I have tested 2 Vivien, Champion of the Wilds in the main and it is indeed awesome against control and sometimes against aggro/midrange. I definitely think it warrants 2-3 slots at least in the SB though I hesitate to add in too many more non-counterspell cards in the board for the control matchup because Nexus is the deck to beat and I don't want to go below 10-12 counters for that m/u.
No, that setup is only good under golgari and sultai, and even then your more of an explore deck than a merfolk deck. Merfolk hasn't really changed much it still uses the same 3 lords and same concepts.
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The prime idea is to get lots of counters and then proliferate, Sleep, and kill. Also the card draw in here is insane. Looting forever from Biomancer, plus Silvergill, Kumena, and Seaclaim can often draw 3 cards at once. Even if you do get hit by a sweeper you can reload with a fistful of cards.
Smashed RG midrange in dozens of games, losing only to manascrew.
Can you all comment on [card]Merfolk Skydiver[/card[? Is a 2/2 flyer good as filler?
I've been working on a tempo version playing 4 Wizard's Retort and 3/3 Spell Pierce/Dive Down split. With only 1 real lord, Merfolk doesnt seem to have enough powerful aggro cards, so maybe midrange/tempo is a better role
I like it as a 2 copy card. It's not only a 2/2 flyer, but it can be a Jade bearer instead. But the reason for 2 copies is it really shines in the late game after you have 5 mana and some bodies with counters. Then it can start pumping things big and ending the game for you.
If you're doing Curious Obsession (which is the only reason to be playing so many Pierce and Dive Down), then more Skydivers makes sense.
-Stay Frosty
4 Benthic Biomancer
3 Jade Bearer
1 Mist-cloaked Herald
4 Deeproot Elite
2 Merfolk Skydiver
4 Merfolk Mistbinder
4 Merfolk Trickster
4 Silvergill Adept
3 Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca
2 Seafloor Oracle
1 Herald of Secret Streams
2 Deeproot Waters
2 Spell Pierce
2 Sleep
22 Lands
4 Breeding Pool
4 Hinterland Harbor
2 Unclaimed Territory
2 Karn's Bastion
6 Island
3 Forest
1 Gate
2 River's Rebuke
2 Kraul Harpooner
2 Surge Mare
2 Reclamation Sage
3 Wizard's Retort
4 Auras to take care of their creatures
The prime idea is to get lots of counters and then proliferate, Sleep, and kill. Also the card draw in here is insane. Looting forever from Biomancer, plus Silvergill, Kumena, and Seaclaim can often draw 3 cards at once. Even if you do get hit by a sweeper you can reload with a fistful of cards.
Smashed RG midrange in dozens of games, losing only to manascrew.
I've been working on a tempo version playing 4 Wizard's Retort and 3/3 Spell Pierce/Dive Down split. With only 1 real lord, Merfolk doesnt seem to have enough powerful aggro cards, so maybe midrange/tempo is a better role
If you're doing Curious Obsession (which is the only reason to be playing so many Pierce and Dive Down), then more Skydivers makes sense.
4 Mistcloaked Herald
4 Merfolk Skydiver
Pump
4 Icon of Ancestry
4 Merfolk Mistbinder
2 Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca
4 Benthic Biomancer
4 Merfolk Trickster
4 Silvergill Adept
4 Wizard's Retort
2 Essence Scatter
2 Sleep
4 Temple of Mystery
4 Breeding Pool
4 Hinterland Harbor
4 Island
2 Forest
2 Karn's Bastion