Deckstats Forum
English-language Forums => Commander Deck Reviews => Topic started by: Aetherium Slinky on September 16, 2019, 01:51:22 pm
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https://deckstats.net/decks/93006/1407793-six-ways-to-break-merieke-ri-b/en
This is a deck that's been in progress for years and I've finally settled on a decklist which means that it's time to ask the community for wild suggestions that make me question my sanity and the integrity of the deck.
In case it's not clear at a glance: we use Merieke as a kill spell and to steal and sometimes keep creatures permanently. The rest of the deck deals with noncreature problems, things that could hurt Merieke and things that find us the winning pieces. Win conditions are: damage or whatever the stolen creatures can do on their own, or as a last resort we can assemble Decree of Silence (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Decree+of+Silence) + Solemnity (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Solemnity) which should make opponents scoop.
So... Hit me with your best critique.
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I have no time for a check in detail right now, but I atleast want to leave some quick suggestions:
Long-Term Plans (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=de&card=Long-Term+Plans) and Diabolic Intent (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=de&card=Diabolic+Intent) (sac a opponents creature as additional cost) could be useful tutors.
the manabase could be improved with check lands (e.g. Glacial Fortress (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=de&card=Glacial+Fortress)) and battle lands (e.g. Prairie Stream (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=de&card=Prairie+Stream)) without crushing the budget. Nimbus Maze (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=de&card=Nimbus+Maze) and Exotic Orchard (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=de&card=Exotic+Orchard) might also be interesting.
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I admit, the mana base looks really bare. I just don't want to get hit by a Blood Moon (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Blood+Moon) or Back to Basics (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Back+to+Basics) (which is probably something I should run). Nimbus Maze (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Nimbus+Maze) is fun but oh-so-finicky. 40% of the time it won't produce the colours you actually need.
Diabolic Intent (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Diabolic+Intent) was a really good suggestion. I already splurged on a Demonic Tutor (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Demonic+Tutor) (but I might need it elsewhere as well...) so I need to think about this. Long Term Plans (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Long-Term+Plans) is solid albeit a little slow. There's a lot of synergy going on here and I don't want to break it by removing cards.
Thanks for the good suggestions!
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Shocklands
Checklands
Fetchlands
Prismatic Vista (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Prismatic+Vista)
Reflecting Pool (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Reflecting+Pool) - almost always a second Command Tower (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Command+Tower).
Minamo, School at Water's Edge (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Minamo%2C+School+at+Water%27s+Edge) - untap Merieke Ri Berit (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Merieke+Ri+Berit).
Volrath's Stronghold (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Volrath%27s+Stronghold)
Phyrexian Tower (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Phyrexian+Tower) - sacrifice stolen creatures for mana.
Orzhov Signet (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Orzhov+Signet)
Phyrexian Arena (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Phyrexian+Arena)
Rhystic Study (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Rhystic+Study)
Vampiric Tutor (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Vampiric+Tutor)
Demonic Tutor (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Demonic+Tutor)
Thornbite Staff (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Thornbite+Staff) - with Merieke Ri Berit (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Merieke+Ri+Berit) and a sac outlet like Ashnod's Altar (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Ashnod%27s+Altar) or Altar of Dementia (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Altar+of+Dementia), you clear the board and get a bunch of mana or mill the opponent etc.
Willbreaker (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Willbreaker) - target a creature with whatever, gain control of it.
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Shocklands
Checklands
Fetchlands
Prismatic Vista (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Prismatic+Vista)
Reflecting Pool (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Reflecting+Pool) - almost always a second Command Tower (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Command+Tower).
Minamo, School at Water's Edge (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Minamo%2C+School+at+Water%27s+Edge) - untap Merieke Ri Berit (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Merieke+Ri+Berit).
Volrath's Stronghold (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Volrath%27s+Stronghold)
Phyrexian Tower (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Phyrexian+Tower) - sacrifice stolen creatures for mana.
Orzhov Signet (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Orzhov+Signet)
Phyrexian Arena (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Phyrexian+Arena)
Rhystic Study (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Rhystic+Study)
Vampiric Tutor (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Vampiric+Tutor)
Demonic Tutor (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Demonic+Tutor)
Thornbite Staff (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Thornbite+Staff) - with Merieke Ri Berit (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Merieke+Ri+Berit) and a sac outlet like Ashnod's Altar (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Ashnod%27s+Altar) or Altar of Dementia (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Altar+of+Dementia), you clear the board and get a bunch of mana or mill the opponent etc.
Willbreaker (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Willbreaker) - target a creature with whatever, gain control of it.
Lands you mentioned are prohibitively expensive and again, I don't want to be susceptible to nonbasic hate. I'd love Minamo but again, really expensive considering what you get for the money. I'd much rather have 5 decent untappers than 1 expensive.
Tutors and the draw are also prohibitively expensive...although I did buy Demonic Tutor (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Demonic+Tutor) recently.
Thornbite staff (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Thornbite+Staff) + sac outlet is interesting. I think Thornbite staff (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Thornbite+Staff) is on the mana hungry side of things but let's see here:
1) Equip staff to tapped Merieke that has captured a creature.
2) Untap Merieke with another untapping device. Lose control of captured creature, creature gets destroyed.
3) Staff's latter ability goes on stack.
4) Tap Merieke in response, steal a creature.
5) Resolve Merieke's ability. Gain control of a creature.
6) Resolve staff's ability, Merieke untaps. Lose control of creature, creature gets destroyed.
7) Staff's latter ability goes on stack.
Rinse and repeat.
No need for a sac outlet. It's all instant speed. Checks out, probably a good card.
EDIT: Willbreaker (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Willbreaker): didn't realize I can target my "untap" abilities to my opponents' creatures too! Good one, missed that completely.
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I'm not 100% sure, but I think if you get to untap Merieke Ri Berit (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Merieke+Ri+Berit) in response to her own ability, you keep the creature until she leaves the battlefield.
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I'm not 100% sure, but I think if you get to untap Merieke Ri Berit (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Merieke+Ri+Berit) in response to her own ability, you keep the creature until she leaves the battlefield.
Correct. Except all captured creatures trigger again when Merieke untaps. Plus, you can't tap her in response to the Thornbite Staff (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Thornbite+Staff) because she's not untapped yet. You need to let the ability resolve (i.e. the captured creature gets destroyed).
I've outlined many of the ways to abuse Merieke in the deck description.
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Ok, now that I've read everything I have a better idea of what's going on.
Indeed you don't need a sac outlet to clear the board, you can just wait until your upkeep.
It's still a one-sided repeatable wrath that deserves some attention, in my opinion.
Additionally, Thornbite Staff (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Thornbite+Staff) can go infinite with several cards, I use it in red with Goblin Welder (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Goblin+Welder), Kiki-Jiki, Krenko, Mob Boss (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Krenko%2C+Mob+Boss) etc. but there are options in your colors too, like Hell's Caretaker (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Hell%27s+Caretaker) and Marrow-Gnawer (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Marrow-Gnawer).
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Ok, now that I've read everything I have a better idea of what's going on.
Indeed you don't need a sac outlet to clear the board, you can just wait until your upkeep.
It's still a one-sided repeatable wrath that deserves some attention, in my opinion.
Additionally, Thornbite Staff (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Thornbite+Staff) can go infinite with several cards, I use it in red with Goblin Welder (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Goblin+Welder), Kiki-Jiki, Krenko, Mob Boss (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Krenko%2C+Mob+Boss) etc. but there are options in your colors too, like Hell's Caretaker (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Hell%27s+Caretaker) and Marrow-Gnawer (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Marrow-Gnawer).
Thanks! I'll see if I can find cards that support the deck. Nevertheless it's a good combo. Visara the Dreadful (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Visara+the+Dreadful) would be one. And Tsabo's Assassin (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Tsabo%27s+Assassin) could be hilarious, depending on the number of enchantments on the battlefield.
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Additionally, Thornbite Staff (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Thornbite+Staff) can go infinite with several cards
Ended up buying the staff. Don't know what I'm going to cut - but bought it anyway (along with Minamo). Added Willbreaker (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Willbreaker) as well. Hopefully that's all now good and we get to have some interactive fun!
Now I'm considering Priest of Forgotten Gods (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Priest+of+Forgotten+Gods), Phyrexian Tower (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Phyrexian+Tower) and Phyrexian Altar (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Phyrexian+Altar).
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Now I'm considering Priest of Forgotten Gods (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Priest+of+Forgotten+Gods), Phyrexian Tower (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Phyrexian+Tower) and Phyrexian Altar (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Phyrexian+Altar).
Hey man,
These are all great cards. As far as sac outlets go, if you don't have one already, I'd also consider Ashnod's Altar (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Ashnod%27s+Altar). It achieves mostly the same thing in this deck, but is a superb addition to anyones collection. In my opinion, it's more worthwhile having than a Phyrexian Altar (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Phyrexian+Altar) just because it's a combo piece in so many more combos. 2 colourless is often far more abusable than one of any colour, especially in artifact decks. Worth considering as it's the kind of card that will be a powerhouse in many, many decks and goes infinite in all kinds of decks and archetypes, as well as doing what is needed in this deck too.
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Hello Belwas,
Thank you! Defnitely picking up a copy. They're not actually that expensive.
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Hello Belwas,
Thank you! Defnitely picking up a copy. They're not actually that expensive.
No worries man. I think you've made an excellent choice. It really is a superb card. It's my personal favourite card of all time, and I play it in almost all of my decks. I mean, just a free sac outlet you can activate at instant speed is superb for getting around exile (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Exile) effects, people stealing your creatures or enchanting them or anything like that, but getting two colourless mana for it too is nuts. It's a king pin in my Athreos, God of Passage (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Athreos%2C+God+of+Passage); Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Jhoira%2C+Weatherlight+Captain); Teshar, Ancestor's Apostle (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Teshar%2C+Ancestor%27s+Apostle) and The Scarab God (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=The+Scarab+God) decks and can do work in any deck that plays even a reasonable amount of creatures.
I hope you have as much fun and success with it as I do.
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Testing has actually revealed Ashnod's Altar (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Ashnod%27s+Altar) to be a dead card in the sense that Merieke is a creature repellent. After that it's a stalling match between my control magic (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Control+Magic) and their countered spells. I don't just have (or capture) enough targets for it to be viable.
Since this is a fun deck I'm now moving to the next price category: cards below 20€. New additions are: Rhystic Study (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Rhystic+Study), Land Tax (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Land+Tax) and the slightly over the limit Rings of Brighthearth (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Rings+of+Brighthearth). Also going to pick up a Smothering Tithe (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Smothering+Tithe) and Mystic Remora (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Mystic+Remora) but unsure if I should include them. Cryptic Command (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Cryptic+Command) should be a good card but I fear (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Fear) will have trouble casting it because of its triple-blue casting cost. Same goes for Archmage's Charm (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Archmage%27s+Charm) although it's much less expensive and can steal things so I might pick it up anyway.
New suggestions are welcome. :) I like things that are really versatile, perhaps let me choose what to do and work well with the stealing/untapping theme that is going on here.
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If you plan to add Land Tax (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Land+Tax), think about Scroll Rack (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Scroll+Rack) too.
It's a good deck filterer by itself and with Land Tax (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Land+Tax) effectively draws you 3 new cards per turn.
You need more shufflers (fetchlands for instance) or you will always see the same cards, when you don't have Land Tax (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Land+Tax).
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If you plan to add Land Tax (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Land+Tax), think about Scroll Rack (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Scroll+Rack) too.
It's a good deck filterer by itself and with Land Tax (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Land+Tax) effectively draws you 3 new cards per turn.
You need more shufflers (fetchlands for instance) or you will always see the same cards, when you don't have Land Tax (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Land+Tax).
I was just ensuring I get my land drops but turning it into draw? That's brilliant. Which means I definitely need Scroll Rack (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Scroll+Rack), too.
EDIT: Sen Triplets (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Sen+Triplets) seems like a card I have completely neglected. Should be a perfect addition to my stealing theme.
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I've edited the deck quite a bit to include a bunch of combos and a leaner average CMC. Do you guys think I'm going to the right direction?
Credits to Morganator 2.0 for giving me some amazing feedback!
Specifically, how do you feel about my inclusion of Grimgrin, Corpse-Born (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Grimgrin%2C+Corpse-Born)?
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I like the changes you've made, and not just because I suggested them.
Grimgrin, Corpse-Born (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Grimgrin%2C+Corpse-Born) is definitely a neat inclusion. Tell me how it works out. Earlier in this thread you mentioned that Ashnod's Altar (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Ashnod%27s+Altar) ends up being a dead card in this deck. I'm curious if Grimgrin will be the same.
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I like the changes you've made, and not just because I suggested them.
Grimgrin, Corpse-Born (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Grimgrin%2C+Corpse-Born) is definitely a neat inclusion. Tell me how it works out. Earlier in this thread you mentioned that Ashnod's Altar (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Ashnod%27s+Altar) ends up being a dead card in this deck. I'm curious if Grimgrin will be the same.
There's a difference: the change is permanent. Ashnod's altar (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Ashnod%27s+Altar) gives me just two mana for one turn and A) it's not a threat later on - unlike Grimgrin and B) I can untap Grimgrin in the absence of creatures.
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I seem to be running into a problem with this deck: I can't consistently tutor for my combos. I have no clue (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Clue) as to why this is a problem because I have quite a few tutors and combos, don't have a hard time casting things and my opponents can't touch me that much. Any help?
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Hey man.
I notice that outside of your combos, your draw spells tend to be one shots. Maybe including more repeatable draw options would help?
You've already got Arcanis in your sideboard, which works well with all the untap synergies you have anyway, but triple blue might not be ideal for a 3 colour deck.
Similarly Necropotence (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Necropotence) could do a lot of work, but triple black could have the same option. Also, Bolas's Citadel (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Bolas%27s+Citadel) offers serious card advantage, especially with your cheap spells, but again, triple black isn't ideal.
One of my personal favourite repeatable draw options is Greed (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Greed). Both the casting cost and activation cost are easy enough for a 3 colour deck, and if you're assembling a game winning combo, the loss of life means next to nothing. Also, it has sick art. Especially the print with the dude vomiting coins.
I also love Kefnet the Mindful (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Kefnet+the+Mindful), but I recognise that he isn't amazing and I have a fair amount of personal bias. An indestructible, 3cmc mana sync that draws cards isn't nothing, and in my personal experience (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Experience), having a 5/5 indestructible flyer is often worth keeping a card in hand for an extra turn.
Anyway, I think a source of repeatable card draw could potentially help with the issues you've been having. I hope it works out for you man. Let us know how it goes.
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Hey man.
I notice that outside of your combos, your draw spells tend to be one shots. Maybe including more repeatable draw options would help?
You've already got Arcanis in your sideboard, which works well with all the untap synergies you have anyway, but triple blue might not be ideal for a 3 colour deck.
Similarly Necropotence (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Necropotence) could do a lot of work, but triple black could have the same option. Also, Bolas's Citadel (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Bolas%27s+Citadel) offers serious card advantage, especially with your cheap spells, but again, triple black isn't ideal.
One of my personal favourite repeatable draw options is Greed (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Greed). Both the casting cost and activation cost are easy enough for a 3 colour deck, and if you're assembling a game winning combo, the loss of life means next to nothing. Also, it has sick art. Especially the print with the dude vomiting coins.
I also love Kefnet the Mindful (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Kefnet+the+Mindful), but I recognise that he isn't amazing and I have a fair amount of personal bias. An indestructible, 3cmc mana sync that draws cards isn't nothing, and in my personal experience (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Experience), having a 5/5 indestructible flyer is often worth keeping a card in hand for an extra turn.
Anyway, I think a source of repeatable card draw could potentially help with the issues you've been having. I hope it works out for you man. Let us know how it goes.
I agree with all of your points which is the reason why I'm not running many of those things. Arcanis is a kill on sight and I've yet to keep him on the board for a full round. :(
Greed (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Greed) is a fantastic suggestion, though. I'll definitely experiment with it.
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How does the Decree of Silence (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Decree+of+Silence) + Solemnity (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Solemnity) combo go over in your playgroup? After learning of that combo, I would think in most playgroups would tunnel you from turn one until they knew you removed it or switched to a different deck. It has that Blood/Bond feel to it.
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What kind of speed and consistency are you looking for?
If you're aiming for anything turn 6 or sooner, the issue is more with the commander than the deck. If you want the games to go longer than that there shouldn't be any issues.
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What kind of speed and consistency are you looking for?
If you're aiming for anything turn 6 or sooner, the issue is more with the commander than the deck. If you want the games to go longer than that there shouldn't be any issues.
I think you're answering my question here. This is something I've been going through lately. I've learnt a lot and I think I need to rethink (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Rethink) this whole deck. It's probably suffering from an identity crisis (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Identity+Crisis). I've already created a copy of this deck with Tymna and Silas Renn just to see how it would look like.
Perhaps it's time to go back and do the Merieke stuff, let this be a casual deck and focus on building a more powerful artifact combo deck with some other Commander and ditch the whole untapping subtheme and instead just focus on raw combo power.
It's getting late here and it feels bad and wrong to go back to the roots (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Roots) with this deck but then again it might be the only option.
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Damn. That was easy. I wish it was always like this.
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Damn. That was easy. I wish it was always like this.
I've now returned this deck to its previous state of untapping and tapping things. Left a couple of combos in but removed all tutors so I'm not tempted to go for the same lines of victory every time.
The combo deck is now under Tymna and Silas Renn (comments still appreciated regarding the matter of not being able to combo off quickly)
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Well. I built another, more casual, Merieke so here I am again looking to make this one a bit more competitive. I've upgraded the combos to include Demonic Consultation (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Demonic+Consultation) + Thassa's Oracle (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Thassa%27s+Oracle), more support for Isochron Scepter (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Isochron+Scepter) + Dramatic Reversal (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Dramatic+Reversal), and more tutors to hit Aphetto Alchemist (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Aphetto+Alchemist) + Illusionist's Bracers (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Illusionist%27s+Bracers). I also started adding some cEDH staples with the idea that this could do well in a high power meta that might still include some creature strategies, too. Merieke has been degraded to being a one-shot removal effect with minimal untapping devices. There are still a few left so it's not a complete deviation from the untap-theme. I added a lot more card draw to combat the increased number of counterspells.
I'm open to more high power suggestions, again. Let's not aim for cEDH level T5 wins but a more modest T7 threat.
One sad ramification of this purification is that the name is now misleading. There are only three ways to leave your lover.
https://deckstats.net/decks/93006/1407793-six-ways-to-break-merieke-ri-b
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I've upgraded the combos to include Demonic Consultation (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Demonic+Consultation) + Thassa's Oracle (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Thassa%27s+Oracle)
(https://media.tenor.com/images/53cfe027dbe906c4ea90f074d86fd7e6/tenor.gif)
In all seriousness, why? The other 2 combos you mentioned have at least some synergy with Merieke, but Thassa + Consultation is just an auto-win with no synergy/usefulness outside of combo. If that's where you want the deck, that's fine, but in my eyes, that's getting into cEDH territory.
While looking at your card advantage section, I see a bunch of high CMC/long-term draw. I think a few (maybe 3) cantrips would give you better draw throughout the game. Right now, your card advantage is geared entirely for the late game, with none of it (outside of Divining Top) being useable early. Brainstorm (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Brainstorm), Ponder (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Ponder), Gitaxian Probe (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Gitaxian+Probe) (extremely good in decks with a lot of removal/counterspells so you know what you're dealing with), Preordain (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Preordain), and Serum Visions (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Serum+Visions) are my favorite cantrips.
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In all seriousness, why? The other 2 combos you mentioned have at least some synergy with Merieke, but Thassa + Consultation is just an auto-win with no synergy/usefulness outside of combo. If that's where you want the deck, that's fine, but in my eyes, that's getting into cEDH territory.
It's just way too easy. I have the support for it, it's fast and it works.
While looking at your card advantage section, I see a bunch of high CMC/long-term draw. I think a few (maybe 3) cantrips would give you better draw throughout the game. Right now, your card advantage is geared entirely for the late game, with none of it (outside of Divining Top) being useable early. Brainstorm (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Brainstorm), Ponder (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Ponder), Gitaxian Probe (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Gitaxian+Probe) (extremely good in decks with a lot of removal/counterspells so you know what you're dealing with), Preordain (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Preordain), and Serum Visions (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Serum+Visions) are my favorite cantrips.
Uh-oh, seems like I made a mistake there. I said T7 but I have Consecrated Sphinx (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Consecrated+Sphinx) looming at T6-T7. How was that supposed to help at all, I have no idea. Do you think sacrificing my pillowfort would be worth a few cantrips? I don't have fetches so Brainstorm (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Brainstorm) isn't that powerful but the others are definitely worth it. Let's see what I can do, one second.
EDIT: Someone mind moving this to the commander section?
Also, how does it look now?
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Uh-oh, seems like I made a mistake there. I said T7 but I have Consecrated Sphinx (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Consecrated+Sphinx) looming at T6-T7. How was that supposed to help at all, I have no idea. Do you think sacrificing my pillowfort would be worth a few cantrips? I don't have fetches so Brainstorm (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Brainstorm) isn't that powerful but the others are definitely worth it. Let's see what I can do, one second.
I don't think you should run both Stroke of Genius (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Stroke+of+Genius) and Pull from Tomorrow (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Pull+from+Tomorrow), unless they are specifically necessary for your gameplan. Also, is there a particular reason as to why you run several wheels? You said that the deck isn't designed to be super fast, so you can't really burn through your hand and use the wheel to generate more advantage than your opponents, and Whispering Madness (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Whispering+Madness) in particular seems odd considering you can't consistently trigger Cipher.
I suggest dropping Consecrated Sphinx (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Consecrated+Sphinx), Stroke of Genius (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Stroke+of+Genius), and Whispering Madness (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Whispering+Madness), unless I'm missing something about your gameplan.
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Uh-oh, seems like I made a mistake there. I said T7 but I have Consecrated Sphinx (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Consecrated+Sphinx) looming at T6-T7. How was that supposed to help at all, I have no idea. Do you think sacrificing my pillowfort would be worth a few cantrips? I don't have fetches so Brainstorm (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Brainstorm) isn't that powerful but the others are definitely worth it. Let's see what I can do, one second.
I don't think you should run both Stroke of Genius (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Stroke+of+Genius) and Pull from Tomorrow (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Pull+from+Tomorrow), unless they are specifically necessary for your gameplan. Also, is there a particular reason as to why you run several wheels? You said that the deck isn't designed to be super fast, so you can't really burn through your hand and use the wheel to generate more advantage than your opponents, and Whispering Madness (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Whispering+Madness) in particular seems odd considering you can't consistently trigger Cipher.
I suggest dropping Consecrated Sphinx (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Consecrated+Sphinx), Stroke of Genius (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Stroke+of+Genius), and Whispering Madness (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Whispering+Madness), unless I'm missing something about your gameplan.
They're both there because they double as "consultations" and are blue instants that Merchant Scroll (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Merchant+Scroll) can hit. Outlets for infinite mana, if you will.
I actually already removed Whispering Madness (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Whispering+Madness). I'll keep Windfall (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Windfall). It's sometimes some really good draw. Has saved me a ton of games to be able to wheel from 0-2 cards to a healthy 4-6 cards. It's just a question of timing, mostly.
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The changes look solid! Hope that helps smooth out early turns.
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My birthday is nearing so I decided to splurge on some upgrades:
Ancient Tomb (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Ancient+Tomb), fetches, Forbidden Orchard (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Forbidden+Orchard), Mana Confluence (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Mana+Confluence), Volrath's Stronghold (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Volrath%27s+Stronghold)
Reanimate (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Reanimate), Cyclonic Rift (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Cyclonic+Rift), Enlightened Tutor (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Enlightened+Tutor), Vampiric Tutor (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Vampiric+Tutor)
I've had problems with people removing my untappers i.e. combo pieces so I decided it's important to add some "protection" against that in the form of recursion. Tutors are always welcome and Cyclonic Rift (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Cyclonic+Rift) is just that good.
Looks like it's no longer a budget deck so... What would be some <100€ upgrades I might have missed? Force of Will (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Force+of+Will)? Force of Negation (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Force+of+Negation)? What else?
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Force of Will (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Force+of+Will) is maybe a good idea. Having to discard another card means that it's more card disadvantage than most counterspells, so use wisely. Mana Drain (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Mana+Drain) and Fierce Guardianship (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Fierce+Guardianship) are also good counterspells to use.
For mana ramp, get Mana Crypt (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Mana+Crypt) and Mana Vault (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Mana+Vault) if you can.
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Force of Will (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Force+of+Will) is maybe a good idea. Having to discard another card means that it's more card disadvantage than most counterspells, so use wisely. Mana Drain (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Mana+Drain) and Fierce Guardianship (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Fierce+Guardianship) are also good counterspells to use.
For mana ramp, get Mana Crypt (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Mana+Crypt) and Mana Vault (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Mana+Vault) if you can.
I don't always have my commander out since she's a removal magnet so Fierce Guardianship (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Fierce+Guardianship) is honestly not a very good idea. All the other suggestions seem great, I'll pick those up next!
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Fierce Guardianship (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Fierce+Guardianship) will stop her from getting removed.
If removal is a problem, I know that you use Mother of Runes (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Mother+of+Runes) in your Merieke primer deck. Would including Mother of Runes (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Mother+of+Runes) and Giver of Runes (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Giver+of+Runes) help?
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That is a very good point... Then again she's not integral to my plan so I'm often baiting out some removal with her and I don't think I want to spend actual hand cards to protect her. Cheap and dirty way to protect my untappers: just play Merieke and people will target her instead of my precious untapper. I have accepted a long time ago that she is a "kill on sight" commander and that protecting her is going to be really, really difficult. Hence I don't play Intruder Alarm (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Intruder+Alarm) or Thornbite Staff (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Thornbite+Staff) anymore even though they're powerful combos with her. Mother of Runes (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Mother+of+Runes) could work as a protective solution for the untappers, too. I just have a hard time making cuts at this point. Most of the stuff I just bought are direct upgrades to other cards so that was relatively easy.
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Two months later: all the upgrades arrived and I'm particularly proud of my Volrath's Stronghold (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Volrath%27s+Stronghold) that has already gone up so much in value that it covered postage for the insured letter it arrived in.
Now I'm looking at these four cards in particular:
- Teferi's Isle (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Teferi%27s+Isle) - it's another combo piece. Combos with Pemmin's Aura (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Pemmin%27s+Aura) and Freed from the Real (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Freed+from+the+Real), potentially with an untapper and Dramatic Scepter, too. Beyond that it's a pretty poor land. I have no idea if it's actively so bad that I should not include it even as a combo piece. However... it's about 10€ and RL so I'm unlikely to lose my "investment" in the long run so trying it out shouldn't hurt me too much.
- Sensei's Divining Top (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Sensei%27s+Divining+Top) - this is another outlet for my infinite untaps. The way it works is that you untap it somehow in response to it's tap ability. The first time it resolves it draws a card, then goes on top of my library. All subsequent triggers will just draw a card because it's not on the battlefield anymore. Also it lets me look at my top cards which is cool.
- Expedition Map (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Expedition+Map) - I have so many important utility lands that I'm starting to think I should add more support for them. My lands provide me haste, recursion, "can't be countered" and they act as combo pieces in the puzzle.
- Chrome Mox (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Chrome+Mox) - it's just a really good rock. That's all.
I'm looking at the following cards to cut:
- Reanimate (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Reanimate) - while it's a really good card I figured it's not a card I would tutor for. I would tutor for something else and I want every card to be powerful enough to be tutored for. Plus now I have Volrath's Stronghold (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Volrath%27s+Stronghold) so do I really need the redundance?
- Swiftfoot Boots (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Swiftfoot+Boots) - now that I have Hall of the Bandit Lord (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Hall+of+the+Bandit+Lord) I don't think it's that important. It's protection and haste but it also costs one mana to equip and I rarely have the tutors to look for it. I mean I don't regret drawing it except when I need a winning card. Would I prefer Top to Boots? Yes, pretty much any day.
- Smothering Tithe (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Smothering+Tithe) - Chrome Mox (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Chrome+Mox) instead of this thing? Yeah, I think so.
Opinions?
EDIT: Someone suggested Soldevi Excavations (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Soldevi+Excavations) but I feel like I've got way too few Islands (fetches + shocks + basics) to support that. It'd be an interesting outlet for infinite mana and untaps i.e. it would let me scry infinitely and find a card I need on top of my library.
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I think that you should definitely get Sensei's Top and Chrome Mox (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Chrome+Mox). Even if you don't keep them for this deck, you will have another deck for them. If Teferi's Isle (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Teferi%27s+Isle) is something you're looking at then I think you should get it. It's price is doing nothing but go up. Even if you don't use it now, you might use it in the future. I do not think that you need an Expedition Map (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Expedition+Map). The only real reason you'd need to get a land is for a combo, and you're already using actual tutors like Demonic Tutor (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Demonic+Tutor). Expedition Map (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Expedition+Map) is just sub-par in this case.
Finding cards to remove is really difficult right now. I know in the past you've talked a lot about how Merieke is a vacuum for removal spells, so do you really want to get rid of Swiftfoot Boots (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Swiftfoot+Boots)? And Smothering Tithe (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Smothering+Tithe) is really good ramp, are you sure you want to lose it.
Now I have no idea what your playgroup is like these days, but think about if you really need Ghostly Prison (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Ghostly+Prison) and Propaganda (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Propaganda). If you can combo off faster than you can be dealt combat damage, you don't need these effects.
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I've been thinking about my pillowfort, too. They're kind of in the way most of the time. I'd much rather draw a kill spell, a wipe or something else that lets me deal with the problems directly. They may have to go.
Swiftfoot boots (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Swiftfoot+Boots) are good on an untapper... Maybe you're right.
The thing about Smothering Tithe (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Smothering+Tithe) is that it costs four mana and doesn't pay off immediately. I haven't really had that many mana problems with the deck so having extra mana floating around isn't necessarily going to advance my plan. I'm thinking it has to go but luckily it has a home in another deck so it won't be wasted. So do the two pillowfort pieces.
I love the art on Teferi's Isle (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Teferi%27s+Isle). Maybe that's another argument for buying it. I asked reddit if they've played the card and some people said it's not that hard to navigate around the fact that it's here only half of the time. It feels like a tapland, essentially. Now taplands aren't something I'm looking to add to my deck but having redundant combo pieces is always good so I'm on the verge of adding it anyways. The other option is to cut down on black and white, add more Islands and go for Soldevi Excavations (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Soldevi+Excavations).
Top and Chrome Mox (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Chrome+Mox) are no-brainers at this point.
Thank you for the insights, Morganator!