[Deck] Merfolk

[sherko7]

i don't really like this new guy. i'd have to take out kira or dreadnought from my list if i play sovereign, and i doubt he'd be able to compete with those guys.

[sorrel]

I wouldn't run Merfolk Sovereign. Because of the curve of the deck, the only thing this could replace is Wake Thrasher, and one of the nice things about this deck is after an initial rush gets wiped out, you can play Wake Thrasher and finish the game in a couple turns. You can't do that with the sovereign because on his own he's a 2/2. Running him means you have to over commit more than you already do, and now you don't have anything to follow up with when your initial rush is wiped out.

[tivadar]

I have to agree with most. I think at 3cc this new guy isn't worth running. Granted he's an interesting choice against goblins (unblockable, yes please), but I don't think he wins that matchup by any extent of the imagination and there are probably better choices from the board.

[elof]

I have an idéa I like to try, and that is something like this:

Lands 20 (will need config):
4 Tundra
3 Flooded Strand
1 Plains
5 Island
4 Mutavault
3 Mishra's Factory

Creatures 22:
4 Cursecatcher
4 Silvergill Adept
4 Lord of Atlantis
2 Sygg, River Guide
4 Merrow Reejerey
2 Merfolk Sovereign
2 Mirror Entity

Spells 18:
4 Force of Will
3 Daze
4 Standstill
3 Swords to Plowshares
4 Aether Vial

Mirror Entity was cut before because it didn't work with Wake Thrasher but I always loved the effect it has with +1/+1 lords. Sover also gives you an edge in merfolk mirror becasue he/she only gives your guys plus. Swords also removes alot of problems and should perhaps be a 4 off?

Sygg we have been over before and although it's abillity isn't that good, it does have a good body. Could be replaced with alot of other spells if you want.

[beastman]

I'm amused that the emergence of this new lord is provoking people to post for the first time on the site... just to say that they dont like him.

[sherko7]

Because she sucks; she doesn't defend you from Pyroclasm, Firespout or Volcanic Fallout.

kira is extremely helpful, especially when it enters through vial. so many times have i negated an opponent's stp on my loa by vialling it in.

[Piceli89]

kira is extremely helpful, especially when it enters through vial. so many times have i negated an opponent's stp on my loa by vialling it in.

Yeah, that's the right way to cheat, mate !

[Hopo]

Yeah, that's the right way to cheat, mate !

And here piceli means that you cannot do that. If Swords to plowshares is on the stack, vialing in Kira does nothing about it. Rules ftw.

[sherko7]

And here piceli means that you cannot do that. If Swords to plowshares is on the stack, vialing in Kira does nothing about it. Rules ftw.

lol wtf i did it in a tourney... really thats illegal?

opponent: "stp your loa"
you: "in response, i vial in kira"

illegal?? oh my! anyone wanna clarify?:)

[tivadar]

Kira has a triggered ability that triggers when a creature becomes the target of a spell. When someone announces a spell being cast, part of that is choosing targets. So if you vial in Kira after the spell has been announced (and targets chosen), his ability will never trigger.

If, however, his ability read "the first spell targetting a creature you control each turn is countered", then the story might be different. "When" means triggered, and triggered means if Kira's not around when the triggering effect happens, the ability doesn't apply.

[Patrunkenphat7]

Yeah, even a writer on magicthegathering.com got this wrong a few years ago, it's a relatively common mistake.

[DukeDemonKn1ght]

_

[Tacosnape]

@The U/W Splash: How exactly does Mirror Entity not work with Wake Thrasher?

I've been playing this deck a lot lately, and Wake Thrasher's ridiculous. The new rules changes made him way better, not only because of the Mana Burn rules, but because people aren't playing nearly as many Mogg Fanatics (This assumption has skyrocketed play of everything from Confidant to Welder ro Wake Thrasher in my metagame).

I've also been tinkering around with a Back to Basics-packing list. Loving it with Daze and Cursecatcher for mass havoc-wreaking.

[sherko7]

Kira has a triggered ability that triggers when a creature becomes the target of a spell. When someone announces a spell being cast, part of that is choosing targets. So if you vial in Kira after the spell has been announced (and targets chosen), his ability will never trigger.

If, however, his ability read "the first spell targetting a creature you control each turn is countered", then the story might be different. "When" means triggered, and triggered means if Kira's not around when the triggering effect happens, the ability doesn't apply.

thanks for clarifying this sir!

merfolks are now starting to be feared in our meta! lol! at the moment though, i seem to be the only one playing it. people are starting to board for it now though.

[Finn]

@ Tacosnape, I have always been a big proponent of Wake Thrasher (to the point of using it in other decks even). I am considering going back to four even though I hate what that does to the mathematics of the deck. But Thrasher really hates red, especially Grim Lavamancer. And red has been getting a bit of a resurgence as this deck becomes ensconced in the metagame.

I have been thinking about including 1 copy of Minamo, School at Water's Edge or Candelabra of Tawnos as a way to make red hurt it less (and to make Thrahsers scarier). But I am wondering if there might be a better way. Basalt Monolith is a cute infinite combo with Wake Thrasher. But it sorta sucks in the deck. Has anyone found a way to use Reejerey to untap stuff a few of times as a fast effect?

[tivadar]

@The U/W Splash: How exactly does Mirror Entity not work with Wake Thrasher?

I'm wondering the same thing. One can:

Untap permanents
Put +1/+1 bonus triggers on the stack
With these on the stack, use Mirror Entity
Let +1/+1 bonus triggers resolve

Obviously, if one casts entity the same turn, this doesn't work. It does however work to vial him in in response to triggers then tap to boost immediately as well.

What's broken? Outside of having to do this during your untap phase.

[tivadar]

I've been doing some testing, and from what I've seen the whole "no mana burn" thing looks like at least a somewhat significant deal. I'd say there are plenty of times with Thrasher that over the course of game I have 5 extra mana with nothing to burn it on at the end of the opponent's turn with thrasher in play. That's 5 damage I'm not doing to myself/5 additional damage I'm doing to my opponent. I think that's far from insignificant.

[Tacosnape]

I agree with Tivadar. Wake Thrasher is an absolutely retarded threat now. Not running him is a mistake. Not running FOUR of him is a mistake. I'm not even convinced Countertop shouldn't be running him.

If you're worried about Grim Lavamancer, which is surging back now that Mogg Fanatic's basically gone from the format, maindeck Jitte or pack extra Blasts in sideboard.

[Forbiddian]

I'm wondering the same thing. One can:

Untap permanents
Put +1/+1 bonus triggers on the stack
With these on the stack, use Mirror Entity
Let +1/+1 bonus triggers resolve

Obviously, if one casts entity the same turn, this doesn't work. It does however work to vial him in in response to triggers then tap to boost immediately as well.

What's broken? Outside of having to do this during your untap phase.

Nothing goes on the stack during the untap step.

Things only go on the stack the next time active player would receive priority. Thus the wakethrasher trigger goes on the stack during the upkeep step of the turn and you can pump (or get it Lavamancered or Fanaticed).

[tivadar]

Sorry, you're correct, but it amounts to the same thing. You can use mirror entity and still get your thrasher bonus on top of it...