You should totally try dimir faeries you get spelstutter,splitter sprite, lofty denial,and other great interaction. And the current meta is sort of week to counterapells
@nikachuplaysmtg6 минут бұрын
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.
@henrybishopsmith2 күн бұрын
Hello, Nikachu. I really like your coaching videos. Would it be possible to do a coaching video where I provide you my decklist and have you explain the strengths and weaknesses of my card selection and quantities and also explain what you would change and why. I think understanding your thought processes on this subject would be helpful to the community. I know from watching your videos, you do this while you play, but perhaps having a comprehensive video focused on this might be helpful. Thank you.
@nikachuplaysmtg4 минут бұрын
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.
@Masanian3 күн бұрын
Love me some good old mono U fish
@andrewruoff46873 күн бұрын
I’m interested in playing merfolk eventually and I like watching you play it :) Any chance you have any lists for dirty arena players? I am trying to build it there and am considering GU for the forth lord and Collected Company. Thanks for the content!
@nikachuplaysmtg3 күн бұрын
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.
@andrewruoff46873 күн бұрын
@@nikachuplaysmtg Thanks anyways! Have a nice day ^^
@Gemasted3 күн бұрын
Not sure I 100% got your consign to memory monologue but I think you forgot you can counter "one ring" since it's a colorless spell
@nikachuplaysmtg3 күн бұрын
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.
@KyleKilltacular3 күн бұрын
@@nikachuplaysmtgit’s great vs Eldrazi and all the cast triggers too, stifle and counter for 2 mana is big tempo vs them
@ReenviarКүн бұрын
@@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.
@drkatz11923 күн бұрын
THANK YOU NIKACHU! Finally, giving good advice to Merfolk/Tribal players. You want to DODGE energy MU in tournaments. You do NOT want to play Inquisition, Frog, Push, or Thoughtseize in tribal decks. DO NOT play those cards in tribal decks. It weakens your deck, and makes you good into one MU. Finally, people are learning! Lol.
@nikachuplaysmtg3 күн бұрын
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.
@drkatz11923 күн бұрын
@@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.
@nikachuplaysmtg3 күн бұрын
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.
@drkatz11923 күн бұрын
@@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.
@StaleBranflakes4 күн бұрын
Do I have any chads in comments that can link me a poorfolk-esque modern deck? I have the one from MH2 and trying to get back into modern and not sure if it’s any good
@nikachuplaysmtg3 күн бұрын
Here's a list for about $280. I hope it's poorfolk enough for you: www.moxfield.com/decks/yqjFy0_Cq0OdXQie_LrB_g
@isambo4002 күн бұрын
@@nikachuplaysmtgWe have’t gotten any HomelessFolk content for 2 years!
@ArneMandell4 күн бұрын
Doesn't Chalice of the Void (X=1) mess with Boros Energy?!
@nikachuplaysmtg4 күн бұрын
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.
@ArneMandell4 күн бұрын
@@nikachuplaysmtg Good to know, I have been trying to evaluate Chalice in the new meta. Great content!
@OleOkGeo4 күн бұрын
Aether vial, sorry It was just a cute joke😂
@dancing_odie4 күн бұрын
40:57 Why didn't you side in Consign to Memory against the Hollow One deck? Doesn't it counter colorless spells?
@nikachuplaysmtg4 күн бұрын
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.
@rossn55904 күн бұрын
Any future for more dimir frogfolk decks? Love the content.
@nikachuplaysmtg4 күн бұрын
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)
@fred-ss4ym4 күн бұрын
Hi Nikachu, what do you think of the new merfolk Floodpits Drowner? Seems better than trickster, only thing holding it back is that 1 toughness
@nikachuplaysmtg4 күн бұрын
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
@isambo4004 күн бұрын
That card seems very strong, but the art reminds me of those murderous dolphins from the Simpsons
@zachariahhuey98764 күн бұрын
@@isambo400 i didn’t want to remember those😢
@BaldurtheImpious4 күн бұрын
Best streamer ❤
@joshanderson64856 күн бұрын
Excited to hopefully see more post-ban!! :)
@sirpercivalblakeney99577 күн бұрын
the ring bullshit needs to end ban then ring
@robbschnell878411 күн бұрын
After playing frog extensively, the sad conclusion is that its not a relevant deck in modern.its nearly impossible to turn a creature sideways, let alone win a match!
@nikachuplaysmtg11 күн бұрын
With Frog in Merfolk or just Frog in general?
@robbschnell878411 күн бұрын
@@nikachuplaysmtg frog in general. Haven't tried your merfolk deck.
@nikachuplaysmtg11 күн бұрын
Well it's a weird statement because UB Murktide is one of the top decks to beat at the moment :P
@robbschnell878411 күн бұрын
@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.
@xcosmiccrunchx13 күн бұрын
"Their start was better than our start, even though their start was pretty bad" -Nikachu
@alexyuvia16 күн бұрын
Love the pioneer merfolk videos!
@user-dv9qj7yl4y16 күн бұрын
So much for "no changes" in pioneer
@nikachuplaysmtg16 күн бұрын
Yeah, changes don't benefit me all that much as I benefited from a large Vampire presence.
@robbschnell878417 күн бұрын
Pls make a video of the deck u referenced at the beginning of this one!! 😊
@nikachuplaysmtg17 күн бұрын
You mean the midrange deck?
@robbschnell878417 күн бұрын
@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
@Gemasted17 күн бұрын
Not sure if you have learned since you posted this, but the last deck is a lotus field control deck, it does not have the combo, it's also slightly weaker to creature decks since it doesn't have that strong board wipes, but it does beat other control decks.
@nikachuplaysmtg17 күн бұрын
I think I realized that halfway through the match.
@ShadowWalker-ng1it17 күн бұрын
I guess "rakdos sacrifice" is actually either jund or golgari sacrifice with the new [Ygra, eater of all] combo
@Argentina...17 күн бұрын
30:50 you don’t need to activate copter at all you just animate the mutavault and tap itself for mana. Seems you are still not quite get used to deeproot prigrimage
@nikachuplaysmtg17 күн бұрын
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.
@Argentina...17 күн бұрын
My bad
@Erweenie17 күн бұрын
1:23:53 I thought the answer would be because manamorphose isn’t legal in pioneer, not that they want creatures on the board lol
@Pastree11720 күн бұрын
I decided to listen to this while I am working. Never tried before since I am not allowed to watch vids, first world problems. I wanna say Wow and Thanks! because your commentary is so detailed and sharp that I'm getting a lot out of this even only listening, that's impressive!
@nikachuplaysmtg20 күн бұрын
Hahaha, I was just thinking the other day that a lot of empty space is filled because I detail my plays so much.
@ricardomontoya840221 күн бұрын
I think that you saved me i was going to trade a Ugins labyrinth that i got yesterday in a play booster for 4 aether vial and something else this weekend, but now I'm going to think better about what to change it with.
@ricardomontoya840221 күн бұрын
Hi, i'm coming back to Magic and i usted to be a monoblue playera in 2017 You recomend to use this deck for participe in the modern local tournaments in my town?
@nikachuplaysmtg21 күн бұрын
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.
@xDemimondex23 күн бұрын
Are you working on a sideboard guide for the Patreon?
@nikachuplaysmtg21 күн бұрын
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.
@guim341924 күн бұрын
4 Fon in the main? Without aethervial seems like Flare could be consistent here idk
@nikachuplaysmtg21 күн бұрын
Flare is sort of worse when you don’t have aether vial. It’s harder to get creatures and play and keep them there.
@morgandicandia868124 күн бұрын
Why aren't you playing the first Otawara?
@nikachuplaysmtg24 күн бұрын
What would you cut? The manabase is very tight.
@morgandicandia868124 күн бұрын
@@nikachuplaysmtg basic island or the fourth mimic (like you said in the end you didn't like the full playset)
@nikachuplaysmtg24 күн бұрын
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.
@BigSmokeMTG24 күн бұрын
I like the deck but why aren't you playing any Tishana's tidebinder if the game plan is based around the mana denial? Even if you don't have any slots in in the main tishana could replace hexcatcher?
@nikachuplaysmtg24 күн бұрын
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.
@cameronwhite705524 күн бұрын
Been playing Ponder over vial less list in legacy.
@nathanhenwood204824 күн бұрын
Hey big fan love your vids🎉. Would you say the UB build is a more stronger build or would you say the mono is the way to go. P.s i play merfolk in 4 formats love da fish
@nikachuplaysmtg24 күн бұрын
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.
@Venser42024 күн бұрын
Love the reasons for no Vial, and the list seems very fresh even though weve played all these cards in the past! Only thing I am really not sold on and wondered if it needed to go is Flare of Denial, Ive kinda found that the "free" mode is very nombo with our game plan by reducing the board state weve developed. Obviously this cost is fine vs board clears but otherwise 2 for 1'n myself sucks and I dunt like it!
@nikachuplaysmtg24 күн бұрын
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.
@Venser42024 күн бұрын
@@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.
@nikachuplaysmtg24 күн бұрын
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.
@Joshua-nn4rd24 күн бұрын
Nice haircut 😊
@nikachuplaysmtg24 күн бұрын
Thanks! Glad someone noticed.
@JT-9124 күн бұрын
nothing feels worse when wrath of sky hits your aether vial. me a goblin player
@Trivedi_Tuesdays24 күн бұрын
Vial has been powercrept
@potion568224 күн бұрын
Can you upload more modern videos? Pls
@nikachuplaysmtg24 күн бұрын
Sorry, you get as much as I give :P
@ericbourgeois772724 күн бұрын
I think aether vial is even getting worse in the control match ups because of a card like wrath of the skies, or static prison agaisnt boros.
@nikachuplaysmtg24 күн бұрын
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.
@ericbourgeois772724 күн бұрын
And why are you not playing Tidebinder?
@nikachuplaysmtg24 күн бұрын
Well, you have to cut something and Tidebinder is more awkward without Vial. It's a very good card still though.
@eusebioalbertieri224825 күн бұрын
Than play Mocking bird
@celticjordan125 күн бұрын
I wonder if all tribes should be vial-less now.
@user-ct9gp2qi5j25 күн бұрын
I have been using mockingbird as a counter play to mono black and energy. Worst case just make the bird a flying lord.
@davidenk922424 күн бұрын
What's the best copy from opponent board in these match up?
@user-ct9gp2qi5j24 күн бұрын
@@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.
@davidenk922424 күн бұрын
@@user-ct9gp2qi5j Nice in both cases. thanks you for the answer 😊
@settlersshop624425 күн бұрын
Saw that you removed Merfolk Trickster. Was this just in favour of other cards or is there a strong reason to drop the trickster now?
@nikachuplaysmtg25 күн бұрын
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.
@rameybartels629125 күн бұрын
Match one, game one, was painful to watch. The One Ring Should be restricted. Great video! 👍
@nikachuplaysmtg25 күн бұрын
But we won in the end!
@JT-9124 күн бұрын
@@nikachuplaysmtg hoops you have to go through for 1 card is bad
@felipelundgren309925 күн бұрын
give up on UB?
@nikachuplaysmtg25 күн бұрын
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.
@pokepat46025 күн бұрын
Do we still need glaspool now with sink unto stupor? 4 +3 seems like a lot of those dual faced lands.
@nikachuplaysmtg25 күн бұрын
Yes, so we don't flood out when we need to use FoN and Sub. I love these blue lands.
@beeeproduction966025 күн бұрын
No UB Merfolk ? To painfull for the eavy damage meta ?
@nikachuplaysmtg25 күн бұрын
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.
@arej00ryan25 күн бұрын
Something I was thinking about recently is: if this deck was built today without the knowledge of the past merfolk itterations would it run aether vial? the answer to that is probably no.
@arej00ryan25 күн бұрын
no hexcatcher main is insane tho
@LarsIsReal25 күн бұрын
How about Aether Vial in Death & Taxes?
@nikachuplaysmtg25 күн бұрын
I can't speak on that because I don't play Death and Taxes.
@lightworker295625 күн бұрын
Based. Honestly, I think Vial is overrated. Yeah it's good if you get exactly one Vial on turn exactly one. But it sort of sucks in all other situations. And even if you have one Vial on turn one, you're still trading a card for some tempo (and some timing tricks). Yeah that can be good, but in some games you'd rather have an additional threat than some additional tempo.
@nikachuplaysmtg25 күн бұрын
Yeah, I forgot to mention that Vial today on any turn except turn 1 is really bad.