[Standard] Merfolk Unblockable Counter

[mtgplayer01]

Merfolk Unblockable Counter

Get +1/+1 and become unblockable with Herald of Secret Streams

[mtgplayer01]

Revision 2

Changed amounts:
-1 Forest
+1 Unclaimed Territory

[mtgplayer01]

Revision 4

Added/removed cards:
-1 Cancel

Changed amounts:
+1 Secrets of the Golden City

[mtgplayer01]

Revision 5

Added/removed cards:
-1 Deeproot Champion
-2 Deeproot Warrior
-2 Kumena's Speaker
-1 Merfolk Branchwalker
-2 Secrets of the Golden City
-1 Tishana's Wayfinder
-1 Watertrap Weaver
+3 Jade Bearer
+4 Mist-Cloaked Herald

Changed amounts:
+1 Herald of Secret Streams
+1 Merfolk Mistbinder
+2 Tempest Caller
-1 Waterknot

[mtgplayer01]

Would be nice if anyone could suggest some type of removal spells to put in to the deck (without going into three-color mana territory).

For example, when played against other creatures that cannot be blocked, if you don't negate them then you're stuck only with Unsummon, but hardly anything that can take the creature out of play.

Also, I think it lacks some type of "finisher", I mean, something that guarantees your win when it comes into play.

[mtgplayer01]

Revision 6

Added/removed cards:
+3 Hadana's Climb
+3 Lifecrafter's Gift
+1 Torrential Gearhulk

Changed amounts:
-1 (Main) +1 (SB) Dive Down
-2 (Main) +2 (SB) Durable Handicraft
-2 (Main) +2 (SB) Grasping Current
-1 (Main) +1 (SB) River Heralds' Boon
-1 (Main) +1 (SB) Tempest Caller

[Firegriff]

River's Rebuke and Entrancing Melody.  One clears the field of your opponent before you attack.  The other steals a threat and brings it into your fold.

[WoodpeckerFM]

Ice over is useful for stalling opponents creatures.

[WoodpeckerFM]

Would be nice if anyone could suggest some type of removal spells to put in to the deck (without going into three-color mana territory).

For example, when played against other creatures that cannot be blocked, if you don't negate them then you're stuck only with Unsummon, but hardly anything that can take the creature out of play.

Also, I think it lacks some type of "finisher", I mean, something that guarantees your win when it comes into play.

For a finisher, since you are adding counters to things and then making them unblockable, if the game stalls and you are generating a fair bit of mana then you could look at some big scary things like Fleet Swallower or Tishana, Voice of Thunder if you find you have lots of creatures or even Sphinx of Magosi who can put counters on himself thus making him unblockable.

[mtgplayer01]

Thanks for the suggestions Firegriff and WoodpeckerFM!  I'll try those this week and see how it goes.

[mtgplayer01]

Revision 7

Added/removed cards:
-1 Torrential Gearhulk
+2 Sphinx of Magosi
-2 (SB) Durable Handicraft

Changed amounts:
-1 Tempest Caller

[AnaDisciple]

Hello 

I feel like there are too much non-creature spells. If you want an aggro deck, my suggestion would be: lower the mana curve and add more Merfolk instead of spells like Dive Down and Waterknot. In this deck you can easily put somewhere between 28 to 32 creatures with the current mana base. Your final goal is to flood the board with creatures, put some counters on them, attack your opponent and bounce stuff back with Unsummon and River's Rebuke. This is the real potential of Merfolk in standard.

Specific notes:
- I don't agree with Jace in this deck because it is too slow. Silvergill Adept makes more sense as a card draw that's also a creature.
- Merfolk Branchwalker and Jadelight Ranger are too strong to not make it in this list. Kumena's Speaker is fine too as a one drop.
- Sphinx of Magosi will be a dead card in your hand most of the times. Too big, too slow.
- Unless you're on a budget list, Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca is strong and will close out games. Also, it has sinergy with Herald of Secret Streams.

Hope it helps.

[mtgplayer01]

Updated with some of the cards from the Budget Simic Merfolk deckt@MTGGoldfish so it can be Standard legal again.

As always comments and suggestions are highly appreciated!

Revision 8

Added/removed cards:
-1 Botanical Sanctum
-1 Jace, Ingenious Mind-Mage
-3 Jade Bearer
-2 Jade Guardian
-3 Lifecrafter's Gift
-2 (Main) -1 (SB) River Heralds' Boon
-2 Sphinx of Magosi
-2 Unsummon
-2 Vineshaper Mystic
+2 Cancel
+4 Deeproot Elite
+4 Deeproot Waters
+4 Kumena's Speaker
+2 Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca
+2 Merfolk Trickster
+3 Silvergill Adept
+2 Spell Pierce
-2 (SB) Grasping Current
+2 (SB) Arcane Flight
+2 (SB) Crushing Canopy
+2 (SB) Entrancing Melody

Changed amounts:
+1 (Main) -1 (SB) Dive Down
-1 Forest
-1 Hadana's Climb
-1 Herald of Secret Streams
-1 Island
-2 (Main) +4 (SB) Negate
-1 (Main) +1 (SB) Tempest Caller
+1 Unclaimed Territory
-2 (Main) +3 (SB) Waterknot
+2 Woodland Stream