I would really like to go to the OKC GP, I live 4 hours away but I have something going on Friday night until 10PM. It would either be a late night drive or early morning deal.. Not sure if i want to make the trip...
After being beat by B/W Tokens and Allys a few times now i'm thinking Echoing Truth is a must. Anyone else running across these decks? Tips on beating them?
The Tokens deck just runs the +1/+1 Enchantments out there and we cant do anything about it.
Is it just me or is burn a very, very hard matchup for us?
I personally have had good luck against burn. I even like to keep spreading seas in against them unlike what most say to SB out seas, but i feel that they dont draw much mana and we can take advantage of that easily. Watch Nikachus videos to give you some confidence as he destroys the burn match ups.
@Nikachu_ Do you have an updated list using Harbinger of the Tides? Im going to a PPTQ this Sat. im thinking about trying him out. Also when will we see Harbinger in some of your Merfolk in Modern videos?
Thanks!
@Nikachu_ Great job at GP Copenhagen! Cant wait to see some of the video feed and commentary. Now we all get to watch the fish prices jump and the stock run out. I really should have stocked up on some Wanderwines.... Also glad to hear you will be at the OKC GP. Hope to meet you there.
My first Modern tournament was Saturday a PPTQ. I switched to Merfolk from Soul Sisters. Im happy with my new fish deck although I didn't place well I enjoyed the experience. I know that a veteran Merfolk player would have easily gone 4-0 the first 4 as I went 2-2. Here is a rundown of my day.
Match 1 BW Tokens 0-1
Game 1 I knew my opponent, as he is a great Magic player in our area as he normally places top 4 in all the prereleases. I didn't allow this to bother me know that he is skilled and this is my first match. I had a great opening hand with spreading seas, a couple fish and mutavault. He quickly starts his force of discarding me. I had drawn 3 mutavaults and had them in play they really beat him up but I could not withstand the Zealous Persecutions and the flying spirits.
Game 2 Opening hand I have 2 vapor snags and a couple lords. I straight up over whelmed him early and drew all 4 snags removing the pesky tokens for the easy win
Game 3 It was a tough battle I have a great board Master of waves with 5 Elementals he had 3 soldiers. I swing with everything just thinking lets get this guy down to basically 1-2 life. Well I quickly learn Master of waves should not attack unless you are playing against red. He gang blocks the Elementals get through to him knocking him down to 2 health, Yep Master of waves dies board wipes. Here comes the Lingering Souls. I have 1 Vapor snag in hand too bad I didn’t have 2 for the win. It comes down to me drawing lands and he over whelms me with tokens again I could only get him to 1.
Match 2 Burn 1-1
Game 1 Knowing I would be in a Burn meta I have 3 Tidebinders and 2 Kiras Main boarded. This basically seals the deal. Opening hand I have 2 spreading seas I keep. I mana screw him early and Tidebinder his Goblin guides for the win.
Game 2 I boarded out the seas and went straight aggro. This worked well I fill the board and had a Kira in protect mode. Easily overwhelming him.
Match 3 Affinity 2-1
Game 1 Im thinking "Oh crap I didn’t want this match up." He starts strong playing 6 of 8 cards from his opener. I feel like im in trouble he has 2 LifeLinkers but he is not able to buff them! I was able to establish board control and swing in with Islandwalk after about 8 turns.
Game 2 Same start for him it looks like im in trouble but my opponent seemed frustrated in his draws. He had no Ravenger or Cranial Plating. I guess I had the Fish gods on my side this match.
Match 4 Scapeshift 2-2
Game 1 I did not test against this deck so I did not know what to expect. I should have used my vapor snags early to shut down his Sakura. He generated mana quick in this game although I had him a 3 life. He was able to pull off his combo.
Game 2 I came out strong Lords after Lords He had bad draws im guessing as he scooped rather quickly.
Game 3 Turn 1 he played Serrum Visions I really wanted to Pierce it to stop his draw but I decided not to… both cards went to the bottom. This would have been the game for me as I had the win 1 turn late. After playing against a deck that can ramp I really wish I had 2 remands in my SB. He could always pay for my Spell Peirce so it was pointless. I was able to delay 1 turn by making him pay the 2 mana to counter a spell but the next turn would be the scapeshift. Oh yea and DAM YOU Cryptic Command. I have a full board I drew all 4 Lord of Atlantis things was looking great and I got back to back Cryptics, key plays by him but im sure a skilled Merfolk player could have pulled this off.
Match 5 Infect 2-3
Game 1 I keep a worthless hand for some reason, 1 Curscatcher Island, Muta, Spell Pierce, 2 Spreading Seas. This game was over in 3 turns as he had somewhat of a god hand.
Game 2 Muligan to 5 because of 1 land and no gas, then no land, After the mulligan I draw 3 islands, Cursecatcher and aether vial. I didn’t want to go to 4. Draw after draw Island FLOOD. What can you do?
I asked my opponent to play a 3rd for fun
I draw perfect and start the island walk had vapor snags when he buffed his creatures the deck worked perfectly I get him to 1 health and vapor snag for the win.
Like I said above im sure an experienced Merfolk player would have mopped this one up. I will continue to practice and cant wait for the next one. I think my adjustments to this deck would be to add Remands and instead of Kira i would rather have played Monastery Siege against Infect and Scapeshift.
@LordAceX Your list is very close to what i'm taking to a PPTQ tomorrow. I will be main boarding both Kiras though to help with the burn that i will be facing. Also I would most defiantly remove one or two caverns. The caverns can screw your casting of Kiras and spell pierce at a crucial time in the match.. Just my 2cents.
Here is my list:
1 Cavern of Souls
14 Island
4 Mutavault
1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds
4 Aether Vial
4 Cursecatcher
2 Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
4 Lord of Atlantis
4 Master of the Pearl Trident
2 Master of Waves
4 Merrow Reejerey
2 Phantasmal Image
4 Silvergill Adept
2 Spell Pierce
4 Spreading Seas
4 Vapor Snag
I have been testing alot on Cockatrice and I feel like i have been screwed by Caverns more than i have used the non counter function of the card... I know Nikachu_ has mentioned removing it for Islands and now after being screwed my the card i feel this is a wise choice.
The Tokens deck just runs the +1/+1 Enchantments out there and we cant do anything about it.
Cosi's Trickster Seems pretty good against most decks other than Affinity. Not sure what i would remove though....
I should make it to GP OKC. Trying to talk a few friends on riding with me though...
I personally have had good luck against burn. I even like to keep spreading seas in against them unlike what most say to SB out seas, but i feel that they dont draw much mana and we can take advantage of that easily. Watch Nikachus videos to give you some confidence as he destroys the burn match ups.
Thanks!
15 Island
4 Mutavault
4 Aether Vial
4 Cursecatcher
2 Dismember
2 Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
4 Lord of Atlantis
4 Master of the Pearl Trident
3 Master of Waves
2 Merrow Reejerey
4 Silvergill Adept
2 Spell Pierce
4 Spreading Seas
3 Tidebinder Mage
2 Vapor Snag
2 Merrow Reejerey
2 Phantasmal Image
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Spell Pierce
2 Tectonic Edge
2 Vapor Snag
My first Modern tournament was Saturday a PPTQ. I switched to Merfolk from Soul Sisters. Im happy with my new fish deck although I didn't place well I enjoyed the experience. I know that a veteran Merfolk player would have easily gone 4-0 the first 4 as I went 2-2. Here is a rundown of my day.
Match 1 BW Tokens 0-1
Game 1 I knew my opponent, as he is a great Magic player in our area as he normally places top 4 in all the prereleases. I didn't allow this to bother me know that he is skilled and this is my first match. I had a great opening hand with spreading seas, a couple fish and mutavault. He quickly starts his force of discarding me. I had drawn 3 mutavaults and had them in play they really beat him up but I could not withstand the Zealous Persecutions and the flying spirits.
Game 2 Opening hand I have 2 vapor snags and a couple lords. I straight up over whelmed him early and drew all 4 snags removing the pesky tokens for the easy win
Game 3 It was a tough battle I have a great board Master of waves with 5 Elementals he had 3 soldiers. I swing with everything just thinking lets get this guy down to basically 1-2 life. Well I quickly learn Master of waves should not attack unless you are playing against red. He gang blocks the Elementals get through to him knocking him down to 2 health, Yep Master of waves dies board wipes. Here comes the Lingering Souls. I have 1 Vapor snag in hand too bad I didn’t have 2 for the win. It comes down to me drawing lands and he over whelms me with tokens again I could only get him to 1.
Match 2 Burn 1-1
Game 1 Knowing I would be in a Burn meta I have 3 Tidebinders and 2 Kiras Main boarded. This basically seals the deal. Opening hand I have 2 spreading seas I keep. I mana screw him early and Tidebinder his Goblin guides for the win.
Game 2 I boarded out the seas and went straight aggro. This worked well I fill the board and had a Kira in protect mode. Easily overwhelming him.
Match 3 Affinity 2-1
Game 1 Im thinking "Oh crap I didn’t want this match up." He starts strong playing 6 of 8 cards from his opener. I feel like im in trouble he has 2 LifeLinkers but he is not able to buff them! I was able to establish board control and swing in with Islandwalk after about 8 turns.
Game 2 Same start for him it looks like im in trouble but my opponent seemed frustrated in his draws. He had no Ravenger or Cranial Plating. I guess I had the Fish gods on my side this match.
Match 4 Scapeshift 2-2
Game 1 I did not test against this deck so I did not know what to expect. I should have used my vapor snags early to shut down his Sakura. He generated mana quick in this game although I had him a 3 life. He was able to pull off his combo.
Game 2 I came out strong Lords after Lords He had bad draws im guessing as he scooped rather quickly.
Game 3 Turn 1 he played Serrum Visions I really wanted to Pierce it to stop his draw but I decided not to… both cards went to the bottom. This would have been the game for me as I had the win 1 turn late. After playing against a deck that can ramp I really wish I had 2 remands in my SB. He could always pay for my Spell Peirce so it was pointless. I was able to delay 1 turn by making him pay the 2 mana to counter a spell but the next turn would be the scapeshift. Oh yea and DAM YOU Cryptic Command. I have a full board I drew all 4 Lord of Atlantis things was looking great and I got back to back Cryptics, key plays by him but im sure a skilled Merfolk player could have pulled this off.
Match 5 Infect 2-3
Game 1 I keep a worthless hand for some reason, 1 Curscatcher Island, Muta, Spell Pierce, 2 Spreading Seas. This game was over in 3 turns as he had somewhat of a god hand.
Game 2 Muligan to 5 because of 1 land and no gas, then no land, After the mulligan I draw 3 islands, Cursecatcher and aether vial. I didn’t want to go to 4. Draw after draw Island FLOOD. What can you do?
I asked my opponent to play a 3rd for fun
I draw perfect and start the island walk had vapor snags when he buffed his creatures the deck worked perfectly I get him to 1 health and vapor snag for the win.
Like I said above im sure an experienced Merfolk player would have mopped this one up. I will continue to practice and cant wait for the next one. I think my adjustments to this deck would be to add Remands and instead of Kira i would rather have played Monastery Siege against Infect and Scapeshift.
Here is my list:
1 Cavern of Souls
14 Island
4 Mutavault
1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds
4 Aether Vial
4 Cursecatcher
2 Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
4 Lord of Atlantis
4 Master of the Pearl Trident
2 Master of Waves
4 Merrow Reejerey
2 Phantasmal Image
4 Silvergill Adept
2 Spell Pierce
4 Spreading Seas
4 Vapor Snag
Sideboard:
2 Dismember
3 Hurkyl's Recall
1 Master of Waves
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Spell Pierce
2 Tectonic Edge
3 Tidebinder Mage