Twin and Amulet getting banned is incredibly bad for Merfolk - incredibly bad - this cannot be overstated. Twin was a great matchup and Bloom with 4 TB Mage was a positive matchup in my experience.
What's a lot worse though is that Affinity is sure to rocket to 15% of the meta or more. This is so, so bad for Merfolk..f**k wizards.
Twin wasnt even oppressive - sure it won some GPs etc - but so has BGx and Affinity - why the f**k is Liliana and Cranial plating still unbanned if Twin is banned - just plain silly and inconsistent from wizards..
We have to see how it shakes out, honestly. All of those ex-Twin players are going somewhere. We can't discount the possibility of Blue Moon arising anew to combat Eldrazi and Tron, and we'd be well-positioned against that type of deck. If that happens and it can keep Affinity more or less in check (remember, that deck doesn't have to make room for Twin, so it can run more sweepers), I think we'll be all right.
Id say if Twin players jump ship to another U based deck that it will be more likely a Grixis build - likely Delver as Delver has good game against both Affinity and Tron (seems like a good choice against Eldrazi as well).
Twin players are more likely to be out-and-out spikes when you think about it - so they may just go buy Affinity..argh..
I don't think Grixis is as well positioned as Blue Moon would be, to be honest - pretty much every Grixis deck I can think of gets eaten alive by the Eldrazi, and BGX and Tron are no picnic even when they win. Blue Moon buries all of those archetypes by hitting them where it hurts: the manabase. It also has access to enough sweepers to fend off Zoo and Affinity. And best of all, it's weak to us. Really rooting for that deck to fill the URX Twin void.
True statement. What is infuriating is my deck is all basics with mutavault and I cant afford the nonbasics so I feel screwed as Im for sure mono blue and cant change my manabase
I wouldn't switch off mono-U, to be honest. Whatever marginal gains we'd make against Affinity would be undone by decreased consistency against the field and increased susceptibility to all of the land hate that's going to be flying around Modern. If you're worried about the robot menace, jam some Hurkyl's Recall and Chalice of the Void into your board and call it a night.
I don't think Grixis is as well positioned as Blue Moon would be, to be honest - pretty much every Grixis deck I can think of gets eaten alive by the Eldrazi, and BGX and Tron are no picnic even when they win. Blue Moon buries all of those archetypes by hitting them where it hurts: the manabase. It also has access to enough sweepers to fend off Zoo and Affinity. And best of all, it's weak to us. Really rooting for that deck to fill the URX Twin void.
Delver decks are fast - I dont think that they are bad against Eldrazi and Tron at all - you can sb moons as well - or even maindeck them if you go UR (with stormchaser mage). Blue Moon can sure turn lands into mountains - but it has so little pressure that Tron will eventually get to cast what they need to cast - same with eldrazi - especially the new eldrazi Thought Not Seer and reality smasher which are at a much lower cmc..
If I recall correctly, Blue Moon employs both Blood Moon and Spreading Seas. If you combine those, you can outright take your opponents out of the game, especially the Eldrazi (because that deck usually runs few to no fetches and basics). Both the creatures that you mentioned require C, which a Moon + Seas combo would keep them off of indefinitely (no one runs Wastes). Sure, they could eventually cast an Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger, but something like Keranos, God of Storms or Vendilion Clique with Snapcaster Mage backup should have closed out the game by then.
Regarding Delver... it may do well against Tron, but its natural predator is midrange decks like Eldrazi and BGX. Tempo always struggles against removal-heavy decks (much more so than we do) and it has a greedy (read: soft to Burn) manabase, so I don't see it getting off the ground.
We're going to be fine. I'm still going to try to dodge Affinity, for now. Our deck will probably change because Harbinger is way less needed in the main. Tidebinder is likely to return. Vapor Snag might also have the edge on Dismember now. As time goes on we'll see.
I'm super surprised Twin got banned, I was expecting a piece of Bloom Titan to get banned...but Twin really?
I agree with Nikachu on Harbinger, I could easily see a 2/2 split between it and Tidebinder now since Harbinger was mostly our trump for Twin. Sure it still has some play against affinity if they dont have the mana to reattach at instant speed but it wont be as important.
Man I am so glad I decided to hold off buying the two Spellskites I wanted for the deck.
I've only started playing this deck in November and I ended the last round tonight against Twin and winning, finishing my record against the deck 8-1 overall. I'm going to miss playing against it.
Considering my store had tons of Twin players, many were talking about what they were switching to. One was going to burn, one to Lantern Control, everyone else seem to be sticking to some sort of Grixis. It should be interesting to see what happens.
Hi Bor85. It's always great to see people thinking outside of the bos, but IMO Mutavault is an untouchable. The synergies it provides is what gives the deck it's power. +1/+1 for every Lord of Atlantis, Master of the Pearl Trident, Merrow Reejery, and Master of Waves.
Yep, Image has potential now.
It can copy their Wurmcoil and then our Wurmcoil has "protection" against their Wurmcoil, Karn, Ugin, Ulamog, Oblivion Stone and Kozilek's Return.
It can be our flyer when they have Vault Skirge or blocker for Etched Champion.
Those are only examples against what are probably 2 most played decks.
If Mishra's Workshop and Ancient Tomb remain legal, Image can be Matter Reshaper, Thought-Knot Seer, Reality Smasher, Oblivion Sower (no shortage of fun against this deck)...
Before the ban announcement, I had already been experimenting with Ghost Quarters in the main. Now, even more, I believe they could very well be staple. Linear decks are going to rise like the freaking sun. Ghost Quarter allows us hit linear strategies pretty hard while still being able to create a powerful board state. Our deck also appears to be shifting further towards our legacy counterpart. Chalice of the Void is looking much better at first glance, and may end up being a staple in our 75 (perhaps even main).
I believe our future for the deck is going to be pretty interesting. I wouldn't say it's a bad thing, though. We are the best blue deck in the format now! So, at least there's that!
Yep, Image has potential now.
It can copy their Wurmcoil and then our Wurmcoil has "protection" against their Wurmcoil, Karn, Ugin, Ulamog, Oblivion Stone and Kozilek's Return.
It can be our flyer when they have Vault Skirge or blocker for Etched Champion.
Those are only examples against what are probably 2 most played decks.
If Mishra's Workshop and Ancient Tomb remain legal, Image can be Matter Reshaper, Thought-Knot Seer, Reality Smasher, Oblivion Sower (no shortage of fun against this deck)...
In any case, changes are coming.
You must be thinking of Vintage Merfolk?? Mishra's Workshop and Ancient Tomb are not Modern-legal cards...
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Be a lemming hunter. Don't be a lemming. Really, all you had to do was explain to him the popularity metric, not give him the lemming hunter manifesto...
Originally posted by MemoryLapse and DotMatrix
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
What's a lot worse though is that Affinity is sure to rocket to 15% of the meta or more. This is so, so bad for Merfolk..f**k wizards.
Twin wasnt even oppressive - sure it won some GPs etc - but so has BGx and Affinity - why the f**k is Liliana and Cranial plating still unbanned if Twin is banned - just plain silly and inconsistent from wizards..
Bant Eldrazi
UW Control
U Merfolk
Legacy
Merfolk
UR Delver
Time for maindeck Chalice of the Void?
Modern: U M'Olk; B Goodstuff
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
Twin players are more likely to be out-and-out spikes when you think about it - so they may just go buy Affinity..argh..
Bant Eldrazi
UW Control
U Merfolk
Legacy
Merfolk
UR Delver
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:
Delver decks are fast - I dont think that they are bad against Eldrazi and Tron at all - you can sb moons as well - or even maindeck them if you go UR (with stormchaser mage). Blue Moon can sure turn lands into mountains - but it has so little pressure that Tron will eventually get to cast what they need to cast - same with eldrazi - especially the new eldrazi Thought Not Seer and reality smasher which are at a much lower cmc..
Bant Eldrazi
UW Control
U Merfolk
Legacy
Merfolk
UR Delver
Regarding Delver... it may do well against Tron, but its natural predator is midrange decks like Eldrazi and BGX. Tempo always struggles against removal-heavy decks (much more so than we do) and it has a greedy (read: soft to Burn) manabase, so I don't see it getting off the ground.
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
I agree with Nikachu on Harbinger, I could easily see a 2/2 split between it and Tidebinder now since Harbinger was mostly our trump for Twin. Sure it still has some play against affinity if they dont have the mana to reattach at instant speed but it wont be as important.
UMerfolkU
Legacy
UMerfolkU
Commander
RWBAlesha, Who Smiles At DeathRWB
I've only started playing this deck in November and I ended the last round tonight against Twin and winning, finishing my record against the deck 8-1 overall. I'm going to miss playing against it.
Considering my store had tons of Twin players, many were talking about what they were switching to. One was going to burn, one to Lantern Control, everyone else seem to be sticking to some sort of Grixis. It should be interesting to see what happens.
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
It can copy their Wurmcoil and then our Wurmcoil has "protection" against their Wurmcoil, Karn, Ugin, Ulamog, Oblivion Stone and Kozilek's Return.
It can be our flyer when they have Vault Skirge or blocker for Etched Champion.
Those are only examples against what are probably 2 most played decks.
If Mishra's Workshop and Ancient Tomb remain legal, Image can be Matter Reshaper, Thought-Knot Seer, Reality Smasher, Oblivion Sower (no shortage of fun against this deck)...
In any case, changes are coming.
I believe our future for the deck is going to be pretty interesting. I wouldn't say it's a bad thing, though. We are the best blue deck in the format now! So, at least there's that!
You must be thinking of Vintage Merfolk?? Mishra's Workshop and Ancient Tomb are not Modern-legal cards...
Be a lemming hunter. Don't be a lemming.
Really, all you had to do was explain to him the popularity metric, not give him the lemming hunter manifesto...
Originally posted by MemoryLapse and DotMatrix