Modern Merfolk Primer
Many thanks to Brentane for the sweet banner.
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Why Merfolk?
- Links
- Modern Merfolk Core Decklist
- Preferred Card Choices
- Experimental Card Choices
- Budget Options
- How to use your Aether Vial
- To Splash, or not to Splash?
- Matchups and Sideboarding
- Sample Decklists
Introduction:
Merfolk (also known as Fish) is a -based tempo deck with a strong aggro secondary element that is built around tribal synergies. Merfolk is a mostly fair deck, with most iterations striking a balance between being linear and proactive, and being interactive and reactive. It employs lots of cheap, efficient creatures along with Aether Vial and some catchall disruption in order to overwhelm its opponents. For a more thorough (though somewhat outdated) overview of the Merfolk deck, check out Merfolk Joe's Guide to Modern Merfolk video series.
Why Merfolk?
Here are some reasons why you might consider Merfolk as the deck for you:
- Versatility – oftentimes in Modern, a deck has to choose between being fast and aggressive or being able to disrupt its opponents. Not so for Merfolk – you can often do both at the same time, especially with an Aether Vial on the table. We can play the aggro game, we can focus on disrupting our opponent and being more of a tempo deck, or even build up into a big bomb that blows open a stagnant board state, midrange-style.
- Competitiveness – in a format as wide-open as Modern, a deck that performs well against the field is potent. Merfolk has very few outright bad matchups (mostly artifact-based decks), and plenty of matchups that are 50/50 or better. This makes it a strong choice for all-comers tournaments.
- Nuance – you wouldn’t think that an aggressive deck that relies on creatures is all that difficult to pilot, but Merfolk has several different lines of play available to it. This is most often the case when you have to choose between allocating your resources toward disrupting your opponent's gameplan or committing to advancing your own. Recent sets have also provided us with an interesting lineup of creatures that both disrupt the opponent and provide on-tribe bodies to project our Lord effects on.
- Resilience – there are a lot of decks out there that require a certain type of hand in order to be successful, and have to mulligan if they don't have it. Merfolk obviously can’t overcome a total lack of lands and/or creatures, but the deck is pretty resistant to mulligans overall. Furthermore, the deck has proven to be capable of overcoming disruption, even disruption specifically tailored against it.
Links:
Here are a few links you can check out if you want more Merfolk content.
Nikachu's YouTube Channel – Nikachu is a very seasoned Merfolk player that has a deep repository of videos you can peruse to get up to speed on how to play Merfolk.
Merfolk Joe's YouTube Channel – Merfolk_Joe is another seasoned Merfolk player, and he has some very polished and informative videos of Merfolk in Modern.
LordMajicus' YouTube Channel – LordMajicus is a veteran Merfolk pilot that runs both stock and innovative lists on Magic Online.
The seer's YouTube Channel – Here is another channel with one of our fellow Merfolk players testing the deck against the field.
MagicMaxe's YouTube Channel – This channel has videos of paper matches for Merfolk for both Modern and Legacy.
FishMTG Subreddit – An entire subreddit community focusing on Merfolk decks. Some alternative discussion to be found here.
Petr Sochurek's Merfolk primer – Petr is widely regarded as one of most influential voices in constructing Modern Merfolk as we know it, and he has recently released a 3-part primer series discussing the deck in great detail.
Nicholas Bradley's Summary of Merfolk in the Meta – This is a seasoned Merfolk player's take on the deck and its matchups.
FishMTG Discord – If you want to discuss Merfolk in real time, this is a Discord server dedicated to our deck across formats.
Note: Please post your decklist (including sideboard) when asking for advice on this thread. Help us help you.
02/11/2016 - Added Sea's Claim to the "land hate" category in the Matchups and Sideboarding section where appropriate.
02/15/2016 - Updated the Matchups and Sideboarding section where appropriate.
02/17/2016 - Updated the description for Chalice of the Void in the Preferred Card Choices section. Updated Sample Decklists section.
02/22/2016 - Added Grafdigger's Cage to the Preferred Card Choices section and the Matchups and Sideboarding section where appropriate. Added MagicMaxe's YouTube channel to the Links section.
02/25/2016 - Updated the Matchups and Sideboarding section where appropriate.
02/29/2016 - Added Pithing Needle to the Matchups and Sideboarding section where appropriate.
03/03/2016 - Updated the Matchups and Sideboarding section where appropriate.
03/16/2016 - Updated the Modern Merfolk Core Decklist and the Matchups and Sideboarding sections where appropriate. Added Dario Casati's list to the Sample Decklists section.
03/27/2016 - Added Essence Flux, Invasive Surgery, and Threads of Disloyalty to the Preferred Card Choices section and the Matchups and Sideboarding section where appropriate.
04/05/2016 - Added Stonybrook Banneret to the Budget Options section.
04/11/2016 - Added Budget deck to the Sample Decklists section.
04/23/2016 - Updated the Sample Decklists section where appropriate. Added Sea Gate Wreckage to the Preferred Card Choices section and the Matchups and Sideboarding section where appropriate.
04/26/2016 - Added MerfolkJoe's YouTube channel to the Links section.
04/29/2016 - Updated the Matchups and Sideboarding section where appropriate.
05/04/2016 - Updated the Matchups and Sideboarding section where appropriate.
05/10/2016 - Updated the Sample Decklists section where appropriate.
05/18/2016 - Updated the Sample Decklists section where appropriate.
05/22/2016 - Added Simon ****sky's and Przemek Knocinski's Merfolk lists to the Sample Decklists section.
05/23/2016 - Edited the Links and Sample Decklists sections as appropriate.
06/08/2016 - Updated the Matchups and Sideboarding section where appropriate.
06/27/2016 - Updated the Sample Decklists section where appropriate.
06/29/2016 - Edited description for Remand in the Preferred Card Choices section.
07/08/2016 - Updated the Sample Decklists section where appropriate.
07/20/2016 - Updated the Preferred Card Choice section where appropriate.
07/26/2016 - Added Merfolk Joe's Guide to Modern Merfolk and Petr Sochurek's Merfolk primer to the Introduction and Links sections, respectively.
07/27/2016 - Updated the Matchups and Sideboarding section where appropriate.
07/28/2016 - Added the Experimental Card Choices section and updated the Modern Merfolk Core Decklist and Sample Decklists sections.
08/01/2016 - Updated the Sample Decklists section where appropriate.
08/14/2016 - Updated the Sample Decklists section where appropriate.
08/17/2016 - Edited Introduction and Why Merfolk? sections where appropriate.
09/08/2016 - Updated the Matchups and Sideboarding section where appropriate.
09/21/2016 - Edited the spelling of Aether Vial to accomodate the new printing.
09/27/2016 - Added Flashfreeze to the Experimental Card Choices section.
10/13/2016 - Updated Introduction section and Merfolk Joe's Merfolk list in the Sample Decklists section.
10/14/2016 - Updated the Matchups and Sideboarding section where appropriate.
10/30/2016 - Updated the To Splash, or Not to Splash? and Sample Decklists sections where appropriate.
11/09/2016 - Updated the Matchups and Sideboarding section where appropriate.
11/17/2016 - Added Skred Red to the Matchups and Sideboarding section.
11/22/2016 - Updated the Matchups and Sideboarding section where appropriate, and edited formatting.
11/23/2016 - Updated the Tron and Temur Midrange entries in the Matchups and Sideboarding section.
12/03/2016 - Updated rothgar13's Merfolk list in the Sample Decklists section.
12/05/2016 - Added Blossoming Defense and Fog to the To Splash, or not to Splash? section.
12/23/2016 - Updated the Matchups and Sideboarding and Sample Decklists sections.
12/28/2016 - Updated the primer in general.
01/17/2017 - Updated the Matchups and Sideboarding and Sample Decklists sections.
01/25/2017 - Updated rothgar13's Merfolk list in the Sample Decklists section.
01/30/2017 - Added Smuggler's Copter to the Experimental Card Choices section.
02/06/2017 - Updated rothgar13's Merfolk list in the Sample Decklists section.
02/07/2017 - Updated rothgar13's Budget Merfolk list in the Sample Decklists section.
02/14/2017 - Updated the Matchups and Sideboarding section.
02/21/2017 - Added Vendilion Clique to the Preferred Card Choices section.
03/01/2017 - Added ModernNexus' Merfolk primer to the Links section.
03/15/2017 - Updated the Matchups and Sideboarding section where appropriate.
03/19/2017 - Added Ceremonious Rejection to the Experimental Card Choices section and Vendilion Clique to the Matchups and Sideboarding section.
03/28/2017 - Updated rothgar13's Merfolk list in the Sample Decklists section.
03/31/2017 - Edited the Ad Nauseam entry in the Matchups and Sideboarding section.
04/01/2017 - Updated rothgar13's Merfolk list in the Sample Decklists section.
04/17/2017 - Updated the Matchups and Sideboarding section and rothgar13's Merfolk list in the Sample Decklists section.
05/02/2017 - Updated the Matchups and Sideboarding section.
05/26/2017 - Added the Merfolk List and Sideboarding Guide (by yours truly) to the Links section and updated rothgar13's Merfolk list in the Sample Decklists section. Also updated the Matchups and Sideboarding section.
06/06/2017 - Updated the Sample Decklists section.
06/26/2017 - Updated the Matchups and Sideboarding and Sample Decklists sections.
07/05/2017 - Updated the Matchups and Sideboarding section.
07/29/2017 - Added Nicholas Bradley's Merfolk article to the Links section.
08/04/2017 - Updated the Matchups and Sideboarding section. Added Gemstone Caverns, Pongify/Rapid Hybridization, and Tideshaper Mystic to the Experimental Card Choices section.
08/11/2017 - Updated the Sample Decklists section.
10/12/2017 - Added Kopala, Warden of Waves to the Preferred Card Choices section. Added Sorcerous Spyglass to the Experimental Card Choices section. Updated the Sample Decklists section.
10/18/2017 - Updated the Preferred Card Choices, Experimental Card Choices, and To Splash, or Not to Splash? sections.
11/04/2017 - Added Watertrap Weaver to the Experimental Card Choices section.
12/08/2017 - Updated the Sample Decklists section.
01/10/2018 - Updated the primer in general.
04/25/2018 - Added Damping Sphere and Merfolk Trickster to the Preferred Card Choices section. Updated the Sample Decklists section.
04/30/2018 - Added Deprive to the Recommended Card Choices section.
05/16/2018 - Updated the Sample Decklists section. Added Coralhelm Commander to the Recommended Card Choices section.
07/23/2018 - Updated the Sample Decklists section. Added MHayashi's Merfolk to the Sample Decklists section. Added Repeal to the Experimental Card Choices section.
08/02/2018 - Updated the To Splash, or not to Splash? section.
08/06/2018 - Added the FishMTG Discord link to the Links section.
08/11/2018 - Edited the primer in general.
08/18/2018 - Removed the damaged ModernNexus Merfolk Primer link from the Links section.
09/26/2018 - Addded Venser, Shaper Savant to the Preferred Card Choices section.
10/22/2018 - Updated Nikachu's Merfolk in the Sample Decklists section. Moved Mistcaller from the Experimental Card Choices section to the Preferred Card Choices section. Added Peek to the Experimental Card Choices section.
03/01/2019 - Updated the primer in general. Began overhaul of Matchups and Sideboarding section.
03/25/2019 - Finished the Established Decks sub-section of the Matchups and Sideboarding section. Added Cryptic Command to the Experimental Card Choices section.
03/26/2019 - Updated the Introduction and Why Merfolk? sections.
03/28/2019 - Finished the Fringe Decks sub-section of the Matchups and Sideboarding section.
04/05/2019 - Updated the Preferred Card Choices and Experimental Card Choices sections.
05/07/2019 - Added Thassa, God of the Sea to the Preferred Card Choices section. Updated the Matchups and Sideboarding section. Added LordMajicus' YouTube channel to the Links section.
05/08/2019 - Added Ashiok, Dream Render to the Experimental Card Choices section.
07/15/2019 - Added Force of Negation to the Modern Merfolk Core Decklist section. Added Waterlogged Grove to the Preferred Card Choices section. Added Lonely Sandbar and Phyrexian Revoker to the Experimental Card Choices section. Updated the Matchups and Sideboarding section.
, R or G.
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Yes, you wanna go and try some new toys FC gave the tribe, go ahead. Brewers innovate the game and I think we all will be testing some of them. But think how it is not stubbornness to say that losing one of our keycards just to try some other not-as-consistent base is, to the eye, a weaker build. Results will have the last word, I hope you are right and come back to say "I told you everyone, I was right" if that gives you satisfaction. If this makes the deck improve, it will be welcomed by everyone.
Cheers,
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3 for a vapor snag effect, even if it cantrips, makes it bad imo. It would have been better if it was a boomerang effect at least. We got the worst tribal-conditional spell of all Ixalan haha.
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Dismember, for sure. It hits more targets in the current meta, like any creature-based combo deck or just plain aggro. It’s the most decent draw of the three and you can cast it with literally any land that our deck has.
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Some quick thoughts U can share with you but I'm sure you could read in some pages behind:
1. UG has been consolidating as a viable splash but it is still situational rather than better. The final veredict could be made after Rivals brings in more love for the decks, and some testing has been made. For now, just a matter of meta calls and preferences.
2. The trick for CoCo is the way you can cheat for mana to cast it in the earlier turns possible and get ahead. With tons of 1-2 drops, paying 4 to get a 3-4 CMC sum creatures on the BF often doesn't excite me as much. We would be a bad version of a zoo deck, rather than somehow a toolbox/tempo creatures deck. That is what the creatures we have are good at doing, and for that Vial is a better option. There are better ways to get card advantage in our deck.
3. I'm been running 1-of Kira and Kopala on a mono U shell some time now. Been working great, mostly because Kopala taxing plus being a Merfolk allows him to present a clock while protecting the A-Team. There was a game I had both on the BF and my opponent almost scooped after because he didn't have the resources needed to deal with them. On the tropical shell I wouldn't tell how they go, as the approaches are similar but the things you want to be doing are a little bit different with a more aggro plan.
Cheers,
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Cheers,
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12 Island
4 Mutavault
3 Cavern of Souls
1 Oboro, Palace in the Clouds
Creatures
4 Cursecatcher
4 Silvergill Adept
4 Lord of Atlantis
4 Master of the Pearl Trident
4 Harbinger of the Tides
4 Merrow Reejerey
3 Master of Waves
1 Kopala, Warden of Waves
1 Kira, Great Glass-Spinner
1 Vendilion Clique
4 Aether Vial
4 Spreading Seas
1 Echoing Truth
1 Dismember
1 Pithing Needle
2 Relic of Progenitus
1 Grafdigger's Cage
2 Hurkyl's Recall
3 Ceremonious Rejection
2 Negate
2 Dispel
1 Dismember
1 Echoing Truth
Lantern Control (1-0): An opener Echoing Truth saves my day, when he hits Ensnaring Bridge I just assemble lethal to bounce and win. Second game I got crushed by 2 Collective Brutality to get rid of my answers. Third match was a win thanks to Hurkyl's Recall. 2-1.
Naya Wish (2-0): A rogue deck. I wasn't really sure what I was playing against until I saw Glittering Wish on game 2. I just sticked to the plan of beating on both games to win. 2-0.
8-Rack (3-0): First game was a race, I was on the play so I barely made it on time. Second game he got another annoying Ensnaring Bridge that I couldn't answer. Third match I think he didn't draw anything of his sideboard so it went kinda like the first game. 2-1.
Merfolk (3-1): Never played against the mirror before, so it was kinda awkward. His list had Vapor Snag instead of Echoing Truth and Dismember. Both cards I had didn't feel so good against it I must say. First game I got Vial and raced him. Both other games he got Pearl Trident and I got Lord of Atlantis (yikes), so he totally outraced me with them and some tempo moves. 1-2.
Eggs (4-1): First game I got him to 2 lives, but he assemble the combo. Second game two Rejections and a top-deck Lord allowed me to make it on time. Third game was a rough one, but a Hurkyl's after both Lotus Bloom resolved helped me to win some time to make a decent board. He did played his Emrakul but it wasn't enough as I sack'd my lands and some fish, but killed him on the backswing. 2-1.
Ad Nauseam (5-1): He was on the play so I got Turn 4 combo on first game. On the second game he had a slow start and 2 Cursecatcher on board slowed him down so I could get there on time. Third game it was a long game, as I kept a hand with counters but few creatures. Thankfully he didn't find the combo quickly enough so I started pinging slowly. Saved my asnwers for the combo pieces, survived a Damnation and took the win on third game. 2-1.
I'm liking this configuration a lot. 1-of Kopala, Kira and Clique may not give me consistency, but it helps me having odds on game one against almost any deck. Kopala definitely is getting a room on the deck, I'm enjoying him.