I'm new to this deck. Right now I have trouble deciding between a more aggressive version with Spell Quellers vs a traditional more controlling build. Any suggestions?
It seems like people are playing into a false dichotomy that UG HAS to be the aggressive zoo version and mono U HAS to be the midrange version. It seems to me the best new card is Merfolk Branchwalker. Why not play a UG version geared more towards midrange? This allows us the selection/filtering of Branchwalker along with the “I win” of Master of Waves. Obviously we’d have to drop Kumena Speaker or Cursecatcher but it’s worth consideration; especially if rivals of Ixalan brings us more midrangy Merfolk.
Is it too greedy to run 4 Aether Vial, 4 Curse Catchers, 4 Kumena's Speaker. Shave Meerow Reejery down to a 2-of as the curve topper, and shave lands down to 18? I feel like this can make us extremely stream-lined as we only need 2-3 lands to function anyway. Maybe use extra slots for MD dismembers, spell pierce, or phantasmal image.
I don't think it's too greedy. Not sure you have to shave Reej down to 2 copies, though - I think it all fits provided you trim to 18 land (and I think you should - you're looking at curving out at 3).
Here is my current build. It works well in testing so far. Not sure if I should have 3 or 4 Mutavaults. SB is also in progress. Opinions? Not sure if spell pierce or dismember is better MD.
Is it too greedy to run 4 Aether Vial, 4 Curse Catchers, 4 Kumena's Speaker. Shave Meerow Reejery down to a 2-of as the curve topper, and shave lands down to 18? I feel like this can make us extremely stream-lined as we only need 2-3 lands to function anyway. Maybe use extra slots for MD dismembers, spell pierce, or phantasmal image.
After testing with UG, I can say that i'm not sure if it's better than mono blue. It just feels....different. I loved never running out of gas. 4 seas, 4 silvergill, and 4 branchwalkers means I can consistently beat and trade profitably. However the downside is that as mentioned, I can't quite catchup if behind. Often a Master of Waves will just swing the game for me. I definitely think it's meta-dependent with UG thriving in a meta full of control/bigger decks since their 2-for-1s aren't nearly as devastating with arguably 8 cantrip 2/1s. The flipside is if i'm expecting a ton of fast aggro, I can see mono blue being better with the chance of stabilizing with Master of Waves.
So I was taking a look at SB options and I was wondering if the metagame is good for Swan Song now. I've always favored 1 CMC spells over 2 as it's easier to hold 1 mana up. I think with Scapeshift/Titan and storm being a growing part of the metagame, Swan Song may be worth a look.
It hits everything dispel hits (Collected Company, Ad Nauseum, Summoner's Pact) as well as Past in Flames, Prismatic Omen, Anger of the Gods, Scapeshift, Phyrexian Unlife, and other high impact spells. I think a combination of Swan Song and Ceremonious Rejection gives us a good coverage for potential must-counter spells. A 2/2 bird is negligible IMO with how big and wide our creatures get.
I wouldn't run PTE either. I think IF we splash for white (and that's a big if), I would only do it for the SB cards like RIP or Stony Silence. However we have good enough blue or colorless options and I don't feel like a splash is worth it.
I think Negate is a great choice right now. I started facing a ton of U/W/x control decks and Negate wrecks them. You just commit 1 or 2 creatures on the board, then negate their payoff spells like Sphinx's Revelation or Cryptic Command and force them to Supreme Verdict your Silvergil Adepts.
Kopala(?), Warden of Waves | 1UU
Legendary Creature - Merfolk Wizard | Rare
Spells your opponents cast that target a Merfolk you control cost 1 more to cast.
Abilities your opponents activate that target a Merfolk you control cost 1 more to activate.
"I know these oceans better than you know ???" (?)
2/2
At first glance, it seems like a bad Kira. However, it is a merfolk. Hmmm.....
So I haven't played Modern in almost two years but will be going to GP San Antonio and will be building a deck before then. I'm leaning toward Merfolk at the moment, but nothing is set in stone. Using Nikasaurs decklist as a starting point, what other cards should I be picking up to potentially use as flex spots / meta calls.
I'm new to DnT (was a fish player) and I think this deck looks fun. Definitely a lot of card draw, but I wish there was a better finisher or equipments.
Its probably just personal preference but I'm just never fond of lists that just beats down, I think disruption is important past Thalia and Arbiters
I'm new to DnT (was a fish player) and I think this deck looks fun. Definitely a lot of card draw, but I wish there was a better finisher or equipments.
The more controlling build im thinking of:
4 Celestial Colonnade
2 Field of Ruin
4 Flooded Strand
2 Hallowed Fountain
4 Island
1 Mountain
1 Plains
1 Sacred Foundry
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Steam Vents
CREATURES 6
4 Snapcaster Mage
2 Vendilion Clique
4 Cryptic Command
4 Lightning Bolt
3 Lightning Helix
3 Logic Knot
4 Path to Exile
4 Serum Visions
1 Spell Snare
1 Sphinx's Revelation
3 Supreme Verdict
OTHER SPELLS 2
2 Search for Azcanta
1 Blessed Alliance
3 Ceremonious Rejection
1 Disdainful Stroke
2 Dispel
1 Izzet Staticaster
2 Negate
2 Runed Halo
1 Secure the Wastes
1 Settle the Wreckage
1 Surgical Extraction
The spell queller one:
1 Arid Mesa
3 Celestial Colonnade
4 Flooded Strand
1 Hallowed Fountain
3 Island
1 Mountain
1 Plains
1 Sacred Foundry
4 Scalding Tarn
2 Steam Vents
1 Sulfur Falls
4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Spell Queller
2 Vendilion Clique
INSTANTS and SORC. 26
3 Cryptic Command
1 Electrolyze
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
3 Logic Knot
4 Opt
4 Path to Exile
3 Serum Visions
2 Search for Azcanta
1 Celestial Purge
1 Ceremonious Rejection
2 Crumble to Dust
1 Disdainful Stroke
2 Dispel
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Izzet Staticaster
1 Kozilek's Return
2 Relic of Progenitus
1 Settle the Wreckage
1 Stony Silence
1 Wear / Tear
Here is an invite to the discord channel!
Here is my current build. It works well in testing so far. Not sure if I should have 3 or 4 Mutavaults. SB is also in progress. Opinions? Not sure if spell pierce or dismember is better MD.
// 4 Artifact
4 Aether Vial
// 32 Creature
4 Cursecatcher
4 Kumena's Speaker
4 Silvergill Adept
4 Harbinger of the Tides
4 Lord of Atlantis
4 Master of the Pearl Trident
4 Merrow Reejerey
4 Merfolk Branchwalker
// 4 Enchantment
4 Spreading Seas
// 2 Instant
2 Dismember
4 Botanical Sanctum
2 Breeding Pool
1 Flooded Strand
2 Misty Rainforest
2 Scalding Tarn
4 Island
3 Mutavault
// 3 Artifact
3 Relic of Progenitus
// 12 Instant
3 Ceremonious Rejection
3 Dispel
3 Natural State
3 Disdainful Stroke
It hits everything dispel hits (Collected Company, Ad Nauseum, Summoner's Pact) as well as Past in Flames, Prismatic Omen, Anger of the Gods, Scapeshift, Phyrexian Unlife, and other high impact spells. I think a combination of Swan Song and Ceremonious Rejection gives us a good coverage for potential must-counter spells. A 2/2 bird is negligible IMO with how big and wide our creatures get.
Kopala(?), Warden of Waves | 1UU
Legendary Creature - Merfolk Wizard | Rare
Spells your opponents cast that target a Merfolk you control cost 1 more to cast.
Abilities your opponents activate that target a Merfolk you control cost 1 more to activate.
"I know these oceans better than you know ???" (?)
2/2
At first glance, it seems like a bad Kira. However, it is a merfolk. Hmmm.....
nikasaur is related to league of legends; nikachu is the Merrill player
What other disruption would you add?
I'm new to DnT (was a fish player) and I think this deck looks fun. Definitely a lot of card draw, but I wish there was a better finisher or equipments.