I'm looking to be really quick out the gates with this build, keeping in Spell Pierce and Vapor Snag for Tempo plays when needed. I was looking heavily at Dismember but I feel that the way this format is going with Tron and Eldrazi gaining popularity that Dismember will become less effective as a late-game draw, whereas Vapor Snag /could/ buy us a turn.
Echoing Truth is replaceable but I'm not sure what else to really put in currently. Remands I may possibly switch to Negate.
Anyway, yeah, please discuss and help me bring the GPT crown home to Atlantis! (:
Your list is really similar to the one I'm currently running (I run 2 Harbinger/2 Image and -1 Island +1 Dismember main deck). I've been a big echoing truth fan for a while, and I might switch out my dismember for it again, especially with Lantern Control being popular in my area (I can bounce multiple artifacts to be able to swing through ensnaring bridge) and being able to bounce multiple creatures against Affinity.
I really love Negate over Remand because there are very few times I need a time walk (remand) and much more often I do not want them to cast something (Karn, Oblivion Stone, Scapeshift, etc). I would also up your Chalice count to 3 to increase the likelihood you draw them.
I play Merfolk in my R deckbox. People who know me don't fall for it, but it throws off the newer faces expecting burn and keeping hands based on that fact.
I'm looking to be really quick out the gates with this build, keeping in Spell Pierce and Vapor Snag for Tempo plays when needed. I was looking heavily at Dismember but I feel that the way this format is going with Tron and Eldrazi gaining popularity that Dismember will become less effective as a late-game draw, whereas Vapor Snag /could/ buy us a turn.
Echoing Truth is replaceable but I'm not sure what else to really put in currently. Remands I may possibly switch to Negate.
Anyway, yeah, please discuss and help me bring the GPT crown home to Atlantis! (:
Your list is really similar to the one I'm currently running (I run 2 Harbinger/2 Image and -1 Island +1 Dismember main deck). I've been a big echoing truth fan for a while, and I might switch out my dismember for it again, especially with Lantern Control being popular in my area (I can bounce multiple artifacts to be able to swing through ensnaring bridge) and being able to bounce multiple creatures against Affinity.
I really love Negate over Remand because there are very few times I need a time walk (remand) and much more often I do not want them to cast something (Karn, Oblivion Stone, Scapeshift, etc). I would also up your Chalice count to 3 to increase the likelihood you draw them.
I currently only have 2 Chalice at the moment, and getting a third will be highly unlikely by that point. Negate over Remand seems solid, but I'll be testing it out over this coming few days. Thanks for your input. (:
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Modern UMerfolkU Legacy UFishU "I Want To Believe"
A potential post ban list I thought up. Very creature heavy but not too far off from the usual:
Modern Merfolk
10 Island
4 Mutavault
2 Wanderwine Hub
1 Cavern of Souls
1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds
1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge
4 Cursecatcher
4 Silvergill Adept
4 Harbinger of the Tides
4 Master of the Pearl Trident
4 Lord of Atlantis
2 Tidebinder Mage
2 Phantasmal Image
3 Merrow Reejerey
4 Master of Waves
4 Aether Vial
4 Spreading Seas
2 Spell Pierce
Sideboard
4 Tectonic Edge
2 Dispel
3 Negate
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Dismember
2 Echoing Truth
I play Merfolk in my R deckbox. People who know me don't fall for it, but it throws off the newer faces expecting burn and keeping hands based on that fact.
If someone is worried about their playmat giving away what they are playing, that is probably the best one for us to use and still be on theme. Widely known so not something that places you on a deck.
It depends. Are you running the 8-Seas variant? If so, then yes, Spell Pierce is the better call, because one of the major purposes of Vapor Snag (getting blockers out of your way) has already been fulfilled. Otherwise, Vapor Snag fulfills the prime directive (which is beating your opponent down with Fish) better.
I really don't feel like the Affinity matchup is that bad. I play 3 Recalls, 3 Chalices, and 2 Negates in the sideboard. I take out 2 Vapor Snag, 2 Spell Pierce, and 4 creatures (usually MoW) and I've been doing well (luck?). I've been able to Chalice on 0, cast recall and often Negate a cranial plating. I think you have to know when to trade and just mulligan aggressively. I'm only running 2 Harbingers, and they tend to bounce Overseer or Skirge.
i feel like Vapor Snag is one of your good spells in the matchup.
Also, i don't see myself winning with those sideboardcards. Atleast not close to 50:50, which makes the whole thing pointless.
I haven't been playing Merfolk long (<9 months) but in all the Affinity matchups, if I can live past turn 4, I tend to win. At that point, your creatures are (generally) bigger and you (generally) have more of them. Trading a vapor snag for a 0 cost or 1 cost creature doesn't seem as good as Recalling their entire board, especially if I can Chalice 0 and 1. I'm still exploring the matchup and really appreciate the advice from the group here, but this has been working so far.
A potential post ban list I thought up. Very creature heavy but not too far off from the usual:
Modern Merfolk
10 Island
4 Mutavault
2 Wanderwine Hub
1 Cavern of Souls
1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds
1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge
4 Cursecatcher
4 Silvergill Adept
4 Harbinger of the Tides
4 Master of the Pearl Trident
4 Lord of Atlantis
2 Tidebinder Mage
2 Phantasmal Image
3 Merrow Reejerey
4 Master of Waves
4 Aether Vial
4 Spreading Seas
2 Spell Pierce
Sideboard
4 Tectonic Edge
2 Dispel
3 Negate
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Dismember
2 Echoing Truth
Not playing with Kira is going to feel weird but I can totally see it.
I was paired against a friend who reguralry plays Infect, he took out foil framed Poison token and started shuffling.
His turn one was fetch, Stomping Ground, Wild Nacatl and a smile
I thought that was cool but I play Tidebinders and those are good against either deck, so it was easy win.
In his place I would acquire some Golem tokens with Lifelink and Deathtouch because those "tell" people to keep different hands against Tron than Infect or Zoo.
What is your stance on throwing people off with subtle cues? Do you have good bluff examples?
Maybe I am biased, but I see NO reason this could not have been a Merfolk Wizard instead of a Human one. Merfolk (though it seems like only 3 of them!), exist on Zendikar, there is no flavour text or storyline reason for it to NEED to be a Human. Stupid WotC.
Well it makes sense. Water in Magic is not known for deflecting, but is known for negating. So how would a creature from the sea be able to reflect something? It makes sense with humans as they build many different things (catapults, castles, seiges, and mirrors). That's how I view it anyway. Besides, if they made a reflecting mage for Merfolk, I'd prefer it to be mono-blue.
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Modern: U Merfolk | GR Tron | WUR Jeskai Control | WBG Abzan Company
Holding on to 2/2 swans (while not playing swan song) is pretty solid.
4/4 angels (while not playing geist, but still playing u/w lands, which can "get" newer players), 0/0 germs, or 1/1 thopters can be nice, especially since so many decks can play the germ or thopters, but every deck that does lends itself to keeping very different opening hands.
Maybe I am biased, but I see NO reason this could not have been a Merfolk Wizard instead of a Human one. Merfolk (though it seems like only 3 of them!), exist on Zendikar, there is no flavour text or storyline reason for it to NEED to be a Human. Stupid WotC.
The only thing I can think of is that they did not want to print a 2/3 Merfolk creature, but if their statements are true about ignoring the eternal formats when designing cards then that doesn't really make sense either.
OH! And another set with Kiora in the storyline but no new version, let alone a mono-blue one.
I get your point, it would have been nice for story wise if it was a Menfolk creature but honestly the reason why they didn't do that cause Menfolk having access to this is honestly too good. You'd see Fish decks run at least 2-3 Reflector Mage. It'd be awesome against aggro decks that slam problematic creatures down fast, like the new Eldrazi deck coming around.
Wahoo! Just went 10-0 in games in the Modern League versus Jeskai Geist, Affinity, Bogles, Burn, and BW Eldrazi. A big thanks to all the folks here for guidance.
Moving forward, I'm interested in running Echoing Truth in the main instead of Vapor Snag because it would allow me to bounce things that aren't creatures, which basically makes it a bad Time Walk, especially for enchantments (Bogles), Planeswalkers, and Artifacts (Tron, Lantern). Also, Ghost Quarter in the main has been an all star.
In mono-u, it might be interesting to instead return a spell to it's owner's hand and stop the cast until end of turn. Slightly worse, maybe, and likely more printable on an efficient body in mono-u.
Wahoo! Just went 10-0 in games in the Modern League versus Jeskai Geist, Affinity, Bogles, Burn, and BW Eldrazi. A big thanks to all the folks here for guidance.
Moving forward, I'm interested in running Echoing Truth in the main instead of Vapor Snag because it would allow me to bounce things that aren't creatures, which basically makes it a bad Time Walk, especially for enchantments (Bogles), Planeswalkers, and Artifacts (Tron, Lantern). Also, Ghost Quarter in the main has been an all star.
Congrats! I went 5-0 in Modern league today playing a similar list.
Beat: B/R suicide, Naya Burn/Aggro 2x, UW midrange, and Grixis Control. Last match I won game 1 against grixis and then the dude left with ten minutes remaining at the beginning of the second game so I essentially got a free win.
Chalice of the void was an all-star against the B/R and Naya burn decks. Makes me consider going up to 3x in the SB. Really digging the deck!
Chalice of the void was an all-star against the B/R and Naya burn decks. Makes me consider going up to 3x in the SB. Really digging the deck!
Chalice was an all star indeed. I have 3 main deck in Legacy so having access to 3 in modern was nice as well. I brought them in for burn and eldrazi (he played thoughtseize, inquisition, and path) and they were game changing.
Your list is really similar to the one I'm currently running (I run 2 Harbinger/2 Image and -1 Island +1 Dismember main deck). I've been a big echoing truth fan for a while, and I might switch out my dismember for it again, especially with Lantern Control being popular in my area (I can bounce multiple artifacts to be able to swing through ensnaring bridge) and being able to bounce multiple creatures against Affinity.
I really love Negate over Remand because there are very few times I need a time walk (remand) and much more often I do not want them to cast something (Karn, Oblivion Stone, Scapeshift, etc). I would also up your Chalice count to 3 to increase the likelihood you draw them.
My playmat that I haven't used in a while is The Great Wave off Kanagawa: http://usercontent2.hubimg.com/5540251_f520.jpg
I use it once in a while, but not with Merfolk.
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
I currently only have 2 Chalice at the moment, and getting a third will be highly unlikely by that point. Negate over Remand seems solid, but I'll be testing it out over this coming few days. Thanks for your input. (:
U Merfolk U
Legacy
U Fish U
"I Want To Believe"
Modern Merfolk
10 Island
4 Mutavault
2 Wanderwine Hub
1 Cavern of Souls
1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds
1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge
4 Cursecatcher
4 Silvergill Adept
4 Harbinger of the Tides
4 Master of the Pearl Trident
4 Lord of Atlantis
2 Tidebinder Mage
2 Phantasmal Image
3 Merrow Reejerey
4 Master of Waves
4 Aether Vial
4 Spreading Seas
2 Spell Pierce
Sideboard
4 Tectonic Edge
2 Dispel
3 Negate
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Dismember
2 Echoing Truth
If someone is worried about their playmat giving away what they are playing, that is probably the best one for us to use and still be on theme. Widely known so not something that places you on a deck.
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
I haven't been playing Merfolk long (<9 months) but in all the Affinity matchups, if I can live past turn 4, I tend to win. At that point, your creatures are (generally) bigger and you (generally) have more of them. Trading a vapor snag for a 0 cost or 1 cost creature doesn't seem as good as Recalling their entire board, especially if I can Chalice 0 and 1. I'm still exploring the matchup and really appreciate the advice from the group here, but this has been working so far.
Not playing with Kira is going to feel weird but I can totally see it.
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
His turn one was fetch, Stomping Ground, Wild Nacatl and a smile
I thought that was cool but I play Tidebinders and those are good against either deck, so it was easy win.
In his place I would acquire some Golem tokens with Lifelink and Deathtouch because those "tell" people to keep different hands against Tron than Infect or Zoo.
What is your stance on throwing people off with subtle cues? Do you have good bluff examples?
Pull out a crap ton of goat tokens, oh no mono black tron lol
Well it makes sense. Water in Magic is not known for deflecting, but is known for negating. So how would a creature from the sea be able to reflect something? It makes sense with humans as they build many different things (catapults, castles, seiges, and mirrors). That's how I view it anyway. Besides, if they made a reflecting mage for Merfolk, I'd prefer it to be mono-blue.
U Merfolk | GR Tron | WUR Jeskai Control | WBG Abzan Company
EDH:
G Ezuri, Renegade Leader, Fighting for Rivendell
WU Brago, King Eternal, Long Live the King
WUBRG Scion of the Ur-Dragon, Worship the Dragon
4/4 angels (while not playing geist, but still playing u/w lands, which can "get" newer players), 0/0 germs, or 1/1 thopters can be nice, especially since so many decks can play the germ or thopters, but every deck that does lends itself to keeping very different opening hands.
I get your point, it would have been nice for story wise if it was a Menfolk creature but honestly the reason why they didn't do that cause Menfolk having access to this is honestly too good. You'd see Fish decks run at least 2-3 Reflector Mage. It'd be awesome against aggro decks that slam problematic creatures down fast, like the new Eldrazi deck coming around.
I played this list:
2x Harbinger of the Tides
4x Lord of Atlantis
4x Master of the Pearl Trident
4x Master of Waves
4x Merrow Reejerey
2x Phantasmal Image
4x Silvergill Adept
1x Dismember
2x Spell Pierce
2x Vapor Snag
4x Spreading Seas
2x Cavern of Souls
2x Ghost Quarter
9x Island
1x Minamo, School at Water's Edge
4x Mutavault
1x Oboro, Palace in the Clouds
3x Chalice of the Void
2x Dispel
3x Hurkyl's Recall
2x Negate
2x Relic of Progenitus
3x Tidebinder Mage
Moving forward, I'm interested in running Echoing Truth in the main instead of Vapor Snag because it would allow me to bounce things that aren't creatures, which basically makes it a bad Time Walk, especially for enchantments (Bogles), Planeswalkers, and Artifacts (Tron, Lantern). Also, Ghost Quarter in the main has been an all star.
In mono-u, it might be interesting to instead return a spell to it's owner's hand and stop the cast until end of turn. Slightly worse, maybe, and likely more printable on an efficient body in mono-u.
UMerfolkU
BWBW TokensBW
Congrats! I went 5-0 in Modern league today playing a similar list.
4x Harbinger of the Tides
4x Lord of Atlantis
4x Master of the Pearl Trident
3x Master of Waves
3x Merrow Reejerey
2x Phantasmal Image
4x Silvergill Adept
1x Kira, Great Glass Spinner
2x Vapor Snag
4x AEther Vial
4x Spreading Seas
2x Cavern of Souls
1x Ghost Quarter
11x Island
2x Seachrome Coast
4x Mutavault
2x Chalice of the Void
1x Dispel
3x Hurkyl's Recall
1x Negate
2x Spellskite
2x Relic of Progenitus
2x Tidebinder Mage
1x Kira, Great Glass Spinner
1x Spell Pierce
Beat: B/R suicide, Naya Burn/Aggro 2x, UW midrange, and Grixis Control. Last match I won game 1 against grixis and then the dude left with ten minutes remaining at the beginning of the second game so I essentially got a free win.
Chalice of the void was an all-star against the B/R and Naya burn decks. Makes me consider going up to 3x in the SB. Really digging the deck!
How did Spellskite fair for you? I had 2 in the board but never used them.
Chalice was an all star indeed. I have 3 main deck in Legacy so having access to 3 in modern was nice as well. I brought them in for burn and eldrazi (he played thoughtseize, inquisition, and path) and they were game changing.
Bant Eldrazi
UW Control
U Merfolk
Legacy
Merfolk
UR Delver