Actually, all he has to run is something like Nissa, Steward of Elements and the deck is set for having an outlet. If the deck could afford Torment of Hailfire that would be another option. Kind of funny that vampires got the knock off card draw creature and not merfolk.
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1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Well, after looking at it Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca is probably a necessity in merfolk as it does everything that the deck needs it to do. By turn 3 their likely is already two other merfolk in play so you just hold and at the end of the opponents turn, use the second ability to get an extra card off him. His third ability is more like gravy as I don't think it will go off that often compared to a one or two of Hadana's Climb.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
I've been goldfishing this for a bit and Jade Bearer is just awkward. You never want to target her for a +1/+1 and she's just bad on turn one. I'd rather have a repeating +1/+1 counter in the mimic, which is what I've swapped out for. This is the plan for the first week.
Took your post into consideration and redid my list. I think you are right on the spot with wanting to run lower to the ground, but I still like Hadana's Climb far too much to want to discard it. The ability to just win out of no where with it makes it worth the two slots it takes in the deck.
Also, you may want the Silent Gravestone in the sideboard, because it will stop Gift decks and shut down The Scarab God abusing eternalize, along with just about all the graveyard strategies currently running around.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Honestly, I think someone could go with Nissa or Kumena. Both can help fuel the board and the later can potentially break a stalemate in the mirror. Nissa is good Vs creature removal, though. If someone goes all in on lords it is probably a good plan to use pioneers and the four drop enchantment. There is just a lot of ways to build the deck.
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1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Two different builds can be done with merfolk, and it's important not to build something in-between that would be worse than an all-in strategy.
That's a great point, including the stuff I clipped out to make your quote shorter. Is the Climb build still an aggro build, or does it focus on midrange/tempo? I worry that the including Climb will slow down an aggro build so making room for some counter spells might be a good idea.
Yep, for sure. It's important to keep the threat alive by all means.
I think the deck must build as many cretaures with counters on them so spot removals don't break the Climb plan too easily. Creatures don't need to generate value, they just need to carry wings properly.
From my Sultai build two pages back, I'd just cut the Constrictors & Mistbinders, and add more merfolks & protection spells :
Of course, 4 Climbs are suspicious but I doubt we can win without it. That's why Hashep Oasis can be necessary too. Because of those cards, I don't see going under 20 lands easily.
Jade Bearer is also suspicious, maybe cute, but it's the most all-in version of the idea I can think of, besides an Explore package with Wildgrowth Walker and/or Enter the Unknown.
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Pioneer - A bunch of stuff Modern - Humans Legacy - Grixis Phoenix / Death & Taxes
Also, you may want the Silent Gravestone in the sideboard, because it will stop Gift decks and shut down The Scarab God abusing eternalize, along with just about all the graveyard strategies currently running around.
Sadly, the Gift doesn't target, so the Gravestone is not useful against it (or at least, is only good to exile the gy, but is an expensive ability and ther are better options).
I'm looking to build this deck and I have all the cards needed from Ixalan and before, but as I only play MTGO these days, I can't playtest yet...
Gift doesn't target, but you sure as heck can just blow away the graveyard and then it's GL getting things out of exile. I prefer it over crook because it also flat out stops Refurbish, Torrential Gearhulk, The Scarab God, and not to mention stops Cave of Eternity.
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
I'm using a combination of unsummon and essence scatter against things like hazoret. My friends Red White deck on the other hand is just horrible to play against. He has a go-wide version of ramunap red that uses the new enchantment and it wrecks early drops. Also thought Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca would be tough to kill for red, but when someone is running enough tokens they don't care if they lose one to 2 damage, that instant flame slash is brutal.
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
kumena is the best card in the deck. If you do draw it or play it the deck just runs out of steam and does not get there
there are so many 2 drops that are good in merfolk. I’m currently playing deeproot elite, branchwalker, and adept. Mimic is the odd man out because it’s the worst of the rest.
mist-cloak herald is really good. Unblockable is a huge beating and gives this deck a lot of reach. My build has 8 unblockables. A lot of you guys are trying hadnana’s climb. I feel it is unnecessary. Hashep oasis can give the necessary reach. And blossoming defense
I might be wrong but the counterspells and unsummon is not where we wanna be. I’m using blossoming defense, swift warden, and pounce as my interactions.
swift warden is underated. It might be the best trick. 3/3 flash really stops falter effects. It stones most red cards out of nowhere. Can pum other cards with elite in play.
UU might be too hard on mana and Nissa might replace the kumena enchantment.
This deck is a bit slow the first three turns, but then explodes by turn 4. It tries to take advantage of Deeproot Waters to spit out tons of tokens with Mimic and Elite to put counters onto everything (and some help from Jader Bearer). It's possible to get over 15 power on the board by turn 4, and even 20. Of course putting a bunch of creatures out by that time means nothing if I can't just swing past blockers, which Caller is there to finish games as the "islandwalk". It was originally Herald of Secret Streams but there's a chance that Herald will just eat a removal and your fish just lose their unblockability.
The deck should have a pretty even match up with Energy, but it might lose to control and mono red game one, but it should be better post board. If energy tries to focus too much on building their board, our board beats theirs.
While I think RR matchup is quite positive for Merfolk energy has easy access to the right answers too often. Some sort of tempo is necessary to keep ahead. Too often Energy just takes the best guy and turns the corner before the fish can finish them off.
Is there room for Revolutionary Rebuff in the deck to kind of close the game out on turn four or five. the decks biggest enemy seems to be the opponent stabilizing with a The Scarab Gob ,Hazoret the fervent,GloryBringer and or a sweeper. the blossoming defense is better than Spell Pierce. Unsummon might be better in this format if sweepers are not a thing pre board and were worried more about GloryBringer and other five drop creatures. I remember liking having a counter spell package in Mardu vehicles should this deck keep the counter spells in the side or main deck dose anyone have any opinion on what's better.
Seems like room has to be made. Maybe 2 packages, one for spot removal problems with Blossom and a sideboard switch out with counter spells. Seems Negate would be good enough... it's rough going since you need so many different fish at the same time.
kumena is the best card in the deck. If you do draw it or play it the deck just runs out of steam and does not get there
there are so many 2 drops that are good in merfolk. I’m currently playing deeproot elite, branchwalker, and adept. Mimic is the odd man out because it’s the worst of the rest.
mist-cloak herald is really good. Unblockable is a huge beating and gives this deck a lot of reach. My build has 8 unblockables. A lot of you guys are trying hadnana’s climb. I feel it is unnecessary. Hashep oasis can give the necessary reach. And blossoming defense
I might be wrong but the counterspells and unsummon is not where we wanna be. I’m using blossoming defense, swift warden, and pounce as my interactions.
swift warden is underated. It might be the best trick. 3/3 flash really stops falter effects. It stones most red cards out of nowhere. Can pum other cards with elite in play.
UU might be too hard on mana and Nissa might replace the kumena enchantment.
sideboard needs work
- Kumena seems fantastic so far, but I am not sure about running 4. Yesterday I killed a Ghalta, Primal Hunter on turn six by blocking with merfolk because of Kumena.
- Deeproot Elite seems better because of the unblockable critters you have.
- Hashep Oasis I am undecided on, a lot of time I seem to be short on green mana to do everything I want plus sac the Oasis.
- Are you using the combo of Pounce and B. Defense at the same time?
- Don't snooze on Jade Bearer, I might like it more than Kumena's Speaker, it works nice to pump the unblockable critters.
In theory pounce was to stop whirler. However in practice it just was not where the deck wanted to be. Switched out for unsummon. Unsummon is meh at best. It is miserable against energy. Which is the big bad wolf of the format. It needs a replacement.
i think I’ll try to replace unsummon with jade bearer
crushing canopy is for angel,Vance,glorybringer. Not sure if it demands even a sideboard spot.
hashep oasis really is to help get extra value from the extra lands the deck tends to draw. It gives a little reach with unblockablity. It helps get rid of planes walkers. It can give opponents combat math issues.
don’t know if 4 kumena is right but I know one thing. Every match kumena is involved in I have a great chance of winning. Even the miserable double kumena hand. The extra card draw makes it worth it.
I have made a few adjustments to the deck. I added four Mist-cloacked Herald. I do believe we have to have 8 one drops to keep a healthy curve and stay aggressive. I think Jade Bearer is too weak to consider even with the synergies with +1/+1 counters. I think Hadana's Climb gives the deck needed reach and I do not think people will be expecting it the first couple weeks. I put all of the interaction cards in the sideboard because each card is good against certain decks while being weak to others. Lastly, I left the land count at 23. I am nervous to go below that even with our lower curve.
I think Climb will be expected, it's one of the most powerful effect in the format, but people won't necessarily have a good plan for it, so week 1 is definitely the time to take advantage of it !
I personnally went up to 4 copies in any list I play it, because it's simply the best thing one can in a counters deck. Not sure Merfolk is the best shell for it if there's too few +1/+1 counters synergies though.
The card should flip the turn it's played, otherwise, Cast Out effects can deal with it and removal can deal with the creature you start putting counters on. Also when you tap out to cast the card, flipping it means you suddenly have one mana open to protect your threats with Defense / Pierce.
I agree that Jade Bearer isn't so great, too low impact overall.
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Pioneer - A bunch of stuff Modern - Humans Legacy - Grixis Phoenix / Death & Taxes
I've been goldfishing this for a bit and Jade Bearer is just awkward. You never want to target her for a +1/+1 and she's just bad on turn one. I'd rather have a repeating +1/+1 counter in the mimic, which is what I've swapped out for. This is the plan for the first week.
Open into Wonder in the sideboard looks really interesting. River's Rebuke is rather pricey for a board wipe, though. Hitting 6 mana in a typical game of fish would definitely have to be a long running game. He's probably running the Crashing Tide to help avoid running out of gas during mid-game since he may not have Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca out at that point. Also, by the time Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca gets out, usually there's an elite already up or another lord and it doesn't take much time to get him buffed enough to block even Hazoret, the Fervent. I know in my attempts to work with vampires I ended up using Baffling End to eliminate key pieces on their board because burn and other removal is too unreliable or come down too late. Even if they remove it, they get a 3/3 dinosaur with no synergy with the deck, which is still better than a stacked Merfolk Branchwalker or possibly a super saijin Kumena who has been eating his wheaties and is now at 8 toughness.
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Edit:
Deck I threw together real fast...
4 Botanical Sanctum
6 Forest
4 Hashep Oasis
4 Island
4 Unclaimed Territory
Enchantments
2 Hadana's Climb
Instants
4 Blossoming Defense
2 Negate
3 Unsummon
4 Deeproot Elite
4 Jade Bearer
3 Jungleborn Pioneer
2 Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca
4 Merfolk Branchwalker
4 Merfolk Mistbinder
2 Metallic Mimic
4 Silvergill Adept
3 Essence Scatter
2 Kopala, Warden of Waves
2 Naturalize
1 Negate
4 Silent Gravestone
2 Spell Pierce
1 Unsummon
I really want a third Kumena, but I'm not sure what to pull out of this to make room.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
4 Kumena's Speaker
4 Mist-Cloaked Herald
4 Metallic Mimic
4 Merfolk Mistbinder
2 Merfolk Branchwalker
4 Silvergill Adept
4 Deeproot Elite
3 Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca
3 Nissa, Steward of Elements
4 Unsummon
4 Blossoming Defense
Lands
4 Unclaimed Territory
4 Botanical Sanctum
2 Woodland Stream
6 Forest
4 Island
3 Heroic Intervention
4 Tempest Caller
2 Negate
3 Shapers' Sanctuary
3 Swift Warden
4 Botanical Sanctum
6 Forest
4 Hashep Oasis
4 Island
4 Unclaimed Territory
Enchantments
2 Hadana's Climb
Instants
4 Blossoming Defense
2 Negate
3 Unsummon
4 Deeproot Elite
4 Jade Bearer
4 Mist-Cloaked Herald
3 Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca
4 Merfolk Branchwalker
4 Merfolk Mistbinder
4 Silvergill Adept
3 Essence Scatter
2 Kopala, Warden of Waves
2 Naturalize
1 Negate
4 Silent Gravestone
2 Shapers' Sanctuary
1 Unsummon
Also, you may want the Silent Gravestone in the sideboard, because it will stop Gift decks and shut down The Scarab God abusing eternalize, along with just about all the graveyard strategies currently running around.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Obvious good Merfolks might not be as good as "worse ones in a vacuum" if we build around Climb.
Unsummon is also an important one in that kind of build in order to get rid of a Whirler Virtuoso's token when we attack in the air for lethal.
Two different builds can be done with merfolk, and it's important not to build something in-between that would be worse than an all-in strategy.
That's a great point, including the stuff I clipped out to make your quote shorter. Is the Climb build still an aggro build, or does it focus on midrange/tempo? I worry that the including Climb will slow down an aggro build so making room for some counter spells might be a good idea.
I think the deck must build as many cretaures with counters on them so spot removals don't break the Climb plan too easily. Creatures don't need to generate value, they just need to carry wings properly.
From my Sultai build two pages back, I'd just cut the Constrictors & Mistbinders, and add more merfolks & protection spells :
4 Jade Bearer
4 Merfolk Branchwalker
4 Deeproot Elite
4 Metallic Mimic
4 Jadelight Ranger
4 Vineshaper Mystic
4 Blossoming Defense
4 Hadana's Climb
4 Hashep Oasis
4 Botanical Sanctum
4 Unclaimed Territory
6 Island
2 Forest
Of course, 4 Climbs are suspicious but I doubt we can win without it. That's why Hashep Oasis can be necessary too. Because of those cards, I don't see going under 20 lands easily.
Jade Bearer is also suspicious, maybe cute, but it's the most all-in version of the idea I can think of, besides an Explore package with Wildgrowth Walker and/or Enter the Unknown.
Gift doesn't target, but you sure as heck can just blow away the graveyard and then it's GL getting things out of exile. I prefer it over crook because it also flat out stops Refurbish, Torrential Gearhulk, The Scarab God, and not to mention stops Cave of Eternity.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
2 Kopala, Warden of Waves
4 Merfolk Branchwalker
1 Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca
1 Jadelight Ranger
4 Silvergill Adept
4 Merfolk Mistbinder
2 Metallic Mimic
4 Mist-Cloaked Herald
2 Herald of Secret Streams
1 Swift Warden
4 Jade Bearer
2 Hadana's Climb
Instant
3 Blossoming Defense
2 Negate
Land
7 Forest
6 Island
4 Botanical Sanctum
4 Unclaimed Territory
2 Chart a Course
1 River's Rebuke
Testing with this at the moment. I found that without early unblockable, racing red is not great and then Hazoret hits.
The 'do things' merfolk give cards for gas and can block to keep you ahead, I like splitting up the sources of counters and unblockable.
It'd be nice if UG could compete!
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/decks/571-rivals-merfolk
My current thoughts are.
3 Tempest Caller
3 Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca
4 Deeproot Elite
4 Silvergill Adept
4 Merfolk Mistbinder
2 Mist-Cloaked Herald
4 Kumena’s Speaker
4 Jade Bearer
4 Metallic Mimic
3 Deeproot Waters
2 Blossoming Defense
Lands
7 Forest
5 Island
1 Hashep Oasis
4 Unclaimed Territory
2 Woodland Stream
4 Botanical Sanctum
2 Essence Scatter
4 Negate
2 Watertrap Weaver
2 Naturalize
2 Nissa, Steward of Elements
3 Swift Warden
This deck is a bit slow the first three turns, but then explodes by turn 4. It tries to take advantage of Deeproot Waters to spit out tons of tokens with Mimic and Elite to put counters onto everything (and some help from Jader Bearer). It's possible to get over 15 power on the board by turn 4, and even 20. Of course putting a bunch of creatures out by that time means nothing if I can't just swing past blockers, which Caller is there to finish games as the "islandwalk". It was originally Herald of Secret Streams but there's a chance that Herald will just eat a removal and your fish just lose their unblockability.
The deck should have a pretty even match up with Energy, but it might lose to control and mono red game one, but it should be better post board. If energy tries to focus too much on building their board, our board beats theirs.
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
2 Kopala, Warden of Waves
2 Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca
4 Silvergill Adept
4 Merfolk Mistbinder
3 Metallic Mimic
4 Mist-Cloaked Herald
4 Jade Bearer
3 Deeproot Elite
1 Herald of Secret Streams
1 Seafloor Oracle
2 Hadana's Climb
Instant
3 Blossoming Defense
Land
7 Forest
6 Island
4 Botanical Sanctum
4 Unclaimed Territory
1 River's Rebuke
3 Chart a Course
2 Crashing Tide
This feels pretty good but Glorybringer and Confiscation are problems
- Kumena seems fantastic so far, but I am not sure about running 4. Yesterday I killed a Ghalta, Primal Hunter on turn six by blocking with merfolk because of Kumena.
- Deeproot Elite seems better because of the unblockable critters you have.
- Hashep Oasis I am undecided on, a lot of time I seem to be short on green mana to do everything I want plus sac the Oasis.
- Are you using the combo of Pounce and B. Defense at the same time?
- Don't snooze on Jade Bearer, I might like it more than Kumena's Speaker, it works nice to pump the unblockable critters.
- What are you using Crushing Canopy for in the SB?
- Another dual land (that doesn't come into play tapped) would be amazing for this deck.
4 Kumena's Speaker
3 Deeproot Elite
4 Mist-Cloacked Herald
4 Merfolk Branchwalker
4 Silvergill Adept
3 Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca
4 Merfolk Mistbinder
Enchantment
2 Hadana's Climb
7 Forest
7 Island
4 Botanical Sanctum
1 Hashep Oasis
4 Unclaimed Territory
Artifact
3 Metallic Mimic
Instant
3 Blossoming Defense
Planeswalker
3 Nissa, Steward of Elements
2 Deeproot Waters
2 Aethersphere Harvester
3 Essence Scatter
3 Negate
2 Unsummon
3 Naturalize
I have made a few adjustments to the deck. I added four Mist-cloacked Herald. I do believe we have to have 8 one drops to keep a healthy curve and stay aggressive. I think Jade Bearer is too weak to consider even with the synergies with +1/+1 counters. I think Hadana's Climb gives the deck needed reach and I do not think people will be expecting it the first couple weeks. I put all of the interaction cards in the sideboard because each card is good against certain decks while being weak to others. Lastly, I left the land count at 23. I am nervous to go below that even with our lower curve.
I personnally went up to 4 copies in any list I play it, because it's simply the best thing one can in a counters deck. Not sure Merfolk is the best shell for it if there's too few +1/+1 counters synergies though.
The card should flip the turn it's played, otherwise, Cast Out effects can deal with it and removal can deal with the creature you start putting counters on. Also when you tap out to cast the card, flipping it means you suddenly have one mana open to protect your threats with Defense / Pierce.
I agree that Jade Bearer isn't so great, too low impact overall.
4 Kumena's Speaker
4 Mist-Cloaked Herald
4 Metallic Mimic
4 Merfolk Mistbinder
2 Merfolk Branchwalker
4 Silvergill Adept
4 Deeproot Elite
3 Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca
3 Nissa, Steward of Elements
4 Unsummon
4 Blossoming Defense
Lands
4 Unclaimed Territory
4 Botanical Sanctum
2 Woodland Stream
6 Forest
4 Island
3 Heroic Intervention
4 Tempest Caller
2 Negate
3 Shapers' Sanctuary
3 Swift Warden
https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/standard-ug-44917
Notable inclusions are: Crashing Tide (is a tribal Repulse really worth it ?), Tempest Caller, Jungleborn Pioneer and Jade Bearer.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!