I absolutely LOVE that you went through all 24. The beginning of the video was a hoot. All these reasons why these merfolk 1-drops really suck. I love it. Your dedication is unimpeachable. 👍
I love videos like this. Great stuff. I think we're under-evaluating Dockhand. We shouldn't look at it as an effect that we have to use, but rather as a hatebears-style point of interaction against specific decks. Most of the time it's an evasive dork with a bigger-than-average butt, and that's nothing to scoff at. But tapping down a tron land during upkeep? That's a better use of that 1 mana than any spell you would have cast. A lot of its utility competes with tideshaper but why not both especially with the islandwalk interaction? At its best, the card is borderline oppressive, and at its worst its still above-average for its slot. If you wanted to take a deck into an unknown meta, like an LGS you've never visited before, it's probably a top pick IMO given the poor quality of most other offerings.
Barely anyone plays tiny leaders so I made it my duty to make a 2022 Kumena list. I had to look at every U/G 1-3 drop in the game and it gets pretty weird when you scrape the bottom of the barrel. Between unblockables and islandwalkers theres still alot of native evasion for tiny leaders specifically at least which is sweet.
Merfolk Witsniper actually is part of a somewhat complicated combo that you can use to mill out a player using Cloudstone Curio and Merrow Reejerey. We don't play it because it's kinda clunky, but it's effect is unique for that purpose.
Great video, I also agree with placing the shorewalker above the herald, because the typing is more relevant for non-merfolk decks, like rogue tribal or ninjas
Merfolks biggest problem is its mana curve. 80% of its best cards cost 2 mana. I love it as a tempo deck but getting a good mana curve with out removing some of its best cards has been the most difficult.
How does Merfolk generally play on turn one? Is it often times a land and pass situation? I've been out of Modern for a while now, but since I used to play Modern Slivers I'm extremely tempted to give the fish tribe a go!
Merfolk often times will go land and pass, but sometimes you will have an Aether Vial for turn one, and sometimes we play Tide Shaper on turn one vs Ragavan decks. But this deck oftentimes has no turn-one play. Also, some merfolk lists are playing Dockhand or Cursecatcher which are decent turn one plays, yet not ideal cards.
Thanks so much for the reply! And that really helps me to better judge keeps vs mulligans. Modern Slivers has very few turn 1 plays as well, and back when the meta was much faster I felt anxious about keeping hands without a turn 1 play. Pairing this information along with your video on how slow modern is atm makes me feel like I'm coming out of the gate well prepared!
@@lordoffishmtg No worries I’ll just post your videos when they come out! I am on the fish discord but have t been for a while, so if you’re on that, sorry I haven’t said hi there!
The merfolk community is looking for a one drop that can apply pressure in the early game, while providing good abilities throughout the game. I think we could use some solid protection for our merfolk. Not like Cursecatcher where you can just pay one. I don't know what that design would look like, but to start I think they could print a 2/1 with some good abilities on it.
We would need something that will not die to Wren and Six's -1 ability. And some protection from Solitude and Fury would be nice. I don't know how you would go about making that one drop. We need something that is aggressive in the early game while being useful late game.
Well it is a two drop, so that is why it isn't on the list, if you are curious. But, if you want my opinion on the card it is just too mana intensive. And we have so many better lords.
Brilliant analysis of the 1 drops merfolk have! Its funny how the best 1 drop is basically a 2 drop
I absolutely LOVE that you went through all 24. The beginning of the video was a hoot. All these reasons why these merfolk 1-drops really suck. I love it. Your dedication is unimpeachable. 👍
I love videos like this. Great stuff.
I think we're under-evaluating Dockhand. We shouldn't look at it as an effect that we have to use, but rather as a hatebears-style point of interaction against specific decks. Most of the time it's an evasive dork with a bigger-than-average butt, and that's nothing to scoff at. But tapping down a tron land during upkeep? That's a better use of that 1 mana than any spell you would have cast. A lot of its utility competes with tideshaper but why not both especially with the islandwalk interaction? At its best, the card is borderline oppressive, and at its worst its still above-average for its slot. If you wanted to take a deck into an unknown meta, like an LGS you've never visited before, it's probably a top pick IMO given the poor quality of most other offerings.
Barely anyone plays tiny leaders so I made it my duty to make a 2022 Kumena list. I had to look at every U/G 1-3 drop in the game and it gets pretty weird when you scrape the bottom of the barrel. Between unblockables and islandwalkers theres still alot of native evasion for tiny leaders specifically at least which is sweet.
Merfolk Witsniper actually is part of a somewhat complicated combo that you can use to mill out a player using Cloudstone Curio and Merrow Reejerey. We don't play it because it's kinda clunky, but it's effect is unique for that purpose.
Merrow* Witsniper
Hells yeah, this is deep, multi-format analysis.
Man i have a lot to learn about the format, i did never think some thinks you say in this video, great job.
Great video, I also agree with placing the shorewalker above the herald, because the typing is more relevant for non-merfolk decks, like rogue tribal or ninjas
Despite the hilariously mispronounced words, this was an extremely thoughtful and helpful list. Thank you.
The professor would love this channel, lol.
Not sure if you meant for this to be hilarious, but it was. Also was spot on in analysis 👌
Just splash red for Ragavan.
Tide Shaper does function as a 1-drop if you have 2 in your opening hand. You only need 1 island to get it going
Thanks for the great summary!
Yooo new lord of fish upload, let's goooooo
Nice to see Mistcaller on the list, not saying it's individually the most powerful, but it's an incredible piece of sideboard tech.
Mistcaller is a great sideboard card, I just wish it dealt with more decks. It is an amazing card to keep in mind as modern changes.
Mausoleum Wanderer... You were the chosen one!
Merfolks biggest problem is its mana curve. 80% of its best cards cost 2 mana. I love it as a tempo deck but getting a good mana curve with out removing some of its best cards has been the most difficult.
I agree with you, and Merfolk needs a solid one drop to help balance out our heavy amount of two drops.
Its too bad tide shaper doesn't also let you draw a card when kicked
Great list. I do think that cosi's trickster is a bit stronger than you give it credit for though :)
Would love such analysis for 2 and 3 drops !
I wonder if the next Ixalan set will have a better Merfolk 1-drop. Maybe something that always has hexproof?
How does Merfolk generally play on turn one? Is it often times a land and pass situation?
I've been out of Modern for a while now, but since I used to play Modern Slivers I'm extremely tempted to give the fish tribe a go!
Merfolk often times will go land and pass, but sometimes you will have an Aether Vial for turn one, and sometimes we play Tide Shaper on turn one vs Ragavan decks. But this deck oftentimes has no turn-one play. Also, some merfolk lists are playing Dockhand or Cursecatcher which are decent turn one plays, yet not ideal cards.
Thanks so much for the reply! And that really helps me to better judge keeps vs mulligans. Modern Slivers has very few turn 1 plays as well, and back when the meta was much faster I felt anxious about keeping hands without a turn 1 play.
Pairing this information along with your video on how slow modern is atm makes me feel like I'm coming out of the gate well prepared!
Unblockable 1 drop merfolk needs more appreciation
Are you active on Twitter? If so I can help hype your videos. I’m a massive Merfolk fan and just want to see the community succeed. 🧜♀️
I don't have an active Twitter account, but I appreciate you asking.
@@lordoffishmtg No worries I’ll just post your videos when they come out! I am on the fish discord but have t been for a while, so if you’re on that, sorry I haven’t said hi there!
What would your ideal 1-drop be?
The merfolk community is looking for a one drop that can apply pressure in the early game, while providing good abilities throughout the game. I think we could use some solid protection for our merfolk. Not like Cursecatcher where you can just pay one. I don't know what that design would look like, but to start I think they could print a 2/1 with some good abilities on it.
rishadan spawn the "Merfolk Ponza" which can provide some fun, but not tournament wins
What do you think would be the perfect 1-Drop to put Merfolk back on the map ?
We would need something that will not die to Wren and Six's -1 ability. And some protection from Solitude and Fury would be nice. I don't know how you would go about making that one drop. We need something that is aggressive in the early game while being useful late game.
Imagine a Savannah Lions merfolk, it would surely blow the archetype wide open
cool dude
Very good, so basically from 24th to 2nd everything is trash, and the best one drop is a two drop. Awesome
👌🏻👏🏼
It is sad that Shoreline Scout is an Arena only card. It think it could make a huge splash in a format like Modern.
oof, did not realize evoking an elemental counts as casting it... that makes mistcaller a lot worse
You missed Mothdust Changeling! Well, it's almost totally pointless now that Windrobber exists.
so the best one drop is a two drop lmao
Coralhelm commander?? 🤔
Well it is a two drop, so that is why it isn't on the list, if you are curious. But, if you want my opinion on the card it is just too mana intensive. And we have so many better lords.
Oh sorry ! Thank you!!!
No changelling
2:45 Mistcloaked Hurdled?? Its Herald it's okay though i forgive you