Glad to hear Birds are a workable substitute. I have a full playset of them, since I just rediscovered my old GW Hatebears cards I thought I'd lost years ago. I have a full set of Cavern thanks to being obsessed with tribal even when Avacyn first came out, and I have one Canopy. Anyone got any tips for building the Bant version? Planning to get good with UW Spirits first tho.
The turnout was lower than expercted, ended up being a 60 ppl tournament instead of the 100+ I immagined, so only 6 rounds. I brought a (now) stock Bant list with 3 vials, the deck was a blast to play as usual. In the end I opted to keep the 3 vials and add the third Thalia, Guardian of Thraben in the sb to counter the (expected) flood of GBx I mentioned a few posts above.
R1 Tron 2-1
G1 I put up a fast clock with Geist and a lord and get there.
G2 he does tron things with a t3 Karn and t4 Ulamog
G3 I Queller one map and counter the second one, he remains stuck on 2 lands and my lords help me get him before he manages to build up tron
R2 UR Breach 2-1
G1 fast clock plus disruption wins me the game
G2 he manages to control the game until a breach + Emkakuul
G3 replay of G1 plus counters and thalia to help
R3 Mirror 1-2
G1 lords+vial allowed me to grow a wanderer big enough to counter his coco and take over from there
G2 he has a decent hand plus I completely whiff on coco...
G3 It's a good fight with removal from both sides but he has more lords and blows me up in combat. Very nice match overall with very complex combat steps.
R4 Burn 2-0
G1 he gets me to 5 life but I get double captain and he cannot kill my guys anymore, I eventually have lethal in the air before he can draw enough burn to finish me off
G2 he mulls to 5 and floods
R5 Infect 2-0
G1 he has 3 elfs but not enough pump spells, I manage to go wide with coco and get enough blockers to avoid the 10 poisons. I eventually swing for lethal in the air
G2 I path the first Blighted Agent and queller the second, he doesn't draw any more creatures after that
R6 UR Wizards 1-2
G1 I go wide and block his burn with quellers and wanderers I then swing for lethal with the help of a couple of lords
G2 I get stuck on 3 lands with 2 cocos in hand while he slowly chips away one damage at a time with Soulscar Mage
G3 I have cavern to cast my spirits but no white source for my path so he eventually kills my guys and swing with 3 transformed delvers
I did not draw any of my 3 sideboard Thalias in either G2 or G3.
Ecept being a bit salty after R6 I think the deck is extremely solid and I had a ton of fun playing it. I believe Collected company makes Bant the superior version at the moment, the ability to rebuild after a sweeper is really valuable. On the other hand I am biased because I love the card so...
Nice! I wish I could afford Bant Spirits, but I'm too poor for a set of Hierarchs *weeps*.
Hey Team,
I'm new in MTG Salvation, newish to MTG again (I was into it during Invasion, took some time, bought a few packs of Shards, now I'm back) and as you can guess I'm getting into Modern by getting into Fish. I have a deck, but I'm wondering if anyone has any resources wrt current archetypes that I can read up on before bringing my deck to a FNM. (I watch Nikachu's awesome stuff when I can, and I'm only acquainted with how Tron and, like, 8-Whack Goblins works (and what cards they typically run).
Does anyone know where else I can primers for the big archetypes in modern right now so I can study up before walking into a FNM for the first time in 15 years with a Merfolk deck? Any info would be greatly appreciated!
-Shoebaccha
It depends on your LGS meta, but to give you an example, my LGS has multiple KCI, Burn, & Bridgevine players, Jeskai Midrange, Jeskai Control, Elves, another Merfolk player, RG Ponza, Eldrazi Tron, Affinity, BW 8 Rack, and Humans. Besides Merfolk, I run Death & Taxes and UW Spirits.
Generally if you hunt around the Modern forums here on MTG Salvation, you should be able to find a current tier list. One of the key questions you need to answer for yourself is whether you want to run Mono-U Merfolk, or Tropical (GU) Merfolk. Mono-U is much more tempo-oriented and requires good match-up knowledge, skill, and patience; Tropical is a bit more aggro, but has a larger variety of sideboard options and helps the deck have a more even playing field with some of the worst matchups for Mono-U, namely Affinity, and in my experience, KCI. I would recommend the below list from rothgar as a starting point for a customized Mono-U list and go from there.
Pretty simple stuff. Lots of land hate, lots of beef, and just enough interaction to make it all stick. If your meta is looking heavy on the BGx, Burn, and Tron, give this a spin.
Heading to FNM tonight with the list in my previous post, yay for not being sick any more~
EDIT
Tonight we had 17 players total in Modern, which was nice, but I got paired up with some of the worst matchups imo. Affinity, then KCI, 8 Rack (only match I won, redeemed myself from last week at least), and Burn.
I went 1-3 and placed dead last in FNM rankings, which was not a fun feeling, but at least I got to see some of my buddies again which was nice. Going to try Spirits for a bit, still trying to find a Modern deck to settle on.
Supreme Phantom is the reason why I consider UW spirit a tier 2 power deck right now, you should stick to 4x and never go lower than that. Check the paragraph about Supreme Phantom in the primer to clear your mind in case of doubts about its role in the deck
I'm skeptical about thalia in general, but thalia + remand looks a bit of a nonsense, cause my experience with remand says it's a tempo card you want to steal one turn, tick up vial and get to land your 3rd land drop to cast spell queller. Now 3x thalia mean to me you'll be casting remand for 3 mana instead of two( I'm assuming you re interested in playing thalia first). Is that still reasonable? I think there are better options for 3 mana in general.
Mutavault are so incredibly good now we've got 8 lords, they help so much to take chunks of life away from your opponent. I find them really critical to sustain your race against tron, control and titanshift. I can see them playing a major role in keeping the field planewalker-free against GBx decks. These take advantage by trading one for one and then slamming a PW to earn incremental value out of it. Having an animable land down prevents them from getting high with loyalty counters. I have recently moved to the 3-1 split muta/moorland haunt and I can say it's very reasonable.
As for your side,I have been testing Spirit of the Labyrinth and let me tell you it won't stop storm from going off, it's good vs control and ad nauseam, but I'd rather have Geist of Saint Traft against them aswell. Detention sphere isn't as good as echoing truth and Engineered Explosives because it's coming at sorcery speed and that's a really big downside once you get to master the instant speed nature of the deck.
This is my experience, have fun testing yourself!
Thanks so much for the advice! I'm too poor to afford Eng Explosives, but I already have a full set of Mutas and I'll look to getting Geist when I can. Not entirely sure what lands to replace with Mutas. Unfortunately I discovered I only have 3 Remand at the moment, so this is my updated list, based on what I own:
I just got destroyed at my FNM tonight running UG Merfolk, I got paired up with some of the worst matchups imo. Affinity, then KCI, 8 Rack (only match I won, redeemed myself from last week at least), and Burn.
Next week, I'm gonna bring ^ Spirits list to FNM, will report back then. Does anyone think it's safe/workable to cut lands down to 20 instead of 21?
So I'm almost done trading for and gathering the pieces for Azorious Spirits. I loooooove tribal decks and I play Death & Taxes and Merfolk, so I'm familiar with playing tempo, but wanted some advice for a n00b on what to keep in mind for spirits specifically, compared to my other tempo decks.
My LGS meta leans more towards control, but a lot of old players have started coming back, so there are more combo and aggro decks showing up. Off the top of my head, we have multiple Bridgevine players, Blue Moon, Ponza, 2 KCI, BW 8 Rack, Affinity, and Jeskai midrange for the FNM regulars.
It seems that in your meta the build with 3 Thalia, guardian of thraben could be very good. great against aggro and combo, still very useful against control. I think it might be better than the curious obsession gameplan, or than the version running nebelgast herald.
Thanks for the welcome and advice!
So I replaced Nebelgast with Thalia, here's my preliminary list:
Question, what're people's opinions on the core creatures for Tropical Fish? Having a huge amount of trouble trying to keep the deck to 60 right now while also having 4 Vials, 4 Seas, and 4 Peek.
So I'm almost done trading for and gathering the pieces for Azorious Spirits. I loooooove tribal decks and I play Death & Taxes and Merfolk, so I'm familiar with playing tempo, but wanted some advice for a n00b on what to keep in mind for spirits specifically, compared to my other tempo decks.
My LGS meta leans more towards control, but a lot of old players have started coming back, so there are more combo and aggro decks showing up. Off the top of my head, we have multiple Bridgevine players, Blue Moon, Ponza, 2 KCI, BW 8 Rack, Affinity, and Jeskai midrange for the FNM regulars.
Before I pass out for the night, gonna leave both my initial Tropical Fish list (based on cards I have available ATM) & a reworked monoblue Fish based on what I went up against today. Would love some input, thanks in advance fish fam~
Why Master of Waves if you're running UG?
Nice! I wish I could afford Bant Spirits, but I'm too poor for a set of Hierarchs *weeps*.
It depends on your LGS meta, but to give you an example, my LGS has multiple KCI, Burn, & Bridgevine players, Jeskai Midrange, Jeskai Control, Elves, another Merfolk player, RG Ponza, Eldrazi Tron, Affinity, BW 8 Rack, and Humans. Besides Merfolk, I run Death & Taxes and UW Spirits.
Generally if you hunt around the Modern forums here on MTG Salvation, you should be able to find a current tier list. One of the key questions you need to answer for yourself is whether you want to run Mono-U Merfolk, or Tropical (GU) Merfolk. Mono-U is much more tempo-oriented and requires good match-up knowledge, skill, and patience; Tropical is a bit more aggro, but has a larger variety of sideboard options and helps the deck have a more even playing field with some of the worst matchups for Mono-U, namely Affinity, and in my experience, KCI. I would recommend the below list from rothgar as a starting point for a customized Mono-U list and go from there.
Hope this helps!
Heading to FNM tonight with the list in my previous post, yay for not being sick any more~
EDIT
Tonight we had 17 players total in Modern, which was nice, but I got paired up with some of the worst matchups imo. Affinity, then KCI, 8 Rack (only match I won, redeemed myself from last week at least), and Burn.
I went 1-3 and placed dead last in FNM rankings, which was not a fun feeling, but at least I got to see some of my buddies again which was nice. Going to try Spirits for a bit, still trying to find a Modern deck to settle on.
Thanks so much for the advice! I'm too poor to afford Eng Explosives, but I already have a full set of Mutas and I'll look to getting Geist when I can. Not entirely sure what lands to replace with Mutas. Unfortunately I discovered I only have 3 Remand at the moment, so this is my updated list, based on what I own:
4 Drogskol Captain
4 Mausoleum Wanderer
2 Phantasmal Image
4 Rattlechains
4 Selfless Spirit
4 Spell Queller
4 Supreme Phantom
Lands
2 Cavern of Souls
4 Flooded Strand
2 Hallowed Fountain
4 Island
2 Moorland Haunt
2 Plains
1 Polluted Delta
4 Seachrome Coast
4 Aether Vial
4 Path to Exile
2 Peek
3 Remand
2 Azorius Herald
2 Eidolon of Rhetoric
2 Hindering Light
2 Kataki, War's Wage
2 Nebelgast Herald
3 Rest in Peace
2 Stony Silence
EDIT
I just got destroyed at my FNM tonight running UG Merfolk, I got paired up with some of the worst matchups imo. Affinity, then KCI, 8 Rack (only match I won, redeemed myself from last week at least), and Burn.
Next week, I'm gonna bring ^ Spirits list to FNM, will report back then. Does anyone think it's safe/workable to cut lands down to 20 instead of 21?
4 Kumena's Speaker
4 Lord of Atlantis
4 Master of the Pearl Trident
4 Merfolk Branchwalker
4 Merfolk Mistbinder
4 Merfolk Trickster
2 Merrow Reejerey
4 Silvergill Adept
Lands
4 Botanical Sanctum
2 Breeding Pool
2 Cavern of Souls
4 Flooded Strand
4 Island
2 Mutavault
2 Polluted Delta
4 Aether Vial
2 Spell Pierce
4 Spreading Seas
2 Ceremonious Rejection
2 Dispel
3 Echoing Truth
4 Natural State
3 Relic of Progenitus
2 Surgical Extraction
Thanks for the welcome and advice!
So I replaced Nebelgast with Thalia, here's my preliminary list:
4 Drogskol Captain
4 Mausoleum Wanderer
2 Phantasmal Image
4 Rattlechains
4 Selfless Spirit
4 Spell Queller
2 Supreme Phantom
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
Lands
2 Cavern of Souls
4 Flooded Strand
2 Hallowed Fountain
4 Island
2 Moorland Haunt
2 Plains
1 Polluted Delta
4 Seachrome Coast
4 Aether Vial
4 Path to Exile
4 Remand
2 Azorius Herald
2 Detention Sphere
2 Eidolon of Rhetoric
2 Kataki, War's Wage
3 Rest in Peace
2 Spirit of the Labyrinth
2 Stony Silence
Any suggestions/advice? Thanks a ton!
My LGS meta leans more towards control, but a lot of old players have started coming back, so there are more combo and aggro decks showing up. Off the top of my head, we have multiple Bridgevine players, Blue Moon, Ponza, 2 KCI, BW 8 Rack, Affinity, and Jeskai midrange for the FNM regulars.
Thanks for the tips, ghost-senpais~
Looking forward to joining the spirit fam!
On a random note, any tips for the Blue Moon matchup? Got smoked by em last FNM with my monoblue fish, surprisingly.
2 Jungleborn Pioneer
3 Kumena's Speaker
4 Lord of Atlantis
4 Master of the Pearl Trident
4 Merfolk Mistbinder
4 Merfolk Trickster
2 Merrow Reejerey
3 Mistcaller
4 Silvergill Adept
3 Botanical Sanctum
2 Breeding Pool
4 Cavern of Souls
6 Island
2 Mutavault
3 Polluted Delta
Other
4 Aether Vial
4 Spreading Seas
2 Unified Will
2 Echoing Truth
2 Heroic Intervention
2 Kopala, Warden of Waves
3 Natural State
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Shapers' Sanctuary
2 Surgical Extraction
4 Lord of Atlantis
3 Master of Waves
4 Master of the Pearl Trident
4 Merfolk Trickster
2 Merrow Reejerey
4 Mistcaller
3 Phantasmal Image
4 Silvergill Adept
2 Cavern of Souls
12 Island
4 Mutavault
2 Wanderwine Hub
Other
4 Aether Vial
4 Peek
4 Spreading Seas
2 Ceremonious Rejection
2 Echoing Truth
2 Hurkyl's Recall
2 Kopala, Warden of Waves
2 Relic of Progenitus
1 Sea's Claim
2 Surgical Extraction
2 Unified Will