Simple Idea: Mono Blue Merfolk Control

kaamos · Joined: 08 Nov 2006 Posts: 288

// Deck file for Magic Workstation (http://www.magicworkstation.com)

// Lands
4 [M10] Gargoyle Castle
20 [M10] Island (1)

// Creatures
4 [ZEN] Lullmage Mentor
4 [M10] Merfolk Sovereign

// Spells
3 [ZEN] Spell Pierce
3 [M10] Negate
3 [M10] Cancel
3 [M10] Essence Scatter
3 [ZEN] Into the Roil
3 [ALA] Resounding Wave
3 [CFX] Unsummon
4 [M10] Ponder
3 [ALA] Quietus Spike

*lolmage is great if you can keep him alive, every counter you provide make more merfolk.

*Sovereign makes the tokens beefier, but his main purpose is to make an unblockable, for quietus spike.

*Removal Removal Removal, you know you cant counter all of those spells, so you have removal, into the roil is a cantrip and probably should be 4, so maybe minus a sovereign.

*Essence scatter should be 4 as well for the format.

*Control decks need card advantage, not sure how to provide this, options are Jace, Mind Spring, Couriers Capsule, divination.

Final notes: I know Im on a good path here, not sure where the weak point is, theres more non creature counters than there is counters, and thats bad with unsummons in the maindeck. If I pull waves out I only have roils for everything else removal wise. The deck feels good but it doesnt have the card advantage and generally will indeed run out of gas fast. Maybe lolmage and Sovereign should run 3 a piece?, with the mana curve maybe cut an island? That would serve to buff roil, cancel, and scatter by 1 each. But without lolmage I dont really have a lasting win condition. Luckily I dont have to plan on anything other than counterspells as a deterrent to other decks. I have maindecked looters to replace unneed islands in my hand but ultimatelly wanted that unblockable force because all removal is usefull to me.

kumagmd · Joined: 15 Feb 2009 Posts: 101

Great Sable Stag? Or is that what the gargoyle castles are for?

kaamos · Joined: 08 Nov 2006 Posts: 288

Jacois · Joined: 05 Sep 2004 Posts: 721

Try Brackwater Elemental. I've been using it and it's great as a cheap blocker for aggro and 8 points to the head in a long game against control. All around great card.

Acid_Christ · Joined: 28 Aug 2004 Posts: 742

wiltstorm · Joined: 13 Nov 2008 Posts: 30

what about merfolk seatstalkers?

kaamos · Joined: 08 Nov 2006 Posts: 288

seastalkers are too expensive for the deck that doesnt make islands

Brackwater only gets used twice... twice...

I dont think so, beats maybe, but not this.

CrushU · Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 68

The problem I've had with counterspells in general is that they don't give card advantage. At best they trade one for one... Most removal is that way as well, removal and counterspells make up the difference by targetting specifically powerful cards... However, you're still left with the fact that you use a card for each of theirs. (Except lolmage, who is good for this reason)

Consider adding Quest for Ancient Secrets, to get those counterspells back into your deck after using them? Other than that it looks ok...

(Gargoyle Castle <3)

kaamos · Joined: 08 Nov 2006 Posts: 288

Yes some recursion would be nice, but in this format I dont expect to go too long without triggering lolmage, but maybe, who knows...

Havent had time to playtest, you guys who are interested give it a shot > Very Happy