If we do bring Image in, would it take the spot of Harbinger? Or Reejerey?
Don't know yet. Probably Harbinger. Without knowing what the format will look like in the immediate future I think we should play proactively with 3-4 Reejereys.
Brothers, splinter twin is banned in modern... That's like 15-20 percent of the winning meta in modern.... I think that makes fish a tier one deck don't you?
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"I hope to have such a death—lying in triumph upon the broken bodies of those who slew me."
—Radha, Keldon warlord
Well at least 8 sea's will be much more powerful now. It was modern night last night at my LGS and the salt level was high as ****. This changes everything.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Level 1 Judge
Level 2 in progress...
UUU Merfolk UUU "Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR "The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas
I'll be taking out a Harbinger and my singleton Kira for two Phantasmal Images. Tron will be king now, and with BGx losing a good matchup I don't think Kira is that necessary anymore
That will give me a whopping 13 mainboard "lords" which will be extra required I'd say
I think he's cleverly referencing Eye of Ugin and Eldrazi Temple
It is funny since this "Ancient Tomb" does not deal two damage and this "Workshop" has a chance to produce more than paltry three mana, so I probably insulted Eye and Temple.
I think the UW version might be worth exploring furher, with the expected importance of beating affinity. And also that man o'war wizard looks like fun.
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.
Agree on Vapor Snag now trumping Dismember, disagree on Harbinger of the Tides. It is one of the cards that keeps our hope of stealing G1 against Affinity alive, and that's going to be more important than ever. It also has game against Burn (which I expect to see more of).
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.
How about Phantasmal Image? That card was often left out because of Twin.
Phantasmal Image is worth a test run as a 2-of right now, I'm guessing. What to cut for it is a tricky question, though.
Im a new player to the Merfolk deck. I got it a couple of 5-6 weeks ago and have been testing a lot and playing at FNM at my local magic-shop.
Since the new banning, and Twin no longer issue, I was wondering, if it would be an option to cut 4 Mutavault for 4 Ghost Quarter in the main? And play with 4 Spreading Sea and 2-4 Sea's Claim in the main. Or maybe even cut 2 Cavern of souls and 2 Mutavault for the room of 4 Ghost Quarter? And maybe take the Merfolk deck to a more land destruction deck?
Since Eldrazi maybe is going to be at new thing, and a Tier 1 like Twin deck with Island is gone, maybe this could work?
I would love to hear your opinion on this;)
You're on a good track in terms of what to bring in (Ghost Quarter and Sea's Claim), but you don't take the Mutavaults out for that. They're too important. Cavern of Souls is a more interesting debate, but given that some of the people playing Twin might lean toward draw-go control going forward, I'm still going to say I don't like that idea.
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!
Yeah, we are the best U deck in the format, kind of by default. As for the choices, I agree - Chalice of the Void and Ghost Quarter are looking pretty super right about now.
Brothers, splinter twin is banned in modern... That's like 15-20 percent of the winning meta in modern.... I think that makes fish a tier one deck don't you?
Not sure yet. I need to see how the midrange decks adjust to the meta before making that assertion. All of those ex-Twin players are going to play something, and we need to see whether they switch to our deck (thus boosting our numbers) or if they play something we match up well against (which would also boost our numbers) or poorly against (which might trim our numbers). Either way, we'll be a tiered deck. The only question is where.
Well at least 8 sea's will be much more powerful now. It was modern night last night at my LGS and the salt level was high as ****. This changes everything.
I think the UW version might be worth exploring furher, with the expected importance of beating affinity. And also that man o'war wizard looks like fun.
The thing is, our chances increase a little bit against Affinity with WU, but not that much because of the inherent loss in consistency. And that extra inconsistency hurts our matchup against the field. Furthermore, it's a lot harder to run Ghost Quarter with a splash. I still wouldn't go that route.
I think the UW version might be worth exploring furher, with the expected importance of beating affinity. And also that man o'war wizard looks like fun.
I expect Affinity to be everywhere, and the BR list to have either Cranial Plating or Arcbound Ravager on it. I'm not sure if the splash is worth it still when we can just max out on 4x Hurkyll's Recall. I tried UW Death and Taxes with Reflector Mage and he was OK, but not great.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Modern GU Infect | x Affinity | RWG Naya Burn | W Death and Taxes | U Merfolk | BURG BTL Scapeshift | WUUW Titan | R Goblins | BURGW Suicide Zoo
UUU Merfolk UUU "Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR "The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas
CoCo gets better without twin and is one of the few decks that dumps on infect. I love dispel so I'll keep a few around.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Level 1 Judge
Level 2 in progress...
UUU Merfolk UUU "Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR "The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas
I think even if they banned Ravager or Plating it wouldn't kill affinity since they still have the other option. Both of them allow for an Inkmoth to be animated and swing for 10 infect. It is a pretty resilient deck no matter what since there are still games they can just win using Steel Overseer and dorks. WotC more needs to print a blue answer for affinity because recall is not enough. Other decks have Stony Silence, Natural State, Abrupt Decay, Shattering Spree, Wear // Tear, etc...while we are stuck with Recall. Maybe it could be argued black needs more answers for it too, but they have actual removal or things that weaken affinity like Night of Souls' Betrayal so...that is where my stance is on things. Maybe banning one of the two big cards could hurt it some, but Sculpting Steel is still legal so they could just double up on whichever one is unbanned.
I mean, I was just putting up posts on how the matchup wasn't as scary as I once felt it was, so I'm not going to backtrack on that stance now. Harbinger of the Tides gives us a chance to steal Game 1, and Chalice of the Void combined with either Echoing Truth or Hurkyl's Recall give us even more of a chance afterward. Furthermore, expect more sweepers to come into the format for other decks looking to fight Affinity off. I think people need to sit back and see how this plays out before clamoring for a specific card. On the other hand... the increase in sweepers that I predict will happen nixes one of our toughest matchups (Elves).
As much as I've always been the one to promote Tectonic Edge, Ghost Quarter might be the better card now. I also might end up adding a Vapor Snag back over one Dismember
EDIT: also a reminder; kiki-jiki still exists. Obviously it is not as good as Splinter Twin, but I expect more control-aimed builds of twin to pop up. I'm actually already experimenting with Uwr Kiki myself
As much as I've always been the one to promote Tectonic Edge, Ghost Quarter might be the better card now. I also might end up adding a Vapor Snag back over one Dismember
EDIT: also a reminder; kiki-jiki still exists. Obviously it is not as good as Splinter Twin, but I expect more control-aimed builds of twin to pop up. I'm actually already experimenting with Uwr Kiki myself
Against Kiki decks we'll great want tectonic edge over ghost quarter
I definitely think we'll see a rise in sweepers, especially damnation.
The affinity matchup hasn't felt bad lately. I've ended up facing it a lot in the MTGO leagues and main deck vapor snag and 3 Image (in place of reejery) has been good, especially with 3 recall in the SB. I'm excited to start testing more with ghost quarter. Spreading seas plus tectonic edge have been doing work for me against tron and eldrazi, but having more mana free would be nice.
Btw, complete LOL over all the Affinity fear. It's a deck that was always there in big numbers. In the past people dedicated a lot of sideboard and Maindeck slots for the twin match up. Now they will natural devote those slots to affinity. I think this is good for us if they are the only #1
Legacy - Sneak Show, BR Reanimator, Miracles, UW Stoneblade
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/ Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander - Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build) (dead format for me)
Btw, complete LOL over all the Affinity fear. It's a deck that was always there in big numbers. In the past people dedicated a lot of sideboard and Maindeck slots for the twin match up. Now they will natural devote those slots to affinity. I think this is good for us if they are the only #1
I agree with this sentiment. Everyone else is going to gang up on Tron and Affinity now, since they're looking like the top dogs.
—Radha, Keldon warlord
Level 2 in progress...
UUU Merfolk UUU
"Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR
"The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas
That will give me a whopping 13 mainboard "lords" which will be extra required I'd say
Agree on Vapor Snag now trumping Dismember, disagree on Harbinger of the Tides. It is one of the cards that keeps our hope of stealing G1 against Affinity alive, and that's going to be more important than ever. It also has game against Burn (which I expect to see more of).
Phantasmal Image is worth a test run as a 2-of right now, I'm guessing. What to cut for it is a tricky question, though.
You're on a good track in terms of what to bring in (Ghost Quarter and Sea's Claim), but you don't take the Mutavaults out for that. They're too important. Cavern of Souls is a more interesting debate, but given that some of the people playing Twin might lean toward draw-go control going forward, I'm still going to say I don't like that idea.
Yeah, we are the best U deck in the format, kind of by default. As for the choices, I agree - Chalice of the Void and Ghost Quarter are looking pretty super right about now.
Not sure yet. I need to see how the midrange decks adjust to the meta before making that assertion. All of those ex-Twin players are going to play something, and we need to see whether they switch to our deck (thus boosting our numbers) or if they play something we match up well against (which would also boost our numbers) or poorly against (which might trim our numbers). Either way, we'll be a tiered deck. The only question is where.
The thing is, our chances increase a little bit against Affinity with WU, but not that much because of the inherent loss in consistency. And that extra inconsistency hurts our matchup against the field. Furthermore, it's a lot harder to run Ghost Quarter with a splash. I still wouldn't go that route.
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
I expect Affinity to be everywhere, and the BR list to have either Cranial Plating or Arcbound Ravager on it. I'm not sure if the splash is worth it still when we can just max out on 4x Hurkyll's Recall. I tried UW Death and Taxes with Reflector Mage and he was OK, but not great.
GU Infect | x Affinity | RWG Naya Burn | W Death and Taxes | U Merfolk | BURG BTL Scapeshift | WUUW Titan | R Goblins | BURGW Suicide Zoo
Level 2 in progress...
UUU Merfolk UUU
"Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR
"The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
Level 2 in progress...
UUU Merfolk UUU
"Above the waves you may be mighty indeed, but down here you belong to me."
-Empress Galina
UBR Cruel Control UBR
"The essence of every world, every spell, and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
-Nicol Bolas
UMerfolkU
Legacy
UMerfolkU
Commander
RWBAlesha, Who Smiles At DeathRWB
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers:
EDIT: also a reminder; kiki-jiki still exists. Obviously it is not as good as Splinter Twin, but I expect more control-aimed builds of twin to pop up. I'm actually already experimenting with Uwr Kiki myself
Against Kiki decks we'll great want tectonic edge over ghost quarter
The affinity matchup hasn't felt bad lately. I've ended up facing it a lot in the MTGO leagues and main deck vapor snag and 3 Image (in place of reejery) has been good, especially with 3 recall in the SB. I'm excited to start testing more with ghost quarter. Spreading seas plus tectonic edge have been doing work for me against tron and eldrazi, but having more mana free would be nice.
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/
Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander -
Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)I agree with this sentiment. Everyone else is going to gang up on Tron and Affinity now, since they're looking like the top dogs.
Legacy: Merfolk U; Shadow UB; Eldrazi Stompy C
Pauper: Delver U
Vintage: Merfolk U
Primers: