What is "MUD"?
Legacy forum
Posted on Nov. 5, 2014, 6:49 p.m. by Gorgosaurusrex
I know that MUD refers to a deck archetype involving Metalworker and Mishra's Workshop, but what are the origins of the name? Is "MUD" an acronym? If so, what does it mean? If it's not an acronym, what does "MUD" have to do with Metalworker or how the deck plays?
Any information would be appreciated. This deck was made long before I played competitively, and the name is driving me crazy!
MUD is mono blue devotion. Originated in the Theros block with the devotion mechanic where everyone and their mother was running Master of the Waves and Thassa, God of the Sea
November 5, 2014 6:53 p.m.
Cobrakmmndr says... #4
MUD is a reference to the original border on artifacts which was brown and I believe that fish refers to a deck that is centered around merfolk but I'm not that familiar with vintage so I might be wrong.
November 5, 2014 6:54 p.m.
not sure what MUD stands for, but it's an artifact control/combo deck. Fish is just the term for a 2-mana 2/1 where I play, dunno about other areas, but that is pretty self-explanatory.
November 5, 2014 6:56 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #6
"Fish" just refers to Merfolk, because ya know... they are fish. No clue on the origins of MUD in legacy instead of the standard deck by the same name that is completely different.
MTGSalvation usually has pretty good explanations on this stuff have you checked there?
November 5, 2014 7:03 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #7
Stands for mishras ultimate dominion. The deck was a colorless control deck that used artifacts to make spells more expensive or impossible for the opponent to cast then used Kuldotha Forgemaster to sac away some into Blightsteel Colossus fish is merfolk...cuz you know. Fish people
November 5, 2014 7:04 p.m.
Gorgosaurusrex says... #8
VampireArmy: "Mishra's Ultimate Dominion"? That's almost a disappointing answer, lol. Like I said, I know what the deck does, I just don't know where the name came from. Thanks for the clarification.
I know that Fish is slang for Merfolk, but I've never seen a Fish deck in Vintage that actually has any Merfolk. Mostly I see Fish decks like this.
November 5, 2014 7:13 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #10
Huh...appears someone slapped that label on delver?' Not sure why.
November 5, 2014 7:16 p.m.
julianjmoss says... #12
Umm yeah no mud does not stand for mishras ultimate dominion. It refers to the fact that artifact cards used to be brown and be known as brown colored. Fish just refers to merfolk because they are like fish
November 5, 2014 7:18 p.m.
julianjmoss says... #13
And mtgtop8 incorrectly named that deck. That is a rug delver deck, fish is merfolk
November 5, 2014 7:20 p.m.
julianjmoss says... #14
Jk I'm wrong on fish
http://mtgsalvation.gamepedia.com/Vintage_Fish_deck
November 5, 2014 7:22 p.m.
fluffybunnypants says... #15
Negative. MUD first referred to an all artifact deck and the name referred to the all brown bordered deck. Also known as Metalworker Ultimate Destruction later on.
Fish = merfolk.. because... they're fish.
November 5, 2014 7:23 p.m.
Yeah, not thinking strait right now. :p statement retracted and will now go hide in my hole until the community will allow me to poke my head back :)
November 5, 2014 7:27 p.m.
Gorgosaurusrex says... #17
Thanks for the answers everyone. I would love to see a citation for the MUD=brown border explanation, but that will suffice for now.
If MUD refers to the brown borders, why is it always capitalized as an acronym would be? I think that's why I always assumed it was an acronym.
November 5, 2014 7:27 p.m.
MUD actually stands for "My Ugly Dick"
If you take the time to look, about 100% of names in magic are actually about penises. Not always mine specifically, however it's surprisingly not infrequent.
November 5, 2014 7:32 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #19
I like the second name more actually. Metalworkers ultimate destruction sounds more accurate. Droppin wurmcoils like it's a buisness
November 5, 2014 7:35 p.m.
aeonstoremyliver says... #20
In Legacy, it is most definitley not 'Mono 
Devotion.' I'm actually still confused as the original deck's moniker. Does anyone have a link for reference?
November 5, 2014 8:24 p.m.
MattTheNinja says... #22
Because all the old artifacts had that muddy brown color
November 5, 2014 8:56 p.m.
NotSoLuckyLydia says... #23
MUD's name, like many deck names, has muddled origins. The order between it being a mono brown deck and it being Mishra's/Metalworker's Ultimate Dominion/Destruction is often debated.
Fish, on the other hand, has a pretty simple name origin. Originally, Fish referred only to merfolk decks. But it became a common monicker for any tempo or aggro-control decks. The most common combinations are RUG and BUG, and they sit between two pillars of the format. (Rod and Drain) Merfolk certainly still exists, but not as common as BUG and RUG "Fish" decks.
Other weird decknames include:
The Rock (Stemming from the Rock, Phyrexian Plaguelord and his millions, Deranged Hermit, eventually shortened to The Rock)
Meathooks (Which is actually just counterslivers with a dumb name referring to the weird hook hands slivers have)
Tin Fins (Who even knows?)
Nic Fit (Came from a mistake on the deck registration form that was supposed to be "Nice Fit")
Full English Breakfast (Somebody got tired of people naming their decks after breakfast cereal?)
November 5, 2014 11:26 p.m.
Isn't tin fins a movie reference? Something about Griselbrand = Griswold or summat. Don't remember, knew once.
November 5, 2014 11:29 p.m.
NotSoLuckyLydia says... #25
Something like that. The most commonly used explanation for the deck name is "Griselbrand=Grizzlebees=Tin Fins"
November 5, 2014 11:45 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #26
well he kinda literally has tin fins if you look at it
November 5, 2014 11:49 p.m.
ryuzaki32667 says... #27
something from sea lab something that had a spin off episode in the show of something. But woot woot Tin Fins is my deck, and it made top 16 last week despite treasure cruise hate along with dredge of all things actually winning the event.
November 5, 2014 11:53 p.m.
As far as I know, MUD isn't an acronym. The name is just capitalized, similarly to how "Elves!" has the exclamation mark at the end, or how Stacks used to be named "$t5kS" (The $5,000 Solution).
I first heard MUD back when Mirrodin came out and the deck picked up in popularity. Mishra's Workshop went from being $25 to $200 overnight. It's always been in reference to the brown borders. The decks' previous name was "Mono Brown."
Regarding breakfast names for decks, combo decks have traditionally been named after breakfast foods. "Fruity Pebbles" and "Eggs" are the ones still played today. Others included "Trix" and "Wheaties." This started at Pro Tour Chicago back in 1999.
I could be wrong on MUD not really standing for anything. But, it's how I've seen it written on every MUD deck going back to 2004.
November 6, 2014 midnight
MUD = "Metalworker Utter Domination". Artifacts and ridiculousness.
Fish = Blue-based control that wins by punching people in the face. (Merfolk are a good example, but not all Fish decks are Merfolk)
November 6, 2014 10:29 p.m.
gunkookshlinger says... #31
MUD is an artifact archetype, kinda like TRON in Modern but a lot more mean with stuff like Metalworker, Trinisphere, Sundering Titan, Ancient Tomb, and City of Traitors. There's also MUD-Post which runs Glimmerpost, Cloudpost and Vesuva. Fish usually refers to a Vintage deck that uses a bunch of cost efficient creatures (there are Merefolk versions of the deck) and hate bears like Meddling Mage or sometimes Grand Abolisher. Hope that helps.
Gorgosaurusrex says... #2
Another one that perplexes me is "Fish" in vintage. Any info on that name would also be appreciated.
November 5, 2014 6:50 p.m.