably balanced to me.
Don't say "OK" when someone casts something at the Competitive REL level; they may interpret it as the spell having resolved, and by the time you look through your cards and think about presenting the counterspell, it may be too late. That one is 100% on me.
In other news, I wanted to share my report detailing my experiences with Tropical Fish in Modern. tl;dr is that 16 Lords are amazing, and Branchwalker was deeply disappointing.
Hi everyone, just wanted to share my report on my Top-16 run at the SCG Classic this past weekend. Check it out and let me know what you think!
About your list:
Would you think going 19 lands to get one Echoing Thruth, in the MB (either opening a spot in the SB or leave SB as is) worth it? Thruth never felt like a dead card and got me out of trouble in several Game1s. axing a land for it don't sound too much of a stretch.
About Tropical Fish in modern:
I'm seeing a lot of people try to cram several of the new green folks in their MB. What about splashing just enough green (-1 Oboro,- 1 Minamo, -2 Islands, +4 Sacntum) to replace the Rejerries by the new lord? Curving all lords @ 2 looks interesting, at least on paper.
Merfolk Joe looked at the land count in mono-U long ago, and he concluded 20 lands was optimal, especially if you're on 4 Master of Waves. Nothing has changed on that front.
6 G sources isn't reliable enough to cast Mistbinder on curve. Once you've decided to splash for that, you're all-in on Tropical.
Re: "Relaxed language:" That's exactly what I figured it was. I really wish Wizards would get a bit more strict instead of looser on the rules. IE: "No response" is the only thing that actually means it resolves. Okay is a common language acknowledgement, but not always confirmation.
Re: Land count: I've seen 18-20, but if you're trying to cast MoW on curve you want at least 19, and if you have four of them you want 20. The difference between 19 and 20 is easily observable over multiple games.
Re: Green splash rather than full-blown tropical: you can probably get away with 10 G sources, but not much less than that. And if you want to naturally cast Mistbinder on turn 2, you need 13.
Don't say "OK" when someone casts something at the Competitive REL level; they may interpret it as the spell having resolved, and by the time you look through your cards and think about presenting the counterspell, it may be too late. That one is 100% on me.
In other news, I wanted to share my report detailing my experiences with Tropical Fish in Modern. tl;dr is that 16 Lords are amazing, and Branchwalker was deeply disappointing.
Have you ever toyed with Chart a Course or Lead the Stampede to reload your hand to keep the pressure?
I used AV years ago with some success, but that was before I added Seas and Vials. Seas are relevant because they added a cantrip to the deck that wasn't available during the Lorwyn days, and thus a bit more staying power. Vials are relevant because they are another card that, if not played by turns 1-2, tend to not have much impact on the game. I'm not sure I particularly want to add another card of that type, especially as we have some much better haymakers to seal things up later on (like Master of Waves).
So this is my list I have looked on here a lot and I just made this brew the day of the tournament. I have been brewing with fish for many years and with this fresh brew I was able to 3 -0 -1 a tournament with this list is think it is a viable list and I would lIke your opinion.
The games I had were against elves eldrazi Tron and burn and I feel that that was a good swath of decks to test against and post it here for opinions.
Elves and eldrazi went to game 3 burn did not.
creature
4 cursecatcher
4 master of the pearl trident
4 lord of Atlantis
4 silvergill adept
4 merfolk branchwalker
4 merfolk mistbinder
2 master of waves
instants
2 negate
2 Echoing truth
artifacts
4 aether vial
Enchantments
4 spreading seas
Planeswalker
2 Nissa steward of elements
land
2 islands
1 forest
1 breeding pool
4 botanical sanctum
4 cavern of souls
4 Mutavault
4 misty rainforest
Kopala question. If opponent cast removal and then I vial in Kopala would opponents spell A.resolve just the same B.give them an opportunity to pay the extra cost C. Become illegal? Thanks.
To my understanding, the Kopala will resolve first, then then spell will check if the extra two was cast...it was not, so the spell fizzles. The casing player can't "pay" two more mana. It's too late.
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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
No, since the cost is already paid when he casts the spell. Kopala does nothing in that case. Just like vialing in Thalia does not counter spells unless they pay 1 more.
Hi, it's the first time i post and i don't have a good english, so be gentle.
I'm preparing for GP toronto this weekend and I whant your opinion on my list:
U/G merfolk:
Creature: (28)
4x Cursecatcher
4x Kumena's Speaker
4x Silvergill adept
4x Lord of Atlantis
4x Master of the Pearl Trident
4x Merfolk Mistbinder
2x Kumena, Tyran of Ozcara
2x Kira, Great glass-spinner
Instant: (5)
3x Vapor Snag
2x Echoing Truthà
Artefact: (4)
4x Aether Vial
Enchantment: (4)
4x spreading Seas
Lands: (19)
4x Misty Rainforest
4x Breeding Pool
4x Cavern of sool
1x Minamo
1x Oboro
5x Island
Sideboard:
3x spell Pierce
3x Natural State
3x Hurkyl Recall
2x Graftdigger's Cage
4x Relic of Progenitus
I don't think Kumena or Kira is better than Reejerey for Tropical Fish. I'd jam that instead. And I can't advise running a list without Harbinger - Snag and E-Truth simply are not better cards than a bounce effect that is also a body. No Mutavaults is not something I'd advise, either - Tropical can't run as many as mono-U, but I'd never run fewer than 2. Your sideboard is also a bit light on countermagic for my taste; I'm not a fan of Spell Pierce in postboard games, and you don't have any Dispel. I think Cage in addition to Relic is unnecessary, and Recall is just too narrow.
—Radha, Keldon warlord
3 Master of Waves always seems too few, but 4 always seems too many.
I didn't have good experiences with Watertrap Weaver the other day, but my draws were abysmal, so I'm not sure I should take anything from that. I'd really rather another decent anti-spell effect at 3-mana.
The card I've decided we really want is Blurry Beeble with the correct creature type. Looter il-Kor and Merfolk Looter exist, so a non-evasive 1/1 merfolk with on-hit looting seems reasonably balanced to me.
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:
What happened in the last game? What did you mean by "relaxed language"?
In other news, I wanted to share my report detailing my experiences with Tropical Fish in Modern. tl;dr is that 16 Lords are amazing, and Branchwalker was deeply disappointing.
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
About your list:
Would you think going 19 lands to get one Echoing Thruth, in the MB (either opening a spot in the SB or leave SB as is) worth it? Thruth never felt like a dead card and got me out of trouble in several Game1s. axing a land for it don't sound too much of a stretch.
About Tropical Fish in modern:
I'm seeing a lot of people try to cram several of the new green folks in their MB. What about splashing just enough green (-1 Oboro,- 1 Minamo, -2 Islands, +4 Sacntum) to replace the Rejerries by the new lord? Curving all lords @ 2 looks interesting, at least on paper.
6 G sources isn't reliable enough to cast Mistbinder on curve. Once you've decided to splash for that, you're all-in on Tropical.
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
Re: Land count: I've seen 18-20, but if you're trying to cast MoW on curve you want at least 19, and if you have four of them you want 20. The difference between 19 and 20 is easily observable over multiple games.
Re: Green splash rather than full-blown tropical: you can probably get away with 10 G sources, but not much less than that. And if you want to naturally cast Mistbinder on turn 2, you need 13.
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
Have you ever toyed with Chart a Course or Lead the Stampede to reload your hand to keep the pressure?
I've tried Chart and lead, didn't care for either, but did try out Ancestral Vision, which goes off about the perfect time it goes off after 4 turns.
GHardened Steel
WUBRG Slivers
U Merfolk
Legacy
G Hardened Steel
GUWB Counter Slivers
UMerfolk
CG Eldrazi
Commander
WUB Sydri, Galvanic Genius
WUBRGSliver Overlord
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
Creature [30]
4x Cursecatcher
3x Harbinger of the Tides
4x Kumena's Speaker
4x Lord of Atlantis
4x Master of the Pearl Trident
3x Merfolk Mistbinder
3x Merrow Reejerey
4x Silvergill Adept
1x Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
4x Aether Vial
Enchantment [4]
4x Spreading Seas
Instant [3]
3x Vapor Snag
Land [19]
1x Forest
2x Island
4x Botanical Sanctum
2x Breeding Pool
2x Cavern of Souls
4x Misty Rainforest
4x Mutavault
2x Ceremonious Rejection
1x Dispel
3x Hurkyl’s Recall
3x Natural State
2x Negate
3x Spell Pierce
1x Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
This is what I’m running for tropical fish right now.
TappedOut
Would love to have more input to improve!
The games I had were against elves eldrazi Tron and burn and I feel that that was a good swath of decks to test against and post it here for opinions.
Elves and eldrazi went to game 3 burn did not.
creature
4 cursecatcher
4 master of the pearl trident
4 lord of Atlantis
4 silvergill adept
4 merfolk branchwalker
4 merfolk mistbinder
2 master of waves
instants
2 negate
2 Echoing truth
artifacts
4 aether vial
Enchantments
4 spreading seas
Planeswalker
2 Nissa steward of elements
land
2 islands
1 forest
1 breeding pool
4 botanical sanctum
4 cavern of souls
4 Mutavault
4 misty rainforest
sideboard
1 negate
2 pithing needle
2 ceremonious rejection
2 hyrkyl's recall
2 Grafdiggers cage
2 relic of progentsis
2 surgical extraction
2 natural state
—Radha, Keldon warlord
WBC Eldrazi & Taxes CBW
UR Keep on Cantripin' (UR Phoenix) RU
WU Surprise! It's not UW Control! (UW Midrange) UW
BG The Rock, Straight BG
U Mono-Blue Fish U
RBW Mardu Pyromancer BWR
RG Rabble! Rabble! (GR Blood Moon Aggro) GR
Legacy
W Death & Taxes W
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
I'm preparing for GP toronto this weekend and I whant your opinion on my list:
U/G merfolk:
Creature: (28)
4x Cursecatcher
4x Kumena's Speaker
4x Silvergill adept
4x Lord of Atlantis
4x Master of the Pearl Trident
4x Merfolk Mistbinder
2x Kumena, Tyran of Ozcara
2x Kira, Great glass-spinner
Instant: (5)
3x Vapor Snag
2x Echoing Truthà
Artefact: (4)
4x Aether Vial
Enchantment: (4)
4x spreading Seas
Lands: (19)
4x Misty Rainforest
4x Breeding Pool
4x Cavern of sool
1x Minamo
1x Oboro
5x Island
Sideboard:
3x spell Pierce
3x Natural State
3x Hurkyl Recall
2x Graftdigger's Cage
4x Relic of Progenitus
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
Standard:
UR Ral Combo
Modern:
U Merfolk
R Goblins
Commander
RB Grenzo, Dungeon Warden
R Feldon of the Third Path