Outside of the animating, how is Ojutai's Command better than Cryptic? The life gain is usually irrelevant, they both draw cards, and Cryptic can counter any spell. Yes the triple blue CAN be a pain to cast, I just don't see it offering a huge amount for the deck. I do very much like that U/W list, not playing Path is probably the best thing I have ever seen for that kind of list.
The other problem with Kataki is Dispatch, if a stony resolves they have no real way to get it off the table. Stony is also great if you happen to stumble against an Eggs player as they do still pop up here and there.
Outside of the animating, Ojutai's Command is not as good as Cryptic Command. The reanimation effect of Ojutais is what makes it worth testing in this deck. The triple UUU on cryptic (as you mentioned) is in fact much harder for my list to run with caverns.
I'll test stony silence over kataki the next few weeks. I'll see how it fairs if any Affinity decks show up (not often at my LGS, or they lose first round to twin decks)
Thassa was a beast all night. Between thassa and siege, you really feel like you never have a dead draw (lands and vials no more). Note that I didn't run Cursecatcher. I don't like this card. It's good when it's good and ****ing awful when it's not. The reason I'm running only one Kira is because I was predicting a lot of abrupt decays and Pestermite flash blocks. The spellskites also have more mainboard game vs twin and burn, which are always at my LGS. I saw SaintA trying syyg, River Guide in his lists and I think I'll be keeping it in my list. Plays a similar role as Kira (but much more mana intensive) except it's a merfolk and can stop decay as well as swing into twin decks freely (free island walk!). I don't think this deck needs more "lords" or merfolk creaures. Two lords and a mutavault is usually sufficient to end the game as long as you can protect them with kira, sygg, and spellskite. Also, I'll never play vapor snag again after playing 4 dismembers. Killed so many goyfs
I agree! Kira is just OK, but she is pretty useful with Siege. And Siege is just an underrated, great card. You draw one extra and discard one from you ENTIRE hand. It seems obvious but there's lots of people who don't understand this. It's a one sided Howling Mine people! With Thassa in play, it's... not fair. I've not lost with Thassa/Siege, it doesn't seem possible. Even with decks that have removal, just drawing cards/filtering puts you so far ahead. I thought the protection was great, but the simple draw a card is enough to make your opponent groan.
Thassa is the best beater we have, even she's 'off', she basically has haste. They have to play differently because 2 Lords (max) and here comes a hasty 5/5 indestructible killing machine. With an active vial she basically shuts people's offense off as well.
I crushed the tron player by dropping two Merrow Reejerey and using their triggers to drop three lords.
The affinity player saw he was paired against me and was afraid I crushed him game one with 5 lords. Game two he had a double plating on Vault Skirge, but I topdecked Hurkyl's Recall for the alpha strike.
I locked the twin player out of red game 1 which screwed him up pretty bad. Got twined the second game, then landed a Spellskite with Kira protection and counter backup game 3.
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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
Guys I think Collected Company is the real deal. I've been testing it on Cockatrice today. Oh my god. It just seems... really good... It's practically been gg every time it resolves.
The lack of vials could just be a mistake, but I wanted to jam as many creatures as I could without totally eliminating interaction. Also, I've been considering Remand or Mana Leak as a 2of.
Anyway, Collected Company can be the ultimate finisher, it can fetch a lord or 2 in response to a bolt, it can fetch a Spellskite in response to a twin, it can fetch a Tidebinder Mage to tap a titan, it turbo-charges Thassa, and many more things that I'm sure I'm forgetting. It just seems super solid, in my opinion. I will DEFINITELY test more in the coming days.
Who is excited for more merfolk in Zendikar? I know I am.
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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'm actually hoping for a 2-drop merfolk (preferablly UU) that upon entering can return a nonland permanent to an owner's hand (and if it had flash, that would even be better!). Also I am hoping for a 2-drop Merfolk that gives it's friends hexproof, but that will never happen.
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Modern: U Merfolk | GR Tron | WUR Jeskai Control | WBG Abzan Company
Unless Kiora's + is "Put a 1/1 Merfolk creature token with islandwalk onto the battlefield under your control" and her - is "Put a 2/2 Merfolk creature token with 'all other merfolk you control get +1/+1 and Islandwalk' onto the battlefield under your control" I'm not super stoked. Admittedly I play a more aggressive version of the deck, but if she's not immediately putting a body on the board I'm not sure I'm going to want her over Merrow or Kira.
I would be happy with simply True-Name Nemesis. I don't think it would be an oppressive card or anything either. At least not in Modern.
You're kidding right? They printed True-Name Nemesis specifically for Legacy. There was an article (I can't find it now) that goes into detail about them printing TNN and Unexpectedly Absent to breath new life into Legacy strategies. Unexpectedly Absent doesn't really see any play, but almost every Blue deck in Legacy is running TNN since it was printed. That card would single-handedly break Modern. It will never ever get a Modern printing. Merfolk is my favourite deck, and I want it to succeed as much as anyone here, but TNN in Modern isn't going to happen.
I would be happy with simply True-Name Nemesis. I don't think it would be an oppressive card or anything either. At least not in Modern.
You're kidding right? They printed True-Name Nemesis specifically for Legacy. There was an article (I can't find it now) that goes into detail about them printing TNN and Unexpectedly Absent to breath new life into Legacy strategies. Unexpectedly Absent doesn't really see any play, but almost every Blue deck in Legacy is running TNN since it was printed. That card would single-handedly break Modern. It will never ever get a Modern printing. Merfolk is my favourite deck, and I want it to succeed as much as anyone here, but TNN in Modern isn't going to happen.
I don't know if you've looked at Legacy lately but TNN is simply an okay card. It's not a 4x jam in anything except maybe Merfolk but that's not even a remotely competitive deck in Legacy. Modern has all the answers: counters, Golgari Charm, Marsh Casualties, Supreme Verdict, Lilliana of the Veil, Thoughtsieze. The unfair decks are still just as unfair and win on turn 3-4 if we have 4x TNN or not. TNN would be a very good creature but nothing more than that. Surely I think the format would have to adjust to accommodate his existence but at the end of the day he's just a creature.
I like the idea and I'm interested to see how you feel about it after more testing. However, 4 cmc is a big deal for merfolk - getting 4 mana with a 20 land deck is not a certain thing - not to mention that this is also a green card. If it were a white card then perhaps it could be worth it with all the other good stuff white brings to merfolk.
Obviously we run 3x-4x 4cmc - Master of Waves (which we can also vial out) - which usually nets us 2 tokens or more - so that's three creatuers for 4 cmc - unconditionally. I cant ever see myself replacing The Master for collected company..
Although wet dreams of TNN are just that - it would be cool to get something to replace Merrow Reejery - otherwise I think our creatures are solid. Although, a Kira/Spellskite type card that was a Merfolk would be an upgrade as well - but likely unbalanced.
I like the idea of a tribal counterspell for Merfolk - that for sure would be super sweet - 1U: counter target spell if you control a Merfolk - or U: counter target non-creature spell if you control a Merfolk.
I'd also be happy with a Silumgar's Scorn but revealing a Merfolk. Buffs our deck in a nice way, most of the other blue decks won't want UU Force Spike, so you don't inadvertently throw Delver and Twin too much extra power.
I had a chance to test against Burn, UR Twin, and 4 Color Control. In each of these match-ups, I was really happy to have a Monastery Siege. Stopped most of Burn's spells, aided in grinding out UR Twin and Control. Need to test it up against other matchups, but I think it will be staying in my 75.
4 Leyline in the main... ok, protected against all discard, Valakut and burn, might be some plan for expected meta.
But I would certainly play at least 2-3 Siege to have a chance and discard multiples.
He plays white with only 2 Recall as Affinity hate (no Stony, no Kataki?). Am I missing something?
No Relic, no Rest in Piece? How does that work in a Snapcaster, Tarmogoyf, Tasigur, Gifts (and mostly everything else) world?
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The other problem with Kataki is Dispatch, if a stony resolves they have no real way to get it off the table. Stony is also great if you happen to stumble against an Eggs player as they do still pop up here and there.
UMerfolkU
Legacy
UMerfolkU
Commander
RWBAlesha, Who Smiles At DeathRWB
I'll test stony silence over kataki the next few weeks. I'll see how it fairs if any Affinity decks show up (not often at my LGS, or they lose first round to twin decks)
I agree! Kira is just OK, but she is pretty useful with Siege. And Siege is just an underrated, great card. You draw one extra and discard one from you ENTIRE hand. It seems obvious but there's lots of people who don't understand this. It's a one sided Howling Mine people! With Thassa in play, it's... not fair. I've not lost with Thassa/Siege, it doesn't seem possible. Even with decks that have removal, just drawing cards/filtering puts you so far ahead. I thought the protection was great, but the simple draw a card is enough to make your opponent groan.
Thassa is the best beater we have, even she's 'off', she basically has haste. They have to play differently because 2 Lords (max) and here comes a hasty 5/5 indestructible killing machine. With an active vial she basically shuts people's offense off as well.
2-0 GR Tron
2-0 Affinity
2-1 Splinter Twin
ID against infect, but played for fun.
List is in spoiler.
12 Island
4 Mutavault
2 Cavern of Souls
1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge
1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds
Fish
4 Silvergill Adept
4 Lord of Atlantis
4 Master of the Pearl Trident
4 Cursecatcher
4 Merrow Reejerey
3 Master of Waves
2 Tidebinder Mage
1 Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
4 Æther Vial
3 Spreading Seas
3 Vapor Snag
2 Echoing Truth
2 Sea's Claim
3 Spell Pierce
3 Hurkyl's Recall
2 Spellskite
2 Tidebinder Mage
2 Monastery Siege
2 Swan Song
1 Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
I crushed the tron player by dropping two Merrow Reejerey and using their triggers to drop three lords.
The affinity player saw he was paired against me and was afraid
I locked the twin player out of red game 1 which screwed him up pretty bad. Got twined the second game, then landed a Spellskite with Kira protection and counter backup game 3.
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
Here's my *reeeaaaaalllyy rough* list:
4 Master of the Pearl Trident
4 Merrow Reejerey
4 Cursecatcher
4 Silvergill Adept
4 Tidebinder Mage
2 Spellskite
2 Thassa, God of the Sea
3 Dismember
1 Echoing Truth
4 Spreading Seas
1 Breeding Pool
2 Flooded Grove
4 Mutavault
1 Cavern of Souls
8 Island
1 Tectonic Edge
4 Misty Rainforest
The lack of vials could just be a mistake, but I wanted to jam as many creatures as I could without totally eliminating interaction. Also, I've been considering Remand or Mana Leak as a 2of.
Anyway, Collected Company can be the ultimate finisher, it can fetch a lord or 2 in response to a bolt, it can fetch a Spellskite in response to a twin, it can fetch a Tidebinder Mage to tap a titan, it turbo-charges Thassa, and many more things that I'm sure I'm forgetting. It just seems super solid, in my opinion. I will DEFINITELY test more in the coming days.
U Merfolk
UW Eggs
UR Storm
RG Breach
Why Sea's Claim before the fourth Spreading Seas?
I would play four Spreading Seas and a couple of Sea's Claim if the the meta required extra land disruption. Probably cut the Monastery Sieges and put the Echoing Truths in the sideboard for more Vapor Snag and Spreading Seas if I had time.
Who is excited for more merfolk in Zendikar? I know I am.
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
Like you don't even know!
While I'm glad we got Monastery Siege, I'm really hoping that Magic: Origins and Battle for Zendikar have some goodies too.
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
UMerfolkU
Legacy
UMerfolkU
Commander
RWBAlesha, Who Smiles At DeathRWB
Alternatively something as simple as UU 2/2 unblockable would be a huge boost for the deck.
You're kidding right? They printed True-Name Nemesis specifically for Legacy. There was an article (I can't find it now) that goes into detail about them printing TNN and Unexpectedly Absent to breath new life into Legacy strategies. Unexpectedly Absent doesn't really see any play, but almost every Blue deck in Legacy is running TNN since it was printed. That card would single-handedly break Modern. It will never ever get a Modern printing. Merfolk is my favourite deck, and I want it to succeed as much as anyone here, but TNN in Modern isn't going to happen.
I don't know if you've looked at Legacy lately but TNN is simply an okay card. It's not a 4x jam in anything except maybe Merfolk but that's not even a remotely competitive deck in Legacy. Modern has all the answers: counters, Golgari Charm, Marsh Casualties, Supreme Verdict, Lilliana of the Veil, Thoughtsieze. The unfair decks are still just as unfair and win on turn 3-4 if we have 4x TNN or not. TNN would be a very good creature but nothing more than that. Surely I think the format would have to adjust to accommodate his existence but at the end of the day he's just a creature.
Obviously we run 3x-4x 4cmc - Master of Waves (which we can also vial out) - which usually nets us 2 tokens or more - so that's three creatuers for 4 cmc - unconditionally. I cant ever see myself replacing The Master for collected company..
Bant Eldrazi
UW Control
U Merfolk
Legacy
Merfolk
UR Delver
I like the idea of a tribal counterspell for Merfolk - that for sure would be super sweet - 1U: counter target spell if you control a Merfolk - or U: counter target non-creature spell if you control a Merfolk.
Bant Eldrazi
UW Control
U Merfolk
Legacy
Merfolk
UR Delver
1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds
1 Minamo, School at Water's Edge
1 Cavern of Souls
4 Mutavault
4 Cursecatcher
4 Lord of Atlantis
4 Master of the Pearl Trident
4 Silvergill Adept
4 Tidebinder Mage
2 Thassa, God of the Sea
1 Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
3 Master of Waves
4 Aether Vial
4 Dismember
2 Monastery Siege
4 Spell Pierce
3 Chalice of the Void
2 Torpor Orb
4 Tectonic Edge
2 Merrow Reejery
I had a chance to test against Burn, UR Twin, and 4 Color Control. In each of these match-ups, I was really happy to have a Monastery Siege. Stopped most of Burn's spells, aided in grinding out UR Twin and Control. Need to test it up against other matchups, but I think it will be staying in my 75.
Legacy: Infect, Lands, Eldrazi, Storm
Modern: Infect, UW Eldrazi
What do you think about this deck: http://www.mtgpulse.com/event/19580#276148 ?
4 Leyline in the main... ok, protected against all discard, Valakut and burn, might be some plan for expected meta.
But I would certainly play at least 2-3 Siege to have a chance and discard multiples.
He plays white with only 2 Recall as Affinity hate (no Stony, no Kataki?). Am I missing something?
No Relic, no Rest in Piece? How does that work in a Snapcaster, Tarmogoyf, Tasigur, Gifts (and mostly everything else) world?