So I decided to build a Meren deck because I love green in MTG, but I didn't want to do the traditional Green Stompy deck and while I plan on making a much more aggrissive Green/Blue deck with Rashmi Eternities crafter at the helm that will have to wait because I forsee that one being upwards of $500 to build...Anyway the way this deck is supposed to function is to explode early on with mana ramp (its green duh) and get Meren out by turn 3 or 4 with creatures that either sacrifice themselves (such as sakura tribe elder) or cards that function as sac outlets (such as Viscera Seer0 as to start building my experience counters and accrue as much value as possible. Once the mid-game begins the strategy is to start drawing/tutoring and basically set up as many many ways to drain the enemy of life and keep their field clear of creatures through cards like Dictate of Erobos, Grave Pact, and Shouldred while at the same time keeping my field up with a few attacking threats (such as Grave Titan) and as much sac fodder as possible in order to quickly push things into the late game with cards like Blood Artist and Zulaport Cutthroat draining the life out of my enemies as quickly as possible to finish up the game. The deck focuses heavely on ETB triggers and Sacrifice mechanics to capitolize on Meren's abilities and it is highly unlikely that I will be finishing the game out by attacking enemies, though the option is there more or less should the oportunity present its self.
I should also note that I have this deck listed under Casual because I only play casually and I don't see this deck winning on turn 4 or 5 like most competitive EDH decks, I would probably list this decks "power level" on a scale of 1-10 as being between a 7 and an 8.
I'm also well aware that leyline of the void completely shuts this deck down until it is removed and even then it severly cripples the deck unless it is removed quickly and early, as well as how crippling cards such as bojuka bog, tormod's crypt, ground seal, etc...are to this deck, but since bojuka bog is the most common of these and not a card I see a lot of play with at my locals or play group I'm not particularly worried about them.
As a final cavat I would like to note that anything in the sideboard section are cards that I considered adding into the main deck or had originally put in the main deck but then later removed, but are still under consideration (before I order the cards I need to fully build the deck) to be added to the deck should suffecient reason be given along with what they would replace. Keep in mind that if you want to suggest cards that's perfectly fine and I would love the input and constructive critisism, however I refuse to spend more than $30 on a single card at the moment with a few exceptions and any cards listed that exceed that amount I am already in possession of in most cases (such as doubling season) so please don't suggest adding demonic tutor and vampiric tutor. I'm well aware of how insainly good those cards are, but at the same time they are very much outside my price range at the moment. Typically my limit is $20-$25 on a single card with few exceptions, but this deck is an exception to that rule anyway. I'm also aware that this is probably the most un-original build for a Meren deck, but bear with me, I don't often use this play style and for somereason I'm drawn towards very grindy decks...probably because aggro decks always get shut down so quickly when I play them and then I feel bad for the rest of the game if I can't even kill one person x3
I should also note that I have this deck listed under Casual because I only play casually and I don't see this deck winning on turn 4 or 5 like most competitive EDH decks, I would probably list this decks "power level" on a scale of 1-10 as being between a 7 and an 8.
I'm also well aware that leyline of the void completely shuts this deck down until it is removed and even then it severly cripples the deck unless it is removed quickly and early, as well as how crippling cards such as bojuka bog, tormod's crypt, ground seal, etc...are to this deck, but since bojuka bog is the most common of these and not a card I see a lot of play with at my locals or play group I'm not particularly worried about them.
As a final cavat I would like to note that anything in the sideboard section are cards that I considered adding into the main deck or had originally put in the main deck but then later removed, but are still under consideration (before I order the cards I need to fully build the deck) to be added to the deck should suffecient reason be given along with what they would replace. Keep in mind that if you want to suggest cards that's perfectly fine and I would love the input and constructive critisism, however I refuse to spend more than $30 on a single card at the moment with a few exceptions and any cards listed that exceed that amount I am already in possession of in most cases (such as doubling season) so please don't suggest adding demonic tutor and vampiric tutor. I'm well aware of how insainly good those cards are, but at the same time they are very much outside my price range at the moment. Typically my limit is $20-$25 on a single card with few exceptions, but this deck is an exception to that rule anyway. I'm also aware that this is probably the most un-original build for a Meren deck, but bear with me, I don't often use this play style and for somereason I'm drawn towards very grindy decks...probably because aggro decks always get shut down so quickly when I play them and then I feel bad for the rest of the game if I can't even kill one person x3
Commander
1 Meren of Clan Nel Toth
Creature
1 Birds of Paradise
1 Blood Artist
1 Wall of Blossoms
1 Viscera Seer
1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
1 Zulaport Cutthroat
1 Elvish Visionary
1 Llanowar Elves
1 Crypt Ghast
1 Disciple of Bolas
1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
1 Catacomb Sifter
1 Yahenni, Undying Partisan
1 Pawn of Ulamog
1 Acidic Slime
1 Bane of Progress
1 Eternal Witness
1 Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
1 Reclamation Sage
1 Puppeteer Clique
1 Golgari Findbroker
1 Plaguecrafter
1 Sidisi, Undead Vizier
1 Bontu the Glorified
1 Sepulchral Primordial
1 Kokusho, the Evening Star
1 Avenger of Zendikar
1 Butcher of Malakir
1 Grave Titan
1 Sheoldred, Whispering One
1 Rune-Scarred Demon
Enchantment
1 Grave Pact
1 Sylvan Library
1 Dictate of Erebos
1 Growing Rites of Itlimoc
1 Phyrexian Arena
1 Awakening Zone
1 Doubling Season
Land
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Temple of Malady
1 Llanowar Wastes
10 Swamp
10 Forest
1 Command Tower
1 Evolving Wilds
1 Golgari Rot Farm
1 Grim Backwoods
1 High Market
1 Terramorphic Expanse
1 Homeward Path
1 Woodland Cemetery
1 Reliquary Tower
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Dryad Arbor
1 Birthing Pod
1 Ashnod's Altar
1 Panharmonicon
1 Commander's Sphere
1 Darksteel Ingot
1 Sol Ring
1 Solemn Simulacrum
1 Noxious Gearhulk
Instant
1 Heroic Intervention
1 Vraska's Contempt
1 Krosan Grip
1 Vona's Hunger
Sorcery
1 Jarad's Orders
1 Life's Legacy
1 Black Sun's Zenith
1 Dark Petition
1 Toxic Deluge
1 Green Sun's Zenith
1 Torment of Hailfire
1 Kodama's Reach
1 Decree of Pain
1 Read the Bones
1 Syphon Mind
1 Rampant Growth
1 Cultivate
1 Diabolic Intent
1 Skyshroud Claim
1 Magus of the Library
1 Marsh Flitter
1 Disciple of Griselbrand
1 Fierce Empath
1 Priest of Gix
1 Hornet Queen
1 Haunted Dead
1 Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest
1 Jadelight Ranger
1 Ravenous Chupacabra
1 Thallid Soothsayer
1 Seedborn Muse
1 Poison-Tip Archer
1 Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet
1 Cairn Wanderer
1 Magus of the Mirror
1 Magus of the Coffers
1 Sifter of Skulls
1 Regal Force
1 Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger
1 Hydra Omnivore
1 Terastodon
1 Nylea, God of the Hunt
1 Carnage Altar
1 Worldly Tutor
1 Tragic Slip
1 Windgrace's Judgement
1 Increasing Ambition
1 Rise of the Dark Realms
1 In Garruk's Wake
1 Victimize