I thought Animate Dead works on Akroma. Since all abilities are non-existent in the graveyard, Animate Dead targets Akroma, checks for legality then resolves, and once Akroma hits the battlefield her protection kicks in and doesn't allow Animate Dead to attach, so you get Akroma out for free.
With 8 tutors and SDT you should be able to get out Sneak Attack when you want it and any mob you want.
Pyroclasm and Infest are awsome/cheap board sweepers, StP/PtE is needed spot removal for anything infest/pyro can't take out. Thoughtseize and Gerard's Verdict is added black disruption.
Mox Diamond is just added acceleration dunno how well it'd actually help might want to replace it with Lotus Petal.
At it's best I was able to do well against White Stax, MBA and MUC builds, pre-countertop Thresh was no problem and neither was Zoo, although aggro Elves and Gobs were too fast to lock against.
This is the newest list the older list played 8 more blue cards for FoW but now that its only 11 I might drop FoW or blue all together for a G/W build. This latest build hasn't been tested yet.
I see Black Vise and Stripmine in the same light. You shouldn't get punished so easily for taking a turn aka playing the game. Not saying all land destruction should be banned or restricted but if it gets to a point where you can't do basic functions like putting down a land or having a decent sized hand somethings wrong.
I want an explanation at least on why you all choose not to include Sunken City and Unstable Mutation?
Is Honor Of The Pure a terrible card? It seems to be under your judgements. Why does it cost $20 if it's so horrible? Sunken City is damn nearly the identical thing and it's the only thing blue has that compares. So what is wrong with Sunken City please explain?
Fair enough. Lets do a REAL comparison of the two. Lets see what they share in common.
They both give +1/+1 to creatures, and that's the only thing they have in common.
Honor of the Pure Costs W1 thus making it EASIER to cast out in multi-colored decks giving it a flexibility that Sunken City does not have.
Now you're probably thinking "Well that's stupid Merfolks gonna be 1 color anyway I don't see that as an issue." well, this IS the COMPETITIVE sub-forums, so our threats are FAR different then the casual circuit and because of that we may run Wasteland or Rishadan Port or Mutavault" target="blank">Mutavault. My point is we won't be running 100% islands and that 2 UU might be a problem. NOW Blue does have solutions to some of those issues, but now you're over compensating for a measly +1/+1 with additional card slots and taking AWAY from it's focus and over con volute the deck.
Now correct me if I'm wrong Sunken City gives ALL blue creatures the bonus right? So in a mirror match, hell in any match that has blue you're purposely giving your opponent an edge, and that pretty much defeats the purpose, right? Right. Cause Honor of the Pure only supports your creatures not the opponents.
Lastly... upkeep. For +1/+1 UU is a KILLER, so assuming you pull it out on turn 2, turn 3 you're gonna be left with 1 mana while your opponent is gonna have all 3 or 4 to play with... not worth slowing down a deck thats meant to be fast for such minimal gain.
Maybe I am blind is Sunken City not identical to Bad Moon and Crusade.
I think you might be cause those do not have upkeeps. But let me ask you now, using my POX example what would you play since you're running Wasteland for POX. Cursade or Honor of the Pure?
I hope by now you're beginning to see its value atleast in standard.
I bet you're all going to say Sunken City is amazing now or something? Placed 8th out of 41 with 4 maindeck Sunken City and 4 maindeck Unstable Mutation?
Instead of discounting what I say because of my username maybe listen to me instead? And hear me out.
Go ahead and ignore me if you want but it's right there he top 8'd with a Merfolk deck running 4 Sunken City and 4 Unstable Mutation.
Yes, TOP 8 in a tournament that took place close to 2 years ago, and the meta has changed quite a bit during that time. And people probably weren't realizing the power of Tarmogoyf" target="blank">Tarmogoyf at the time, no I know they weren't. Try finding something recent with Merfolks and lets look at the list.
I run a very unorthodox POX deck, called Poxicide deck (POX + Suicide) and its extremely effective, but since you're building a much more traditional POX control I don't think I can be as much help to you, but I'll throw out my couple of cents. I know Nether Spirit is a great recurring threat but one SoP or Vindicate its out. Why not take out your Nether Spirits for Haunting Echoes? You have so much hand disruption this would be the icing on the cake, and guarantee'd victory against stuff like Landstill, Septor Chant and Thres. And with your Moxes and Black Rituals, it shouldn't be that hard to pull out.
If you want to go more of a creature route, there's a great synergy between Dark Confidant and Sensei's Divining Top and since your deck is very low casting, Bob shouldn't be that big of a deal. And POX is an OCS (One Card Solution) type of deck. So the Divining Top on its own can help you draw out what you need, when you need it, even without Bob.
And if you get countered lock'd Consume Spirit is a great alternative or even something like Vampiric Touch. But since you run Racks and what not, you probably don't need it lol.
Once I'm done playtesting a few new things I'll post up my POX variant.
Edit: Oops I forgot one thing, I played Noetic Scales for awhile with pretty good success, its awsome against Gobs, make them draw back their gobs just to have them discarded. Awsome.
Or did they recently change the ruling on that?
I'd remove Recurring Nightmare, Through the Breach, Fling, Symbiotic Wurm, Academy Rector and Serra Avatar maybe lower Blazing Shoal to 2 or 3.
I'd add +1 Kokusho, the Evening Star +4Swords to Plowshares/Path to Exile, +4Thoughtseize,+3 Gerrard's Verdict +3 Infest or Pyroclasm +2-3Sensei's Divining Top" target="blank">Sensei's Divining Top, +4 Mox Diamond
With 8 tutors and SDT you should be able to get out Sneak Attack when you want it and any mob you want.
Pyroclasm and Infest are awsome/cheap board sweepers, StP/PtE is needed spot removal for anything infest/pyro can't take out. Thoughtseize and Gerard's Verdict is added black disruption.
Mox Diamond is just added acceleration dunno how well it'd actually help might want to replace it with Lotus Petal.
EDIT: I think Inkwell Leviathan" target="blank">Inkwell Leviathan and Havoc Demon" target="blank">Havoc Demon might be nice additions.
At it's best I was able to do well against White Stax, MBA and MUC builds, pre-countertop Thresh was no problem and neither was Zoo, although aggro Elves and Gobs were too fast to lock against.
This is the newest list the older list played 8 more blue cards for FoW but now that its only 11 I might drop FoW or blue all together for a G/W build. This latest build hasn't been tested yet.
4 Tropical Island
2 The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale
2 Savannah
3 Polluted Delta
5 Island
1 Eternal Dragon
3 Swords to Plowshares
2 Stifle
2 Sensei's Divining Top
2 Propaganda
4 Mesmeric Orb
2 Gaea's Blessing
4 Force of Will
4 Enlightened Tutor
2 Disenchant
3 Daze
2 Crucible of Worlds
3 Argivian Find
Fair enough. Lets do a REAL comparison of the two. Lets see what they share in common.
They both give +1/+1 to creatures, and that's the only thing they have in common.
Honor of the Pure Costs W1 thus making it EASIER to cast out in multi-colored decks giving it a flexibility that Sunken City does not have.
Now you're probably thinking "Well that's stupid Merfolks gonna be 1 color anyway I don't see that as an issue." well, this IS the COMPETITIVE sub-forums, so our threats are FAR different then the casual circuit and because of that we may run Wasteland or Rishadan Port or Mutavault" target="blank">Mutavault. My point is we won't be running 100% islands and that 2 UU might be a problem. NOW Blue does have solutions to some of those issues, but now you're over compensating for a measly +1/+1 with additional card slots and taking AWAY from it's focus and over con volute the deck.
NOW you might ask yourself this "Just run all blue you don't need those other types of lands." Now if I'm playing a POX player and he has out Mishra's Factory a swamp and Volrath's Stronghold and then plays Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth" target="blank">Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth What's gonna be more important +1/+1 or Wasteland? Exactly.
Now correct me if I'm wrong Sunken City gives ALL blue creatures the bonus right? So in a mirror match, hell in any match that has blue you're purposely giving your opponent an edge, and that pretty much defeats the purpose, right? Right. Cause Honor of the Pure only supports your creatures not the opponents.
Lastly... upkeep. For +1/+1 UU is a KILLER, so assuming you pull it out on turn 2, turn 3 you're gonna be left with 1 mana while your opponent is gonna have all 3 or 4 to play with... not worth slowing down a deck thats meant to be fast for such minimal gain.
Is there anything else you want to know?
I think you might be cause those do not have upkeeps. But let me ask you now, using my POX example what would you play since you're running Wasteland for POX. Cursade or Honor of the Pure?
I hope by now you're beginning to see its value atleast in standard.
Yes, TOP 8 in a tournament that took place close to 2 years ago, and the meta has changed quite a bit during that time. And people probably weren't realizing the power of Tarmogoyf" target="blank">Tarmogoyf at the time, no I know they weren't. Try finding something recent with Merfolks and lets look at the list.
If you want to go more of a creature route, there's a great synergy between Dark Confidant and Sensei's Divining Top and since your deck is very low casting, Bob shouldn't be that big of a deal. And POX is an OCS (One Card Solution) type of deck. So the Divining Top on its own can help you draw out what you need, when you need it, even without Bob.
And if you get countered lock'd Consume Spirit is a great alternative or even something like Vampiric Touch. But since you run Racks and what not, you probably don't need it lol.
Once I'm done playtesting a few new things I'll post up my POX variant.
Edit: Oops I forgot one thing, I played Noetic Scales for awhile with pretty good success, its awsome against Gobs, make them draw back their gobs just to have them discarded. Awsome.