[Deck] Merfolk

[Nihil Credo]

I mean, honestly, is what we're worried about in the Goblins match-up really their ability to block our creatures??

No. It's your ability to block theirs (and live). Same way CounterSlivers used to beat Goblins.

[DukeDemonKn1ght]

No. It's your ability to block theirs (and live). Same way CounterSlivers used to beat Goblins.

Well, you have a point. This still does nothing about the five thousand pound elephant in the room that is Piledriver and his pro-blue though.... I suppose at least Mirror Entity would give us an additional blocker for him besides Mutavault.

Personally, I'm going to start testing a white splash version on MWS, but I'm not totally sure what to expect out of it. Does it seem worthwhile to y'all for me to squeeze in Brainstorm, since I'm obviously already going to be running about six fetch-lands?

[elof]

Does it seem worthwhile to y'all for me to squeeze in Brainstorm, since I'm obviously already going to be running about six fetch-lands?

Yes! Brainstorm is nuts! The only reason we don't play it is because it needs 5-6 fetches :/

[memnarch]

instant is good here because we already have stp, stifle perhaps even spell snare could make a fit.

[Yan]

Hi!

I played merfolks today in a tournament today, 29 attendants. I went 3-2 and got 8th... I kind of hoped there would have been top 8 because belcher got 1st.

My list:

3 Mutavault
4 Wasteland
12 Island

4 Merrow Reejeray
4 Lord of Atlantis
4 Silvergil adept
4 Cursecatcher
2 Wake Thrasher

4 FoW
4 Stifle
4 AEther Vial
3 Daze
2 Relic o Progenitus
2 Echoing Truth
4 Standstill

SB:
1 Relic of Progenitus
2 Echoing Truth
3 Divert
3 Propaganda
3 Hydroblast
3 Pithing Needle

The meta game looked like it could have been really great for me, well quess how many blue decks I faced....? Yes, only one.

1st Round against Axel with Survival Elves:

Fist game I have 3 cursecatchers by turn 2 and ad 3 merrow reejerays by turn 4... it was already over by that time.

Next game he completely destroys me, he has more guys and they are bigger than mine so I lose really quickly.

Third game I get lucky with a really agressive hand and manage to win, 3 lords if I remember correctly. This was a really hard matchup and I was really suprised that I managed to win this one.

1-0 (2-1)

2nd Round against Mikko with Ugr Threshold:

Peace of cake for me. Relics do their job both games and islandwalk him to death. This was the only good matchup they gave me all day and I can't see how I could have lost.

2-0 (4-1)

3rd Round against Risto with Domain Zoo

Thanks, really nice matchups. First game his 1 mana critters kill me before I can do anything and tribal flames finishes me. Next game I'm able to kill his lands and give enough time to build an army and ride to the win.

Third was more or less a copy of the first one, no chance really.

2-1 (5-3)

4th Round against Ari with Burn:

First game game was really odd and I really felt that I should have lost but I got really lucky draws and ride 2 merfolks to victory with a force backups.

Second game I have all the tools from the SB but even that is not enough and I get burned away.

Third game I get lucky again and land 2 lords on the field with 2 Fows and a Hydroblast in hand... next draws were another Hydro and a Fow so no problems.

3-1 (7-4)

5th Round against Matti with Rb Goblins:

Another horrible matchup. But miracles happen and I piss of his land base in the first game and proceed to win from there. I side everything relevant in but thats really not enough to stop him in the next 2 games... I even had needle for vial and hydro for lackey in both games but it just wasn't enough

3-2 (8-6)

It was really fun to play this deck and I'm not dissapointed at all. I managed to win 2 bad matchups and fight a 2-1 loss against the 2 other bad matchups. The room was full of nice matcups for the deck but I just wasn't lucky to get to play those...

[Sek'Kuar]

I jsut wanted to bring up the point that with Magic 2010 there is the rumor that mana burn will be eliminated. As someone that has never played merfolk, but has lost to it, Wake Thrasher has always been potent. Without mana burn, it becomes even more ridiculous. Does this one change mean that the deck will be even more competitive? I realize its only one card, but we have seen one card drastically change a format time and time again.

[Forbiddian]

It's only a small part of our deck. I haven't really had problems with tapping out, and just mana burning myself is usually ok in most MUs.

There are some matchups/situations where it might save you some life that matters, but I think that Stompy decks benefit more from the potential change.


Stompy players and newb players with no stylistic sense.

[Sek'Kuar]

Yeah. I didn't really know, I've only been steamrollered by it, I've never piloted it. I usually play Golden Grahams, which is nice for me too, because if someone fizzles my combo, at least the mana wont kill me!

[whosyourdaddy]

It's only a small part of our deck. I haven't really had problems with tapping out, and just mana burning myself is usually ok in most MUs.

Hmm, can't you activate mutavault and then activate it again while the first ability is on the stack and so on... tapping out all of your lands?
I'm not sure if it works that way, but it would be nice...

Also Can you activate vial and then just choose not to put any creature into play just to tap it?

Anyone please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Finn]

Hmm, can't you activate mutavault and then activate it again while the first ability is on the stack and so on... tapping out all of your lands?
I'm not sure if it works that way, but it would be nice...

Also Can you activate vial and then just choose not to put any creature into play just to tap it?

Yes, and yes. But I have taken mana burn in the past just to get a bigger Wake Thrasher since those options are occasionally not around.

[elof]

I was thinking, if I play in a meta where there arn't much graveyard-decks but still some Aggro-Loam, what card could I replace Relic with that is good against Loam but still isn't dead vs the rest of the field?

Suggestions?

[Phoenix Ignition]

I was thinking, if I play in a meta where there arn't much graveyard-decks but still some Aggro-Loam, what card could I replace Relic with that is good against Loam but still isn't dead vs the rest of the field?

Suggestions?

Back to Basics if they're stupid and don't pull basics out. Uhhh... maybe some sort of Sower of Temptation, those usually wreck Aggro Loam.

Actually, you could play that Faerie hybrid that went undefeated day 1 of GPC... once it gets going you'll counter every LftL they try to play on you. I still haven't tested it so I can't tell you how great it will be, but results speak for themselves.

[Jujuhawk]

I was thinking, if I play in a meta where there arn't much graveyard-decks but still some Aggro-Loam, what card could I replace Relic with that is good against Loam but still isn't dead vs the rest of the field?

Suggestions?

I cut 2 relics from scotty barentines day 2 list (friend of a friend) for a 3rd stifle and a 2nd jitte. My meta has loam as well, and I feel like the matchup is fine as long as you draw your basics and get an aggressive enough draw (2 lords, etc). Post board I bring in 2/3 b2b's, relics, some ammount of REB effects (2/3)

[elof]

Just putting it out there but... Seal of Removal, yes/no?

[Phoenix Ignition]

No, the 1cc is no better than the 2cc echoing truth (especially with CotV in some maindecks). Plus E truth lets you bounce Seismic Assault (which = instant GG against 2/2 folks) or Moxes if you get a good mana denial trend going. Or even double creatures if they get that lucky.

Also, not going to happen usually, but they have burning wish for Hull Breach to kill a sitting Seal of Removal if it's actually that big of a problem.

[elof]

Wasn't considering it in place for ET but the point is proven.

Played som games vs goblin and I went something like 1-4 (0-2, 1-2, winning before SB). I had 3 Blast, 2 Jitte, Needels and more but I still didn't manage to get past those pesky goblins. Any suggestions to other SB hate?

[Jujuhawk]

Wasn't considering it in place for EE but the point is proven.

Played som games vs goblin and I went something like 1-4 (0-2, 1-2, winning before SB). I had 3 Blast, 2 Jitte, Needels and more but I still didn't manage to get past those pesky goblins. Any suggestions to other SB hate?

5UBlasts. The matchup is awful, and I'm pretty sure that's your only chance.

[ssilver]

Or counter lackey/vial and then it turns out they only have one land in hand

[Jujuhawk]

hope they suck

[DukeDemonKn1ght]

5UBlasts. The matchup is awful, and I'm pretty sure that's your only chance.

Honestly, I'm not even sure if bringing in 3 Blue Elemental Blast, 2 Hydroblast would be enough against Goblins.

I can tell y'all from testing on MWS a bunch, playing Merfolk at GP Chicago (albeit using a list with no dedicated red hate in the sideboard-- maybe a mistake in retrospect), and having looked everywhere for a solution, Goblins is the closest thing there is to a "Roll over and die" match-up for this deck.

I've found that a big deficiency of Merfolk in general is its tendency to have bad-to-terrible match-ups against other decks that seek to abuse Aether Vial (although I have to imagine we could take Death and Taxes at least ( ), haven't tested against them yet.) I've gotten beat by Meathooks, random "good stuff" Aether Vial decks, and although I've gotten a couple random game wins, I have never won an entire match-up versus Goblins.

Goblins is literally such a terrible match-up for us that I got all excited when someone proposed Sapprazzan Legate a while ago.

EDIT: Probably my best idea on the subject of beating Goblins (and not an idea that's mine originally) is to pack 3 or 4 Phyrexian Dreadnought and one copy Trickbind (as Stifle backup) in the sideboard. This isn't quite "hot tech against Goblins" specifically, but it seems like one of the most solid ways for this deck to have a good generalized sideboard strategy for beating other Aggro decks that are simply quicker than we are.