Are Merfolk being played in your local meta?
Standard forum
Posted on Feb. 1, 2018, 9:11 a.m. by Argy
No one is playing them at my LGS.
I'm curious to know whether they are being played elsewhere in the world.
Argy,
I've played 31 matches so far in RIX Standard (all pick-up games ... no real tournament play yet), and though Merfolk Branchwalker is all over (I've seen it in BG Counters, RG Midrange, and Sultai Goodstuff), I've seen exactly ZERO Merfolk decks.
Merfolk very much remind me of Werewolves, when they were in Standard. Lambholt Pacifist Flip was a key part of Bant Humans and GW Tokens, and Duskwatch Recruiter Flip was a key part of Bant CoCo. But an actual Werewolf deck? Not so much ...
February 1, 2018 10:40 a.m. Edited.
Atroxreaper says... #4
there's one in my local meta run by a lady that works at the shop. She doesn't play too competitively because she always has to stop and help work in the shop. I do believe the reason were not seeing merfolks is the cost of kumena is very high but people haven't seen how the meta will shake out so they are playing the wait and watch game.
February 1, 2018 11:10 a.m.
Interesting theory Atroxreaper.
I was hoping that Merfolk would see an increase this season, kind of to make it more challenging to use Walk the Plank.
I like little challenges like that.
I always felt the card was a bit of a cheap tactic, because no one was playing Merfolk in XLN.
It also would've been fun to see another Tribe rise up.
Maybe the Pros will use their skills to build an unstoppable Merfolk deck.
Would be a nice change from which is still extremely bloody strong.
Thanks Wizards.
February 1, 2018 12:48 p.m.
Jimmy_Chinchila says... #6
Im sick of energy. Still trying to make my Zombie Merfolk thing work...
February 1, 2018 12:50 p.m.
Atroxreaper says... #7
I play RDW other than dino aggro I'd have been fine seeing more tribal so far I've seen Sultai Energy, UW Auras x2, GB constrictor, and a RW go wide aggro. Went 4-0 at FNM but was disappointed because I found a solid card vs control decks that have to tap out for their win cons ie approach and god pharaohs gift.
February 1, 2018 1:04 p.m.
LittleBlueHero says... #8
I haven't been to a standard showdown yet but I've played against a vampire deck a few times recently. The guy that pilots it basically said it can be explosive early but doesn't hold up well against large threats. If it can't keep 4 power creatures off the board it has trouble winning.
I could see merfolk being in a similar boat, and they have less removal as well.
February 1, 2018 2:16 p.m.
Oloro_Magic says... #9
I got three merfolk players in my meta right now. Honestly, having played them the problem I have been seeing a lot is that the deck is just raw. People are still very much working to see what can be done in simic colors outside the already solid creature base. The deck feels like it is missing something like a Dismember type effect, you know some good removal that can get rid of just about anything at not too high a cost. I don't think merfolk can splash in standard but it definitely needs some form of color-shifted and solid removal that it can at the very least cheat out.
For reference the decks I have played in recent months while these merfolk decks first showed up prior to Rivals are a now sadly retired 5-color energy value deck, and more recently since the bannings and the adaptation to rivals cards U/W Approach, though even then i plan on trying out a jeskai build of approach in the coming weeks for better removal anyway.
February 1, 2018 2:40 p.m.
LittleBlueHero says... #10
Merfolk's removal is almost entirely bounce. River's Rebuke can probably seal the deal in some games but its not cheap.
It has access to counterspells and such but holding back mana is not what a merfolk deck really wants to do is it? Maybe it is, could be the aggressive merfolk i've been waiting for is better built as a control/tempo build that widdles the opponent away with small incremental damage.
I'd like to build it but I don't want to pay for it.
February 1, 2018 4:10 p.m.
Atroxreaper says... #12
exactly the merfolk deck cost is high because of kumena you need 4 copies which deters people from building it. They rather adjust decks that perform well than take risk and she'll out big bucks. Also the cards hard to find outside ordering online.
February 1, 2018 4:40 p.m.
LittleBlueHero says... #13
Yeah, and it makes me wonder. We aren't seeing a lot of merfolk decks... but we also can't find staple merfolk card... is it being run in modern? I know a few people would want to try Kumena out as a commander but not enough to spike it to 13 bucks.
I just don't get why if there aren't that many people building it where all the kumena's (and mistbinders) gone?
February 1, 2018 4:56 p.m.
Just because there are 4 or so people on a TappedOut forum saying that merfolk isn't a thing in their local metas can not be used as an accurate baseline for speculation of why Kumena's price is still so high.
February 1, 2018 6 p.m.
dthoreson813 says... #15
It's high because of demand. Plain and simple. Many people want him, and in full playsets no less.
February 1, 2018 6:54 p.m.
Atroxreaper says... #16
well my lgs is between 20-40 standard 20 modern and 15 EDH players it's decent sized but just 1 merfolks player. Either people are struggling to get the staples for the deck or they are waiting till after the next big tournament to see what the pros do.
February 1, 2018 7:44 p.m.
One LGS of 20-40 people still is nowhere near enough to being a reasonable sample size to speculate off of.
February 1, 2018 8:01 p.m.
Atroxreaper says... #18
So then you mean to tell us that there are several merfolks decks at your lgs then?
February 1, 2018 8:05 p.m.
You're missing my point. Even if there were (I know of at least two), it would still be invalid on the large scale of things.
February 1, 2018 8:16 p.m.
Jimmy_Chinchila says... #20
Bovine073 not trying to troll, but the question was whether other peoples LGSs were seeing any Merfolk decks. I think it was more of a curiosity than an attempt to gather actual data. That being said sample size isnt really important unless youre trying to run statistics. Its anecdotal evidence being discussed.
For being one of the 4 pushed tribes in Ixalan block I do agree its being lowly represented, but the same is true for Dinos.
I really dont think Kumenas price tag is the reason, I think its that the meta and our over abundance of internet information has created a world where Spikes greatly outnumber Johnny and Timmy players, and from their perspective why try something new when you can play tried and true builds that require specific answers to be beaten (Hazoret, ScarabGod, God-Pharaohs Gift, Approach, Energy). Yes the banning helped open things up so all decks werent Energy or Mono-Red, but its still not open enough for people to try new archetypes. I personally think its sad people would rather win than have fun and use creativity but I am a Jimmy (Johnny/Timmy Combo) so my reasons for playing the game are different from what appears to be the majority. Netdecking Spikes shape the format. All I see is Sultai/Grixis Energy, Red, Mardu Vehicles, and Esper/Grixis/UW control decks of a few varieties (Gift, Approach, Cycling). An occasional Explore deck, my Naya Dinos, and not much else. Im starting to feel like I am never gonna do great playing home brews and looking into maybe Sultai Energy or Grixis Control.
February 1, 2018 8:34 p.m.
It's all about expectation I guess, to me it seemed like everyone here was taking this anecdotal evidence as truth, but clearly you weren't. Sorry for distracting.
I do think the deck is being played a fair bit, and that Kumena may be a reason some people are more hesitant than others. The deck has been showing up online a fair amount (not sure about results there), and CFB at the very least put out a video series.
The deck is being played and has legs, it will just take a while for the right build to take shape in the stabilizing meta. I assume at this point most people have their paper decks, so there won't be a huge surge in popularity of the deck unless it takes down a major event.
February 1, 2018 9:25 p.m.
Atroxreaper says... #22
it is solid i just feel like people are hesitant to drop 80+ on a player of a card that has yet to be featured in a top 8 of the pros. He'll I know several people who love chandra and Hazoret and don't own any just because of the price tag. Cost is a very real factor in what people play in magic. Not everyone can afford the best cards ie why I am 2 chandra's short in my RDW lol.
February 1, 2018 9:46 p.m.
Bovine073 are Merfolk being played at your LGS?
THAT'S what I'm interested in.
February 2, 2018 5:47 a.m.
Yes, I know of at least 2 people who have it built.
February 2, 2018 6:33 a.m.
Atroxreaper says... #25
Built but have they played it at FNM and if you know howd they do.
February 2, 2018 7:14 a.m.
Yeah, that's what I'm trying to find out.
From what Bovine073 has said, no one has played Merfolk at her/his LGS yet.
February 2, 2018 7:18 a.m.
I don't play Standard, so I assume they play it and didn't just build it for no apparent reason.
February 2, 2018 7:25 a.m.
LittleBlueHero says... #28
Jimmy_Chinchila don't get off the homebrew bandwagon yet!
I take a homebrew deck to Standard Showdown whenever I can make it and have 3-0 twice once with a mono green stompy that featured Crocodile of the Crossing heavily and a black red zombie build that surprised people with The Scorpion God as mid-late game draw.
A lot of times I feel i get a free game becuase my opponets sideboard poorly since they really don't know what im playing... its not a huge benefit but its something.
Next showdown i head to I will be running a Ghalta, Primal Hunger gruul deck that aims to have the big girl down around turn 5 and Fling her in response to removal. In testing its played well against other casual vampires and a black green -1/-1 deck so I am hoping it can hold its own against the big boys.
I will probably build the fish too, but only after I pull a few of the better pieces, and maybe run them along side something people aren't expecting... Thinking maybe an bant token build of sorts.
I know of few people at my LGS WANT to build it but can't because simic folk without the staples just isn't very competitive at the moment. Thats why I think I will try splashing to balance my lack of staple cards.
February 2, 2018 4:51 p.m.
I was reading an article that made an interesting point about a lot of the Tribes, and that is that most of them have the WORST mana at the moment.
I've been annoyed at Wizards removing all the good lands from certain colour combos, and not replacing them with anything.
It's left Izzet Mages like me with no decent replacement for Wandering Fumarole for six months, now.
Merfolk only have one land that comes in untapped, and only during the first couple of plays.
Difficult to build a deck that is efficient, when you have that to work with.
February 2, 2018 6:02 p.m.
Jimmy_Chinchila says... #30
Ill be playing my Merfolk deck tonight if I get off work with enough time...
February 2, 2018 6:06 p.m.
Jimmy_Chinchila says... #31
Argy good point there. Dinos is lucky, got Rootbound/Sunpetal, Thicket/Groves.
February 2, 2018 6:10 p.m.
dthoreson813 says... #32
I played against a very speedy, resilient merfolk deck on Friday. The rate that the board grew for my opponent was staggering.
Make sure that your sideboard contains boardwipes. Multiple.
February 5, 2018 3:20 p.m.
Been wondering if we'll see an increase in Merfolk play come September when sets cycle out.
Merfolk really doesn't loose anything. Could end up being a really strong build.
I just got two more Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca bringing me to three. Changed the deck so much.
Jimmy_Chinchila says... #2
Nope, sadly.
February 1, 2018 10:17 a.m.