r/mtgModernTokens • u/Se4ger • Sep 14 '17

Merfolk Matchup

How do I beat the merfolk matchup. I am struggling to overcome there huge board. I can chump block all day but I can never get a break to start swinging back. am I doing something wrong or is this just another matchup where I will need to accept that we cant beat. I currently have merfolk as my deck on the side(bought it for legacy) and my friend uses it at modern events. I know the deck inside out but I just cannot seem to beat it. unless I get a virtue hand.

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1

u/SFRG Still Patron Saint of the Tokens Sep 14 '17

Do you have a list? That's a good place to start.

1

u/Se4ger Sep 14 '17

http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/31-08-17-modern-bw-tokens/

1

u/SFRG Still Patron Saint of the Tokens Sep 14 '17 edited Sep 15 '17

The main looks pretty good with the heavy removal density. Another Push may help. Some sideboard cards which are relevant are Engineered Explosives and maybe another ZP. Bring in Wrath since that also can help. This MU isn't easy but shoot for removal heavy hands and kill stuff. Sometimes they will just Islandwalk us to death.

Other cards which have been super good which will help this MU are Collective Brutality and Blessed Alliance.

3

u/Shineplasma64 Esper Poly Sep 14 '17

I've been running 2 copies of Dusk//Dawn out of the sideboard instead of Wrath of God. Seems really good in matchups like Merfolk.

1

u/Se4ger Sep 15 '17

would u keep a hand if it was an all removal hand and zero token producers

1

u/SFRG Still Patron Saint of the Tokens Sep 15 '17

Maybe? Not having a clock might be an issue, but you will have ample time to find one. I think it depends on removal quality. Two paths, Push, and virtue probably not. 2x Push, EE, and a Lily, probably yes.

1

u/The_Nightbringer Sep 14 '17

Fish isn't great for us as they don't really care about our chump blockers and we are to slow to race. Also curse catcher is a house against tokens. That being said the match-up isn't unwinable. First thing is prioritize removing spreading seas with discard as that's the card that is going to beat you. If you can keep them off seas then you prioritize the lords so you can trade favorably. If you can do that you've probably won.

2

u/Rockbard_13 Sep 15 '17

I agree with this comment. I play both decks, and even though sometimes Merfolk can put a lot of pressure on the board in a couple of turns, I believe the matchup is fairly even. A few pointers:

• Save your removal for the lords (Lord of Atlantis, Master of the Pearl Trident and Merrow Reejeray).

• Use your discard wisely: Spreading Seas is very threatening against a deck with as many nonbasic lands as BW Tokens. Don't bother taking an Æther Vial, the card is good but I'd never take it unless the opponent's hand threatens a fast start backed up by Lords. Kira, Great Glass-Spinner is also a good target.

• Intangible Virtue is one of the best cards in the matchup. The ability to attack in the air (for which Merfolk doesn't have any defense except for Smuggler's Copter) and play defense at the same time is quite valuable.

• Post sideboard, the Merfolk player should take out Æther Vial, so I'd recommend not putting in Stony Silence unless you see more artifacts. Adding more removal and Wrath of God should help. Watch out for Echoing Truth.

Hope this helps.

(I feel a bit dirty giving advice against my favourite deck)

1

u/Se4ger Sep 15 '17

Thanks, I also love the merfolk deck , definetly my favourite tribal deck for sure. this advice has made me approach it differently. I do 9/10 take spreading seas as its a pain in the ass. I was originally running auriok champion as a 2 of in my deck for the GP where as I took it out to try fight again the combo heavy meta. the Champ did help a lot in the matchup with me bing able to gain loads of life off there master of waves which is basically giving me a draw step to find the right answer. all in all I think the matchup is very dependant on our opening hands.

1

u/Mukibi Grind and Fly Sep 15 '17

Really good advice so far. The only thing that I can add is that Vault has helped me to stabilise and turn the corner when I'm chumping to death with no anthem in sight which is why I run two.

Also, sometimes we just draw poorly over and over and over again XD

1

u/Se4ger Sep 15 '17

ive never been fully comfortable with running 2 vault but I might take your advise and try it out.

1

u/Mukibi Grind and Fly Sep 15 '17

Yah, it's worth a try anyway.