That's not what a "bear" is. "Bear" has always a term for a 2-power guy (if not an outright 2/2) for 2 mana; contrast with "Ogres" and "Hill Giants." This power level is important because it starts to move towards a semi-feasible clock. Dakra Mystic is no bear.
It mill effect is also atrocious, still not threatening a kill in under 20 turns (ie: even slower than its attack), and being mutual (ie: milling yourself).
I thought this card was so obviously horrendous that I interpreted your post as pure sarcasm, and actually laughed as I read it. I clearly misinterpreted your intention.
I'd make the argument you either play Vial or CoCo, not both. The former is trading card disadvantage for tempo and timing advantage. The latter is trading mana for card advantage and timing advantage. Both are dependent on a critical mass of creatures, and so too many work at cross purposes. Figure out which one your build would prefer, and build that way.
I have no strong opinion on 8-Seas (or 7-Seas, which is both more evocative and probably better), but I would think that even those decks would prioritize Vial.
I'm just going to say it: if you can't run either Vial or CoCo, don't run the deck. The ability to get virtual mana is essential to racing unfair decks, and the ability to bring in unexpected Creatures at instant speed is an essential form of interaction and information asymmetry to provide game against more powerful fair decks. The difference between a Vial and non-Vial hand is probably 20% win-rate in overall, and maybe more. Subtracting that will make the deck squarely non-competitive.
If you're casual, that's fine, but this is not the forum for budget/casual variants.
I think Skaab Ruinator is a perfectly playable card in a metagame filled with black and red grindy decks, like Jund. I wouldn't want it against a deck that can trivially exile it with PtE, nor against a deck where the creatures are likely to survive mostly unmolested most aggro and combo.
I definitely find you latest list compelling. It appears to be quite strong in the control matchup, versus Titan-Shift, and so on. Conclaves do feel a bit sluggish though, due to EtBT. I'm also less sure of its power versus things like Humans, Hollow-X decks, and KCI. Can you discuss that a bit more?
So things this effectively counters/removes for 1-mana: Through the Breech, Bloodghast, Prized Amalgam, Flamewake Phoenix, Collected Company, Chord of Calling, Dread Return, Unburial Rites, Nahiri... I'm no longer convinced this is not MB material.
Modern: Merfolk UU // Green Devotion GG // SkRed Red RR
Legacy: Death & Taxes WW // Burn RR // Death's Shadow Delver UB
Commander: Brago UW // Karlov WB
This looks like a pretty classic 8-Seas list. The only weird-looking thing is the Venser.
What happened to the prior one that looked so strange? I'd still be curious about the answers to the above 6 questions.
Modern: Merfolk UU // Green Devotion GG // SkRed Red RR
Legacy: Death & Taxes WW // Burn RR // Death's Shadow Delver UB
Commander: Brago UW // Karlov WB
1. Why are your using Coralhelm Commander? That always seemed like a lot of mana for an easily removed creature.
2. Are the Chalices designed to fight something specific, or are they a catch-all?
3. Have you felt the loss of Harbinger against the various graveyard decks?
4. Eight man-lands looks like a lot. Is this all about beating UW Control?
5. Is Relic actually better than Cage these days?
6. Does Tec. Edge really do enough to be worth the slots?
Modern: Merfolk UU // Green Devotion GG // SkRed Red RR
Legacy: Death & Taxes WW // Burn RR // Death's Shadow Delver UB
Commander: Brago UW // Karlov WB
Modern: Merfolk UU // Green Devotion GG // SkRed Red RR
Legacy: Death & Taxes WW // Burn RR // Death's Shadow Delver UB
Commander: Brago UW // Karlov WB
It mill effect is also atrocious, still not threatening a kill in under 20 turns (ie: even slower than its attack), and being mutual (ie: milling yourself).
I thought this card was so obviously horrendous that I interpreted your post as pure sarcasm, and actually laughed as I read it. I clearly misinterpreted your intention.
Modern: Merfolk UU // Green Devotion GG // SkRed Red RR
Legacy: Death & Taxes WW // Burn RR // Death's Shadow Delver UB
Commander: Brago UW // Karlov WB
Modern: Merfolk UU // Green Devotion GG // SkRed Red RR
Legacy: Death & Taxes WW // Burn RR // Death's Shadow Delver UB
Commander: Brago UW // Karlov WB
Modern: Merfolk UU // Green Devotion GG // SkRed Red RR
Legacy: Death & Taxes WW // Burn RR // Death's Shadow Delver UB
Commander: Brago UW // Karlov WB
Modern: Merfolk UU // Green Devotion GG // SkRed Red RR
Legacy: Death & Taxes WW // Burn RR // Death's Shadow Delver UB
Commander: Brago UW // Karlov WB
Modern: Merfolk UU // Green Devotion GG // SkRed Red RR
Legacy: Death & Taxes WW // Burn RR // Death's Shadow Delver UB
Commander: Brago UW // Karlov WB
If you're casual, that's fine, but this is not the forum for budget/casual variants.
Modern: Merfolk UU // Green Devotion GG // SkRed Red RR
Legacy: Death & Taxes WW // Burn RR // Death's Shadow Delver UB
Commander: Brago UW // Karlov WB
Modern: Merfolk UU // Green Devotion GG // SkRed Red RR
Legacy: Death & Taxes WW // Burn RR // Death's Shadow Delver UB
Commander: Brago UW // Karlov WB
Modern: Merfolk UU // Green Devotion GG // SkRed Red RR
Legacy: Death & Taxes WW // Burn RR // Death's Shadow Delver UB
Commander: Brago UW // Karlov WB
Modern: Merfolk UU // Green Devotion GG // SkRed Red RR
Legacy: Death & Taxes WW // Burn RR // Death's Shadow Delver UB
Commander: Brago UW // Karlov WB
Modern: Merfolk UU // Green Devotion GG // SkRed Red RR
Legacy: Death & Taxes WW // Burn RR // Death's Shadow Delver UB
Commander: Brago UW // Karlov WB
Modern: Merfolk UU // Green Devotion GG // SkRed Red RR
Legacy: Death & Taxes WW // Burn RR // Death's Shadow Delver UB
Commander: Brago UW // Karlov WB