The problem is that when it comes to stacking on the +1/+1 counters, Humans do it a lot better than Merfolk do. Leveraging Islandwalk is rather important.
Couldn't agree more - Islandwalk is critical to this decks success - I can't believe how good Merfolk is right now - was trash tier before the unbannings - glad to be back slinging fish again..
I can't quite argue with the results... but chalice seem like a poor meta call in a format where jund is on the rise with its many kolaghan's command and BBE. The strength of monoU to me is the ability to leverage MoW to the maximum. If you're gonna play a lower-to-the-ground list I would go with tropical fish. You can play copter there and better threats than coralhelm commander.
Not to mention that the colorless eldrazi deck has simian spirit guide and gemstone caverns to play chalice on 1 - which makes the card waaaay waaay better - and is playing FOUR serum powder to help with mulligans that look for that particular combination of cards.
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Would you like to read Commander stories? Check my latest stories, coming from Lorwyn and Innistrad: Ghoulcaller Gisa and Doran, The Siege Tower! If you like my writing, ask me to write something for your commander as well!
Agreed. MHayashi's lists are very unique and clearly work well for him, but I wouldn't recommend them as a general case.
One card I will recommend folks take a look at is Tidebinder Mage. I've been jamming it in my sideboard once again, and it's seeing some modest success. I never thought we'd reach the metagame context where it'd be good again, but here we are.
Dominaria leak spoilers of interest to Merfolk players:
Merfolk Trickster
UU
Creature — Merfolk Wizard
2/2
Flash
When Merfolk Trickster enters the battlefield, tap target creature an opponent controls. It loses all abilities until end of turn.
Wizard's Retort
1UU
Instant
This spell costs 1 less to cast if you control a Wizard.
Counter target spell.
I think Merfolk Trickster is the most promising card to enter the playable pool since Harbinger of the Tides - it's far better then any of the trash green merfolk we got - interesting interactions during combat - obv needs testing
Dominaria leak spoilers of interest to Merfolk players:
Merfolk Trickster
UU
Creature — Merfolk Wizard
2/2
Flash
When Merfolk Trickster enters the battlefield, tap target creature an opponent controls. It loses all abilities until end of turn.
Wizard's Retort
1UU
Instant
This spell costs 1 less to cast if you control a Wizard.
Counter target spell.
I think Merfolk Trickster is the most promising card to enter the playable pool since Harbinger of the Tides - it's far better then any of the trash green merfolk we got - interesting interactions during combat - obv needs testing
The counterspell seems too conditional given that none of our Lords are Wizards (12 of our typically 30 creatures). I know most of the other playable Folk are Wizards, but I wonder if the conditional nature of this spell would cause issues. Regardless, it definitely warrants testing.
On the other hand, Trickster seems extremely playable. 2 for a 2/2 is already on rate, having flash and a hugely relevant tempo ability is nuts. I'm very excited for this card!
The utility on merfolk trickster is great. It also marginally improves the devoted druid matchup. If the opponent puts a counter on the druid you can respond by using trickster and the druid will die. I see some other scenarios where it might be helpful, like against big creature decks such as shadow, e-tron, stompy... The fact that it can block the creature makes it an improved ambush viper.
All that said, not sure where it fits in the mono-U build. Is it better than harbinger? Trickster can be used proactively to remove blockers on the way and to ambush attacking creatures, but harbinger is a bigger tempo swing and can be used effectively on a tapped creature in case you draw it. I honestly do think trickster is a little bit better than harbinger, but I'm not sure if we should just change all the copies, do a split or what.
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Damping Sphere
2
Artifact
If a land is tapped for two or more mana, it produces C instead of any other type and amount.
Each spell a player casts costs 1 more to cast for each other spell that player has cast this turn.
THIS.
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Mostly Modern Player RBridgevineB RGR/G EldraziX UBlue MoonR UU/W TronW
It won't work with Druid.
They untap it and in response you make their vizier "plain" then they just put another untap on the stack and keep going for infinite mana. Same thing if you try to blank their druid, they can just keep going over you on the stack.
I like its flexibility and the fact that he costs UU, both for devotion for master and for keeping Vial on 2.
I would say the competition is more with Watertrap Weaver's spot than Harbinger's though. And maybe Tidebinder if Jund and zoo type decks keep on rising.
While Trickster is worse tempo wise, it can act as removal and works better with maindeck counterspells, which i assume with our high count of wizards a lot of us will be trying to maindeck a couple, that was another nice spoiler for us!
It won't work with Druid.
They untap it and in response you make their vizier "plain" then they just put another untap on the stack and keep going for infinite mana. Same thing if you try to blank their druid, they can just keep going over you on the stack.
I like its flexibility and the fact that he costs UU, both for devotion for master and for keeping Vial on 2.
I would say the competition is more with Watertrap Weaver's spot than Harbinger's though. And maybe Tidebinder if Jund and zoo type decks keep on rising.
While Trickster is worse tempo wise, it can act as removal and works better with maindeck counterspells, which i assume with our high count of wizards a lot of us will be trying to maindeck a couple, that was another nice spoiler for us!
Pre testing, I like him.
I was refering to a board state without vizier. Yes, if the opponent has vizier and druid on board it is over. But if they have only druid and they use its ability to untap, putting the -1/-1 counter is a cost. So, with the untap on the stack, you can cast trickster, target the druid and it will die (and that is not unusual, if they play a t2 druid they could theoretically have a t3 chord of calling for 2 to get vizier, which would force them to put a counter on the druid first).
I mostly agree with your other points, including about the counterspell which is worth testing. I didn't think of weaver because I didn't consider that it had solidified its place in mono-U lists. I thought weaver was being played in the place of Master of Waves, and I was thinking of a build that uses master.
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Get excited, people! Merfolk Trickster is a huge addition to the deck. In fact, that's the sort of card I was hoping for when Ixalan was released. I know I'll be jamming 4 once it's legal.
Yep, that's a shoe-in. I agree it likely displaces Watertrap Weaver with the first two slots. But what to do with the last two? Is it good enough to get rid of some of the other sorts of creature removal we usually pack?
I still would like to have seen a more anti-spell effect, but it's nice to see one of my modern decks get better rather than worse.
Haven't posted in here for a while. Went away from fish for years actually and now I'm back on board. Ixalan has been a boon for the deck. My favorite color of all time in the game is green, and I can't tell you how excited I was to play green fish and fetches in the deck. (Always been a huge fan of onslaught Flooded Strand and Polluted Delta, and now I get to play them both! It's an exciting time to be a merfolk player.
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currently playing
(Modern)
RG RG Titanshift RG WUBR Affinity WUBR x Eldrazi Tron x UG Tropical Merfolk UG
Wizard's Retort definitely isn't the spell for us, I feel between the fact that only so many of our Fish are Wizards, and the amount of brown/green sources each deck runs, you're just better off with Unified Will if you want a hard counter.
Couldn't agree more - Islandwalk is critical to this decks success - I can't believe how good Merfolk is right now - was trash tier before the unbannings - glad to be back slinging fish again..
UWx control/midrange
Bant Eldrazi
Not to mention that the colorless eldrazi deck has simian spirit guide and gemstone caverns to play chalice on 1 - which makes the card waaaay waaay better - and is playing FOUR serum powder to help with mulligans that look for that particular combination of cards.
Read my other stories as well (some ongoing):
Reaper King (a horror story), Kaalia of the Vast (an origin story), Sequels for Innistrad (Alternative sequels for Inn), Grey Areas (Odric's fanfic), Royal Succession (goblins),The Tracker's Message (eldrazi on Innistrad) and Ugin and his Eye (the end of OGW).
Only 20 creatures with 4 Vials. Doesn’t seem like enough..
One card I will recommend folks take a look at is Tidebinder Mage. I've been jamming it in my sideboard once again, and it's seeing some modest success. I never thought we'd reach the metagame context where it'd be good again, but here we are.
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
Merfolk Trickster
UU
Creature — Merfolk Wizard
2/2
Flash
When Merfolk Trickster enters the battlefield, tap target creature an opponent controls. It loses all abilities until end of turn.
Wizard's Retort
1UU
Instant
This spell costs 1 less to cast if you control a Wizard.
Counter target spell.
I think Merfolk Trickster is the most promising card to enter the playable pool since Harbinger of the Tides - it's far better then any of the trash green merfolk we got - interesting interactions during combat - obv needs testing
UWx control/midrange
Bant Eldrazi
The counterspell seems too conditional given that none of our Lords are Wizards (12 of our typically 30 creatures). I know most of the other playable Folk are Wizards, but I wonder if the conditional nature of this spell would cause issues. Regardless, it definitely warrants testing.
On the other hand, Trickster seems extremely playable. 2 for a 2/2 is already on rate, having flash and a hugely relevant tempo ability is nuts. I'm very excited for this card!
Cubetutor Link
That won't do anything unless they're either blocking with it or you have a gut shot to follow up.
Exactly. They declare attackers, you flash in Merfolk Trickster, targeting Tarmogoyf, which becomes a 0/1, then you block it.
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
All that said, not sure where it fits in the mono-U build. Is it better than harbinger? Trickster can be used proactively to remove blockers on the way and to ambush attacking creatures, but harbinger is a bigger tempo swing and can be used effectively on a tapped creature in case you draw it. I honestly do think trickster is a little bit better than harbinger, but I'm not sure if we should just change all the copies, do a split or what.
Read my other stories as well (some ongoing):
Reaper King (a horror story), Kaalia of the Vast (an origin story), Sequels for Innistrad (Alternative sequels for Inn), Grey Areas (Odric's fanfic), Royal Succession (goblins),The Tracker's Message (eldrazi on Innistrad) and Ugin and his Eye (the end of OGW).
2
Artifact
If a land is tapped for two or more mana, it produces C instead of any other type and amount.
Each spell a player casts costs 1 more to cast for each other spell that player has cast this turn.
THIS.
RBridgevineB
RGR/G EldraziX
UBlue MoonR
UU/W TronW
They untap it and in response you make their vizier "plain" then they just put another untap on the stack and keep going for infinite mana. Same thing if you try to blank their druid, they can just keep going over you on the stack.
I like its flexibility and the fact that he costs UU, both for devotion for master and for keeping Vial on 2.
I would say the competition is more with Watertrap Weaver's spot than Harbinger's though. And maybe Tidebinder if Jund and zoo type decks keep on rising.
While Trickster is worse tempo wise, it can act as removal and works better with maindeck counterspells, which i assume with our high count of wizards a lot of us will be trying to maindeck a couple, that was another nice spoiler for us!
Pre testing, I like him.
I mostly agree with your other points, including about the counterspell which is worth testing. I didn't think of weaver because I didn't consider that it had solidified its place in mono-U lists. I thought weaver was being played in the place of Master of Waves, and I was thinking of a build that uses master.
Read my other stories as well (some ongoing):
Reaper King (a horror story), Kaalia of the Vast (an origin story), Sequels for Innistrad (Alternative sequels for Inn), Grey Areas (Odric's fanfic), Royal Succession (goblins),The Tracker's Message (eldrazi on Innistrad) and Ugin and his Eye (the end of OGW).
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
I still would like to have seen a more anti-spell effect, but it's nice to see one of my modern decks get better rather than worse.
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
(Modern)
RG RG Titanshift RG
WUBR Affinity WUBR
x Eldrazi Tron x
UG Tropical Merfolk UG
(Pauper)
G Elves G
WURG Affinity WURG
Standard:
UR Ral Combo
Modern:
U Merfolk
R Goblins
Commander
RB Grenzo, Dungeon Warden
R Feldon of the Third Path
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers: