I think the faeries are incredibly weak in this environment. They have no power or toughness, you can't win on interaction alone; especially counterspells.

I think this kind of thing is best done in the Merfolk discord. The thing is that decklist suggestions don't have a lot of long lasting value as the meta changes constantly and I prefer the gameplay videos to have some use even if the meta changes here and there.

Sorry, I don't play on Arena to know what a list should look like. Timeless fascinates me, but I don't have time to play it.

@@nikachuplaysmtg Thanks anyways! Have a nice day ^^

Oh yeah, that’s true. I guess I’m trying to figure out what does Consign to Memory uniquely counter that my other cards do not.

@@nikachuplaysmtgit’s great vs Eldrazi and all the cast triggers too, stifle and counter for 2 mana is big tempo vs them

@@nikachuplaysmtg Went through swiss rounds undefeated on recent RCQ with merfolk and lost hard against gruul eldrazi in the top 4. That's where these copies of Consign to memory shines.

Push, Frog, and Bowmasters are perfectly fine in the meta. Inquisition loses a lot of value because of the big mana decks, so counterspells are better. After the Nadu/Grief ban I think there's more reason to go Mono blue than otherwise, but there's a very real world where I would do the opposite.

@@nikachuplaysmtg I’m glad you’re on Mono-U personally. I’m not saying Push, Frog, and Bowmasters aren’t good cards. They’re phenomenal. But playing them in a tribal shell with Vial and tribal creatures dilutes your gameplan. And there are much better shells to play those cards in - like Dimir Murktide or even Shadow. Tribal decks become weaker with every non-creature you play since individual card quality is weaker than other decks. Just my two cents! I feel Mono-U, and Harbinger is the future of Merfolk. Just wish other tribes got as much love and support.

I completely disagree with the premise that playing non-Merfolk creature dilutes our gameplan. Merfolk has adopted many non-merfolk over the years: Kira, Great Glass Spinner Faerie Conclave Vendilion Clique Brazen Borrower Subtlety Smuggler’s Copter Venser, Shaper Savant Just to name the ones off the top of my head. Merfolk will continue to adopt good cards that fit in our overall strategy for many years to come.

@@nikachuplaysmtg That’s fair. No argument there. It’s just that with every non-Merfolk in the deck, a card like Lord of Atlantis, Sylveun, etc become weaker. Essentially. But maybe I’m overthinking it. Tribal decks have to hit a certain density of on tribe creatures, or the deck won’t work. But I agree other creatures can be adapted into the archetype. Valid points in regards to Borrower, Subtlety, and the like. But they would be even better if they shared the creature type.

Here's a list for about $280. I hope it's poorfolk enough for you: www.moxfield.com/decks/yqjFy0_Cq0OdXQie_LrB_g

@@nikachuplaysmtgWe have’t gotten any HomelessFolk content for 2 years!

Depends if you're on the play and if they have a lot of 1 drops in their hand. It's entirely possible they dump their 1 drops when we are on the draw before we cast Chalice, or they curve out with their many 2 drops and 3 drops and run us over anyway. SO it has the chance to mess with them, but it's not reliable.

@@nikachuplaysmtg Good to know, I have been trying to evaluate Chalice in the new meta. Great content!

I don’t want to side in and hold up mana for a Counterspell vs an aggro deck when they might not even play a colorless card. Sure there’s some other targets like street wraith cycle, but that’s not worth it imo.

Maybe not. One of the main reasons to splash a color is to get access to a 1 mana removal spell, but it’s increasingly unlikely that 1 mana removal spells are good right now (unless up against Energy)

I think it’s very good, but as you said about the 1 toughness, it might be unplayable. We’ll have to play it and see

That card seems very strong, but the art reminds me of those murderous dolphins from the Simpsons

@@isambo400 i didn’t want to remember those😢

With Frog in Merfolk or just Frog in general?

@@nikachuplaysmtg frog in general. Haven't tried your merfolk deck.

Well it's a weird statement because UB Murktide is one of the top decks to beat at the moment :P

@nikachuplaysmtg every game is the same, have no creatures, run out of cards, die. It's a LOT of hoops to jump through to go up a single card w frog.

Yeah, changes don't benefit me all that much as I benefited from a large Vampire presence.

You mean the midrange deck?

@nikachuplaysmtg yes! ;) I'm still playing that deck. It's decent. But I totally changed the sb for the modetn at home discord meta... 2 sheoldres edict 3 go for the throat 3 toxic deluge 2 damping sphere 2 nihil soellbomb 3 consign to memory

I think I realized that halfway through the match.

I just played that Mutavault that turn. It has summoning sickness... Just like mana dorks, you cannot tap them for mana the turn they came into play.

My bad

Hahaha, I was just thinking the other day that a lot of empty space is filled because I detail my plays so much.

I play it myself. I also won the first MH3 open tournament with Merfolk. It’s weak to aggro Energy and NecroScam, but great vs everything else. Follow my channel for updates as there’s going to be a big B&R announcement this Monday.

Not really because the format is getting upheavaled again after the B&R Announcement coming soon. Ask again in a few weeks and maybe we'll look at this again. Like if they ban Nadu, Grief, and the One Ring then all the match ups change over night.

Flare is sort of worse when you don’t have aether vial. It’s harder to get creatures and play and keep them there.

What would you cut? The manabase is very tight.

@@nikachuplaysmtg basic island or the fourth mimic (like you said in the end you didn't like the full playset)

You could replace a Mimic I suppose. But the basic islands are precious given we are in a Blood Moon metagame; without Vial we are more vulnerable than usual.

Tishana's Tidebinder is very clunky when you aren't playing with Vial. You are heavily telegraphing a Tishana's Tidebinder when you have 3 mana up and you'll never stifle a fetchland vs a competent player.

I want to say UB is stronger, but I never explored the Vial-less version enough. But I can't tell what will be best after the B&R announcement in a week.

Flare is a great catch all card. The problem is that we don't have enough 1 drops to sacrifice to it, something I want to try to fix.

@@nikachuplaysmtg Have you considered something like Mistcaller? Fits the criteria well. Is 1)Merfolk 1 drop 2) Covers relevant interactions from Breach/Goryos/LivingEnd/Rhinos/Chord/Rubystorm tokens. 3) Mu's where the effect is not needed it is sac outlet for Flare. Downside. Its Mistcaller coming knocking off the top when you need something actually relevant.

Mistaller doesn't exile tokens, so it has no affect vs Rhinos/Storm. Mistcaller is fine but a poor blocker vs Energy turn 1; it can only block Ragavan. Otherwise I do like it vs Chord in Nadu.

Thanks! Glad someone noticed.

Sorry, you get as much as I give :P

I don't think it's that big of a deal vs Jeskai, you just have to be aware of it. The only ugly thing vs Static Prison is if you're short on lands it's like they stone rain you.

And why are you not playing Tidebinder?

Well, you have to cut something and Tidebinder is more awkward without Vial. It's a very good card still though.

What's the best copy from opponent board in these match up?

@@davidenk9224 Against mono black is bow master and Sheoldred. Against energy I just copy any one drop they play to make the board symmetrical, so I can have more time to fill up my board.

@@user-ct9gp2qi5j Nice in both cases. thanks you for the answer 😊

This is mostly St0nhe4rt's list who leaned more on raw card power than situational cards. Trickster is quite good vs Murktide and Nadu but poor vs the rest of the field.

But we won in the end!

@@nikachuplaysmtg hoops you have to go through for 1 card is bad

Not give up, but this Vial-less deck was a pretty serious option that I never looked back on. For those that don't want to splash, they might want to look into it.

Yes, so we don't flood out when we need to use FoN and Sub. I love these blue lands.

This is just an alternative idea that I never had time to look back on. It's probably best for people that don't want to splash.

no hexcatcher main is insane tho

I can't speak on that because I don't play Death and Taxes.

Yeah, I forgot to mention that Vial today on any turn except turn 1 is really bad.