MWorl91 No kidding haha, but that's okay, I know how it looks, but I also know how it plays. If you play something similar, let me know how it plays out for you! I'm actually making a few changes to mine today and would like to know what you think of them

Hi dude!

I commented in another UG merfolk (fish :P) list: http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/30-09-17-Ysl-simic-merfolk/

Nice to see another person trying Nissa! She is bad for the lack os protection, but with Deeproot Waters the deck can produce a lot of blockers to keep her providing card advantage. It's a shame she just put the creatures in play rather than casting them.

My big concern is temur energy, as the majority of players in my local store are playing with it. I'm one of two players with ramunap, so this obviously won't be a problem.

Shaper's Sanctuary is a must, even though it conficts a bit with the tokens. But at the bright side, every Sanctuary draw helps casting more merfolks, therefore more tokens.

The best decks there use 1-2 Rhonas, so the trample for a big Longtusk Cub or Bristling Hydra can fuck up a game. Sorcerous Spyglass will have to make the sideboard as it can deny a The Scarab God .

Have you considered Watertrap Weaver? I really like this tempo effect, especially if you can produce a token with him as well, but the 3 CMC is rough. There's Kopala, vineshaper mystic (and Rishkar) and Deeproot Waters . I think Kopala is the only one you don't necessarily want to play on turn 3, so it could be a little clunky.

As for the 4-drops, I'll be testing with 2x Tempest Caller . I actually wander if there's a place for Jade Guardian. Might be nice with some auras like Cartouche of Ambition.

One River's Rebuke can help as a top end of a tempo strategy. And that reminds me about the mana base: Just 21 lands? The deck in the link above uses only 20. Those decks won't use Attune with Aether.

Please update as you playtest! I'll be trying to make a list of my own.

BrenoSulz, thanks for the comment!

I agree that Shaper's Sanctuary is a must and while it seems that it does not combo well with Deeproot Waters you are also right in that it kinda does, since drawing more Merfolk will trigger Waters more.

It's true Nissa does not protect herself well but that shouldn't be a problem with how many creatures we have here. While her 0 does not cast to trigger Waters it does get around counter magic, so you win some you lose some I suppose. The addition of Rishkar and Nissa is the reason I went down to 2 Waters since I had slightly less synergy.

Yep I agree, Spyglass is in the SB already to help those matches!

The Weaver looks sweet and there are a ton of options in the 2-3 drop slot. The unblockable synergies should be enough that I don't need the tempo but it could be a great addition.

I don't believe these decks need anymore than 22 lands. With 4 creatures at or above 4CMC, the curve essentially ends at 3. Riskar also helps us with the mana and makes it so we can efficiently double spell.

I absolutely intend on updating as I play

Oh! You mention 22 lands, but the list appears for me with only 21. I think i'm going for 22, probably 23, at least in the first moment.

Hey again, consider a 20x land 4x Opt strategy? Sequencing your Merfolk plays seems really important here; Opt can help with this as well as help to find lands. Opt gives you another possible turn one play other than Speaker. It can help to find a possible turn two Mimic or Sneak. Getting counters on your Merfolk is now the strategy with Herald therefore using Opt to dig or some other way to dig for Herald as well as Mystic, Rishkar or Gearhulk is helpful. You can include 4x Opt by cutting 1x Island, 2x Deeproot Waters and 1x Spell Pierce.

Waters seems much better as a sideboard card rather than main deck. Three drops of Mystic and Rishkar are better here for your overall strategy. Waters is good at recovering from a board wipe, if one gets past you're counterspells; being able to rebuild a Merfolk army the turn after a wipe with Waters and one or two other Merfolk. Making it good in Control matchups, but not so good in other matchups.

Use Heaven against fliers! It's so good!

traffy498, I did look at that card for consideration. My concern is the cost in which my deck may not be able to sink enough to kill certain flyers. Do you think its better than the versatility of something like Crushing Canopy?

Personally, I tested Sandwurm Convergence and Heaven and the latter played better soley because the former's mana cost left me tapped out and when countered was a huge swing in momentum against me. The biggest flier you have to worry about, unless I'm missing someone, is Glorybringer. Against Pirate fliers, is perfect since, even with Favorable Winds usually won't cost more than 3.

I feel like Tempest Caller is more of a sideboard card cause your not always gonna be facing creature based decks.

Interesting deck, I look forward to seeing you update it.

Antwaan33, its true that in non creature matchups both of my 4 drops are just 2/3 vanillas but I think I just SB them out in those matches and would rather do that than be SBing them in for the rest of the matches

Noctem Thanks! Ive already posted my first tournament result and updates and will continue to do so the more I play it.

Consider adding Sphinx of Magosi to add some flying creatures?

Love this deck list. Although I don't have all the cards for this the flavor and the feel of your deck seems well balanced. I do get nervous droppping below 22 lands. I'm willing to give it a try. Honestly this set seemed very unexciting to me but these Merfolk I absolutely love. Thanks for submitting your tournament record. As a very inexperienced tournament player,it gives me something to work and learn from.

does Jace, Cunning Castaway fit in a Merfolk deck

@ SirChris39

Jace, Cunning Castaway competes with Nissa, Steward of Elements.

What are your thoughts about Skyrider Patrol? It adds some evasion and pumps your merfolks. The only thing I am concerned about is its CMC.