A Primer on How to Train Your Blue Demons

[msg67183]

I think I finally figured the deck out. I hope my testing has paid off for Saturday, and the Saturday after that.

[JPoJohnson]

Would love a tournament report (:

[msg67183]

Would love a tournament report (:

My memory isn't the best but I will try to take really detailed notes so that I can write one.

[msg67183]

So, after quite a bit of testing of various "anti Abrupt Decay cards" ie, Divert. Misdirection, Talrand, Master of Waves, and True Name Nemesis, I have learned that True Name is just vastly superior. Only thing that sucks is finding people who are willing to part with them, especially now that they are down to $25.

[ramrodjon]

Have you asked Shawn?

[msg67183]

He has none in the shop. I'm most likely not in need of them yet but it will be nice to get them ASAP.

[MrGlantz]

Would love a tournament report (:

He lost to delvers all day. Which is kinda funny considering it's supposed to be a strong matchup for him.

Gottshall would Sygg River cutthroat be any good as a source of CA? It seems cute, but I don't know if it's powerful enough.

[ben_berry]

Merfolk doesn't have the mid game bomb needed to take back the initiative if the delver deck can kill a few folk.

[msg67183]

I managed to pick up 2 True Names today. I have given in to playing Power, the deck is very powerful with 1 TNN main and 1 in the board. A card I just considered for Workshops/ Fish decks is Porcelain Legionnaire. It gets around most Sphere effects, and the First Strike is really damn good. Thoughts?

[msg67183]

So, testing has shown that True Name Nemesis is INSANE, even against Workshops, where a lot of people said he wasn't too great. If I land him against Workshops, he just wins the game for the most part. He blocks Lodestones with ease, keeps the opponent at bay with Wurmcoil Engine, and is all around simply amazing in my testing. I may be wrong, but he seems MUCH better than even Reejerey.

[vaughnbros]

So TNN is game over against landstill, amazing against UW angels, bomberman, humans, and any other deck trying to win with creatures, as well as being great against workshops, why not play 4 of them?

[msg67183]

So TNN is game over against landstill, amazing against UW angels, bomberman, humans, and any other deck trying to win with creatures, as well as being great against workshops, why not play 4 of them?

Not out of the realm of possibilities Lance.

[Samoht]

Landstill plays 5-6 main deck answers to TNN...

[vaughnbros]

Landstill plays 5-6 main deck answers to TNN...

I don't know what landstill decks you are looking at.  If its pushed through with caverns or the landstill player doesnt have the counter at the time its cast, EE at 3 is the only thing that can answer it.  I guess if they are playing disk or white for supreme verdict they might have a couple more answers...

So TNN is game over against landstill, amazing against UW angels, bomberman, humans, and any other deck trying to win with creatures, as well as being great against workshops, why not play 4 of them?

Not out of the realm of possibilities Lance.

Just saw a merfolk list with 4 of them at the top of the 100+ man swiss for the BoM trials a couple weeks ago.

[JPoJohnson]

Depends on the Landstill list. EE, Pack Rat and Toxic Deluge all will either put you on a defensive or kill your forces.

[Samoht]

Landstill plays 5-6 main deck answers to TNN...

I don't know what landstill decks you are looking at.  If its pushed through with caverns or the landstill player doesnt have the counter at the time its cast, EE at 3 is the only thing that can answer it.  I guess if they are playing disk or white for supreme verdict they might have a couple more answers...

So TNN is game over against landstill, amazing against UW angels, bomberman, humans, and any other deck trying to win with creatures, as well as being great against workshops, why not play 4 of them?

Not out of the realm of possibilities Lance.

Just saw a merfolk list with 4 of them at the top of the 100+ man swiss for the BoM trials a couple weeks ago.

Most Landstill lists that I see feature:
4 EE
0-2 Mindbreak Trap
4 Wasteland - to combat 1 CoS and multiple TNN
1 Strip Mine - to combat 1 CoS and multiple TNN

Some lists splash B and include Deluge.

I don't think W for Verdict is a reasonable expectation.

[msg67183]

Landstill plays 5-6 main deck answers to TNN...

I don't know what landstill decks you are looking at.  If its pushed through with caverns or the landstill player doesnt have the counter at the time its cast, EE at 3 is the only thing that can answer it.  I guess if they are playing disk or white for supreme verdict they might have a couple more answers...

So TNN is game over against landstill, amazing against UW angels, bomberman, humans, and any other deck trying to win with creatures, as well as being great against workshops, why not play 4 of them?

Not out of the realm of possibilities Lance.

Just saw a merfolk list with 4 of them at the top of the 100+ man swiss for the BoM trials a couple weeks ago.

That list is interesting. I can see it is not including Cursecather, Null Rod or Reejerey, but I am really liking the True Name it is really powerful. I currently have 3... Looking to get my 4th soon.

[oshkoshhaitsyosh]

Also a side note, tnn isn't good vs angels. It's OK at best. Angels have 6-7 flyers that will just go offensive over the top and has access to ee to clear baddies away if needed...but I do think tnn should be a 2 of at the very least in merfolk. It definitely serves a purpose but I'm not sure it's a 4 of...

[msg67183]

Also a side note, tnn isn't good vs angels. It's OK at best. Angels have 6-7 flyers that will just go offensive over the top and has access to ee to clear baddies away if needed...but I do think tnn should be a 2 of at the very least in merfolk. It definitely serves a purpose but I'm not sure it's a 4 of...

This may be true. As for EE I usually try and land Null Rod right away so that throws a wrench in that plan, and if my opponent plays cards to deal with Null Rod and they aren't a Vault Key deck, I'm usually winning anyway. We will just have to see how strong TNN turns out to be tomorrow

[disrupting specter]

I've taken some time off from Vintage and I'm looking to get back. (No one at my local store plays Vintage anymore) The viability of this deck is undeniable and lower price decks are important with Vintage Worlds in my area. (Can never be said enough--Thanks Nick) Its still contrary to everything that was going right for me  with Vintage when I left off. Joel Lim's 2013 report helped a lot but I still have questions.
 
Fetchlands-these were a boon to non-tutor, non-draw 7 decks when these were first printed as a way to thin out decks. This deck does not need the mana fixing but it lacks any deck manipulation. Why no fetches? Is it simply to avoid the odd stifle or aven mindcensor?

Grand Architect-Legacy Merfolk uses Coralhelm Commander. Does this deck ever want more lords? I don't think the other two abilities are relevant but Commander seems so slow.

Psionic Blast, Gilded Drake, Sower of Temptation-Do decks like Vintage Flash out-aggro Merfolk regularly? Does this deck need sideboard cards against aggro?

[Samoht]

The thinning out decks via fetches concept has been debunked rather heavily. The effect is so negligible it's not worth giving up the life or the exposure of playing them.

No need for more lords.

Image is a great card in the deck. Merfolk is generally favored in the aggro match up because its creatures are larger because of the 12 lords (+ images) and the ability to counter the important cards from the opposition.