Ok so I stopped playing for like 2 months and I'm back with Merfolk. I read some comments for the last few weeks, and I'm pretty sure we need white as a splash. Safeguard your list intrigues me (not in a bad way). Isn't 3 counters not enough ? IMO, I've always been running at least 6 counters (legacy). I know that in modern we should play a little bit more "aggro". Also, from the last few tests I did with that deck, I found that 4 SS was too much, but I guess it depends on meta. Anyway I may give your list a try as I find it really interesting.
Besides that, I really think commander should be a 2-of at least because he's a beast late game.
Well your list is pretty good, even though I think you do not have enough fishes. Spreading Seas is very situational and IMO not useful enough to be a 4-of. Also, I would drop Wake Thrasher for 2 more Reejereys. Sygg is great and I think I'll include one or 2 in my list instead of tideshaper mystic, which is ,like SS, very situational and most of the time sided out. I'd drop 1 Leak for 1 Pierce cauz sometimes it allows you to pay 2 mana (or activate and attack with mutavault) and still be able to counter a spell.
Well I understand your thoughts on commander. I would not drop them all, simply because he may have flying (good vs delver and against non-blue aggro decks). Cards to look at are Merfolk Sovereign (better than him in some cases) and maybe Sygg, River Cutthroat, which is better than selkie IMO. I did not try him, but it would be a good idea I think. Trickster may be a good idea. I may replace my 1-of Tideshaper Mystic with him, simply because it's really good when the enemy has fetches, and when he starts to get bigger, it's a removal eater.
In my experience, 24 creatures in this format is a little low. Yes you want counters, but they are to help you to beat your opponent. I'd say add 2 or 3 creatures at least, and reduce your non-creature spells count to 12-14 or take out 1 land, the deck plays pretty good with 19 lands too. But I would increase your creature count. Try putting in Phantasmal Image or Merfolk Sovereign. The latter seemed weak to me, but with some testing, I realized it was more mana efficient than commander so I did use 4 sovereigns and 3 commander MB. See my list in my sig if you want to look at it.
For the Mana Leak vs Remand vs Dispel vs Spell Pierce, I always feel like it's a meta call. Sure I prefer to play pierce over dispel since it's more useful in many situations, but for leak vs remand, it's up to you. A draw is always good, but the spell is played the next turn anyway so it's really situationnal.
I agree. In that sense, Kataki would be better than recall against affinity. If you want to gete rid of things like pod, then pithing needle or disenchant might be good.
I was wondering (I don't want to start a big debate with that) what could temporarily replace some mutavaults until I get them. I do the testing with 4 of them, but still not have them all so I have to trade them. I only have 1 for now. I don't know if I should play like 1 Muta + 3 T.Edge or like 1 Muta + 2 GQ + Island or smthg like that. Or I could just play 3 islands and 1 muta until I get the other ones. Thoughts ?
I really like your list Safeguard. I see you dropped all images, wasn't it good in your testing ? I'm pretty curious about that. Also, I always play 1 Kira MB because in my meta, there are a lot of red decks who like to put my dudes in the grave, but again it's a meta call I guess. Isn't 4 Spreading Seas too much for MB ? I really like your list in general, and that's why I ask you questions about it, because I did not have a lot of time to play test my deck in the last days. Why no Mana Leak ?
For GQ versus Spreading Seas, SS gives you a card, and also gives your opponent and island, which is pretty cool with islandwalk. GQ is not worth it IMO because of all the UU cost that we already have in the deck.
@ mafteechr: I understand the "why" of image, and I agree that it's nuts in the deck not only because you can copy lords. It also destroys Kiki-Jiki, Geists, etc ... and can be your tarmogoyf if you need. I'm just saying that if you have 2 or 3 in your hand and your opponent isn't playing creature-heavy, you're ****ed. What I was pointing out is that having only 8 lords and no reejerey may not be enough. Also, Commander is great for the end game, since it can be a lord, but also he has evasion. But if a 4-of images and 2 commanders are working well for you, stick with it. That was just an opinion.
Honestly, I think that 4 images is pretty dangerous. I run 2 in my list, but I wouldn't run more than 3 because it's a dead card if you do not have a lord on the play. If you do not play Reejerey, and only 2 commanders, I don't think 4 images is good. If you don't want to run reejereys, that's fine, but you'll have to run AT LEAST 3 commanders. Alos, 4 Spreading Seas seems too much to me for MB. I'd play 2 MB ad 2 SB, since a lot of decks have islands (combo, control, and even RUG).
Phantasmal Image can't be AS GOOD AS a lord. I understand how we can count it as a lord, but if you do not have any lord on the play and your opponent has bad creatures, well it is a dead card. That's why I play more Reejereys than Image. Reejerey does not need you to have a lord on the board to be a lord. Also, Reejerey allows you to play a bunch of creatures at a cheap price, which gives you a good board advantage. I really think Reejerey is a must here. Do not forget that Legacy fish decks always play him.
That said, I loved the article on daily MTG and I will give a try to the final list presented there and try to make my list better with that.
Just the 4 Galvanic, it strikes me as very overhyped. I suppose if it performs for other people I have no reason to persuade them against using him, but I feel something like Hurkyl's Recall is indeed the better option.
I totally agree. Kataki, IMO, is not worth splashing white. But there are some spells, like Path to Exile and Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, which could be useful in some matchups. That said I still think mono blue is the way to go here.
I'm still debating with myself for Mana Leak versus Deprive. The latter saved my ass a couple of time, late game, when I was playing against Splinter Twin Combo. I'll continue some testing. BTW, Kira is nuts in the deck. I play 1 and I'm never sad to draw it.
Then it's a game of "who is able to keep the good spell for the best moment". We also call that game Magic the Gathering. I know it is possible to play around kataki and things like that. But the fact is that if affinity does not have the removal in the next 2 or 3 turns, GG.
Besides that, I really think commander should be a 2-of at least because he's a beast late game.
For the Mana Leak vs Remand vs Dispel vs Spell Pierce, I always feel like it's a meta call. Sure I prefer to play pierce over dispel since it's more useful in many situations, but for leak vs remand, it's up to you. A draw is always good, but the spell is played the next turn anyway so it's really situationnal.
The only thing I see is Thorn of Amethyst if you play mono-U, or Thalia, Guardian of Thraben if you play WU. Other than that you could try Dispel, or even Mindbreak Trap if this deck is really present in your meta. Ethersworn Canonist is another choice if you splash white.
@ mafteechr: I understand the "why" of image, and I agree that it's nuts in the deck not only because you can copy lords. It also destroys Kiki-Jiki, Geists, etc ... and can be your tarmogoyf if you need. I'm just saying that if you have 2 or 3 in your hand and your opponent isn't playing creature-heavy, you're ****ed. What I was pointing out is that having only 8 lords and no reejerey may not be enough. Also, Commander is great for the end game, since it can be a lord, but also he has evasion. But if a 4-of images and 2 commanders are working well for you, stick with it. That was just an opinion.
I will test a list w/ and a list w/o the guy and try to have results.
That said, I loved the article on daily MTG and I will give a try to the final list presented there and try to make my list better with that.
I totally agree. Kataki, IMO, is not worth splashing white. But there are some spells, like Path to Exile and Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, which could be useful in some matchups. That said I still think mono blue is the way to go here.
I'm still debating with myself for Mana Leak versus Deprive. The latter saved my ass a couple of time, late game, when I was playing against Splinter Twin Combo. I'll continue some testing. BTW, Kira is nuts in the deck. I play 1 and I'm never sad to draw it.