Hi, I just started playing Merfolk in Modern. Rented a deck, played 20 matches so far on MTGO in tournament practice (14-6).
I have to say that I really like the deck! Answers to (almost) everything, awesome tempo, they hit hard and unblockable, they have mana denial and card draw...
Here's a game from a match I just played
Here's my current build
The only thing I don't like atm is that there's no way to loot away Vials. Benthic Biomancer could do that but I don't know what to cut. Without mistcaller it's hard to beat the many combo decks out there... Any ideas?
However, almost all decks in Modern are unfair and if I can't interact with my opponent's board all the lifepoints in the world often can't save me...
The problem is that there are only 36 non-land slots in the deck and so many good cards -_-
Atm I am using 2x Path and 2x Solitude as my only cards to remove threats.
Other candidates would be Skyclave Apparition (versatile but no synergy with the other creatures), March of Otherworldly Light main (versatile but slower than Path), and Prismatic Ending (maybe as a SB option in a 2-color deck).
If anyone has any suggestions for a good mix, I would appreciate it.
Regarding the card choices, I think the creature suite is already as optimal as it can be.
The Worship could also be a Serra the Benevolent. (The Wandering Emperor is the better PW, but Serra would be better in this deck imho.)
Moving March main could open up a SB slot.
Green SB cards are one reason why I prefer Selesnya over the Saga/Vial version. Choke is awesome right now! Endurance and Force of Vigor are very good cards but the deck doesn't run enough other green cards to support them.
1x Heroic Intervention could be a good SB addition against sweepers. Veil of Summer is good too, but the deck might need more green mana sources to play it reliably during early turns. Toski, Bearer of Secrets could be good for grindy matches to draw cards with all the flyers.
If anyone has any suggestions for a good SB mix, I would appreciate it.
I attached my most recent version below.
This is the best version so far. Played three leagues with it: 4-1, 3-2, 5-0.
Stomped over so many tier decks. Win rate for my last 20 matches in the practice room is 80 % as well.
This is the newest version in paper. I added Urza's Sagas after borrowing them on MTGO to try them out. They're making the deck even stronger. I think the current version is very competitive and only a few cards can/should be changed for preferential reasons. Portable Hole could also be a 3rd Path. Serra could be replaced with Elspeth or Cloudsteel Kirin...
The SB choices may seem odd, but they are tailored to my local game store.
Wow, I haven't updated this thread for three months!
I am still playing my Brought Back build. Still loving it.
New additions are: Adeline (she's awesome!) and Master Warcraft (as a 1-of that can end the game on the spot like Elesh Norn).
It's been a while so I uploaded a really sweet match against a Yorion deck that I played yesterday.
You can watch game 1 (part 1) here, game 1 (part 2) here and game 2 here. Enjoy
I have to say: I love this deck.
I've played a few matches with this version now on MTGO and in paper and everything just feels right!
Combined score on MTGO and yesterday's FNM is now 13-4, so not bad at all.
The only two things I changed since my last post is cutting one Prince for one more piece of interaction: Fateful Absence
(Bought it on MTGO as soon as it became legal and even drew one copy out of three boosters I bought before FNM :))
and cutting Elspeth for Maul of the Skyclaves. Two Planeswalkers are enough.
Well, at least it shuts down Cascade/Suspend
I was able to beat all the Mtgtop8 Tier 1 decks with my deck on MTGO even though I don't always win.
But with all the new white goodies in Midnight Hunt I guess I'll be playing a completely different deck again after launch. Intrepid Adversary, Fateful Absence, Sungold Sentinel, Sunset Revelry all beg to get tested!
The Humans package was too weak, so I am back to SFM.
The cards next to the lands are my "control" package. The JP card is Mana Tithe.
Magistrate has good synergy with Mask and with Spellbinder.
Ajani and Mila are basically flex spot fun cards. I could add a 3rd Ranger-Captain, an Elspeth, or a Maul of the Skyclaves instead...
I have to say that I really like the deck! Answers to (almost) everything, awesome tempo, they hit hard and unblockable, they have mana denial and card draw...
Here's a game from a match I just played
Here's my current build
The only thing I don't like atm is that there's no way to loot away Vials. Benthic Biomancer could do that but I don't know what to cut. Without mistcaller it's hard to beat the many combo decks out there... Any ideas?
It's just not strong enough for the current Modern meta.
Next try: BW Angels
This one is much better!
Give it a try and see for yourself.
Suppression Field is really strong in Modern atm.
I'd say the deck is semi-competitive now.
I think there are two possible ways to do this:
1. Mono White with Urza's Saga and Aether Vials
2. Selesnya with Company
The most difficult part is to find the right balance between synergy cards and cards to interact with your opponent.
Right now I am using this mix:
Soul Warden, Righteous Valkyrie and Bishop of Wings gain life, while Voice of the Blessed, Valkyrie and Resplendent Angel reward me for the lifegain.
Sanctuaries and 4 Lifelinkers strengthen this synergy. If the opponent doesn't interact with my board, things get crazy real fast.
However, almost all decks in Modern are unfair and if I can't interact with my opponent's board all the lifepoints in the world often can't save me...
The problem is that there are only 36 non-land slots in the deck and so many good cards -_-
Atm I am using 2x Path and 2x Solitude as my only cards to remove threats.
Other candidates would be Skyclave Apparition (versatile but no synergy with the other creatures), March of Otherworldly Light main (versatile but slower than Path), and Prismatic Ending (maybe as a SB option in a 2-color deck).
If anyone has any suggestions for a good mix, I would appreciate it.
Regarding the card choices, I think the creature suite is already as optimal as it can be.
The Worship could also be a Serra the Benevolent. (The Wandering Emperor is the better PW, but Serra would be better in this deck imho.)
Moving March main could open up a SB slot.
Green SB cards are one reason why I prefer Selesnya over the Saga/Vial version.
Choke is awesome right now!
Endurance and Force of Vigor are very good cards but the deck doesn't run enough other green cards to support them.
1x Heroic Intervention could be a good SB addition against sweepers.
Veil of Summer is good too, but the deck might need more green mana sources to play it reliably during early turns.
Toski, Bearer of Secrets could be good for grindy matches to draw cards with all the flyers.
If anyone has any suggestions for a good SB mix, I would appreciate it.
thanks for still checking in here
I attached my most recent version below.
This is the best version so far. Played three leagues with it: 4-1, 3-2, 5-0.
Stomped over so many tier decks. Win rate for my last 20 matches in the practice room is 80 % as well.
The SB choices may seem odd, but they are tailored to my local game store.
Watch game 1 here and game 2 here. Enjoy
Playing this deck is so much fun!
She'll be added in the CMC4 1-of-fun-of slot (currently rotating that slot between Resto Angel, Master Warcraft, Broodmoth, Phyrexian Metamorph).
Scavenging Ooze in white that can be tutored up with SFM! This might replace Batterskull main or be added to the SB.
Portable Hole will be sorted out. I'll play a combination of PtE and this, either 2-2 or 3-2 (cutting one other card as well).
I am still playing my Brought Back build. Still loving it.
New additions are: Adeline (she's awesome!) and Master Warcraft (as a 1-of that can end the game on the spot like Elesh Norn).
10-1 now with the current build. Can't complain
You can watch game 1 (part 1) here, game 1 (part 2) here and game 2 here. Enjoy
I've played a few matches with this version now on MTGO and in paper and everything just feels right!
Combined score on MTGO and yesterday's FNM is now 13-4, so not bad at all.
The only two things I changed since my last post is cutting one Prince for one more piece of interaction: Fateful Absence
(Bought it on MTGO as soon as it became legal and even drew one copy out of three boosters I bought before FNM :))
and cutting Elspeth for Maul of the Skyclaves. Two Planeswalkers are enough.
The possibilities in mono white are nearly endless
Brought Back is such a wonderful card with Solitude, Ranger-Captain, Selfless-Spirit, Flagstones, fetch lands, and Planeswalkers!
I was able to beat all the Mtgtop8 Tier 1 decks with my deck on MTGO even though I don't always win.
But with all the new white goodies in Midnight Hunt I guess I'll be playing a completely different deck again after launch.
Intrepid Adversary, Fateful Absence, Sungold Sentinel, Sunset Revelry all beg to get tested!
The cards next to the lands are my "control" package. The JP card is Mana Tithe.
Magistrate has good synergy with Mask and with Spellbinder.
Ajani and Mila are basically flex spot fun cards. I could add a 3rd Ranger-Captain, an Elspeth, or a Maul of the Skyclaves instead...