Would a lower to the ground, more tempo-oriented version be viable at all? I'm dorking around with a modified version of my Arena list (I know, I know) with better cards as well as RNA additions, and it feels pretty decent. First super rough cut looks like:
I think Zegana gives the deck some reach in the mid-late game because you can adapt her and give her Trample. She'll probably be the biggest creature on the field when you Adapt her and the +1/+1 counter support means that she'll probably always draw a card when you cast her.
I think the list looks really clean. I'll probably try something similar to this for a while and see how it goes.
Curious Obsession/Dive Down is the way Merfolk succeeded before. Before the new set arrived, it was just inferior to mono-blue with a flying X/4 finisher. Breeding Pool helps the UG deck catch up a bit, but for Merfolk to compete in standard, I think you need cards that can effectively deal with things like Phoenix.
I don't know what cards that would be. The gap filler doesn't have to be a Merfolk, it could be any creature type or any non-creature spell. Maybe Incubation // Incongruity? With cards like Kumena on the field, a 3/3 isn't a problem, and in other stages, digging for more merfolk is a fine idea.
imo merfolk needs to get out of the curious obsession business. Don't get me wrong I like Dive Down but we might as well be mono-u tempo if we try to go that direction.
I do think incubation // incongruity is good idea.
Also, imo Zegana does it's best in a deck focus around counters, seems to be really dangerous in climb decks(temur/simic), but you have to sink a lot of mana into.
I think Quasiduplicate can be a good card in a merfolk deck and that reclamation sage can be a good card in the sideboard.
"To keep things 100, anything I state is an opinion and not intended to be a fact. Any and all suggestions I give are a 100% opinion. If you need further clarification take the conversation to a PM. I am not in the business of assuming things. I'm only interested in 1 business and that business serves 2 things, Cold L's and Hot Dub's."
If its relevent, I feel like aggro decks need to either be crqzy fast or play some counters main. The new temur reclaimatoin combo deck is really good and control board wipes are always solid too so i think some number of counters is a must
alrite here is a merfolk list that 5-0'd. Guess we know the deck has what it takes.
I'm kinda surprised at the sideboard, no planeswalker, just more utility, no sleeps either. After reading so many scg articles hmm a lot of things to think about when looking at this deck.
"To keep things 100, anything I state is an opinion and not intended to be a fact. Any and all suggestions I give are a 100% opinion. If you need further clarification take the conversation to a PM. I am not in the business of assuming things. I'm only interested in 1 business and that business serves 2 things, Cold L's and Hot Dub's."
Curious Obsession/Dive Down is the way Merfolk succeeded before. Before the new set arrived, it was just inferior to mono-blue with a flying X/4 finisher. Breeding Pool helps the UG deck catch up a bit, but for Merfolk to compete in standard, I think you need cards that can effectively deal with things like Phoenix.
I don't know what cards that would be. The gap filler doesn't have to be a Merfolk, it could be any creature type or any non-creature spell. Maybe Incubation // Incongruity? With cards like Kumena on the field, a 3/3 isn't a problem, and in other stages, digging for more merfolk is a fine idea.
Incongruity is good. Until the new set I used Waterknot in SB for pesky resurrecting birds and token-making Angels, among other things.
imo merfolk needs to get out of the curious obsession business. Don't get me wrong I like Dive Down but we might as well be mono-u tempo if we try to go that direction.
I do think incubation // incongruity is good idea.
Also, imo Zegana does it's best in a deck focus around counters, seems to be really dangerous in climb decks(temur/simic), but you have to sink a lot of mana into.
I think Quasiduplicate can be a good card in a merfolk deck and that reclamation sage can be a good card in the sideboard.
Merfolk was using Obsession before mono-U Tempo was a thing. It's only just coming into its own compared to the tempo decks, thanks to the new set.
I run Quasi in my version of Tempo. I'd be MUCH happier if it would copy opponent's creatures, but it's still a nasty little surprise. I almost pitied the poor Drakes player whose drake I bounced with Exclusion Mage for four turns running, thanks to Quasi and a top-decked second Mage. (Great way to deal with the Niv monstrosity, too.) Matter of fact, I suggested it to Nikachu for his Arena mono-U build.
Reclamation Sage is substandard. It's weak and nontribal, so it doesn't jackpot Deeproot Waters or Elite or River Sneak, nor is it of use for Kumena. And it's only usable on your turn. I'd rather just run Naturalize.
What do you think about Zegana and using climb in the build somewhere with biomancer?
or do you think that version is to slow?
Climb is pretty sick on its own. I haven't messed around yet with Zegana, because I don't have any, but it looks like she could possibly be a good closer, even without the Adapt. I wouldn't run any more than a 2-of, though.
Reclamation Sage is substandard. It's weak and nontribal, so it doesn't jackpot Deeproot Waters or Elite or River Sneak, nor is it of use for Kumena. And it's only usable on your turn. I'd rather just run Naturalize.
"To keep things 100, anything I state is an opinion and not intended to be a fact. Any and all suggestions I give are a 100% opinion. If you need further clarification take the conversation to a PM. I am not in the business of assuming things. I'm only interested in 1 business and that business serves 2 things, Cold L's and Hot Dub's."
Can you post me a list of what you would run right now in a FNM? I'm gonna build it.
I haven't gotten around to updating my mer designs yet; I've been in Arena like a kid in a candy store. I was also highly disappointed in GRN merfolkwise, what with the lack of any Simic cards.
I'll see what I can come up with soon. However, I have been monkeying with Riptide, my mono-blue tempo deck. It's fully updated now, and it's one of the two decks I use regularly on Arena (the other being Golgari midrange, which I've been having a great time with). A link to it is in my siggy. It's a solid budget deck, particularly if you have cards from the Merfolk decks using earlier sets.
Just as a quick take, I'm not a big fan of counter-based decks (+1/+1, not spells). It's too easy for opponent to waste your work when the meta is so full of disruption.
I've been having a lot of success on Arena with a Tempo-Flash Merfolk deck, just went 7-1 this morning. Entrancing Melody is in a really great spot right now what with people going Krasis mad, plus it acts as a nice tempo tool to round out the Trickster & Weaver package. The flexibility that Swift Warden and Trickster give you when paired with your counter spells also makes the deck very dynamic to play.
The land package could still use some work though as it feels like I could slot something with utility in there somehow.
Field of Ruin is useful enough to maindeck. I could see sideboarding a Detection Tower if you run into a lot of mono-green or Golgari. (Hi Carny & Ferox.)
Yeah I've had Field of ruin in before and it performed well for taking out Azcanta. Got a 7-0 again today and I'm working casually on the sideboard techs so far to graduate the deck into the new Bo3 Arena tournaments. So far I've got:
3 Fountain of Renewal - Much required lifegain for against mono red burn.
2 Slimebind - Surprisingly effective at shutting down both evasive threats such as Thief of Sanity or problematic beaters.
2 Negate - Straight swap for Quench once you know what you are trying to counter
3 Disdainful Stroke - Upgrade for Spell Pierce in the Sultai/Golgari match
1 Selective Snare - Token hate
Feels like i need something to hate on control post-sideboard though with the remaining slots, Frilled Mystic has my eye there but it'll take me a few days to build up enough copies on Arena. Thinking you'd go -3 Entrancing Melody, -3 Watertap Weaver, -2 Quench. +2 Negate, +3 Frilled Mystic, +3 Disdainful Stroke.
Then maybe have the last slot as a Field of Ruin...
Yeah I've had Field of ruin in before and it performed well for taking out Azcanta.
Or other fliplands, or if opponent is goofy enough to try to enchant one of his nonbasic lands...pop Field in response and suddenly the enchantment has no target.
I prefer Waterknot or Deep Freeze to Slimebind to deal with big threats. They're a little more expensive but closer to a total shutdown. If you hate Niv-Mizzet or Tocatli Honor Guard or some other nasty creature ability, Deep Freeze is for you. Waterknot will neutralize most of the big boys but leave abilities intact. Sentinel Totem can handle reanimator decks, Conjecture, turn III Eldest Reborn, or Mission Briefing, screw Undergrowth, or delay an Azcanta flip if necessary. It all depends on your meta.
Slowly grinding up the Arena rankings (Mid gold currently). The deck definitely struggles with control post side-board as all the anti-aggro tech comes in. In particular Esper gives this deck a hard time with all of blacks -2/-2 removal and stall from white via Hero of Precinct One or Dawn of Hope.
While the win rate is certainly respectable for Flash Merfolk, it feels like there is still a lot of room for further development. In particular, with such a removal heavy meta it's hard to make best use out of Kumena and Merfolk Mistbinder. It's particularly tempting to replace Mistbinder for River Heralds' Boon since you'll get similar power boost on your average field, yet also be able counter-play much of the removal that's floating around.
Played Levy's deck to a 3-1 finish tonight. Might have gone 4-0 if I were a better player. Vs. mono white one turn I attacked for a net 19 damage. But I had forgotten to get a couple merfolk tokens the previous turn so I would have threatened lethal and that would have converted the game in my favor. Lost 1-2.
The other 3 matches were Gates, Izzet Drakes and Jank. Beat them all soundly.
Played Levy's deck to a 3-1 finish tonight. Might have gone 4-0 if I were a better player. Vs. mono white one turn I attacked for a net 19 damage. But I had forgotten to get a couple merfolk tokens the previous turn so I would have threatened lethal and that would have converted the game in my favor. Lost 1-2.
The other 3 matches were Gates, Izzet Drakes and Jank. Beat them all soundly.
The deck list change you made in your second post changed your first post so the list in the first post is no longer Levy's.
His list is the real deal. Listening to how he played in certain situation was very helpful. Though I don't know how well his list would fair against mono red. Going to test it out this Saturday my self. Nikachu also has a new list going around running Curious Obsession, Siren Stormtamer, and Herald. Levy's is likely more consistent for better pilots and Nikachu's is probably better for worse pilots. Just my two cents.
Can confirm Levy's list is quite good in the meta. Last night on Platinum Arena ranked went 5-2 in bo3.
This deck beats midrange decks like Sultai (barring multiple wildgrowth walkers and multiple hostage takers).
It has the aggro to run down mono blue (though they will still get their blazing fast tempo starts to beat you) and mono white.
And has the post board counterspells with aggression to hang with esper control and nexus combo. Kumena + Deeproot Elite + Deeproot Waters + Benthic Biomancer is such an engine and is very hard to opposing midrange/aggro decks without tons and tons of spot removal to deal with. Even still, Incubation finds your pieces again and you just keep doing the Kumena thing until they are overwhelmed.
I think the SB needs adjusted as the meta adjusts. Kraul Harpooner is amazing against mono blue but not sure I want a card only good in 1-2 matchups that heavily on the board.
I run a similar list to Levy's. What do you think about Vivien, Champion of the Wilds? Does it has a spot in the mainboard or in the side? Beacause in the side especially versus control seems very good.
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4 mist-cloaked herald
1 benthic biomancer
4 merfolk branchwalker
4 merfolk mistbinder
3 river sneak
2 deeproot elite
1 kumena, tyrant of orazca
4 curious obsession
2 applied biomancy
2 spell pierce
1 quench
2 repudiate // replicate
4 hinterland harbor
4 breeding pool
7 island
5 forest
2 unclaimed territory
2 sleep
3 kraul harpooner
1 spell pierce
2 essence capture
2 quench
1 hadana's climb
4 ---
I think the list looks really clean. I'll probably try something similar to this for a while and see how it goes.
UB Dralnu, Lich Lord
RBW [Primer]-Kaalia of the Vast
BUG [Primer]-Tasigur, the Golden Fang
GWU [Primer]-Arcades, the Strategist
WUB Primer-Aminatou, the Fateshifter
UBR Nicol Bolas, the Ravager
I don't know what cards that would be. The gap filler doesn't have to be a Merfolk, it could be any creature type or any non-creature spell. Maybe Incubation // Incongruity? With cards like Kumena on the field, a 3/3 isn't a problem, and in other stages, digging for more merfolk is a fine idea.
I do think incubation // incongruity is good idea.
Also, imo Zegana does it's best in a deck focus around counters, seems to be really dangerous in climb decks(temur/simic), but you have to sink a lot of mana into.
I think Quasiduplicate can be a good card in a merfolk deck and that reclamation sage can be a good card in the sideboard.
-Stay Frosty
I'm kinda surprised at the sideboard, no planeswalker, just more utility, no sleeps either. After reading so many scg articles hmm a lot of things to think about when looking at this deck.
4 Breeding Pool
5 Forest
4 Hinterland Harbor
5 Island
4 Unclaimed Territory
Creatures (28)
4 Benthic Biomancer
4 Deeproot Elite
4 Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca
4 Kumena's Speaker
4 Merfolk Mistbinder
4 Merfolk Trickster
4 Silvergill Adept
4 Incubation // Incongruity
2 Spell Pierce
4 Deeproot Waters
2 Crushing Canopy
2 Dive Down
4 Negate
2 Shapers' Sanctuary
2 Tempest Caller
3 Vineshaper Mystic
-Stay Frosty
Incongruity is good. Until the new set I used Waterknot in SB for pesky resurrecting birds and token-making Angels, among other things.
Standard: Fileted By Fish (UG aggro Merfolk), A Fine Kettle of Fish (UG swarm Merfolk), The Deep Blue Sea-People II (Umidrange Merfolk/Wizards),
Greek Fire (UR Wizards), Riptide (U Tempo)
Merfolk was using Obsession before mono-U Tempo was a thing. It's only just coming into its own compared to the tempo decks, thanks to the new set.
I run Quasi in my version of Tempo. I'd be MUCH happier if it would copy opponent's creatures, but it's still a nasty little surprise. I almost pitied the poor Drakes player whose drake I bounced with Exclusion Mage for four turns running, thanks to Quasi and a top-decked second Mage. (Great way to deal with the Niv monstrosity, too.) Matter of fact, I suggested it to Nikachu for his Arena mono-U build.
Reclamation Sage is substandard. It's weak and nontribal, so it doesn't jackpot Deeproot Waters or Elite or River Sneak, nor is it of use for Kumena. And it's only usable on your turn. I'd rather just run Naturalize.
Standard: Fileted By Fish (UG aggro Merfolk), A Fine Kettle of Fish (UG swarm Merfolk), The Deep Blue Sea-People II (Umidrange Merfolk/Wizards),
Greek Fire (UR Wizards), Riptide (U Tempo)
or do you think that version is to slow?
Climb is pretty sick on its own. I haven't messed around yet with Zegana, because I don't have any, but it looks like she could possibly be a good closer, even without the Adapt. I wouldn't run any more than a 2-of, though.
Standard: Fileted By Fish (UG aggro Merfolk), A Fine Kettle of Fish (UG swarm Merfolk), The Deep Blue Sea-People II (Umidrange Merfolk/Wizards),
Greek Fire (UR Wizards), Riptide (U Tempo)
it's all sideboard tech at the end of the day.
-Stay Frosty
I haven't gotten around to updating my mer designs yet; I've been in Arena like a kid in a candy store. I was also highly disappointed in GRN merfolkwise, what with the lack of any Simic cards.
I'll see what I can come up with soon. However, I have been monkeying with Riptide, my mono-blue tempo deck. It's fully updated now, and it's one of the two decks I use regularly on Arena (the other being Golgari midrange, which I've been having a great time with). A link to it is in my siggy. It's a solid budget deck, particularly if you have cards from the Merfolk decks using earlier sets.
Just as a quick take, I'm not a big fan of counter-based decks (+1/+1, not spells). It's too easy for opponent to waste your work when the meta is so full of disruption.
Standard: Fileted By Fish (UG aggro Merfolk), A Fine Kettle of Fish (UG swarm Merfolk), The Deep Blue Sea-People II (Umidrange Merfolk/Wizards),
Greek Fire (UR Wizards), Riptide (U Tempo)
The land package could still use some work though as it feels like I could slot something with utility in there somehow.
4 Breeding Pool
4 Hinterland Harbor
2 Unclaimed Territory
6 Forest
6 Island
4 Kumena's Speaker
4 Merfolk Mistbinder
4 Deeproot Warrior
3 Merfolk Trickster
3 Silvergill Adept
4 Swift Warden
3 Watertrap Weaver
3 Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca
2 Hadana's Climb
Spells (8)
3 Spell Pierce
3 Entrancing Melody
2 Quench
Standard: Fileted By Fish (UG aggro Merfolk), A Fine Kettle of Fish (UG swarm Merfolk), The Deep Blue Sea-People II (Umidrange Merfolk/Wizards),
Greek Fire (UR Wizards), Riptide (U Tempo)
3 Fountain of Renewal - Much required lifegain for against mono red burn.
2 Slimebind - Surprisingly effective at shutting down both evasive threats such as Thief of Sanity or problematic beaters.
2 Negate - Straight swap for Quench once you know what you are trying to counter
3 Disdainful Stroke - Upgrade for Spell Pierce in the Sultai/Golgari match
1 Selective Snare - Token hate
Feels like i need something to hate on control post-sideboard though with the remaining slots, Frilled Mystic has my eye there but it'll take me a few days to build up enough copies on Arena. Thinking you'd go -3 Entrancing Melody, -3 Watertap Weaver, -2 Quench. +2 Negate, +3 Frilled Mystic, +3 Disdainful Stroke.
Then maybe have the last slot as a Field of Ruin...
Or other fliplands, or if opponent is goofy enough to try to enchant one of his nonbasic lands...pop Field in response and suddenly the enchantment has no target.
I prefer Waterknot or Deep Freeze to Slimebind to deal with big threats. They're a little more expensive but closer to a total shutdown. If you hate Niv-Mizzet or Tocatli Honor Guard or some other nasty creature ability, Deep Freeze is for you. Waterknot will neutralize most of the big boys but leave abilities intact. Sentinel Totem can handle reanimator decks, Conjecture, turn III Eldest Reborn, or Mission Briefing, screw Undergrowth, or delay an Azcanta flip if necessary. It all depends on your meta.
Standard: Fileted By Fish (UG aggro Merfolk), A Fine Kettle of Fish (UG swarm Merfolk), The Deep Blue Sea-People II (Umidrange Merfolk/Wizards),
Greek Fire (UR Wizards), Riptide (U Tempo)
While the win rate is certainly respectable for Flash Merfolk, it feels like there is still a lot of room for further development. In particular, with such a removal heavy meta it's hard to make best use out of Kumena and Merfolk Mistbinder. It's particularly tempting to replace Mistbinder for River Heralds' Boon since you'll get similar power boost on your average field, yet also be able counter-play much of the removal that's floating around.
4 Breeding Pool
4 Forest
4 Hinterland Harbor
4 Island
4 Unclaimed Territory
4 Benthic Biomancer
4 Kumena's Speaker
4 Jadelight Ranger
4 Deeproot Elite
4 Merfolk Mistbinder
4 Merfolk Trickster
4 Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca
Spells (8)
4 Incubation // Incongruity
4 Deeproot Waters
Numbers may be off, sideboard not published yet.
Lands (20)
4 Breeding Pool
4 Forest
4 Hinterland Harbor
4 Island
4 Unclaimed Territory
4 Benthic Biomancer
4 Jadelight Ranger
4 Merfolk Mistbinder
4 Merfolk Trickster
4 Silvergill Adept
4 Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca
2 Spell Pierce
4 Growth Spiral
4 Simic Ascendancy
2 Wilderness Reclamation
4 Deeproot Waters
This deck is heavily about going crazy with Simic Ascendancy, but you can also just swarm kill.
The other 3 matches were Gates, Izzet Drakes and Jank. Beat them all soundly.
The deck list change you made in your second post changed your first post so the list in the first post is no longer Levy's.
His list is the real deal. Listening to how he played in certain situation was very helpful. Though I don't know how well his list would fair against mono red. Going to test it out this Saturday my self. Nikachu also has a new list going around running Curious Obsession, Siren Stormtamer, and Herald. Levy's is likely more consistent for better pilots and Nikachu's is probably better for worse pilots. Just my two cents.
This deck beats midrange decks like Sultai (barring multiple wildgrowth walkers and multiple hostage takers).
It has the aggro to run down mono blue (though they will still get their blazing fast tempo starts to beat you) and mono white.
And has the post board counterspells with aggression to hang with esper control and nexus combo. Kumena + Deeproot Elite + Deeproot Waters + Benthic Biomancer is such an engine and is very hard to opposing midrange/aggro decks without tons and tons of spot removal to deal with. Even still, Incubation finds your pieces again and you just keep doing the Kumena thing until they are overwhelmed.
I think the SB needs adjusted as the meta adjusts. Kraul Harpooner is amazing against mono blue but not sure I want a card only good in 1-2 matchups that heavily on the board.